News Sources Agree: Clinton Has Been Misrepresenting Obama's Comments on Republicans
January 21, 2008
ABC News: "Bill Clinton is Spreading Demonstrably False Information." ABC wrote, "Sen. Clinton twisted this into: 'I have to say, you know, my leading opponent the other day said that he thought the Republicans had better ideas than Democrats the last ten to fifteen years.' That's not what Obama said. And in Buffalo, N.Y., former President Bill Clinton twisted this into Obama 'said President Reagan was the engine of innovation and did more, had a more lasting impact on America than I did. And then the next day he said, 'In the 90s the good ideas came out from the Republicans. Which it'll be costly maybe down the road for him because it's factually not accurate.' What's factually not accurate is what President Bill Clinton said. I know he wants his wife to beat Obama. And it seems that unleashing the Big Dog seems to be working for the Clinton campaign. Perhaps some voters are even touched by his passion. But let's be clear -- Bill Clinton is spreading demonstrably false information. There's winning ugly, and there's winning with honor. Does it matter? Or is all fair in politics and war?" [ABC News, 1/21/08]
Annenberg Foundation's FactCheck.Org: Clinton Accusations About What Obama Said About Republican Ideas: "False." Factcheck.org reported, "We can't speak to how things 'came across' to Clinton, but we've listened to the entire interview and to our ears, it's just flatly false that Obama said he 'really liked the ideas of the Republicans.' Clinton is referring to what Obama told the editorial board of the Reno Gazette-Journal. A video is available on the Internet...There's a difference between praising someone for having ideas and praising the idea itself. Obama is doing the former – and just as clearly not doing the latter. He says the GOP approach has 'played itself out,' for example. It's also false to imply -- as Clinton did -- that Obama endorsed Republican proposals to set up private Social Security accounts or that he praised deficit spending. We listened to the entire 49-minute interview, and Obama said no such thing." [FactCheck.org, 1/21/08]
Washington Post Fact Checker: "It Seems Clear That The Former President Has Overstated The Case Against Obama In A Way That Distorts His Original Arguments." "Hillary Clinton criticizing Obama for talking about "admiring Ronald Reagan" and saying that he "really liked" Republican ideas of the last 15 years....It is pretty standard fare for presidential campaigns to attack rival candidates by a selective use of quotes. Surrogates such as Bill Clinton are often assigned the role of attack dog. The Obama campaign is certainly not above such tactics itself. Obama probably opened himself up to attack by saying nice things about Ronald Reagan and the Republicans. In the three cases cited above, however, it seems clear that the former president has overstated the case against Obama in a way that distorts his original arguments." [Washington Post, 1/22/08]
ABC: Clinton Isn't Backing Down On Her Claim Obama Said Republican Had All The Good Ideas Even Though It's "Pretty Clearly Not What He Said." ABC wrote, "And Sen. Clinton isn't backing down -- keeping up on this claim (a real stretch) that Obama claims Republicans had all the good ideas. Pretty clearly not what he said -- and now I really want to see how Obama reacts -- he looks like he's steaming." [ABC News, 1/21/08]
Talking Points Memo: Hillary Intentionally Misrepresenting What Obama Said About Reagan. "Man, this can degenerate pretty quickly, can't it? Each side got in a couple really low blows there. I still think Hillary is just intentionally misrepresenting what Obama said about Reagan. It makes me cringe. As much I like her, it makes me cringe." [http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/]
Ben Smith: Obama Didn't Say Republican Ideas Are Good Ideas. Ben Smith wrote that Obama "didn't say Republican ideas are good ideas." [Politico, 1/21/08]
Stephanopoulos: Bill Clinton Took Obama's Words Beyond What Obama Said. George Stephanopoulos said, "Now, clearly there, he did take Obama's words beyond what Obama said, they're going to have to be very careful about that," in discussing Bill Clinton's mischaracterization of Obama's remark about Republican's having challenged conventional wisdom over the past 10-15 years. [Good Morning America, 1/21/08]
MSNBC ROUNDTABLE
Dan Abrams: It is simply not true that Barack Obama has been suggesting that the Republicans had great ideas out there. On this one Barack Obama, to me, is absolutely right. I think it is a cheap shot by the Clintons.
Peter Beinart: Yeah. I agree with you on that. What Barack Obama was saying, I don't have the exact words in front of me, but basically that Ronald Reagan was a transformational president in a way Richard Nixon was not and in a way that Bill Clinton was not. I think that's true, I think Bill Clinton was a far better president than Ronald Reagan, but Bill Clinton was president at a fairly conservative time it was harder to be transformational whereas Ronald Reagan was the most conservative president America had elected since Calvin Coolidge. It was a tremendous break historically when America elected someone that conservative, not a good one in my opinion but a real momentous break.
Dan Abrams: Kelly, there is no question that Obama was bashing republicans when he was saying this. They have been transformative, they haven't been now. But it is dangerous once you cite the republicans for anything goodin a democratic primary?
Kelly Goth: Its kind of funny, because when you look at the statement you are 100% right. I don't see how anyone could read this any other way. I think the lesson to be learned however is what you say that is perhaps factually accurate is not always the most tactically smart thing to do.
Julie Reginski: We all agree. It is ridiculous.
Dan Abrams: On this one Barack Obama wins in our fact check. It seems we are getting full agreement on this one. I don't think thats going to happen on all of them. This is important stuff because they are blasting about it tonight. And it seems everyone agrees Barack Obama is being unfairly chastised for his comments about Republicans. [MSNBC Roundtable, 1/21/08]
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Barack Obama: The Facts
Chicago Tribune, Factcheck.Org, Washington Post: Obama Never Represented Tony Rezko
January 23, 2008
FactCheck.org On Clinton's Claim Obama Represented Rezko: "That's Untrue." Factcheck.org reported, "Obama was associated with a law firm that represented the community groups working with Rezko on several deals. There's no evidence that Obama spent much time on them, and he never represented Rezko directly. So it was wrong for Clinton to say he was 'representing ... Rezko.' That's untrue." [FactCheck.org, 1/21/08]
Chicago Tribune Review Of "Land And Court Document And Law Firm Files As Well As Correspondence And Other Records...Supports [Obama's] Contention That He Did Not Directly Represent Rezko's Development Firm." The Chicago Tribune reported, "Obama angrily rejected Clinton's accusation at Monday's Democratic debate. And a Tribune review of land and court documents and law firm files as well as correspondence and other records related to Obama's eight years as an Illinois state lawmaker supports his contention that he did not directly represent Rezko's development firm. Instead, the records show, he represented non-profit community groups that partnered with Rezko's firm." [Chicago Tribune, 1/23/08]
Tribune Examined Miner Barnhill's "260 Civil And Criminal Cases," IHDA And DOH Files, Clients From Obama's "Unusually Frank Ethics Disclosure Reports" And Found Obama Represented The Non-Profit Partner. The Chicago Tribune reported, "At the Tribune's request, Cook County Circuit Court Chief Judge Timothy Evans produced a list of all 260 civil and criminal cases in which the firm filed appearances, and the Tribune separately examined 1990s lawsuits that Rezmar Corp. listed in applications for government grants. The paper also examined files from the Illinois Housing Development Authority and the city housing department, as well as the hundreds of clients Obama listed in the unusually frank ethics disclosure reports he filed as a state senator from December 1995 through April 2004. Those and other records disclosed five instances in which Obama did legal work for ventures that included Rezmar Corp. The case of City of Chicago vs. Central Woodlawn Limited Partnership is one example. In 1992, that community group partnered with Rezmar Corp. to rehab the former slum apartment building at 6107-6115 S. Ellis Ave. As work was ongoing, city officials sued the developers, alleging 16 serious code violations at the property, including a dangerously dilapidated porch. Obama and a co-counsel filed appearances in February 1994, but the court records show they appeared on behalf of Central Woodlawn, Rezko's non-profit partner, not Rezko or his company." [Chicago Tribune, 1/23/08]
Washington Post Fact Check: "Investigations By Chicago Newspapers Have Not Produced Evidence That [Obama] Represented Rezko In A Slum Landlord Business." The Washington Post reported, "William Miceli, Obama's supervisor at the law firm, said the firm represented the Woodlawn Preservation and Investment Corp., a nonprofit group that redeveloped a run-down property on Chicago's South Side with Rezko. He called Clinton's assertion that Obama represented Rezko in a slum landlord business 'categorically untrue. He was a very junior lawyer at the time, who was given responsibility for basic due diligence, document review,' said Miceli, adding that Obama did what he was told by the firm. According to Miceli, that was the only time Obama worked on a Rezko-related project while at the law firm…But investigations by Chicago newspapers have not produced evidence that he represented Rezko in a slum landlord business. What has been demonstrated so far is that he did some due diligence legal work for a joint venture between Rezko and a Chicago nonprofit. Two Pinocchios for Clinton." [Washington Post, 1/22/08]
MINER: OBAMA DID MINOR WORK REPRESENTING THE NON-PROFIT
Miner: Obama Filed Incorporation Papers For The Non-Profits. The AP reported, "Attorneys there say Obama never represented Rezko directly. The future senator did represent community organizations that were Rezko partners in rehabilitating buildings to provide apartments for the poor…Judson Miner, a partner in the firm, said that Obama's role was small. He said Obama did perhaps six or seven hours of work on such projects, mainly filing incorporation papers for the nonprofit groups." [AP, 1/22/08]
Obama Said That Miner Barnhill "Was Representing The Non-For-Profit Partner, Where There's No Allegations That They Did Anything Wrong." Obama said, "My law firm was representing the non for profit partner, where there's no allegations that they did anything wrong. They were simply trying to develop non for profit housing in the district." [Fox News, 4/24/07]
Obama Said That Miner Barnhill Was "Brought In Through [The Non-Profits], Not Through Rezko." The Chicago Tribune reported, "Responding to a Chicago Sun-Times report that Obama's former law firm did legal work for Rezko's low-income housing development business, the Illinois senator said he performed five hours of work on behalf of non-profit housing groups that partnered with Rezko. 'We were brought in through them [the non-profits], not through Rezko,' Obama said." [Chicago Tribune, 4/24/07]
January 23, 2008
FactCheck.org On Clinton's Claim Obama Represented Rezko: "That's Untrue." Factcheck.org reported, "Obama was associated with a law firm that represented the community groups working with Rezko on several deals. There's no evidence that Obama spent much time on them, and he never represented Rezko directly. So it was wrong for Clinton to say he was 'representing ... Rezko.' That's untrue." [FactCheck.org, 1/21/08]
Chicago Tribune Review Of "Land And Court Document And Law Firm Files As Well As Correspondence And Other Records...Supports [Obama's] Contention That He Did Not Directly Represent Rezko's Development Firm." The Chicago Tribune reported, "Obama angrily rejected Clinton's accusation at Monday's Democratic debate. And a Tribune review of land and court documents and law firm files as well as correspondence and other records related to Obama's eight years as an Illinois state lawmaker supports his contention that he did not directly represent Rezko's development firm. Instead, the records show, he represented non-profit community groups that partnered with Rezko's firm." [Chicago Tribune, 1/23/08]
Tribune Examined Miner Barnhill's "260 Civil And Criminal Cases," IHDA And DOH Files, Clients From Obama's "Unusually Frank Ethics Disclosure Reports" And Found Obama Represented The Non-Profit Partner. The Chicago Tribune reported, "At the Tribune's request, Cook County Circuit Court Chief Judge Timothy Evans produced a list of all 260 civil and criminal cases in which the firm filed appearances, and the Tribune separately examined 1990s lawsuits that Rezmar Corp. listed in applications for government grants. The paper also examined files from the Illinois Housing Development Authority and the city housing department, as well as the hundreds of clients Obama listed in the unusually frank ethics disclosure reports he filed as a state senator from December 1995 through April 2004. Those and other records disclosed five instances in which Obama did legal work for ventures that included Rezmar Corp. The case of City of Chicago vs. Central Woodlawn Limited Partnership is one example. In 1992, that community group partnered with Rezmar Corp. to rehab the former slum apartment building at 6107-6115 S. Ellis Ave. As work was ongoing, city officials sued the developers, alleging 16 serious code violations at the property, including a dangerously dilapidated porch. Obama and a co-counsel filed appearances in February 1994, but the court records show they appeared on behalf of Central Woodlawn, Rezko's non-profit partner, not Rezko or his company." [Chicago Tribune, 1/23/08]
Washington Post Fact Check: "Investigations By Chicago Newspapers Have Not Produced Evidence That [Obama] Represented Rezko In A Slum Landlord Business." The Washington Post reported, "William Miceli, Obama's supervisor at the law firm, said the firm represented the Woodlawn Preservation and Investment Corp., a nonprofit group that redeveloped a run-down property on Chicago's South Side with Rezko. He called Clinton's assertion that Obama represented Rezko in a slum landlord business 'categorically untrue. He was a very junior lawyer at the time, who was given responsibility for basic due diligence, document review,' said Miceli, adding that Obama did what he was told by the firm. According to Miceli, that was the only time Obama worked on a Rezko-related project while at the law firm…But investigations by Chicago newspapers have not produced evidence that he represented Rezko in a slum landlord business. What has been demonstrated so far is that he did some due diligence legal work for a joint venture between Rezko and a Chicago nonprofit. Two Pinocchios for Clinton." [Washington Post, 1/22/08]
MINER: OBAMA DID MINOR WORK REPRESENTING THE NON-PROFIT
Miner: Obama Filed Incorporation Papers For The Non-Profits. The AP reported, "Attorneys there say Obama never represented Rezko directly. The future senator did represent community organizations that were Rezko partners in rehabilitating buildings to provide apartments for the poor…Judson Miner, a partner in the firm, said that Obama's role was small. He said Obama did perhaps six or seven hours of work on such projects, mainly filing incorporation papers for the nonprofit groups." [AP, 1/22/08]
Obama Said That Miner Barnhill "Was Representing The Non-For-Profit Partner, Where There's No Allegations That They Did Anything Wrong." Obama said, "My law firm was representing the non for profit partner, where there's no allegations that they did anything wrong. They were simply trying to develop non for profit housing in the district." [Fox News, 4/24/07]
Obama Said That Miner Barnhill Was "Brought In Through [The Non-Profits], Not Through Rezko." The Chicago Tribune reported, "Responding to a Chicago Sun-Times report that Obama's former law firm did legal work for Rezko's low-income housing development business, the Illinois senator said he performed five hours of work on behalf of non-profit housing groups that partnered with Rezko. 'We were brought in through them [the non-profits], not through Rezko,' Obama said." [Chicago Tribune, 4/24/07]
Hillary Clinton: The Facts
The facts on Clinton and Wal-Mart
January 22, 2008
CLINTON SAYS SHE WORKED TO PROMOTE WOMEN AND DIVERSITY AT WALMART...
Clinton: I Worked To Promote Women, Diversity, Environment At Wal-Mart. "It's no secret that I served on the Board of Wal-Mart. I took a very active role in promoting diversity and involvement of women. I started talking about and working on the environment and the steps that the corporation could take. But I had disagreements with Wal-Mart that are also well known. I disagree with their approach toward unions and for a long time I urged then to provide healthcare to their workers." [Clinton press avail, 1/22/08]
...BUT THE RECORD SAYS OTHERWISE
Clinton Did Not Rock The Boat On Labor Or Gender Issues At Wal-Mart. The Los Angeles Time reported of Clinton's tenure at Wal-Mart, "Crowded with the others around metal folding tables in the kitchen of a converted warehouse -- a no-frills board room selected by 'Mr. Sam' himself -- Clinton assumed the role of loyalist reformer, making the case for measured change without rocking the boat. [...] Wal-Mart critics say her presence brought little lasting change to the firm. And former executives say she was not a voice for bold reform. 'She was not a dissenter,' said Donald G. Soderquist, Wal-Mart's former chief operating officer and the board's vice chairman during Clinton's tenure. 'She was a part of those decisions.'" [Los Angeles Times, 5/19/07]
A Lawyer Suing Wal-Mart Claims There Was "No Change For The Better" For Women During Clinton's Tenure. According to the Los Angeles Times, "Assigned to work on the diversity issue that preoccupied Walton's wife and daughter, Clinton joined an advisory committee that Walton had assigned to draft recommendations on pay parity and hiring women and minorities as executives. Rhoads said he and Clinton flew to New York to consult with a firm that helped corporations recruit more female directors. But Tom Seay, a former Wal-Mart vice president who was on the advisory committee, said that her 'involvement was limited' and that Wal-Mart staffers did 'most of the heavy lifting.' [...] The committee's existence -- and Clinton's role on it -- was not previously acknowledged by company officials said Joseph T. Sellers, one of the lawyers behind a class action lawsuit against Wal-Mart on behalf of women claiming discrimination. 'There was no change for the better during that period for women at Wal-Mart,' Sellers said. 'If there was change, it was minimal. Nobody knew about it or else it was just too subtle to recognize.' " [Los Angeles Times, 5/19/07]
Fellow Board Member: Clinton "Stayed Pretty Much In The Background On The Board." The Los Angeles Times reports, "On the board, Clinton impressed other outside directors brought in by Walton. 'She stayed pretty much in the background. But she was an advocate for women, quietly and effectively,' said Toys "R" Us founder Charles Lazarus, who became a director in 1984." [Los Angeles Times, 5/19/07]
Former Wal-Mart COO: Clinton Did Not Object To Wal-Mart's Union Policies. The Los Angeles Times reported, "Bob Ortega, author of 'In Sam We Trust,' a history of Wal-Mart, said workers were provided with incentives such as stock purchase programs and bonuses for efficiency while the firm sent in teams of lawyers and executives to stiffen resistance to union organizing efforts. Although the details of Wal-Mart's anti-union efforts were rarely broached during board meetings, Tate said recently, Clinton 'clearly knew the company's reputation.' Tate said that when he 'made presentations on what we were doing' during board meetings, Clinton did not raise objections. [Former Wal-Mart COO] Soderquist agreed, saying there was 'no sign that she had any criticism.'" [Los Angeles Times, 5/19/07]
Clinton Was Silent On Union Issues During Her Tenure On Wal-Mart's Board. Fellow board members and Wal-Mart executive said Clinton used her position on the company's board to champion personal causes, like the need for more women in management and a comprehensive environmental program, despite being Wal-Mart's only female director, the youngest and arguably the least experienced in business. On other topics, like Wal-Mart's vehement anti-unionism, for example, she was largely silent, they said Though she was passionate about issues like gender and sustainability, Clinton largely sat on the sidelines when it came to Wal-Mart and unions, board members said. During their meetings and private conversations, Clinton never voiced objections to Wal-Mart's stance on unions, said John Tate and John A. Cooper, board members who served with her. "She was not an outspoken person on labor, because I think she was smart enough to know that if she favored labor, she was the only one," Tate said. "It would only lessen her own position on the board if she took that position." A spokesman for Clinton said, "Wal-Mart workers should be able to unionize and bargain collectively." [New York Times, 5/20/07]
Critics Said Clinton Did Not Improve the Experience of Female Employees During Her Time on the Wal-Mart Board. The AP wrote, "Critics said there was little tangible change at Wal-Mart during Clinton's tenure, despite her apparent prodding. 'There's no evidence she did anything to improve the status of women or make it a very different place in ways Mrs. Clinton's Democratic base would care about,' said Liza Featherstone, author of 'Selling Women Short: The Landmark Battle for Worker's Rights at Wal-Mart.'" [AP, 3/11/06]
While Clinton Was A Director, Wal-Mart Resisted Unionization. The Village Voice wrote, "At the time, Hillary Clinton was still on Wal-Mart's board, and the retail giant was still resisting the unionization of any of its workers." [Village Voice, 5/30/00]
January 22, 2008
CLINTON SAYS SHE WORKED TO PROMOTE WOMEN AND DIVERSITY AT WALMART...
Clinton: I Worked To Promote Women, Diversity, Environment At Wal-Mart. "It's no secret that I served on the Board of Wal-Mart. I took a very active role in promoting diversity and involvement of women. I started talking about and working on the environment and the steps that the corporation could take. But I had disagreements with Wal-Mart that are also well known. I disagree with their approach toward unions and for a long time I urged then to provide healthcare to their workers." [Clinton press avail, 1/22/08]
...BUT THE RECORD SAYS OTHERWISE
Clinton Did Not Rock The Boat On Labor Or Gender Issues At Wal-Mart. The Los Angeles Time reported of Clinton's tenure at Wal-Mart, "Crowded with the others around metal folding tables in the kitchen of a converted warehouse -- a no-frills board room selected by 'Mr. Sam' himself -- Clinton assumed the role of loyalist reformer, making the case for measured change without rocking the boat. [...] Wal-Mart critics say her presence brought little lasting change to the firm. And former executives say she was not a voice for bold reform. 'She was not a dissenter,' said Donald G. Soderquist, Wal-Mart's former chief operating officer and the board's vice chairman during Clinton's tenure. 'She was a part of those decisions.'" [Los Angeles Times, 5/19/07]
A Lawyer Suing Wal-Mart Claims There Was "No Change For The Better" For Women During Clinton's Tenure. According to the Los Angeles Times, "Assigned to work on the diversity issue that preoccupied Walton's wife and daughter, Clinton joined an advisory committee that Walton had assigned to draft recommendations on pay parity and hiring women and minorities as executives. Rhoads said he and Clinton flew to New York to consult with a firm that helped corporations recruit more female directors. But Tom Seay, a former Wal-Mart vice president who was on the advisory committee, said that her 'involvement was limited' and that Wal-Mart staffers did 'most of the heavy lifting.' [...] The committee's existence -- and Clinton's role on it -- was not previously acknowledged by company officials said Joseph T. Sellers, one of the lawyers behind a class action lawsuit against Wal-Mart on behalf of women claiming discrimination. 'There was no change for the better during that period for women at Wal-Mart,' Sellers said. 'If there was change, it was minimal. Nobody knew about it or else it was just too subtle to recognize.' " [Los Angeles Times, 5/19/07]
Fellow Board Member: Clinton "Stayed Pretty Much In The Background On The Board." The Los Angeles Times reports, "On the board, Clinton impressed other outside directors brought in by Walton. 'She stayed pretty much in the background. But she was an advocate for women, quietly and effectively,' said Toys "R" Us founder Charles Lazarus, who became a director in 1984." [Los Angeles Times, 5/19/07]
Former Wal-Mart COO: Clinton Did Not Object To Wal-Mart's Union Policies. The Los Angeles Times reported, "Bob Ortega, author of 'In Sam We Trust,' a history of Wal-Mart, said workers were provided with incentives such as stock purchase programs and bonuses for efficiency while the firm sent in teams of lawyers and executives to stiffen resistance to union organizing efforts. Although the details of Wal-Mart's anti-union efforts were rarely broached during board meetings, Tate said recently, Clinton 'clearly knew the company's reputation.' Tate said that when he 'made presentations on what we were doing' during board meetings, Clinton did not raise objections. [Former Wal-Mart COO] Soderquist agreed, saying there was 'no sign that she had any criticism.'" [Los Angeles Times, 5/19/07]
Clinton Was Silent On Union Issues During Her Tenure On Wal-Mart's Board. Fellow board members and Wal-Mart executive said Clinton used her position on the company's board to champion personal causes, like the need for more women in management and a comprehensive environmental program, despite being Wal-Mart's only female director, the youngest and arguably the least experienced in business. On other topics, like Wal-Mart's vehement anti-unionism, for example, she was largely silent, they said Though she was passionate about issues like gender and sustainability, Clinton largely sat on the sidelines when it came to Wal-Mart and unions, board members said. During their meetings and private conversations, Clinton never voiced objections to Wal-Mart's stance on unions, said John Tate and John A. Cooper, board members who served with her. "She was not an outspoken person on labor, because I think she was smart enough to know that if she favored labor, she was the only one," Tate said. "It would only lessen her own position on the board if she took that position." A spokesman for Clinton said, "Wal-Mart workers should be able to unionize and bargain collectively." [New York Times, 5/20/07]
Critics Said Clinton Did Not Improve the Experience of Female Employees During Her Time on the Wal-Mart Board. The AP wrote, "Critics said there was little tangible change at Wal-Mart during Clinton's tenure, despite her apparent prodding. 'There's no evidence she did anything to improve the status of women or make it a very different place in ways Mrs. Clinton's Democratic base would care about,' said Liza Featherstone, author of 'Selling Women Short: The Landmark Battle for Worker's Rights at Wal-Mart.'" [AP, 3/11/06]
While Clinton Was A Director, Wal-Mart Resisted Unionization. The Village Voice wrote, "At the time, Hillary Clinton was still on Wal-Mart's board, and the retail giant was still resisting the unionization of any of its workers." [Village Voice, 5/30/00]
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