The Clintons at their Best

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]