Obama, Clinton clash over 'scandalous information'

The Clinton camp's denial is at odds with their past of using private detectives to dig up dirt on opponents. Accordiing to the website, Accuracy in Media, "The investigative firm... is the same company hired by President Clinton’s lawyers to investigate his adversaries. It appears that Clinton has left us another legacy -- using spies on our fellow citizens." The name of the firm appears in the citation. There is much more evidence elsewhere to substantiate the use of detectives.
Welcome to the Clinton big leagues, Obama.

In other words, the Hillary/Bill campaign's view is that Obama believes that if it looks like a skunk, and smells like a skunk, it must be strawberry short cake and if you raise questions about it you are inexperienced. Everybody knows that when Lord Bob Novak speaks the whole World listens. So, we shall see what we shall see, shan't we?

This is only the first of many such attacks to come against Obama from Hillary and her camp of thugs. The whole reason I will vote for Senator Obama is because I am tired of the old way of politics. It is time for a fresh approach, not a retread of the past.

And people wonder why many life-long Democrats like me continue not to trust Hillary Clinton?! Seems like Hillary's people are taking a page from the Republican National Committee playbook which has worked so well in the past to smear the likes of John Carey and so many others. Shame on them!

Enough of the dirty politics from the Bush and Clinton administrations. We need a positive change.

Vote Obama!

Robert Novak is an irrelevant, traitorous scumbag. Anyone who takes his word (Paulo/Jerry White) as valid is a moron.

This is not a big deal. Someone has pointed out that with Hillary Clinton, you do not have to dig up the dirt you can simply walk on her dirt. He pointed out just a few -Vince Foster's mysterious death, money for presidential purdon of criminal, White Water --- the dirt went on and on.

I think it makes Obama look like a Saint when they are digging to find dirt on him. Here is a guy who wrote a book and said some things about himself that no public figure has done.

Hil cannot win a general election. I can't believe that the same people who have been brutalized in the last 8 years would actually want to bring back someone who was involved in setting up the last 8 years.

Does anyone like HIllary? or is it this delusional 1990's era "Bill" Clinton aura that is responsible for her lead.

hey Doug did you mean john kerry?or did you really mean drew careys brother?one reporter has all the democratics panties in a bunch.wow and it is still early,wait until next year

The Clintons are the masters of the smear. This anonymous smear is only the latest in a long line of Clinton smears, and is right out of the Bill/Hillary/DNC playbook.

They all need to stop bickering and start talking about topics or the future of this country.
I am ashamed of Obama with these tactics

Look at the wording:

Before: "Senator Clinton should either make public any and all information referred to in the item, or concede the truth: that there is none."

After: "The Clinton campaign has admitted that they do not possess the ‘scandalous information’ ..."

In both instances, even after the Clinton campaign said they don't have the information, Obama's campaign treats the article as true. They try to spin it into a win on their part - the Clinton campaign "admits" they don't have the scandalous information.

Well, that's not what they did. They said they have no idea what Novak's talking about. Not trusting Hillary shouldn't equate into trusting Obama. BUT it should translate into trusting Biden!

Vote Biden!

Much ado about little. It is a wonder that Novak is listened to about anything. I think he needs to find himself in jail for the Plame business. And fired for dishonesty.

It appears to me that we either have a bunch of the old Clinton hating republicans posting as democrats or a bunch of people who really don't care if the next president is Romney or Giuliani and 2 or 3 more conservative supreme court justices are named and the country is run further into the ground.

I think Clinton did a great job as president, I think Hillary will too, I also support Obama and think he will make a wonderful president. In fact I'll support whoever is the standard bearer of the democratic party. I hope the rest of you don't fall for this divisive crap. In part this is how the republicans destroyed the opposition in 2000 and 2004.

Victory= Divided opposition + motivated base.

Obama fell for a really unsophisticated trick. He let the Clinton campaign dirty him up without having to get their hands dirty. They look right for not releasing whatever it is they may have had, and he looks both like a potential liar and a novice. And even if they didn't do it this time, they have done it before, it is elegant in its simplicity, and Novak knows that. Pity.

Viewers should picket CNN to let them know that America knows the debate was slanted towards Clinton. There is no way we should let them get away with the crap the pulled

I find it shocking to read posts by people who [apparently] haven't learned the importance of scrutinizing ALL criticism of the Clintons. As taxpayers, we funded millions in the Whitewater investigations, special counsels, bogus 'murder' investigations and what did it all lead to? Oh, yeah...an affair with an intern. What a waste!

Now, Novak (a notorious Clinton-hater) throws you some unsubstantiated claim, and you race thru the village with your torches as though its the truth. What's wrong with you people? Are you sheep? Do you remember this man (Novak) is the same person who claimed repeatedly that Osama bin Laden was NOT A THREAT to the U.S. and that Clinton was only trying to get us to focus on him as a diversion to what was "really" important at the time(Lewinsky). At some point, Americans have to take some responsibility for what they believe -- and who they listen to. Personally, I choose to listen to the Clintons, who have been right on almost every important issue and have proven themselves highly capable of moving our country in the right direction. If you choose to listen to a man that engages in 'treason' by outing a CIA operative (Plame) and is more focused on nailing the Clintons than on the rising threats around us, you do so at your own peril. I've learned my lesson and will no longer be led around by my nose, like a sheep, by some of these Clinton hate-mongers.

This was incredibly stupid of Obama. Go after Hillary over a scammy Novak column. How nice to give Novak the credibility of this whole ridiculous attack on his part.

We already have scandalous information about Obama--his longtime cozy relationship with the infamous, and now indicted Tony Rezko. Supposedly, they are no longer pals, but who knows what happens in the bowels of Chicago Machine politics. Anyway, what more do we need in the scandal department. We know that, like all powerful American politicians, Obama is, well, easily manipulated shall we say, by those with lots of money. Exactly what we need as the person in charge of the world in this age of US hegemony.

These are typical tactics of course, but Hillary has taken it to a new level: Let’s leak ‘scandalous innuendo’ but take the high road and proclaim they won’t use it and leave it all at the doorstep of Bob Novak (aka Republican muckraker). The damage is done, Obama’s forced to react and Hillary will decry the mud slinging! It’ perfect! If they have something on him, great; they’ll claim they were keeping it under wraps but the Rush Limbaugh press pried it from them to expose the scandal. If they don’t really have anything all they have to do is wait; Mr. Obama's proximity to Anton ‘Tony’ Rezko and the churning US Attorney investigation here in Illinois is sure to produce some scandalous tidbits like his ‘momentary lapse of judgment’ discount real estate transaction and his soon to be picked apart support of Mr. Rezko’s New Kenwood LLC and the disaster of the Cottage View Terrace apartment deal. Either way, Hillary wins and her campaign can keep up the drumbeat of Mr. Obama’s inexperience. One thing though, for this to work the press would need to start digging and it may be that the press has already given Mr. Obama a pass due to his ‘rock star’ status. In the meantime, Hillary looks smug and satisfied, Rezko pays his attorney with the 850K he pocketed on the failed Cottage View Terrace deal, and the people wonder just how smart and experienced is Mr. Obama to leave himself exposed in such obvious and avoidable way.

It is untrue to state that Senator Obama accused the Clinton campaign of anything. Please take the time to visit his website and read his statement. He is denouncing this sort of smear tactic from whatever the source. He notes that Hillary has often spoken out against "the politics of personal destruction" and asks her to step up and either put the alleged information out there or denounce the tactic.
The strategy of the Clinton camp in regards to Senator Obama has become laughingly predictable---look for any opening to accuse him of being inexperienced. And most likely if Obama had not immediately responded to this smear and it damaged his campaign the Clinton camp would portray that as inexperience also. They're pulling a classic "damned if you do and damned if you don't." Sigh. . .we know the tactic too well.
By immediately responding to this article Senator Obama put everyone on notice that he will stand up against this way of doing politics. You could say he's standing up for democracy.

Hilary couldnt even watch her own house, how can anybody vote for her to watch the Whitehouse. When she was there she didn't even know what was happening. How could anybody not think the same STUFF(edited) would not continue. Hell has a nice spot set aside for the clintons.

How dare anyone accuse HILLARY of 'mud-slinging'??? How dare anyone suggest HILLARY would sully anyone's reputation??? She is like a 'ROMAN WIFE' so full of virtu-honour-just like the 'wives' of sat CALIGULA, or NERO!!! HILLARY the very embidiment of chastity and decorum - Ha!!! Ah HILLARY not as smart not as articulate not as good-looking as 'IL DUCE - BENITO MUSSOLINI' but then “…asbestos” pants-suits hide a lot of 'UGLINESS'/CORRUPTION is being 'attacked' for her stupidity and malapropisms!!! The FEMALE FASCIST first made the mistake of 'taking' maximum size donations from CHINESE DISHWASHERS who couldn't be traced. Next it was getting ILLEGALS to receive DRIVERS LICENSES when she tried to play the old CLINTON 'shell game' of being on all sides of the issue depending whom she was 'speaking at'. Now it is not giving a 'tip' to some frowsy little waitress that HILLARY wanted to 'schmooze' at a photo op for HILLARY and her band of DEMBHOLE-DIMWITS and sycophants. The 'commoners' hate you HILLARY. GO AHEAD DRAG OUT YOUR PRETEND-HUSBAND BILL aka D*CKHEAD - this adds even less to your 'so-called' credibility with his lies, mechanations, outright flaunting of MS. STRONACH and his other 'BIMBETTES' which you 'helped dispose of over so many years. All hail the 'new' FEMALE FUHRER - HILLARY!!! HIELE HILLARY!!! Ha! What a pathetic joke who has never achieved anything but be elected a U.S. SENATURD by DEMBHOLE-DUMMIES in NY where HILLARY said she was a NYYankees fan! Ha! And all 3 million papers which HILLARY claims prove her competence are locked safely away by order of yes, her co-conspirator one D*CKHEAD BILL. HILLARY a lying FASCIST for our times. Now HILLARY says she is tired of the ‘mud-slinging’ from the Lilliputians at the DEMBHOLE ‘so-called’ DEBATE in VEGAS. The sobriquet ‘what happens in VEGAS stays in VEGAS’ held true as the ‘Nielsen ratings’ proved that no one watched or cared!!! No ‘mud-slinging’ eh HILLAY??? YOU MUST HAVE ‘SPACED-OUT’ ALL the ‘smears’ of D^CKHEAD BILL’s BIMBETTES and the other ‘enemies’ of your co-presidency. DEMBHOLES should be insulted that HILLARY is the #1 CHOICE FOR FEMALE FUHRER – for now. hillary would never do anything unseemly or stoop to use the F.B.I. FILES she & D^CKHEAD STOLE. Ha!!!

I think it was incredibly smart of Obama to respond quickly and forcefully. He showed he will not lie down, like John Kerry, and ignore slander against his character, no matter where it comes from. Nobody who was 'dirty' would call on others to come out with it. The accusation of 'devoid on facts but heavy on innuendo' was directed at Novak's article, not the Clinton campaign. To the Clinton campaign Obama gave the benefit of the doubt and called on her to clear things up for her own reputation as well. It was a well written response that shores up Obama's integrity and honesty. It's a shame that the Clinton campaign responded, not by immediately decrying Novak for basically slandering them as well (assuming his piece is a lie) but instead attacked Obama and attempted to make him look inexperienced. This just makes the Clinton campaign look worse for being willing to try to make a political barb out of republican slander. Obama has come out showing he will not be bullied and that he is sure of himself.

Here we go...Read the posts. Obama is naive to think that Novak was telling the truth. When did Novak lie concerning Valerie Plame? Now sure we think he was a jerk for revealing it, but he didn't lie.

In July the democratic race is tightening. Hillary calls Obama Naieve. Now Hillary says talking to enemies is good. Umm. Where was everyone talking about party division then? Absent as usual.

Now Obama calls attention to an issue of old style politics. He wants a more unified national policy. Hillary is the best for the old style of politics, but not the new. The fact Obama sux at giving vague answers, and happy with status quo gamesmanship makes me a very happy person.

As for Obama should have sat on his hands. Every time Hillary has treated Obama like a two year old he sat on his hands and lost ground. Now he will take every attack real or imagined and counter. Now he is gullible according to the spin. Hillary is strong. All she has to do is play on popularity of Husband. I am your girl. You know who is fighting for you. You know where I have been?

Scheming. Plotting. Analyzing. Deliberating. But never DOING. In six years she created NO BILLS. Now by saying that it is an attack. But when her campaign says, "Obama didn't vote on Iran measure." It was fairplay. This election is about Hypocrisy. Glory to the biggest hypocrit.

For reference, the full email sent out by the Obama campaign. It's very lawyerly in its implication of the Clinton campaign, and it makes no effort to challenge the veracity of Novak's report. EJButler, this looks like an accusation. There's still a chance to hop over to the Biden camp!

During our debate in Las Vegas on Thursday, we heard Senator Clinton rail against the politics of ‘throwing mud.’

“At the very same time, in Washington, Robert Novak was publishing a column in which he reported the following: ‘Agents of Sen. Hillary Clinton are spreading the word in Democratic circles that she has scandalous information about her principal opponent for the party’s presidential nomination, Sen. Barack Obama…’

The item did not identify these ‘agents,’ nor did it reveal the nature of the charge. It was devoid of facts, but heavy on innuendo and insinuation of the sort to which we’ve become all too accustomed in our politics these past two decades. If the purpose of this shameless item was to daunt or discourage me or supporters of our campaign from challenging and changing the politics of Washington, it will fail. In fact, it will only serve to steel our resolve.

But in the interest of our party, and her own reputation, Senator Clinton should either make public any and all information referred to in the item, or concede the truth: that there is none. (emphasis mine)

She of all people, having complained so often about ‘the politics of personal destruction,’ should move quickly to either stand by or renounce these tactics.

I am prepared to stand up to that kind of politics, whether it’s deployed by candidates in our party, in the other party or by any third party.

The cause of change in this country will not be deterred or sidetracked by the old ‘Swift boat’ politics. The cause of moving America forward demands that we defeat it.

Bill Clinton, on TV last nite in New Hampshire stated that he is sure that Hillary is the best Candidate. That*s absurd// The former President has been out of politics for some time and knows very little about the other intelligent and capable candidates.

Hillary and Bill will continue to spit out fire and repeatedly in oncoming speeches, debates,TV appearances,etc. make statements that (Hillary) "I am the BEST candidate and most EXPERIENCED to run the country. The other candidated are intelligent and capable. It is up to the Public to decide who they want for the job. Not Hillary.

All the candidates have a lot of experience. But, who has the better judgement? Judgement is more important than experience.

Hey, don't worry about the small stuff, check out my funny office humor website, www.typicaloffice.com

Obama has given Bob Novak a great week end. Novak probably can't stop laughing. A drop of unsubstantial innuendo and he has his mortal enemy Hillary being attacked by another of those hated Democrats, Barak Obama.
This is an easy twofer with no facts nesessary.

"Agents of Sen. Hillary Clinton are spreading the word in Democratic circles that she has scandalous information..."

Is this Walter Winchell or Hedda Hopper writing this crap from their graves?
No.
It's Bob Novak.
Same thing.

This is why I have decided to vote for Barack Obama if he's still in the race come the Illinois primary, and to vote for a Republican if he is not.

For the past two decades now (not coincidentally dominated by the Bushes and Clintons), we have seen presidential campaigns filled with the politics of deception.

A vote for Clinton is a vote for those kind of politics and I think we have learned that the product of those campaigns is not in the interest of the American people.

How many more months of this? I say LETS VOTE ALREADY and whichever democrat wins bounce Bush's sorry rump out of the White House and lets get on with it!

My grandfather was almost beaten to death in the Steelmill Riots of the 1930s. We have been an ultra strong Demacratic Party family since. As I look at the Party of 2007, I fear it has gone terribly, terribly far to the radical left. What with killing of inocent babies in their mothers' wombs; homosexuals marrying; voting against our men and women in uniform at every opportunity, just to be a thorn in the side of a Republican president; being more concerned with the "rights" of suspected terrorists (water boarding) than with the safty and well being of those they swear to wipe from the face of the earth, us.

No, sadly, this is no longer the great Democratic Party of the little guy, which my late grandfather loved and worked so hard for all his life.

It would be a dark day of doom should any of the pathetic creatures that make up the top of the Democratic field where to be handed the powers of the presidency. Pity the Country. Pity the world.

Jack Celtic

Jack, you are correct, the current Democratic party is nothing like the ole. This party has been falling for the past 30-40 years and more old-line, mainstream Democrats are realizing that.
My uncle was a staunch Democrat at one time. First Republican he voted for was Reagan because of the Jimmy Carter debacle, and working for a new home builder the high interest rates under Carter just about killed his boss and job. He drifted back to the Democrats though, but beginning in 1996 he voted for Dole over Clinton and has voted Republican ever since. He also regrets his vote for Blago in 2002. Did not vote for him in 2006.

Hilary is at her tricky politician kind of game and it is very experienced for barack Obama to call her for her ways and that of her husband.

Like Obama said, 'if you've got anything on me, then let hear it and if you do not, then shut-up'

This is the reason why l will never vote for Hilary. God l am sick and tired of Bush/Clinton. They are both liars and cheats. They deceive the American people so much. l am just sick and tired of the name Clinton!!! l do not like to hear her cackles anymore.

Reminds me of the Rove/Bush ploy saying McCain had a "black baby". A poster on another blog has questioned--could Rove be working for a Dem now? Makes sense. Yes? The Dem who is closest to a Bush Repub?...who votes as a Repub in Dem clothing?... one that will continue the Bush (tax cuts for the wealthy, continued billions for occupation, increased surveillance of Americans, US-depleting trade agreements, and corporate and lobbyist gravy train) agenda?

The vast numbers of undecided voters will not vote for Hillary or Obama given what they ALREADY see and know know of the two. The undecided just don't know what other Dem they will go for yet. Edwards seems to be the one to give America back to Americans. Biden sounds knowledgable too--perhaps Pres., or Sec'y of State for any Dem pres.

Some people think that they are a fighter like Rocky Balboa and never give up; only to find out that they will be crying in their beer when they lose.