Already! Second Question In Debate Is About Drudge Story!
Wow, that didn't take long. Brian Williams waited all the way until his second question to ask about the Drudge allegation that Hillary "staffers" allegedly "circulated" a photo of Obama in a turban, whatever that means.
The sole evidence that this happened at all has come only -- we repeat, only -- from Matt Drudge. Yet it's already a topic at this all-important debate.
Asked if her campaign was behind the photo, Hillary said:
"Well, so far as I know, it did not. And I certainly know nothing about it, and have made clear that that’s not the kind of behavior that I condone or expect from the people working in my campaign. But we have no evidence where it came from."
In his response, Obama, to his credit, immediately dismissed the story (though his campaign aggressively attacked Hillary over it a couple days ago). He said:
"I take Sen. Clinton at her word that she knew nothing about it — the photo. So I think that’s something that we could set aside."
So can we set it aside now, then?
wow that SNL reference went over poorly.
February 26, 2008 9:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
You beat me to that. I felt uncomfortable watching it at home. She's really getting desperate. Let's hope she doesn't start throwing around racial epithets.
February 26, 2008 9:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is EXCELLENT NEWS!! FOR HILLARY!!!
February 26, 2008 9:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
WTF was up with the first part of her answer on the NAFTA question? Truly bizarre.
February 26, 2008 9:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Holy shit! Did you just hear her whine about frequently getting the first question in the debates and referencing Saturday Night Live????? What a cringe-producing moment - probably one of the most embarrassing moments in her campaign. My hubby and I both think she totally lost the debate with that remark (and the candidacy). God, that was awful!
February 26, 2008 9:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'll have to disagree with you on that one. There have been several more embarrassing moments in her campaign. Don't make me list them.
February 26, 2008 9:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL - OK, Ben, I'll give that to you! This was certainly among the top 5, OK? ;)
February 26, 2008 9:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh the SNL snark just pissed me off. And she lies on NAFTA.
February 26, 2008 9:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think she's about to cry. This is actually painful to watch. It is also Tim Russert to attack her with NAFTA.
This is not good.
February 26, 2008 9:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
How can HRC say she's been "consistent" on NAFTA? Oh: "You don't have all the records."
February 26, 2008 9:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Some one get a fluffed pillow for Hillary.
February 26, 2008 9:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
have made clear that that’s not the kind of behavior that I condone or expect from the people working in my campaign
Well that's just a flat out lie. Frankly, it's exactly what what we've come to expect from her campaign, which is why nobody believes her when she says it wasn't from her campaign.
February 26, 2008 9:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is absolutely a lie. Drudge should produce his proof.
February 26, 2008 9:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
She's willing to opt out of NAFTA. That ain't going to go over too well in Texas. But she's dropping like a rock here.
February 26, 2008 9:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama seems much more focused this week. I do wish he could pronounce MassaCHUsetts, though.
February 26, 2008 9:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think this is the best debate I've seen this election season. Both of them are right on top of their games.
February 26, 2008 9:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Greg, I will drop it as soon as you admit you are wrong :)
Obama, by the way, exonerated Clinton herself only.
February 26, 2008 9:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm trying to see outside my fanboi mentality for Obama, but I don't think she's covering herself in glory here at all.
I asked my wife, who is usually more sober in her assessments of things, and she's sitting over there shaking her head.
Cringe-o-rama.
February 26, 2008 9:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Barack is doing a great job on the foreign policy question this week. I love the way he drew the parallel between McCain and HRC on Iraq. Full points.
February 26, 2008 9:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
"So can we set it aside now, then?"
Boy I hope so. Election Central is starting to sound like Greg Sargent's personal "the media is being unfair to Hillary over this Drudge thing" blog. You're starting to look a little biased yourself here Greg, imho.
February 27, 2008 12:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
hmm...Could you explain your comment about Greg? His comment appeared to ask why one unsourced post from a part of the wingnut noise machine wound up being a 2nd question and why that unsourced post has you Obamabots dancing around like marionettes on strings that Drudge is pulling.
Your naivete will be fed to you in the general. Open wide.
February 27, 2008 12:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Greg:
As I wrote two days ago, nobody pushed this story harder than your colleagues. Josh even got some less than glowing attention because of his alliance with Matt Drudge in the Daily Howler.
February 27, 2008 9:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why is TPM (not you Greg on this one) any different than Brian Williams or Matt Drudge on this issue. Check out what another liberal blogger writes about TPM's reliance on Matt Drudge. From the Daily Howler.
http://dailyhowler.com/index.shtml
Here's an excerpt from the link above on the role that TPM played in spreading this story that Greg rightfully criticizes Brian Williams for discussing last night:
"Not being stable-boys ourselves, we won’t bother to scoop Josh’s piles; you can limn his posts for yourself. But go ahead: Read his original post, then his update, then read his link to Sargent’s report. There’s nothing new here, the moo-cow said, as he linked to a report which opened like this:
“'On a conference call with reporters just now, Hillary spokesperson Howard Wolfson strongly denied any official campaign role in pushing the photo of Obama in a turban and Somali garb.'”
"If you didn’t click on Josh’s link, you wouldn’t know how absurd his characterization was. But certain types have long played this game. The assumption: You rubes won’t bother to click on that link! Therefore, you won’t see that what has been said is pure, Grade A, moo-cow nonsense."
February 27, 2008 9:58 AM | Reply | Permalink