« New McCain Ad: Hillary And Obama Will Answer The 3 a.m. Economic Crisis — By Raising Your Taxes | Home | Internal Poll Shows GOP At Risk Of Losing Once-Safe Seat In Louisiana »
Clinton Camp Source: Richardson Said Obama Can't Win
After reports that Hillary Clinton told Richardson that Barack Obama can't win, one Clinton source now says just the opposite happened — that it was Richardson who said Obama can't win, and now he's lying about it after he endorsed Obama, anyway.
One unnamed Clinton associate told Mark Halperin: "Bill Richardson is clearly embarrassed that he broke his promise to them. He should come out and tell the truth and admit that he told both Clintons that Obama wasn’t ready and can’t win."
Advertisement















Yeah, sure. When it comes to telling the truth, given Richardson's track record and Clinton's track record, I think I'm going to believe Richardson. Is there anything the Clintons WOULDN'T lie about?
April 3, 2008 9:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Gosh, I can't think of any example of the Clintons or their operatives asserting anything that is false.
April 3, 2008 9:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Richardson endorsed Obama so apparently he does at this point think he'd win. A lot of superdelegates who have recently thrown their support to Obama have now done so because they were convinced he was of presidential timber. Non-story.
April 3, 2008 9:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
When you don't like reality, obfuscate and confuse so that no one knows what the hell the truth is. Typical Bush stra... oh wait, the Clintons said this?
April 3, 2008 9:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Look a Mexican"
April 3, 2008 9:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
You're a poopypants.
No, YOU'RE a poopypants!
Does anyone want these children back in the White House? I mean, does anyone SERIOUSLY want them back in the White House? Sure, it might be entertaining for a few weeks, but Jesus, isn't it all too tiring?
April 3, 2008 9:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Haha, its more like "I believe Barack Obama would make a great president"
Bill & Hillary: "YOU F*CKING POOPY PANTS YOU WILL PAY!!!!"
April 3, 2008 9:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
That makes absolutely no sense. Why would Richardson (or anyone) think that Obama can't win? Richardson isn't a fool, he knows the polls, he knows about Hillary's high negative ratings, he knows that the GOP would tear her apart.
Richardson said Obama can't win? Yeah right, that would be why he is endorsing him.
Is is just me or are the Clintons being EXTREMELY childish and vindictive over the Richardson endorsement? He's already had to write one op-ed defending himself from Clinton surrogates and Bill himself, and now they are calling him a liar?
http://www.thepersonalispolitical.com/2008/04/bill-richardson-responds-to-carville.html
I'm sorry but if a Clinton is saying one thing, and Bill Richardson is saying another, it is a no-brainer who I'm going to believe. Richardson is Mr. Do-Gooder, and the Clintons are pathological liars. Give me a break. Pathetic..
April 3, 2008 9:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Plus, it makes them seem so vindictive.
April 3, 2008 9:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sour grapes.
First, why are we to believe what they are saying?
Second, who cares? Richardson changed his mind. Big deal. Whether he felt Obama couldn't win at some point in immaterial (Since the claim is coming from Team Clinton, I find it dubious personally), he went with Obama in the end.
Third, why would they go out of their way to highlight that Richardson endorsed their opponent? Are they finally conceding that Richardson does matter? Seems to me like they are or else they would not be still talking about it today.
April 3, 2008 9:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
I believe we've seen from past performance who the liar is in this instance.
Funny, after all the talk recently of the Clinton camp lobbying to flip Obama delegates that when one of hers flips it's tantamount to treason in her eyes.
April 3, 2008 9:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
If only HRC* was ever embarrassed.
April 3, 2008 9:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Jesus Christ. They really are like children. First they want to change the rules after the game has already begun, just because they're losing, and now they're running to the teacher and playing "he said/she said." Grow up.
April 3, 2008 9:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
So now we are asked to believe Carville? Don't think so.
I think their absurd public excoriation of the very honorable Richardson shows the kind of people they are.
The message: oppose us, and we'll punish you. Luckily, in the case of Richardson, they're making fools of themselves.
Gad. If they treat Richardson this way, in public, what kind of browbeating, threats and general nastiness are they using more quietly with the uncommitted supers?
Do you really want these people back?
I don't.
April 3, 2008 9:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well there is a reason that every single endorser that mentions talking to the Clintons first mention a "very tense" or "very heated" or "very uncomfortable" conversation which they don't want to ever talk about again. I can only imagine the rage and accusations that would fly over the phone at these people, especially if Bill thinks he has one last chance to scare the person into changing their mind.
April 3, 2008 9:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
I guess now we know the reason behind the "Judas" comment.
April 3, 2008 9:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
But wait, was that before or after the sniper fire?
April 3, 2008 10:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
You must be tired.
You said reason but you clearly meant excuse
April 3, 2008 10:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
If Richardson even said such a thing it was most likely in the very beginning when Obama first announced he was running for office. At that time, almost everybody thought Obama would more than likely be Hillary's VP instead of actually beating her for the Presidential spot.
Since that time, Obama's proven to Richardson that he can INDEED beat Hillary and he's shown how he can bring new voters into play.
Richardson opened his eyes and saw the facts. Bill and Hillary are keeping theirs shut like a child does (if I can't see it, neither can you).
April 3, 2008 9:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama should step up and say, "Americans are tired of this childish bickering going on, and it's time to talk about the real kitchen table issues instead of throwing kitchen sinks all over the place."
April 3, 2008 9:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
So, let me get this straight. Richardson endorsed someone he thought was a loser? God, what does that say about the Clinton's?
If I was in the Clinton campaign, I'd reject and deny this new line of attack. It has HUGE boomerang potential.
Just who is running things over there anyway?
April 3, 2008 9:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
So ... the argument goes that Democratic governor Bill Richardson is apparently so eager to have a Republican president that he risked the ire of longtime allies the Clintons in order to endorse a candidate he knew couldn't win despite the fact that he's a frontrunner? Is that about right?
April 3, 2008 9:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, the Clinton's really love the mud. Back-stabbing comments like these make me hope even more that we can sever the hold of the Clinton's on the democratic party FOREVER.
April 3, 2008 9:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Could be they're trying to intimidate other potential Obama supporters - "Watch out, if you don't pick Hillary, we'll call you 'Judas,' 'big fat liar,' 'flip-flopper' and 'idiot.'"
April 3, 2008 9:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Will someone please step up and discipline the clildren in the Clinton camp. The Senator cannot be president until she demonstrates at least a modicum of an example that demonstrates she at least is capable of managing her way out of a paper bag.
April 3, 2008 9:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Multiple choice:
Q. How do you know if someone's lying?
A. They're quoted in a mainstream news story as an "unnamed Clinton associate."
B. His name is Mark Penn or Howard Wolfson.
C. Both of the above.
April 3, 2008 9:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
I believe this Clinton associate is telling the truth.
Because no one is more credible than an anonymous Clinton associate commenting on someone who has endorsed her opponent.
I'm sure the associate is only anonymous because they get lots of spam email.
April 3, 2008 9:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
I have to say, I'm taking much pleasure in seeing the Clinton campaigns collective hissy-fit over the Richard endorsement. From Carville, to Bill going off the other day to this. It's hilarious and pathetic, all at the same time.
April 3, 2008 9:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wow. New rule: No posting before coffee.
"campaign's"
"Richardson"
April 3, 2008 9:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the clarification. For a moment, I thought Keef made an endorsement.
April 3, 2008 10:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
So Richardson changed his mind. So what? The real question is, will Bill and Hillary change THEIR minds once Obama gets the nomination?
April 3, 2008 9:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
No one.
April 3, 2008 9:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
20 mg Zyprexa b.i.d. for each -- that should put a stop to the auditory hallucinations and delusional thinking.
April 3, 2008 9:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think this is right. The only other interpretatiuon is that she and her surregates have become completely unhinged.
It's amusing seeing the Clintons playing the victims here. As if they never threw anyone under the bus to serve their ambitions. Like Lani Guinier.
April 3, 2008 9:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't get the strategy behind this.
We're supposed to believe an unnamed source over Richardson himself?!?
And what does the Clinton camp expect to happen? Richardson will come back to them after being called "Judas" and now, a liar?!
Can't wait to hear Richardson's response, and then furious denials from the Clinton camp that this was an official statement, and that "no one, to our knowledge, ever said that about Richardson."
April 3, 2008 9:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
To me, the problem for the Clinton camp is not Richardson. The problem is a lot of SD about to jump sides. The message is to them: "Jump sides and we are gonna throw a lot of mud on you".
April 3, 2008 9:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
It depends on what the meaning of "win" is
April 3, 2008 10:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
Liar, Liar
Sniper Fire
April 3, 2008 10:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Clintons should be embarrassed. If what they say is true, and Richardson doesn't beleive that Barack can win, the fact that he endorsed Barack over Hillary probably means he thinks her chances are even worse in November.
April 3, 2008 10:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Bloomberg is reporting that Obama has pulled even with Clinton in Superdelegate support.
April 3, 2008 10:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
They're making fools of themselves. Only fans of soap operas are down with this kind of nonsense. And, I mean, it's just not credible. Yeah, hi, Hillary. Your'e out and I'm supporting Obama now because he can't win. If Richardson ever said anything close to that, it was likely a year or more ago, and in an entirely different context. In the current context, it makes no sense.
April 3, 2008 10:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why would Richardson endorse Obama if he thought he couldn't win?
Maybe Richardson thought and said as much earlier (before super tuesday). Many others who now 'believe' also thought earlier that he couldn't win. It is more likely that he had a conversion. If that's the case, then what Richardson may have believed in Jan '08 isn't pertinent to the endorsement. Clinton's camp is either they are trying to discredit the messenger (Richardson) by not clarifying the time frame or someone's leaving out critical data leading to the same effect.
But to think that Richardson would endorse Obama while believing he couldn't win makes no sense.
April 3, 2008 10:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe I'm missing something, but so friggin' what? Who cares what Richardson said while he deliberated about who to support? Even if Richardson had at one point said, "Obama can't win," he's obviously changed his mind. Either that, or he simply can't make himself endorse Hillary regardless of who he thinks is going to win.
In any case, it's a ringing non-endorsement of Hillary.
April 3, 2008 10:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Much more important - in the same section of Time's "The Page":
Obama raised over $40 million in March.
Pro-Hillary Superdelegate NJ Governor Corzine says he reserves the right to switch his vote of HRC doesn't win the popular vote.
She's done. She needs an exit strategy.
April 3, 2008 10:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama raised over $40 million in March?!?!
Good fucking lord, this is starting to get obscene.
April 3, 2008 10:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yep. The Clintons' were planning a second coming, as it were. But, alas, the delegate count isn't in their favor so it looks we won't have a Clinton "Easter" much less the "Second Coming."
April 3, 2008 10:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
When Richardson defended himself against Carvelle last weekend, he said that anyone who said he'd promised the Clintons that he wouldn't endorse Obama was "misinformed or worse," implying that the Clinton camp was lying about him. I expect that serial liar, Hill-liar-y Clinton and perjurer hubby are the liars.
April 3, 2008 10:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
No, you guys, It's true! Hillary remembers the whole thing vividly. She was running from the airplane to an awaiting vehicle with her head down to avoid sniper fire, when she distinctly heard Richardson yelling to her over the noise of the jet engines, "Obama can't win!" Sinbad was there. He'll tell ya!
April 3, 2008 10:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
When Richardson dropped out of the race, almost every comment you saw from a supporter of another candidate said something to the effect of "We lost a good one today..." or "That guy is exactly the type of person that we need in the process...". So essentially, Team Clinton has decided to slime the person who a broad base of interested observers view as an admired, honorable, upright individual. And her supporters continue to claim that she is more qualified and would be better in the general election...
Where is BevD? Billy Glad? JTHB? AJM? Desidero? I never see them popping up to defend HRC when this type of shit hits the fan... But they'll be on some thread an hour from now talking about Reverend Wright...
April 3, 2008 10:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
This whole mess is no different than the very things that happen between any of us and our friends, or our bosses, or whatever, and it has NO BEARING on the end result.
People hear what they want to hear. Richardson might have said at one point that he was worried about Obama's being electable. Why wouldn't he have? It was a genuine concern once upon a time when he was twenty behind Hillary in the polls nationally. Of course, the Clintons would've then heard that s him saying he wasn't electable.
Then, more recently, you have Clinton calling him up and trying to get a yes or no, and Richardson saying things to get them off the phone, probably agreeing a little more than he would've like too, probably talking a little in code. We all do this.
It's all so normal and trivial, I cannot believe it's become this other thing. He endorsed Obama. Why does it matter how he got to that point?
Is this high school algebra? Now it's not enough to endorse, you have to "show your work"?
And in the meantime, Obama's rolling SD's like gutter balls...lots of them. Isn't that what matters?
April 3, 2008 10:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, nothing. I agree with the above, you would have to stretch logic to believe Richardson would bring this up in order to lie about it. It may be difficult to admit it, but her camp lying is really the only plausible explanation, isnt it? It may not matter, counting lies in politics is a fools game, but it looks like the truth is the lie.
April 3, 2008 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Mmmmmm. I smell more than a whiff of warmed over desperation coming from the Clinton camp.
Hillary ain't gonna' be the Democratic nominee, and that's never been a possibility in their world. (See her Super Tuesday strategy if you disagree. Reminds me of GW's "plans" for post-war Iraq.) I think reality is finally getting through to them, and they're livid. How can people be so ignorant as not to see her (their?) greatness?
April 3, 2008 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
It depends on what the meaning of "isn't" is....or your definition of "ready"? It is BS, he said/she said non issue fill. Are we really going to go there, Hill? Don't. Just campaign, say what you're about and stop the HS antics. Let the people vote....and you might want to start doing your JOB in the senate.
April 3, 2008 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why does the press believe anything the Clinton's say?
p.s. If Obama is unelectable, why is he beating the stuffing out of Clinton?
April 3, 2008 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Mark Halperin is reporting comments from an anonymous Clinton official:"
Mark Halperin is a GOP scumbag.
"Anonymous Clinton officials" have an axe to grind.
Why is the media printing this uncredible smear exactly?
April 3, 2008 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink