October 18, 2007
Posted: 07:11 PM ET

WASHINGTON (CNN) — The Republican Party is going back to the well and they are using the Clinton name as a bucket.

In an e-mail to potential donors, Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan highlights a recent allegation that Sen. Hillary Clinton eavesdropped on political opponents in 1992 and suggests the New York Democrat is being hypercritical for not in turn supporting certain terrorist surveillance practices.

“The Clinton attack machine is apparently fine with listening in on phone calls if it bolsters her political ambitions — but Hillary doesn't want to give America's intelligence agencies the ability to conduct surveillance on terrorists plotting to attack our nation.”

“This isn't the first time we've seen Hillary practice such craven political opportunism,” Duncan adds. “She's flip-flopped on virtually every issue having to do with the War on Terror.”

The fundraising solicitation is the latest in a coordinated effort to paint Clinton as hypocritical on the issue of government surveillance in light of the allegation published in a recent book by New York Times reporters Don Van Natta and Jeff Gerth.

Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines has refused to comment on the substance of the allegation.

"It's a valiant effort by Jeff Gerth to get his 16th minute of fame, but we don't comment on books that were utter and complete failures, rift with inaccuracies and falsehoods, and rejected by reviewers and readers alike," Reines said.

Filed under: Hillary Clinton • RNC


Tom Dedham, Mass   October 19th, 2007 10:30 pm ET

Can I get me a zippity do dah, Phil?

There is so much truthful and factual dirt available, it will turn into mud quite nicely.

Steve, Sumter SC   October 19th, 2007 5:30 pm ET

Where have all the statesmen gone? We need more statesmen and less politicians! I am conservative and I amd tired of the inability of both sides to work for the betterment of my country and all of her people!

gop trash miami fl   October 19th, 2007 4:17 pm ET

Republicans are all TRASH

Neill C., Montgomery, Al   October 19th, 2007 3:12 pm ET

Good call. She is a flip flopper of the 1st magnitude. She voted against us being allowed to use 6% of our SS money in the stock market and then proposes a 401K from the government. She has about 6 different stances on Iraq. She flips, then she flops.

Buggie, San Diego, CA   October 19th, 2007 2:37 pm ET

The best arguments that the Republicans can offer are unverified and unverifiable accusations, much like the false “Intelligence” created by Republicans to dupe this country into supporting their war. As always, the only hope that Republicans have is that they will be able to lie themselves back into the hearts and minds of the American people and into the White House. Unfortunately, for Republicans, most Americans have learned from their mistakes of the past seven years and will not be fooled again. Contrary to what the RNC thinks, Americans are smart and will easily see through this tactic.

Sue, Michigan   October 19th, 2007 1:10 pm ET

Has anyone else noticed how much air time Hillary gets from the Republicans? Do they have a positive agenda, any agenda? No, seems like they just want to bash Hillary–I think they doth protest too much! It worked with Kerry, just barely, but it won't work with Hlllary. A winning team doesn't need to bash the other side-that's for people running scared, and the Republicans must be terrified. Go Hillary-save us from the crooks in the WH who are daily undermining our rights and our heritage.

therealist   October 19th, 2007 1:07 pm ET

Is there any wonder why CNN's ratings are eqivalent to our pitiful 110th Congress'??

Henry Tucker, GA   October 19th, 2007 12:59 pm ET

Hillary is just an angry lesbian worried her fake-marriage to a sexual predator might hurt her political aspirations. She sells socialism to the masses – pushing her Anti-capitalism ideology and "buying" votes in the process.

Sadly, there is a large segment of the American population too dumb and too ignorant to think for themselves as they shout: You Go Girl!

PS – yall can thank Pete Stark (D-Ca) for introducing anything-goes political messages.

dawn -- Gaithersburg, MD.   October 19th, 2007 12:35 pm ET

Is this all the Republicans have? A single sourced (unattributed) story by paragon of accuracy Jeff Gerth, all about (GASP!) supposed Clintonian wrongdoing? Very, very SAD.

Pixie, Murfreesboro, TN   October 19th, 2007 12:21 pm ET

Typical tribal wingnut crap. Take something that they are very intimately aquainted with with – HYPOCRISY – then accuse the opponent of engaging in it. That Republican glass house is laying in broken shards at their feet and they have the nerve to call someone ELSE hypocritical? It's absurd.

James, Phoenix AZ   October 19th, 2007 12:20 pm ET

CNN – you're doing a horrible job on your political ticker!

The wording of your articles are attrocious! Clear biased language in MOST articles.

You take ONE poll (1212 people) an spin 7-8 stories – suggesting the "American People" are: Pro-Hillary, Pro-Amnesty for illegal aliens, Anti-Thompson, Pro-SCHIP, Pro- Mormon, etc etc. You refuse to release the poll specifics (questions asked) yet expect to be considered a REAL news source?

Do you have high-school interns working this blog? You run stories – asking for comments and then take HOURS (Days?) before updating. You randomly delete posts without any seeming consistency. The only consistency I HAVE seen is .. if the comment is anti-conservative – anything goes including profanity.

You continually allow comments from fake bloggers (fake-james from Phoenix) who impersonate conservative voices yet make ridiculous liberal remarks.

Again – I have full faith these issues WONT be addressed… and god forbid you post them on your ticker. If you had the courage to post them – it wouldnt be for a couple days considering how "prompt" your staff is at updating the blog.

Steven White Plains New York   October 19th, 2007 11:51 am ET

Everything Hillary stands for is calculated and worked out in advance. Her team is well oiled and flat out better that her competitors. She stands for nothing except what will get her elected. Her ambitions will be realized as she will promise each voting block some government subsidy. The only way she will get defeated is if the country wakes up to a threat of our National security.

straighttalker   October 19th, 2007 11:13 am ET

RNC Pushes Hillary Hypocrisy
Posted 10/18/2007 07:11:30 PM | Permalink

0 comments Friday 10/19/2007 11:00AM

Is CNN hiding the negative comments about Hillary's hyprocisy again? Hmmmm…..

Joe , Ava, Mo   October 19th, 2007 10:32 am ET

We should also remember of the stories of the Clinton's when President Bill Clinton was in office and one of his aid's killed himself in his office, according to news report the Clinton's searched and went inside either before or shortly after it happened. Why were they so quick to want to see what was in there. Also 6 Months after President Bush took office 9/11 happen.President Clinton let our military budget very low. No wonder alqita attacked..Like President Reagan said a Strong military keeps peace. Having a weak military budget invites countries to attack like after 8 years of the Democrats Clinton liberals. We are living in dangerous times in the world and our military is the best, but our next President needs too stregthen the military and expand them. I applaud all our vets and very proud to be a american. We need a strong military minded president too keep us out of wars . Look how Russia is flyiing nukes planes very close to our borders. Will Hillary Clinton Ignore this and raise taxes for pork bugets???
Thank You

P.S. We need another Ronald Reagan type President not a liberal

laurinda,ny   October 19th, 2007 10:00 am ET

Hillary is not flip flopping. Running for president is a very difficult situation to be in. Everything she does,wears,says,etc. is criticized constantly and eventually she has to step back and collect her thoughts so that she can stay on the right track. My advise to her is don't worry what others think, do what you think is right. In the end she will come out on top.

John NC   October 19th, 2007 9:56 am ET

Clinton is a flip-flopper.

demwit   October 19th, 2007 9:42 am ET

"The Republican Party is going back to the well and they are using the Clinton name as a bucket."

No, no CNN liberal bias here…., move along please..

david knowles   October 19th, 2007 9:07 am ET

A whole lot more to this story. I'm calling it "Evesdrop-Gate" which I realize, is a pretty lame title.

http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2007/10/19/hillary-evesdrop-gate-update/

Danny G. Boca Raton, FL   October 19th, 2007 8:38 am ET

ABSURD! How desperate are these Republicans? how flip-floppers are they really, peaching in one hand less-government, yet voting for more government intruding into our civil liberties (in the name of security), let me see, didn't Hitler thought of the same scheme before?) what is wrong with oversight? why shouldn't we have some limits, where are we educating the public? the government cannot be the sole police of our society… we all need to help and be responsible, but I don't see the RNC-brain-dead making that stand… phonies!

wicked monkey minion   October 19th, 2007 7:09 am ET

"Craven opportunism" is Republicans starting a war they won't go and fight. "Craven opportunism" is jenna bush saying it's not practical for her to go fight in Iraq but it's practical for somebody else's daughter to go. As a combat vet, I find that conservatives are the nation's greatest cowards, and the filth that spews from their mouths is always self-centered, anti-American poison. Surveillance, torture, billions squandered. If liberalism is a dirty word, then conservativism is blasphemy against freedom. Which is worse?

Kathie   October 19th, 2007 4:56 am ET

Bush Lite.

Nuff said.

James, Phoenix AZ   October 19th, 2007 1:57 am ET

Now allegations are truth to the RNC?

Why are Republicans so scared of Hillary Clinton that they will stoop to this low level.

The woman must be qualified to be President of the United States. Oo, that's got a nice ring to it!!!

Axel, RKDA, California   October 19th, 2007 1:26 am ET

I think Adlai Stevenson said it best when he said "We'll make a deal with the Republicans. If they stop telling lies about us, we'll stop telling the truth about them."

Van, Beverly Hills, CA   October 19th, 2007 12:23 am ET

Ah, the Clinton machine. People are also forgetting the women that Hillary had investigated that were Bill's girlfriends that he harassed when he was governor.

What type of feminist is Hillary when she allowed Bill to sexually harass women and also humiliate her with several affairs that she tolerated to allow Bill to underwrite her own political ambition?

Scott, Tempe Arizona   October 19th, 2007 12:18 am ET

"…the New York Democrat is being HYPERCRITICAL for not in turn supporting certain terrorist surveillance practices."

Don't you think this word should be "hypocritical?" Let's read the article before we post it…

T-Boz   October 18th, 2007 11:23 pm ET

I thought you neocons liked listening on people's private phone conversations?

Cenn, CA   October 18th, 2007 11:16 pm ET

They have no choice but to attack Hillary because they can't run on the strength of the Republican who wins the primaries. (unless it's Ron Paul)

Mhm   October 18th, 2007 10:25 pm ET

If this baseless attack was even true. Would it really matter? Something like that which happend 15 years ago doesn't affect her ability to lead the country right now. The Republicans are grasping at straws.

And the idea that Hillary is a flip flopper is beyond amusing. Im clearly sad that she wouldn't want to "stay the course" in a terrible, costly, embarrising war in Iraq based on lies out of stubborness like our beloved preisdent.

Daniel   October 18th, 2007 10:21 pm ET

Republicans will need more to attack Clinton! The latest national poll shows her leading Rudy, McCain, Thompson and Romney comfortably, and she is clearly pulling ahead!

MCD, San Francisco, CA   October 18th, 2007 9:51 pm ET

When they haven't really got anything good to complain about… the mud starts flying… typical.

Moe, NY   October 18th, 2007 9:39 pm ET

I do not think there are too many people left in America who believe the RNC/Republican Party. The Republicans are corrupt and their lies just keep on coming. The Republican's will try everything and anything they can to discredit Hillary. Why doesn't the RNC push Republican Hypocrisy. It would certainly be refreshing to hear the truth from Republicans for once!

Steve, Houston, TX   October 18th, 2007 9:25 pm ET

Oh, so it's ok for Bush & our so-called intelligence agencies to eavesdrop on wqhomever they want,and mind you it's not illegal, because Bush says it isn't, but not for Hillary?

Pete, Washington   October 18th, 2007 9:14 pm ET

Are the American voters concerned about this matter of 'Hillary's Hypocrisy"? …As a Democrat, I am kind of embarassed that our frontrunner may have been involved in something like this. I think Hillary owes members of our party an explanation about the facts in this matter, as they are presented in Mr. Van Natta's book, "Her Way"….Do other Democrats feel the same way?…I think that the Clintons would welcome a complete and unbiased examination of the facts, so as to clear their name and put to rest these allegations….If we don't get to the truth, once and for all, you can believe that the 'Swiftboaters' will not let this issue go away…

LaWanda Sheritan LA   October 18th, 2007 8:48 pm ET

aahhh Guys RNC, hello.. YOUR GUYS HAVE LOST! all the bogus Hillary bashing is getting her more and more free press! and its helping her becuase there guys appear so immature. I was supporting obama until his recent crazy political non-sense since he started losing rapidly, wear a pin, refuse to wear a pin, who cares,

True of the matter. Hillary Clinton is the only choice in 2008.

The Admiral St. Augustine Fl.   October 18th, 2007 8:39 pm ET

So, is Mike Duncan saying that this Admin. broke the law? He's saying what Hillary did was the same except for whom they were spying on. If she broke the law then this Admin must have as well. If he's saying that this Admin. didn't break the law, then Hillary didn't either, and Duncan should just shut up. Another Republican shill/hit-job. It won't matter because they will still be LOSERS in 08′.

James, Phoenix AZ   October 18th, 2007 8:29 pm ET

“This isn't the first time we've seen Hillary practice such craven political opportunism,” Duncan adds. “She's flip-flopped on virtually every issue having to do with the War on Terror.”

—-

This would be funny… if it weren't true. To accept Hillary Clinton one must literally have a willing suspension of disbelief!

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