Its so stupid how instead of mourning for Bhutto death, Obamas campaign is linking it to Hillary Clintons vote. Come on, this is not a moment to use these tragic events to boost your candidate. Its a sad and low blow! Shame on Obama's chief strategist David Axelrod!

How Disgraceful of Alexrod. Obama just lost my vote.!!
May God Bless Benazir Bhutto and her family. Her strength and courage should be an inspiration to all.

Disgusting. John McCain is just as bad. These are concrete examples of how these men lack the tact to serve as the country's head diplomat.

David Axelrod's comments are a reason why WE all should think seriously about voting for Obama. This is so IRRESPONSIBLE for David to suggest a link between Bhutto's death and Hillary Clinton. The Obama camp has been complaining about negative campaign..well….this shows how hypocritical they can be. Obama is losing support in Iowa and his advisors have become very desperate. People in Iowa will certainly take notice of David's comments and they will chose at the end of the day positive experience that can bring about change. Time to stop the Obama CIRCUS. We do not need an entertainer in chief but instead someone who can be effective from day one. Our children's future is at risk and I don't certainly want to put it into Obama's hands. Next week…Iowa will chose experience and real change versus theatrical change. Time to be serious now…………this is a dangerous we are living in.

Yet another mis-representation of Obama from the Clinton's News Network (CNN)

This is the most outregeous comment ever from the Obama campaign? It is the lowest level of desperation any campaign could show at exploiting Bhutto's death for political ends. Sincerely, how could any one link Clinton to Bhutto's death if it isn't a case of desperation? To say Clinton is responsible for Bhutto's death because she voted to authorize war in Iraq and that she votted to lebel the Iranian Republican Army a terrorist organization is from the brains of the simplest of simpletons.

If that is what David Axelrod believes is a political stregy I sympathize with the deficiencies in the Obama campaign. It is desperation that will fatally lay to waste the Obama campaign before Iowa Jan 3rd.

David Axelrod speaks like a mental case and I sincerely believe that he is even by just looking at his facial composure and body language. The whole Obama campaign will sink beyond rescue on Jan 3rd in Iowa because of Axelrod's dumb remarks. How silly can one be. Believe me.

this is really patheitc move on Obama's part. It shows he would stoop to any level to get ahead even it means selling his own family

How can we "stay focused" on "its implications for the US and the world" and "the country's stability" while simultaneously not talking about politics??? The statement by the Hillary camp makes utterly no sense. I woman of politics died today, and we're not going to talk about her politics and how they affect ours??? Sounds like the Bush administration again.

What a tasteless SLUR by CNN. Axelrod did not imply in any way that Clinton was responsible for Bhutto's death. CNN must really be the Clinton News Network

Wow. According to Obama, EVEN this is Hillary's fault somehow?????? Incredible.

David Axelord is an idiot for making that comment, and I am not even a Clinton supporter. Jay Carson actually made the proper response.

This is a pothetic cheap shot by the Obama campaign. Do they have vertabraes? They have some "audacity". The sad part about this is Obama will not be discredited for this nonsense. If Hillary's campaign would have made such accusations they would have been under more scrutiny.

America should not spoon feed the Obama campaign and their egos. On a day when we are severely hurt by the tragic assassination of Bhutto, the Obama camp should not be trying to make political gains. Shame on Obama.

What's this? In the face of the Obama campaign's repeated attacks against Clinton for bringing up his admitted past drug use through subordinates, here we have a top Obama spokesperson accusing her of no less than murder. We'll see if the media even bothers to latch on to this as they did for repeated news cycles against the Clinton campaign. Somehow Obama's dirty tactics have remained above reproach, but here is the latest and most egregious example of how his campaign knows no bounds in slinging mud. Really disgusting.

Barack Obama was not in the position to make a judgment on the war in Iraq. He was not playing on the National Stage at that time. It's very easy to stand back while you're sitting in the statehouse and tell your constituents what they want to hear. It's another matter to be sitting in the United States Senate and make these decisions. Obama is the Democratic counterpart of G.W. Bush, an arrogant empty suit!

I cannot believe he would say that. He was totally of!

The Barack Obama campaign has signs of "Bush gaffs" written all over it. With this very important and tragic event unfolding in Pakistan, the first thing the Obama campaign does is start fumbling words and making false accusations. His foreign policy inexperience is quickly showing along with his campaigns inexperience. This country cannot afford another 4 years of a president learning how to speak on the world stage (while in office). We must elect a candidate with more experience and the ability to hit the ground running on day one.

If I am not mistaken, Obama was not in the Senate when the vote on
Iraq was cast. So, no one knows how he would have voted. I can tell
you one thing and do another, just to make myself look good and be
correct. Hindsight is 20/20. Also, Obama was not in the Senate a
couple of months ago when critical issues were brought to a vote.
Again, I can be correct after the fact, even if I didn't cast a vote one
way or another.

yea, that's right is Hillary's fault… oh my.

Someone should tell that moron to learn a little about the history of Pakistan before he opens his big mouth. Talk about irresponsible.

Oh and as a reminder….Obama was just a state senator at the time of the Iraq vote. I wonder how things might be different if he was a U.S. senator at the time.

GOOD JUDGMENT TRUMPS EXPERIENCE.

What a joke Obama and his staff are. How horrible is this to comare the death of Ms. Bhutto, a long time friend of Hillary's, to her vote on Iraq. That's low blow and I hope the people of Iowa read this, and caucus for anybody but Obama! Whatever happened to the politics of hope!

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/27/mrs-clinton-and-ms-bhutto/

Desperation, Bambi, desperation. You become more pathetic by the day. Why don't you get Mommy Orpah to wipe your… drool. Grow up and maybe someday you can be president. It the meantime, stop embarrassing yourself.

From my understanding Clinton's team was the first one's trying to say this is the reason she needed to be Commander and Chief for reason like this. And of course Obama's team is going to reply and point out their view. In my view Obama did say Pakastain is a danger and needed to be addressed. Hillary called him inexperience for saying that, and that he was out of line for saying that. Now she probably wishes she had said the same thing at that time.

This guy is sick, great example of Obamas people skills in making a decision for a chief strategist

DES MOINES – Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) directed fierce shots Thursday at his two chief rivals, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and former Sen. John Edwards (N.C.), as he delivered his new stump speech at the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple.Obama’s criticisms were just another example of his reneging on his campaign promise of running a different kind of campaign.

More proof that Obama doesn't have what it takes to be President.

This is nothing but the Clinton News Network trying to cover for Hillary's floundering campaign. They'd rather report this garbage than to get into why it is that Hillary is continuously overstating her foreign policy "experience."

Iraq? Misjudgement
Iran? Caved in to Bush
Rwanda? Supposedly wanted intervention but NO evidence to suggest as such
Didn't even have a security clearance!
Genocide? Didn't intervene in Rwanda and has said would not intervene in Iraq.

If Clinton would worry about the implications of EVERY action, and not just the implication of word choice during a tragedy, she might start to make the correct decisions. The fact of the matter is, we went all out into Iraq instead of remaining focused on Afghanistan and Pakistan, where the real enemy hides, where the real battle needs to be fought. Musharuf is a military pawn and did NOTHING to protect Bhutto. Do Obama's earlier comments about bombing terrorists in Pakistan if Pakistan does nothing to stop the terrorists still seem so "naive"?

Bhutto HERSELF commented on Obama's statement of "bombing Pakistan" a few months ago:
Bhutto's Reaction To Obama's Comment on Military Force

QUESTIONER: You may have covered that, what I was going to ask you next, but let me try it anyhow.

We had quite an interesting, and indeed still are, mini-debate here politically between two — initially two of the Democratic aspirants for presidents, and it spread now across party lines. And Barack Obama kicked it off by saying, "If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won't act, we will." That's a direct quote from a recent speech of his. What is your reaction to that?

BHUTTO: Well, I wouldn't like the United States to violate Pakistan's sovereignty with unauthorized military operations. But the issue that I would like to stress is that Barack Obama also said, if Pakistan won't act. And that's the critical issue, that the government has to act. And the government has to act to protect Pakistan's own serenity and integrity, its own respect, and to understand that if it creates a vacuum, then others aren't going to just twiddle their thumbs while militants freely move across the border.
===

Does Obama STILL sound naive? I don't think so. Bhutto herself stressed the need for government action against terrorism. That applies in America too. We need to act agaisnt terrorism, but there is a correct time and a correct place, and Iraq was the WRONG CHOICE back in 2002.

Truth hurts! Although HRC would like us to believe merely ignoring the fact that she made a bad decision does not release us from the catasrophic affects of it. Unfortunately, this single vote call her judgement so clearly into question because anyone with half a brain saw the Iraq war as nothing short of a diversion from the real war in Afghanistan and the hilly regions that lie between it and Pakistan. The least she could do is apologize and admit that her vote was the politically expedient thing to do. Not the morally right thing to do.

How is he links Clinton vote and Bhutto death? CNN, C'mon. Dont be ridicilous.

This is what he said:

REPORTER: But looking ahead, does the assassination put on the front burner foreign policy credentials in the closing days?

AXELROD: Well, it puts on the table foreign policy judgment, and that's a discussion we welcome. Barack Obama had the judgment to oppose the war in Iraq, and he warned at the time it would divert us from Afghanistan and Al Qaeda, and now we see the effect of that. Al Qaeda's resurgent, they're a powerful force now in Pakistan, they may have been involved — we've been here, so I don't know whether the news has been updated, but there's a suspicion they may have been involved in this. I think his judgment was good. Sen. Clinton made a different judgment, so let's have that discussion.

Tell me how he links it?

This is ridiculous, CNN!

Thats a big leap even for Obama.

Where's the logic. At least she, and the other Senator's had the fortitude to make a stand when all evidence appeared to show we were at dire risk of an imminent attack with weapons of mass destruction. He just sat on the sidelines–now he uses every opportunity to attack the people who were doing their patriotic duties to the best of their ability (as their oath says). He is a putz.

That is spot on, Hillary's judgement in authorizing a war in iraq while the war in the Afghan-Pakistan border region was still totally incomplete, definitely contributed to the mess in Pakistan now. A better approach would have been to finish one job at a time and do it right, which is, to make sure that Al Quaeda was completely destroyed in the area and not just exported 50 miles to Pakistan, where they are in a better position than they were before, with access opening to a nuclear arsenal. Al Quaeda outplayed the US in this chess game at every turn, they brought us into a quagmire, the way they had done to the Soviets, and the way the Soviets had done to the Nazis

And I'm sure our decision to enter World War II somehow led to Bhutto's death through butterfly effect as well.

The Obama camp is throwing a lot of stuff at Clinton these days, but this is ridiculous!

In all honesty, I think that Obama's camp needs to apologize to Ms. Clinton. Using such a terrible tragedy to make brownie points is ridiculous to the extreme.

This is a ridiculous headline. Nowhere in Axelrod's statement did I find anything indicting Hillary in anyway. CNN continues to visit sensationalistic territory…and continues its Clinton bias. Very disappointing at a time like this!

Is this guy for real? That's the biggest crock to come out of the Obama campaign yet.

I dont remember Obama's vote on the Iraq war. Oh yeah, he was not in Washington at the time.
But he was in Washington when they voted on Iran. Oh yeah, he did not vote on that issue.
But they still fling mud. LOL

Surrealist,

There was no evidence that showed we were at dire risk from an attack from Saddam. In fact all the evidence pointed to the contrary, that he was contained and he made no outward threats against American lives. The fact is she simply drank the Koolaid and now wants to make GWB the scapegoat for her failure to exercise due dilligence when deciding the fates of thousands of lives. It is exactly this type of calculation that is creating the wind behind Obama's sails. He did not sit on the sidelines… He voiced his opinion publically that this was a wrongheaded mistake to go to war in Iraq against Saddam, when those that attacked us, were still left to plot and plan. Your dillusions bare the only ring of putzdom!

As usual, CNN slants the report. Axelrod was pushed for an answer by the reporter who asked the question directly about Hillary Clinton. He was NOT making a "statement" in general about the assasination. He was answering a direct question by a reporter pressing for an answer. I suppose the headline would have been "Obama campaign avoids reporter's questions" if he had refused to answer a very pointed question.

CNN, I am disappointed!!! Please change the headline because he said no such thing.

He didn't blame Hillary for Bhutto's death, nor did he 'back away' afterwards. Only the typical CNN Clinton-biased spin plays it this way. It has become truly blatently ridiculous and has reduced CNN's reputation immeasurably.

The Obama campaign is run by a bunch of scumbags.

Could we come up with a better way to choose our party nominees? I am sick and tired of being tired and sick over these primaries. This was old a year ago.

This is going too far. Shame on Obama to approve such a comment. Would he fire Axelrod for insinuating this outrageous view?

Axelrod may have jumped the gun here because there are so many factions in Pakistan, anyone of them could be responsible. We have to wait for one of them to claim responsibility, which is the usual next step in such an event. That said, when Bhutto survived a previous attack several weeks ago, she had to know her life was on the line in a country where her open support for America against terrorists may have triggered their response in this attack. As for Musharraf, he is now caught between a rock and a hard place, and whether or not he is part of this assassination, he is looking at a potentially massive social unrest that may warrant re-introduction of emergency rule leading right past elections next month. Musharraf remains America's ally in the war on terror, whether we like him or loathe him. With Bhutto gone, who is the next best alternative? Finally, whoever wins the 2008 elections has to be ready to go to work from day one dealing with 'forces of change' that seek to topple America. That's what terrorists ultimately seek to do, and unless WE stop them in their territory, they will stop at nothing to try and do damage in our territory!

This article is absurd and misleading tabloid journalism to sell more advertising (next to photo).

Hmmm….

Another Clinton Campaign In-Kind Contribution by CNN. Is the FEC paying attention to this? I'm serious. This is a scandal.

To claim that the war in Iraq has contributed to the situation in Pakistan is a ridiculous stretch. This region has major problems that would exist even if the US had not invaded Iraq. There is no reasonable connection between the two. If anything this region has been destablized by comments like Mr. Obama's which claimed that we should have been violating Pakistan's soverignty to catch terrorists. Mr. Obama and is adivsers continually show why they cannot be trusted to deal with sensitive situations on the international scene. Even Bush hasn't been dumb enough to make those type of irrepsonsible comments in regards to this country. Pandering to the extreme left to get votes will do nothing to make the US more secure and the middle east more stable, but that seems to be the extent of Mr.Obama's plans for dealing with this region.

Axelrod said: "I believe our policies in Iraq have had a direct impact on events in Pakistan and Afghanistan, but I would not suggest there is a straight line relationship between the events of today in Pakistan and anyone’s particular vote,” he said.

So why, Jessica Yellin, Gloria Borger and Candy Crowley does the headline say:
Obama advisor links Clinton vote and Bhutto death?

Senator Barack Obama issued a statement today on the tragic death of Benazir Bhutto: “I am shocked and saddened by the death of Benazir Bhutto in this terrorist atrocity. She was a respected and resilient advocate for the democratic aspirations of the Pakistani people. We join with them in mourning her loss, and stand with them in their quest for democracy and against the terrorists who threaten the common security of the world.” Barack Obama

The really sad thing is when you read articles like this you know they are written by a biased reporter, and then you see they are females. The Clinton campaign is not doing good things for women's equality.

Wait a minute! The article says:

”Axelrod was responding to reporters' questions whether Bhutto's assassination enhances claims that her [H. Clinton] foreign policy experience may make her more fit to serve as commander-in-chief."
———————-

WHAT FOREIGN POLICY EXPERIENCE?

Excuse me.

What Foreign policy experience?

Obama are you kidding me!! Are you suggesting that senator Clinton was involved in the assassination of Bhutto? Hussen Obama you are getting desparate. If democrats want to lose another election, your choice is senator Barak Hussen Obama

Let's see. Where exactly was Obama during 2002? Hmmmm….probably getting rich off of a land deal and telling his voters what they wanted to hear. Meanwhile, DC was infested with GOP thugs renaming food, throwing out all of their French wine and cheese, making the word "liberal" a bad word, dressing the lady of justice with a toga so she wouldn't offend anyone with her ….breasts. Oh no. Where was Obama during this? Maybe he was teaching constitutional law at night. Maybe he was voting "present" as a state legislator on several laws.

Then, he gets elected to US Senate (yay!!). But, he continued to support the war by voting in line with the very people he attacks today. The war, the one that he could not vote on but was against it….sort of. Truth does hurt. Obama doesn't seem to know that. He is a big fat LIAR!

Putting a question mark there won't cut it this time. CNN, you guys are really pushing the envelope……. you have no idea. You are on the verge of totally losing all credibility with your viewers.

BE HONEST!

When Obama was smoking pot Hillary was meeting world leaders. She was the first, first lady to travel to the Middle East.

In one interview I read, Obama was asked if he would have voted for the Iraq war. He said "I don't know," but with hindsite he now says he would not have voted for it. Which is what he does most of the time in th Senate, he doesn't vote on things that might go against him later. He just says "present" Don't stick your neck out Bama, someone might see that you are not all that you claim to be.

Can Obama go back to where he came from? Where was it again that he learned all that experience at 6 years of age? Oh yeah, I remember now.

Obama, just like Huckabee, will be a disaster for America if either one is elected President. God, save us from both of them.

All I want to know is, is this when the MSM starts dealing with Obama the same as they deal everyone else. He supposedly told Clinton that everything started from the head down. Well she apologized on a tarmac with a cell phone personally. What is he going to do? I know abosolutely nothing. But it's ok, cause he will NEVER, I repeat NEVER become president. This country has been stuck on stupid for 7 years, I don't think it's going to be stuck on stupid much longer.
Does this look like a team ready to lead day one? If you think they are then you been smoking whatever he used to (so he says)

Surrealist -

You've got to be kidding me. First he did not just sit on the sidelines twiddling his thumbs he gave speeches and made a major effort to avert the catastrophe. Second in what way did the evidence in anyway suggest that we were "at dire risk of an imminent attack with weapons of mass destruction." I think that is a bit of an overstatement, don't you? I mean apparently even Bill recognized the war was unnecessary, why didn't she? I think the least Hillary could do is have the decency to admit she made a mistake, instead of trying to hide behind her political double speak.

CNN you are LEAPING and it doesn't make sense.

We are all mourning the death of Bhutto so let all of us mourn, won'tcha?

We think Nim rod maybe needs to take a nap. It's easy to fluff up your candidate when your candidate wasn't even in the US Senate at the time of the Iraq war vote.

Ahead of the vote, D-Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle announced Thursday morning he would support Bush on Iraq, saying it is important for the country "to speak with one voice at this critical moment."

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=2&vote=00237

And since it could be argued that Senator Obama ducked the Iran resolution vote (due to campaign conflicts, misinformation, or conspiracy theories take your pick) unfortunately yet again there is no paper trail to comment on.

Seems everyone should be working TOGETHER in view of Senator Obama's vision instead of tearing down the other candidates. Appears his chief strategist didn't get the message of love and harmony very clearly.

Lock Axelrod along w/Bubba in the attice w/Barry's crazy Uncle DCheney for the duration of the campaign. Ever notice how the candidate's messages get muffled when their campaign staff starts over interferring….

The Obama campaign is in a panic. Mr. Axelrod's reprehensible statement is meant to deflect the spotlight and rescue his candidate, because as people think about the implications of Benazir Bhutto's assassination one thing comes to mind and it isn't the leadership experience of Barack Obama. International tragedy has made Barack Obama and his campaign desperate for fear their paper thin experience in foreign policy will be weighed as voters ready for the Iowa primaries. It's in moments of crisis you find out what a candidate has and the strength of his character to respond to real dangers in the world. Another example of Mr. Obama's campaign of "hope," no doubt.
But Mr. Axelrod has stepped into it now. Blaming Clinton? This statement is not only beyond the pale, but it is made even more reprehensible, not to mention ridiculous, by Obama's campaign turning from the very serious subjects of Afghanistan-Pakistan-al Qaeda to the pop culture filmmaker Woody Allen, equating the two in a statement that is so ignorant you have to wonder if the Obama camp actually understands the possible ramifications of what happened today. I assure you, it does not come close to resembling or reflecting Woody Allen's wisdom on life. Seriously, the celebrity candidacy of Barack Obama, now threatened by a foreign policy emergency, has slipped into the nonsensical

It seems nothing is too low for the Obama campaign. Axelrod's shameful suggestion that Hillary did anything that would cause Bhutto's death is baseless slander. What a loser! And now I suppose Obama doesn't feel he needs to apologize to Hillary for such a despicable comment from his chief strategist. Yet she personally apologized to Obama when one of her campaign chiefs suggested the Republicans would use Obama's drug use against him if they got the chance. . .and he resigned from her campaign over a comment that was 100% true. This whole new slap at Hillary shows the desperation of Obama and his campaign.

The death of Bhutto is tragic. So is the coverage of a remark that was based on a question that was answered, instead of the typical political ducking. Where is JACK CAFFERTY when you need him???

Folks should remember it is the politics of THE SAME OLD PEOPLE doing THE SAME OLD THING that gets these SAME OLD TRAGIC results!

We need world and US leadership that is new, fresh and smart, to prevent the carnage! That involves EVERYONE TALKING TO EVERYONE!

I'm so so so tried of sensationalist headlines like this one. Axelrod clearly denied that he was stating that H. Clinton was complicit in Bhutto's death, or that her vote is tied to this occurring. He was simply replying to the question about what her death means with regards to foreign policy. It's the same response he and Obama have given whenever asked about foreign policy and the issue of judgement. How can you justify such a headline. Do you really think that putting a question mark at the end somehow frees you of the implicit judgment you are making? I trust CNN less and less. I remember the good ole days when CNN was the voice of reason and objectivity. Ahhhh, the memories.

Once again, Barak Obama's keen insight about the real enemy hiding out in Afghanistan and Pakistan comes to the fore. He knew that Iraq was and most importantly still is a costly diversion from the real problems in the region. It has also
increased terrorism and empowered religious fanatics.

Judgment counts and trumps experience every time.

Barak Obama is also more in touch with a world perspective due to his rational critical thinking as well as his direct experience on the on Foreign Relations Committee.

It is time for real world class leadership and that is Barak H. Obama

I find Obama's remarks against Mrs. Clinton offensive and in extremely bad taste. But what could one expect from a man who is probably a Muslim at heart seeing he was in that world the first years of his life. People seem to forget 911 and what Americans felt when the Towers were hit and went down. EVERY RED-BLOODIED TRUE AMERICAN wanted REVENGE. If Hillary and others had not voted to go to Iran after the FACTS they were presented with about weapons of mass destruction were found there, then she would not have acted like a TRUE AMERICAN, unlike Obama. Why did he not want revenge? Did he know there were really no weapons of mass destruction in Iran or did he have other reasons, like being a Muslim at heart and not want the U.S. to get involved? I disagree with almost everything President Bush says or does because he doesn't seem to really know what is going on. But when or intelligence says there are weapons then we shold be able to believe it. I think Obama and most of the MEN running against Hillary, Democrat and Republican know she is THE ONE who wold be the best president because they have downed her from day one. It is funny that all these little men are afraid of a woman, but they should be ashamed of themselves. How could Hillary be in any way responsible for a murder in Pakistan Mr Obama? Are yo NUTS? Look to the dictator in charge of the country. Americans WAKE UP. As the song says HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN (911)? I haven't and Hillary has my vote and all the votes of my family and as many others as I can get for her. GOD BLESS AMERICA and keep her safe from without and from within our country. Thank You . A Loyal American

Common Surrealist from Fort Myers, FL….First and foremost, Obama didn't say this. His campaign manager did. The extremist responsible for Bhutto's death is still under Pakistani investigation. Obama came out publicly against the decision to go to war in Iraq when it very unpopular and deemed "unpatriotic" to do so. The same could be said more Dennis Kucinich who is the only presidential candidate Republican or Democrat who voted against war in Iraq back in 2002. The people who were doing there duties did not ask enough questions and did not want to lose their congressional seats.

OBAMa IN '08!

To Surrealist -

Dire risk of imminent attack with weapons of mass-destruction? You've really got to be horribly uneducated or just plain slow to STILL be buying this. I wasn't privy to all of the "top-secret intelligence" but even I had the ability to come to the conclusion that this war was a trumped up sham without enough evidence or reason to be justified. Taking a stand would've meant sending our forces into Afghanistan like we were SUPPOSED TO. If we had sent our forces to afghanistan (where 80% of the population WANTED us) like we did to Iraq there is no doubt in my mind we would have captured Bin Laden, Zawahiri, and much of the Taliban leadership, and Afghanistan would be what everyone says we want - a flowering democracy in the middle east. Now Al-Qaeda rests in Pakistan with a leader unwilling to do what it takes to drum them out, and they have the ability to murder advocates of democracy like Benazir Bhutto. The Obama camp is just telling it like it is. The United States, and all who voted to send us to this unnecessary and unjustified war in Iraq, all hold partial responsibility for what has transpired. The biggest advocate for real democracy in Pakistan is dead.

War-drummers like Bush, Hillary Clinton, and an overwhelming number of Democrats (all of whom I would not vote for president as a result) advocated for a completely unrelated war against somebody who posed NO THREAT to the United States. We didn't allow the UN weapons inspectors to finish the job because they would have found what we have found since invading Iraq - there WERE no weapons. We didn't build a real international coalition because there simply wasn't enough evidence to link Hussein to Al-Qaeda. But what do you expect in a country that didn't even know the difference between a Shiite and a Sunni?

Living in Michigan, the hub of middle eastern life in the United States, I am personal friends with people of Iraqi descent - Christians - and even they say, as horrible as Sadamm Hussein was, life was better for them under his rule.

Obama is just telling it like it is. Our leaders must be held accountable for their actions, not be PROMOTED.

Hillary Clinton's warmongering hypocrisy MUST come to an end. Meeting people at dinners as first lady doesn't count as foreign policy experience. When your biggest asset is your husband, your political credentials aren't worth the paper your resume is printed on.

We must elect a leader with the political skills and conviction to change our system for the better, and there is no doubt that that man is Barack Obama.

This guy lacks manhood. To think they would now lay the death of Bhutto on Clinton. These people are way out there. Clinton for President 2008. I started out an Obama supporter who changed to Clinton. She shows so much more strength then Obama. Along with intellegents. If he will stick with her over the next 8 years he may learn enough to lead out country. A sure win for the Democrats would be a Clinton/Obama ticket for 2008, but they would have to come togeather. Something Obama and Edwards are failing with all their mudthrowing. CLINTON 2008 and Obama for Vic President if he will grow up and act his age.

Obama and his advisor David Axelrod are just ridiculous.

CNN is ridiculous. this is getting out of hand.

This is Obama's first " I did not authorize that staement moment' where Clinton as had what 20 Now? I think its Silly to link her death to the IRAQ war. She was in Exile, not on vacation….

As I recall, the last American female in the presence of Bhutto was Condi Rice and not Hillary. I think the finger is being pointed in the wrong direction. Haven't heard any remarks from Condi regarding Bhutto's death.

Hillary has my vote

It appears if terrorist were responsible for the killing of Bhutto , Obama was right. He said we must go after the terrorist there and like the Iraq war he is right on Pakistan
"There are terrorists holed up in those mountains who murdered 3,000 Americans. They are plotting to strike again . . . If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won’t act, we will.” Obama

Her is Bhutto again agreeing with Obama
http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NmRiNGJjODNmZWZiM2I2NzgwMjE2NGVmOTNlN2YwYjA

BHUTTO: Well, I wouldn't like the United States to violate Pakistan's sovereignty with unauthorized military operations. But the issue that I would like to stress is that Barack Obama also said, if Pakistan won't act. And that's the critical issue, that the government has to act. And the government has to act to protect Pakistan's own serenity and integrity, its own respect, and to understand that if it creates a vacuum, then others aren't going to just twiddle their thumbs while militants freely move across the border.

"The country is endangered by extremism…an organized minority had seized control of the levers of the state," including officials who had connections to extremists going way back to the Afghan mujahedin war against the Soviets, which boosted such radicals as Osama bin Laden."
http://www.newsweek.com/id/68826/page/1

"If Pakistan has no control in the tribal areas, then tomorrow foreign forces can come there," Bhutto said in the northwestern city of Peshawar, a stronghold of religious parties. She was apparently referring to U.S. and NATO forces operating on the Afghan side of the border.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,314532,00.html

As usual he is prophetic. I guess judgment does triumph over experience as a first lady.

Funny, I made a similar statement in speaking with a co-worker this afternoon, "If we had stayed focused on the proper "war on terror" which lies in Afghanistan and not diverted our attention to invading a country which had nothing to do with 911, we may not be witnessing this awful tragedy in Pakistan today." My feelings had nothing to do with Hillary Clinton, but everything to do with making an obvious judgement decision regarding International Affairs. We had/have no business in Iraq. But hey, I'm no expert. Then again…a grade school child could probably have made a better decision than our current leader!

Unreal - how the dumbest statements always seem to be uttered by those closest to the candidates. Perhaps they should be forced to view themselves - that may make a difference!

Obama's advisor wasn't implying Clinton's vote had anything to do with Bhutto's death. CNN pimps outrageous headlines for ratings? Jesus F. Christ.

"Axelrod was responding to reporters' questions whether Bhutto's assassination enhances claims that her foreign policy experience may make her more fit to serve as commander-in-chief."

Is there a story here? YAWN!

GO AWAY OBAMA!!! This kind of ridiculous BS is exaclty why Obama and his people need to keep their mouth shut and go away. HRC or any other American had nothing to do with this senseless killing. This just proves that he is a hypocite who will stoop to any level to promote his weak and floundering campaign. Leave it to him to turn a tragedy into an opportunity to further his spineless pursuit of the White House.

The Clinton News Network rolls on. Guess what CNN? Your viewers can play connect-the-dots as well as anyone. Pakistan is a nuclear-armed disaster waiting to happen, it's never been clearer. Al Qaeda is stronger in Pakistan and brand spankin' new in Iraq thanks to Edwards co-sponsoring and Clinton voting for the Iraq War Resolution instead of finishing the job in Afghanistan.

Obama wants no more paid-for MSM campaign ads, he'll give the public airwaves back to the public and give all candidates equal free time, ending $$millions in lucrative income for MSM to air ads then lie about candidates who don't let them keep their monopoly. Expect no love from MSM for Obama, but give him lots of love and tell all your anti-telecom monopoly friends! Obama for real change, and to end the insanity these weak-kneed politicians dare call a foreign "policy".

Axelrod clearly is the wrong messenger for foreign policy issues.

Although the spirit of what Axelrod might be true he should not have brought it back to Clinton's vote for the Iraq war.

Obama should make a statement.

Obama needs his babysitter aka Oprah to speak for him.

This shows again that Obama and his advisor are internationally inept.

Axelrod is well aware of what he said and what he meant. Since he only clarified his comments later in the day and after prompting by the press and in light of the Clinton team's response I think we all can see what he meant and that is that Hillary is responsible for Butto's assassination which is a lie.

this is desperation from the obama camp…a stretch of his dumb imagination

CNN: Clinton News Network!!

This is ridiculous even for CNN.

I started out a Clinton supporter, but I made the switch when I looked back at how she actually looked through the intelligence on the Iraq Vote. She mistook there like she mistook Iran in August.

Anyway, I think the person who politicized the assassination was the reporter. When there's a political question on the table, Axelrod's comment either way is going to land a story on this political ticker page. What was he supposed to say? "You know I just don't think I want to answer that right now out of respect for Benezir Bhutto?"

Give me a break. If Carlson believed what he was saying, he'd be shooting his criticism at the reporter as well.

Obama will own in Iowa and it'll all be downhill from there for HRC.

Chuck, Miami Fl December 27, 2007 5:21 pm ET

When Obama was smoking pot Hillary was meeting world leaders. She was the first, first lady to travel to the Middle East.

No…no he wasn't. That is just ignorant. Plain ignorant. You give a bad name to Hillary supporters and democratic supporters across our nation.

When I read a headline earlier in the day about Mr. Axelrod's statements, I thought, oh boy, here comes trouble, but after reading his actual words and the question he was responding too, he gave an appropriate answer. An answer their campaign has been giving for 10 months now. The reporter asked if situations like these prove that Clinton is the more experience, and he basically said no, her judgment must be called into question when vgave President Bush approval to take our nation to war in Iraq. Same answer, it was just unfortunately mixed in with the day's event, the Bhutto assasination. My prayers go out to the Bhutto family and the Pakistan nation.

How tacky of Obama's camp to turn Bhutto's death into an Obama slam against Clinton. They could have at least paid respect to his "friend" by simply honoring her life and courage. Now I only have to chose between Biden, Edwards and Clinton because you lost my vote.

Axelrod needs to seek medical help immediately. He obviously is suffering from some form of mental illness that he could even begin to blame Senator Clinton in Benazir Bhutto's assassination.

If Barack Obama is smart he will immediately demand that Axelrod opologize to the Senator.

However, if al won't matter in the end as will be attending, or watching on tv, as Senator Clinton becomes President Hillary Clinton Janurary 20th, 2009.

Charlotte , Huntsville, Alabama

Screw you all Obama jokers!
This is not something to exploit for your petty politicle spinning.

What needs to be focused on is how to suppress terrorism for the future of everyone globally. May the Almighty bring peace to Ms. Bhutto's family. Let Ms. Bhutto's vision of a democratic Pakistan for the children be realized without violence.

I was listening to The Situation Room. David Axelrod definitely made the direct connection between Bhutto's death and Clinton. That was also Wolf Bliztner's conviction. If I was an Iowa caucus member, I would remember Mr. Axelrod's comments as representing Obama's sentiments.

That's a hell of a spin, CNN. He was asked about the relevance of foreign policy experience by the reporter. The question itself was asking for a contrast between Obama and Clinton. He linked her vote with a shift in priorities, not with any single event.

That's not that big of a gaffe. Neither was the Huckabee "martial law" comment. Let's not overinflate these things too much.

CNN is stooped to a new low…stop trying to spin everything, show a little class!

Surrealist, Fort Myers, FL has always been a fairly decent supporter of his/her candidate (which is not Hillary). For the Obama supporters to attack everyone who doesn't hold to their point of view is not in the spirit of Obama's vision and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream Speech".

In fact we question whether you are even a Democrat? Referring to Dubya as the "scapegoat" sounds decidedly like a GOP Troll — while a few may think Bushbaby is the fall-guy for Cheney (like Scooter for Rove), you would be extremely hard pressed to find ANY Democrats who feel an ounce of sympathy for the Shrub!! So have you checked your voter's card lately to make sure which party you belong to? Perhaps it's been awhile since you actually voted! But if you hurry we're sure that you won't have to worry about being "On Borrowed Time" in Atlanta, GA anymore (unless you mean that you have an incurable illness? And then we would sincerely appologize for being so glib.)

Gee, the media pushes a stupid question that reinforces the patently false "experience" meme and Axelrod replies by noting where the meme fails. Thus, it then becomes blaming Clinton for Bhutto's death. What was Obama supposed to do? Bend over and say that Clinton's so-called "experience" meant that she was better equpped to deal with Pakistan? Her "experience" (most of us would call it tourism with a side of photo-op, but I digress) as First Lady surely didn't help her make policy descisions as a Senator, and they led to growing instability in the Middle East. Why should we expect anything better from her as President?

If she's nominated, I'll be staying home in November. Hillary Clinton is not fit to be President of the United States. My party is better than nominating a lying, manipulating racist like Hillary Clinton.

I think David Axelrod is correct. Let's take this to it's ultimate conclusion. By doing cocaine Obama supported Manuel Noriega and Pablo Escobar? My, I never knew just how evil Obama really was. Thank you for connecting the dots for me David Axelrod.

ummmm, Evan Bayh's comments perhaps need to be mentioned? came out earlier today? this is ridiculous….

The truth is what it is and he has every right to make comparisons. When we elect leaders are we so naive to think that their decisions are not subjective? It is true and as the last election showed most of us are sick of our troops in harms way while the rest of the world runs amuck! A great leader was killed today by a coward terrorist and all you can say is how dare Obama's Chief Adviser? This is what we are voting for! A leader that filters our impact on other world problems (look up the definition of a US President!) since it is obvious we can't solve them but we can choose our battles carefully! Sometimes the truth hurts but isn't it better than being lead under false pretenses and soon our brothers and sisters are no longer here?

To run a headline in the form of a question is not journalism, it is sensationalism.
"Obama advisor links Clinton vote and Bhutto death?"
If you do not have an objective fact to report, please do not create confusion by suggesting a connection without being accountable CNN.

assinine comment

must have theorized this on his 4 years of international experience, age 6 - 10
in Indonesia

All these accusations about Hillary and her voting for going to war in Iraq. Do you think she was the only one who put in the vote?? That her vote was the only one that mattered? I think that even if she didn't vote for the war, and voted against it, we would still end up in the war, since so many others voted for it also.
It all boils down to the fact that Bush can and will do whatever he wants to do, regardless of who is against him. For after all… He is the "Decider"

So stop bashing Hillary for voting with the war. She wasn't the only one.

An article in New York Times clearly opened a can of worms concerning Hilary and her brag for experiance. I really wonder why people cant see clearly between Bill and Hilary. Some media houses are even making matters worse. This is ridiclous!

Ridiculous CNN !

I think maybe it's time for David Axelrod to resign, the stress must be getting to him. This is ridiculous, CNN. Shame on you for even printing this.

So sorry we thought we were among fellow Democrats on this blog. Now we've come to the conclusion that we should have voted for "Nick from Ann Arbor, MI" for Prez and "On Borrowed Time in Atlanta, GA" for Veep!! Be sure to give your cards to Obama as being available as staff advisors oh gurus of foreign policy We salute you for your hindsight and vision. (But we really wanna know what brand y'all are smokin?)

On the other hand — MAYBE the reporters questions were misleading - or maybe the quotes have been taken out of context - or maybe the headline is misleading??? Does ANYONE know the truth anymore…

Obama and the rest has blood on their hands by trying to exploit this situation to dump on their opponents. This is barberic and low even from Obama standards.
Obama should appollogies not just to Clinton but to the whole civilized world.

as any critical votes near the rhetoric becomes less logical, more petty, and sickeningly hypocritical. the comments of allegedly intelligent adults make a mockery of the political system that tax payers must endure before business as usual continues.

Is there direct nexus - I think not. But, Mr. Axelrod makes a legitimate case about events that have 'unraveled' as a "direct" result of this war. In that regard, Senator Clinton is "complicit".

As a loyal Democrat who is undecided….I consider this skirmish between Obama and Clinton to be a draw.

1) Axelrod is correct to point out that votes have consequences and that, in retrospect, a more judicious use of our military might could have been better put to use in Afghanistan (in a more meaningful way) and even Pakistan instead of Iraq. Yes, it is appropriate to point out that the Taliban's resurgence and Al-Qaeda's strongholds in rural Paskitantcould have been addressed better had our resources not been diverted to an unecessary war in Iraq. Obama wins that round.

However…

2) Obama can only ride that pony so long and so far. Clinton has already indicated that she voted on the war using information provided by the brain trust at the White House. She has also indicated that she would not have voted for the war if she had been given accurate information by the Bush administration. She has also been very active in her efforts to stop or truncate the war. Obama is asserting that his comfortable position of 20/20 hindsight should be trusted over Clinton's difficult position of making tough choices in tough times, with poor information. Clinton wins round 2.

Bottom line…I'm still not inclined to vote for one over the other.

Considering that the only major foreign policy decision ever made by Senator Clinton was to enable President Bush’s headlong rush to war in Iraq ,any talk of experience is rather subversive of the truth. Coupled with her husband’s debacle in Somalia, the pictures of them touting experience leaves the mind spinning to say the least. The segue from the first Clinton adiministration to the Bush White House was seamless indeed and the circle would be complete with the election of Senator Clinton. The methodology,the lack of probity,and the ability to manufacture truth are all there. It is the responsibility of the American people to at some point demand something other than their own indifference and to do something more than simply assuage their vote. Change begins from the people up.

Obama has lost a lot of votes over this. If you are going to sling mud, make sure the person you are slinging it at is guilty party

Obama aide David Axelrod was referring to Barack Obama's willingness to go after al qaeda in Pakistan if he had actionable intelligence. With Clinton's votes on Iraq, Iran, and no now al qaeda's success with Bhutto's assassination. It is about judgment where it counts. The real question is where was or is Hillary's today? Over 2007, Clinton has maintained several different foreign policy stances. She is not consistent.

As an Obama supporter, I think Axelrod deserves some criticism here. It was a very poor attempt to make his point. Regardless…we can always, faithfully count on CNN to sensationalize the event. Freedom of the press is dead folks…. which is the beginning of the end for democracy. Read Sanford Levinson.

Anyway…how can any HRC supporter speak of the mudslinging of Edwards and Obama??? HRC with her advisor Mark Penn are FAR more guilty of that distinction. Penn, with Hillary and Bill's approval, has pulled some Karl Rovian tactics in the past few weeks. Shame on them.

I think we can all make good arguments for supporting the various democratic candidates, but let's not throw out all sense of objectivity.

CNN Clinton News Network, always the twist! Why the question mark? Why the "seemed to link"? You know good and well that was not the intention of Mr. Axelrod's answer to the question. Get a grip and stop trying to be a sensationalist news medium! Report the news without your SPIN!!

How can Obama's people even relate this to Clinton or anyone other than a terrorist in Pakistan. This shows how lacks his people are in foreign affairs although he would bomb Pakistan a country that does have WMD. I was for him at the start but the more he talks the more I want to find someone with more on the ball. As they say talk is cheap and I think Obama has run out of thinks to say that will make a difference. Ophra can only carry the guy so long and I think her time, too has past.

I didn't know that Obama was advised about the Iraq situation and voted against going to war in the Illinois Legislation. Easy for him to say he was against it when he was in Illinois being a legislator.. Now in the Senate he isn't around to vote on issues that the people of Illinois put him in there to do. I believe he planned to run for President every since he spoke at the Democratic convention in 2004. Going to the Senate was just a stepping stone.

I see absolutely nothing wrong with his comment. Clinton and others voted to go to war and we are naive if we think that such a decision is without consequences. This country constantly has its head in the sand about the impact of its actions. Clinton has never taken responsibility for her poor judgement (and she was negligent enough to not even read the intelligence report!). We need to hold these people accountable for their actions in office or we'll have more W's who do whatever they want and are unaccountable.

What's up with the smear attack CNN on Obama. His advisor was answering a question posed by a reporter which you choose not to show. CNN is trying to create news again instead of reporting it. The Clinton machine is truly the campaign of evil. If she wins I'll vote Republican! Then just wait for the world to blow up. We need some one to come in and heel the wounds with out the fear tactics CNN!

Ouch. Obama and his staff are now concerned. The fact of the matter is, when a trajedy such as this occurs, Obama's lack of national/international experience is out front and center. Axerlrod's comments are certainly an attempt to change the conversation and get peoples minds off of Obama's lack of foreign experience in this very dangerous world. This might work in some circles, but I suspect it won't work in most. Seeing the presidential candidates out today, making their statements regarding the assassination, one thing was clear: Hillary Clinton was compassionate, strong, and personal (she is the only candidate that can claim she new Bhutto AND her family very well). Obama, on the other hand (as was Edwards to a certain extent) seemed very staged and very stiff. Obama is unfortable with this subject matter (foreign affairs….foreign unpredictability), and it shows.

The Clinton News Network is at it again! You all are trying and trying to derail Senator Obama just because he has shown over and over again that his vision and judgment have been correct.

Nobody said that Clinton caused Ms. Bhutto's death! What has been said is that while the US was focused unnecessarily on Iraq, Al-Quaeda was re-grouping in Pakistan! That is not "foreign policy experience", that's bad judgment!

No one ever said that Senator Obama voted against the war…he wasn't in the US Senate then! What he DID do, when it WASN'T popular, was to speak out against the vote. He was right.

What Senator Obama has done since, was speak out against the war and linking it with 9/11, while Pakistan was the real worry. He was right.

Visiting Prime Minister Bhutto as First Lady so that all the children can have a "play-date" is NOT foreign policy experience!

She has NEVER been President…so she has no idea what to do! She can't say that every "she" did in the 90s was right and at the same time say she's the change agent!

Taking the time to KNOW what you're talking about, speaking up about what is right even when it's not popular–remember how that if you spoke against the war, you were labeled unpatriotic?–that takes judgment, vision, and strength!!

Senator Barack Obama has the judgment, the vision, the courage, and the strength to do the right thing. He doesn't change his positions every week, depending on the polls!

"Hillary gave me a book that said: 'doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of madness.' You have to have the courage to change." Bill Clinton, 1992.

CNN=Hatred to Obama

If it would been Hitlary who accused Pakistani GoV't in the past it would been a honor to Clinton News Nework today. But today turned out to be Barrak Obama is allegations on this stragic event in Pakistani region

CNN+Clinton family=Hatred to Obama and also Hiding the fact that Clinton's to be blame on RWanda Gonicide

It's one of outraging comment in foreign policy. Pakistan is one of the unsatbale state from the time of it became a nation. Mr Obama foreign advisor, you better condemn about overall America's policy in the world than cashing your comments to get vote for your candidate who doesn't have any foreign policy experience.

Just say no to Barak Hussein and its gang!

HRC is ready on day 1 to put down bimbo eruptions and terrorize her political opponents? Period. Nothing else. How does this acknowledged expertise translate into leading the free world in these dangerous times. Electing Barak Obama will send an extraordinary message to the world and put a principled person in the White House.

CNN is not the only one that reported this even pro-Obama ass kissers like MSNBC also showed the same clip. So Hillary is to blame for Bhuto's assination per Obama's campaign. Desperate much?

We are through with Barack Obama and his band of merry thugs.

We supported him until recently - gave money - went to two events(rallies). Not anymore.

I can't believe that this is the same CNN that I used to watch in Africa, Asia and Europe as I traveled as a journalist and diplomatic dependent in the 1990s. How on earth could you be so blindly pro-Clinton and so unabashedly anti-Obama that you use any opportunity to boost your candidate and destroy her opposition? How I wish Ted Turner could take CNN back out of this rotten deal with Time Warner and bring us back the straight and objective reporting of the yesteryears. I know for sure that neither Bernard Shaw nor Judi Woodruff would have ever allowed a reporter from the campaign trail to file such a disparaging story, and then get it online with a non-rhetorical question mark. SHAME ON YOU, CNN! SHAME!!!

David Axelrod is spot on - when major events like this happen, it is critical to see if US policy had any influence in it. And whether the HRC camp likes it or not, the erroneous decision to go after Iraq and focus our efforts there while Pakistan was boiling over needs to be answered for by the people who voted for it. As always, HRC turns any challenge on decisions she has made into an attack - all the while, her camp is flashing Obama's kindergarten ambitions and sending surrogates out to emphasize any Muslim links - someone needs to give that woman a dictionary so she can look up "personal attacks". Cut your crying, HRC and give us some real answers for your votes. We don't need a whiner in the White House.

Obama was not in the U.S. Senate when it was time to make the decision to go to war. He was a state senator of Illinois at the time. Obama is simply not qualified for the job!!!

Axelrod needs to apologize to Senator Clinton. Afteral that was a stupid statement. Ms. Bhutto and Senator Clinton knew each other well. I dare the Obama campaign alude that Senator Clinton had anything to do with the death of Ms Bhutto

Liar, liar, pants on fire. David Axlerod did not link Clinton's vote and Bhutto death. The link is Sen. Clinton's Iraq vote and the current state of affairs in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The truth is we took our eye of the ball. We should not have taken troops from Afghanistan and put them in Iraq. I don't think anyone disagrees with that at this point.

It's unfortunate that you all would try to manufacture a controversy.

This Yellow Journalism.

Axelrod never said or implied that Clinton was responsible for this assassination, that is purely a fabrication by those who want too much to be read into his words. Insinuating as such will pollute the matter and cause those with only passing interest in the matter to believe or suspect negativity far in excess of what actually occurred.

What he did say is that Clinton came down on the side of the war in Iraq at the cost of Afghanistan and Pakistan, which is relevant since Pakistan is drawing closer to unrest or even civil war. Clinton also heavily criticized Obama for his harder line on Pakistan a few months back (probably on the grounds of naivety), which now seems to be not so naive at all.

On August 1 2007 Obama gave this speech on The War We Need to Win http://www.barackobama.com/2007/08/01/remarks_of_senator_obama_the_w_1.php
He was right again.

I thought Barack Obama was going to have a "Positive Campaign".? Oh, that went out the window when he realized he was'nt gaining in the polls. If I recall correctly, Obama is the one who started attacking Hillary Clinton first. After seeing him attack Hillary Clinton, my choice could not be any more clear. Hillary Clinton has my vote.

Are all the shrieky Hillary-haters here on Karl "Miss Piggy" Rove's official payroll, or are some of them amateurs?

Looks like the Obama campaign may be getting a little nervous, perhaps?? In the final hours before the Iowa caucuses, they have the NERVE to insinuate Hillary is responsible for this woman's death???

I guess it's easier to point fingers and make baseless claims than to admit that Mr. Obama is a babe in the woods with NO EXPERIENCE on foreign policy and very little even on domestic issues. Perhaps he should put in his time in the Senate for awhile before reaching for the stars!

Unfortunately, Bhutto made a return to Pakistan knowing it could cost her her life. The political climate is turbulent there, just as it was when political members of the Kennedy, Ghandi and Romanov families were murdered. This is what happened with the Bolshevik uprising and other parties who want to permanently oust a current president, prime minister or monarch.

Obama and his team of advisor's are not ready to run our Nations Foreign Policy. His advisor's are people who lost power in the first Clinton administration (many for just reasons) and are willing to do anything to get power back.This comment was both wrong and incompetent. At this time in our nations history, we need a President who doesn't need training wheels. it also showed allot of panic (I wonder what the internal polls are showing). Obama needs a lesson in the Bhutto family history and Pakistan, this inner conflict has been going on well before the U.S. invaded Iraq. Obama looked weak today in his closing arguments and his condolences to Pakistan.

What a complete idiot!

If this is the caliber of people advising Senator Obama, God save the Republic if he is ever elected President. What a complete moron.

It is hard to believe at this late stage in the election process that any statements of major importance are left to those making them. Senator Obama had to have known that Mr. Axelrod would be making this statement. Saying Benazir Bhutto's assassination is tied to the vote on the Iraq War is like saying the moon is tied to the stars.

Please Lord, do not let these mental midgets get elected.

What a nimrod!

This is a very desperate move on Obama's, part. I can't blame him, however. Politics are dirty. Thus, politicians are dirty.

However, when HIllary's biggest sin is that she deigned to push for universal health care, I feel a heck of a lot better voting for her. As for her vote on the war, the President and his people provided flawed information to ensure the vote they wanted. Sadly, with the expansion of power in the Executive branch, and Americans' xenophobic fears stoked by their government, this was all too easy.

I will vote for either Barack or Hillary. They are both excellent candidates, and I would insist that there is a need to break barriers in our political scene.

Sorry folks but for all the moral outrage being generated regarding Mr. Axelrods comments, the man is indeed making a valid point. The vote to send our troops into Iraq based not only on the assertion that Iraq had WMD's but more importantly based on the argument that the Iraqi government were supporters of Al Qaeda was a grieveous mis-step. Now lets not get into all the minutiae that surrounds the debate as it is practiced today. Lets simply go back to that moment in time and a apply the KISS theory (Keep It Simply Stupid).

We were attacked by Al Qaeda.

Al Qaeda and their leader along with all of his top people were based in Afganistan.

We elicit the help of Pakistan knowing that this would put their leaders in a very sensitive situation.

They accept based on our promise that we would keep our focus and not allow the Al Qaeda problem to become their problem.

We attack Al Qaeda in Afganistan (Rightly so!!) BUT!!

After clearing Al Qeada and the Taliban out of the cities and installing a new leader (at which point we had the support of the entire world by the way) we then take our eye of the ball and start a war with a country that had no responsiblity with the attacks on 9/11 and moreover it is a PRE-EMPTIVE war (Something the U.S. has never done!!)

We then committ the bulk of our military away from the actual perpertrators and become mired in a war that never had to be fought thereby allowing Al Qaeda and Bin Laden to dissapear over the mountains and into Pakistan.

This fatal error then leads to the destabilization of Pakistan due to the now extreamist ideology of Al Qaeda being added to the political mix in that country.

I could go on but I believe most of you are intelligent enough to connect the dots from here. i.e. unrest in increased extremist activity in the frontier areas and cities marshall law, the obvious resentment those factions would have toward a leader returning who is openly pro U.S. and looks as if the will win the looming election etc.

Actions and decisions and yes VOTES do have an effect on what takes place thereafter. No one would argue that Chamberlains decision to persue a policy of appeasment contributed greatly to WWII. Likewise that vote to authorize the war in Iraq has contributed greatly to the instability that now exists in Pakistan. This is only one of many sad things that may be a fruit of that vote. We can only pray that worse does not occur.

Hillary and all others who made the decision to vote in the way they did must look at that vote and recognize that the two are linked even if it was not their intention that this be a by product.

However when one, with all the self proclaimed experience, does not read the NIE and then says "If I knew then what I know now" expects us to then trust their judgement over one who, without all the information available to those with exper