CNN

At first, I was disappointed by the comment made by Axelrod’s comments, and then I noticed CNN put the comments out. CNN always puts a spin on stories to make the Clintons look better. You have to take this with a grain of salt.

A nuclear state's democracy is at stake. There is chaos in Pakistan, a state with nuclear weapons and the Obama's aides have nothing but to harp on the IRAQ WAR vote. What a shame on Obama the Presidential candidate. Obama touts he has a lot of ex-President Clinton foreign policy aides support. Where are they when Obama needs to be breifed and his campaign staff needs to briefed. If this is the kind of foreign affairs people Obama surrounds himself with then shame on him for politicizing the assasination.

Go Hillary44 08! http://hillaryis44.org/

Dumb remarks, if it were to score points, why didn't he just blame Bush? The only people we should be hearing from is the candidates, not the morons who work for them... I wouldn't call Obama desperate, but I do believe this hurts his "high road" approach that has worked well for him up to this point. Still haven't heard anybody loudly condemn the real problem here, and for that none of them deserve a vote until they start telling the truth about what we are up against. We being the civilized world...

OBAMA is correct!!

All Axelrod said is that the Iraq war has caused so much instability in the sub Indian continent that it is having effects such as this one – the assassination of Bhutto.

Which is true!

Clinton voted FOR the war. Edwards voted FOR the war. Pakistan has become really unstable BECAUSE of the war.

OBAMA is the ONLY ONE who did not vote for the war and he is our only hope in this hellish mess.

Please think about what was said, people. Please think!! I think CNN's coverage of Axelrod's comments is just UTTERLY DISGUSTING.

OBAMA '08!

Obama is a just so desperate. This comments are definitely evidence of what a
low life parasite he is. This oaf is close to blaming Hillary for Ms.Bhutto's assasination. All he brings up all the time is Hillary's vote on Iraq and that it was a lapse in judgement. Has he ever thought about all the stupid judgements he did such as not paying for many years for all the parking tickets issues to him, for having the worst attendance record in the Senate and for his real estate dealing in illinois with the convict Mr Rezco? I could go on and on but it's just a waste of my time. This nincompoop doesn't deserve the presidency and I'm sure America realizes that. He's a dimwit, a moron, a dunce, a plain and simple IDIOT!!!

anyone but Obma...he is to creepy of a person. I find him attacking like a mad dog..doesn't matter who it is. We need a president not a BULLDOG.

only reason opera is backing obama is because he's a african american that straight to the point.

Aw yes, Hitlery did vote for the war in Iraq, she blames Bush for it, but she has no plan, has no change, she is just as bas as Bush, don't vote for the lying crook, her and Bill back in the white house again, haven't we had enough of the garbage yet. We really need to get rid of her and Bill and rwlly make changes for this country. Her and Bill need to just shut up!

YEAH YEAH YEAH,

How awful, how tasteless. Come on people. He's probably right

Well i seriously hope that Obama does not win the democratic parties vote. If we want a change at winning the white house, Hillary Clinton will be the only one to do that.

MarkieBee –

Can you read? I get really tired of people like you making condescending remarks to the rest of us, as though you are the only one who has true knowledge and intelligence. Give me a break!

If you read what you supposedly quoted, you would see the lack of logic and reason in the statement that Axelrod made. You have to make a lot of assumptions to come to his conclusion. The idea that everyone who voted for the war in Iran is responsible for what happened in Pakistan is such utter nonsense that it's almost laughable. You are trying to make a ridiculous analogy and so was Axelrod and that's why we are having such a spirited discussion here. It's also easy to lecture someone about being wrong after the fact. It's also pointless and a waste of valuable time. Many voted for the war in Iraq based on lies, misinformation and falsehoods put forth by the Bush administration. We now know that the intelligence they had indicated that the situation in Iraq was not at all the way it was presented to Congress. If you recall, a certain CIA agent by the name of Valeria Plame was outed by the Bush administration because her husband published an article saying that Iraq did not have wmd's or the means to acquire nuclear weapons. So those who dared to speak the truth paid a price.

You don't know if Al Qaeda and the Taliban would have been weaker if we had fought the war in Afghanistan or not. Maybe they would have, maybe not. They have shown that they are not easily defeated or discouraged. We might have become mired in Afghanistan and found ourselves in an equally messy situation. There are no easy solutions to defeating terrorists. They don't seem to be fading away. Since they are not a nation state, they are much harder to find and destroy.

So, before you go lecturing the rest of us about reading, why don't you get some facts and try to deal with reality before assigning blame for Bhutto's death to all those who voted for the war in Iraq. What is happening in Pakistan has been going on for a long time and we are not the only ones responsible for what happens in the world.

You might want to do some more reading yourself before you decide to come on here and start lecturing us. Geez, indeed!

Thanks Dean, feels good to be appreciated. lol

I WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH TO BE ABLE TO SHAKE THE HAND OF BRIAN, SYRACUSE, N.Y. FOR HIS VERY INSIGHTFUL, INTELLIGENT EDUCATED
RESPONSE TO OBAMA'S ADVISORS' COMMENT REGARDING BHUTTO DEATH.
AFTER READING SO MANY NEGATIVE COMMENTS, I AM REALLY WORRIED ABOUT OUR NATION 'S ABILITY TO READ AND OUR MEDIA? WHAT DO THESE
PEOPLE HOPE TO GAIN? A THREE YEAR OLD COULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR 9/11. AMERICA PLEASE
WAKE UP AND SMELL THE ROSES OR AT LEAST READ FOR YOURSELF. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT WE WANTED OUR FREEDOM TO BE ABLE TO DO JUST THAT. DROP THE HATE, IT WILL DESTROY US AS A PEOPLE.
REMEMBER " UNITED WE STAND" DIVIDED WE WILL FALL.

The Truth Anywhere, USA

Your comments incensed me almost as much as the misinterpretation of the comments made by Mr. Axelrod. First, I don't know as yet who I'll vote for, but it certainly won't be because they are simply "female" or "black". I will vote for who I think will serve this country to the best of their ability and who will try to do it with integrity, honesty and the spinal column needed to run a country in these trying times. In all the comments made on this page, I must have missed the one bashing Obama because he is black. I did read some that mistook the statement as coming from him, but nothing about his race. You certainly took your hit though at Hilary with your comment about the chef's position. How rude is that? I am proud to be a woman in this country and I have a right to every one of my emotions, including the one that thinks you have a small, uneducated, bigoted mind. May I offer you a dictionary?

That sounds like something a liberal would say. This is political grandstanding at it's worst. Iraq has nothing to do with this, other than since the surge is working, al-Qaida has given up on Iraq, and is focused on Pakistan. In other words, the terrorists are now desperate.

It is a horrible shame that this woman was assassinated, but it and the aftermath symbolizes that, that part of the world DOES want democracy, and George W. Bush was right all along. Too bad you will never admit that it is a darn good thing that this country has such strong leadership from our president. We haven't been attacked since 9/11, and the threat we face is real –so much so that world leaders are being assassinated!

OBVIOUSLY, the threat from al-Qaida and the Islamo-Fascists goes beyond Afghanistan. However, that isn't what Obama says. Obama routinely suggests that if we just retreat from Iraq and focus on Afghanistan, then we would stop the terrorism –since according to him, that is the one and only place where they are. John Kerry spewed the same ignorant drivel when he ran for president.

Senator Obama makes it abundantly clear that his lack of foreign policy experience makes him look foolish. Hillary on the other hand, just says whatever she thinks people want to hear –Just like her "husband" Bill.

Do you think Iraq or Pak is going to listen to Hillary Clinton about bring troops home. I THINK NOT.the only reason why Bhutto was prime minister is because of political reason. Pak do not want a women in charge and do not want a women to cause trouble. plus they also don't like a " A Hole" president that we have now.

Can you people not read? Axelrod said that because of the Iraq War vote our troops and material were diverted to Iraq and away from Afghanistan and Pakistan where the REAL enemy, the REAL culprits of 9/11 STILL reside. Anyone who voted for that war set in motion the events that have led to Bhutto's assassination. The Taliban and Al Qaeda would , in all likliehood, not be in the position to order and carry out such an attack had Bush and the people in the congress who gave him a free pass kept their eye on the REAL enemies. That's all Axelrod was saying. Read his quotes again people. Geez.

Oh, and Al in Wpg, your post really is a work of art. You definately made me laugh out loud a couple of times!!!

LOL at you people who get on here everyday and declare that someone has lost your vote because of one remark – or better yet, one blog posting! "We supported him until recently – gave money – went to two events(rallies). Not anymore". Give me a break! You people never had intention to vote for Obama, so stop with the reverse tactics. Who are we voting for anyway? The candidate or their campaign manager?

Hillary bragged about hanging out socially with Prime Minister Bhutto but....

It did not seem to confer to Hillary any great insight regarding the impact of the preemptive US invasion of Iraq.

Hillary voted for the US invasion of an oil rich Arab country that did not attack the USA and was no danger to the USA.Hillary did nothing to stop the march to a war that she had supported.

When Bhutto returned to Pakistan, she carried the baggage of the US Iraq occupation that was the result of Hillary's support of GW Bush's Iraq war.

What Axelrod said was nothing more than a leap of common sense; of course, US action/diretion in Iraq over the last 4 years had some play in what's going on Pakistan, and its continued role as a terrorism training groung. Read HIS comments. CNN (or Fox News) or whomever just wants to stir folks up with mis-information, and it's obviously working. People need to read/think/judge for themselves instead of listening to the second and third hand "interpretations".

Reading is a pretty easy to do.

And I'm a registered republican.

"Obama is the Democratic counterpart of G.W. Bush, an arrogant empty suit!" –
AJ; Montpelier, VT

OMG AJ, I have been saying this for weeks. I am go glad someone else feels the same way I do.

I had a really bad feeling about Bush during the 2000 campain and voted for a man I did not even really like (Al Gore) because I knew Bush would be bad for the country. I have that same feeling about Obama; I know in my gut that he will be bad for this country.

I'm not a Hillary fan either, I actually want Edwards since I think he is the only one bothering to talk to the common American people. I see him putting Americans first, I don't get that from Clinton or Obama.

I would still vote for Hillary if she won the nomination but I don't know If I can bring myself to vote for Obama. Something about Obama just creeps me out!

You know, I think it's normal to let people go through the "angry phase". As human beings, it hurts sometimes when the truth hits us in the face, and we naturally defend ourselves by being antagonistic. With time, this changes and we eventually embrace the truth.

I think people are somewhat angry because it is becoming very obvious that when judged by her true merits (not the illusion that she is the same as Bill), Hillary lacks anything original to suggest that she would be a decent, let alone, good president. Amidst all the attack, Obama keeps looking better and we are starting to realize how lucky we are that he is in this race. The statement made by Obama's campaign is sensitive, yet it hurts because it is so true. I mean you can find links on line where obama talked about the impact of an Iraq war on Afghanistan and Pakistan. Wake up people, this is critical thinking, the one tihng a president MUST have.

It is time for Americans to stop acting like zhombies by continuing on the same course of action because it is "in their comfort zone" or it is what "my family or my society think I should believe". Let's show the world that we are capable of being free thinkers, able to take facts, seperate it from garbage (like this current spin) and then make rational decisions.

Note: A lot of politicians count on lack of critical thinking on the part of many Americans to scare up votes (e.g unjustified anti muslim sentiments (because a lot of Americans don't know the difference between a huge portion of the world who are muslims and a few terrorist who just happen to be muslims), exaggerated national security threats etc). They know they can repeat the same lines that has been used to invoke fear in people for decades, and it would work because a lot of people just can't think for themselves.

Amazing. Everyone on here is either criticizing the Clinton or Obama people. It's neither. Obama's camp was just pointing out that he had the foresight to see that diverting attention away from Afghanistan and Pakistan onto Iraq early on, had an impact on the situation now. They never said anything derogatory about Clinton as far as her being directly responsible. And no one can say anything about the Clinton folks either because they were just commenting on what they heard second hand from reporters who I am sure, got it twisted. So it was no one's fault. Just another day in the life of politics as seen through the news media's eyes.

To the Truth

Really? After your scatter-shot non sequitur tirade against Hillary and her “hickvil” constituency in which you sound like any frat-boy who just got dumped, you are going to tell us that the democrats are racist? Then in the same breath you are going make a joke about how funny it is that ‘them women’ (paraphrase) get so emotional.

Does the entire Obama prefer sexism over racism or are you just one of those crazy hangers-on who make everybody else look bad by association?

Either way you suck, and you can’t deny that the way this is playing out is showcasing Hillary’s ability to look presidential and Obama’s neophyte inability to control the words coming out of his campaign.

I’ve been 60% Obama and 40% Hillary for the last three weeks. And I am back to 50/50 after this incident.

I hate to bring this up in a time of tragedy, but because the terrorists hate woman leadership so much, isn't it fair to be concerned that having Hillary as our president will only exacerbate the war on terror even further?
I know that sounds like i cowardly and its a stupid thing to say right now, but isn't it also a valid argument?
I don't want HRC to be the leader of this country if that's going to make Islamic extremists want to come here to assassinate Clinton. I know we can't let terrorist control our politics, but honestly, can we let our elected officials continue to anger Islamic extremists and not expect terrorism around the world? Please Hillary supporters, I'm not trying to sling mud, this is an actual concern of mine.

I think this is a very low blow by the obama campaign. He just lost a vote. And hopefully many more. I'm undecided completely except on the fact I wont vote for Obama after all this. Death is a time for compassion, not a time for personal gain. Come on Obama Campaign, think before you speak, dont put your foot in your mouth a week before caucuses.

Why all the outrage? Nobody said Clinton was responsible for Bhutto's death except CNN–trying to stir a controversy. Axelrod said that Clinton's vote to divert our attentions from the Afghan/Pakistan region to Iraq in a war that not only spread extreme terrorist groups abroad–but also failed to continue stamping out the Taliban WAS A MISTAKE. wHERE'S THE PROBLEM WITH THAT. You don't have to be a "highly intelligent" to make the connection.

I think it's a shame that Bhutto's assassination has to become fodder for politics in our presidential campaign. I think that Axelrod could have made his point in a much more appropriate way so as not to fan the flames as we get closer to the Iowa caucus vote. It's not hard to make a point without trashing your opponent, so I think it's right to criticize Axelrod and the Obama camp for trying to exploit this terrible tragedy for their own purposes. Any attempt to link Hillary Clinton in any way, shape or form with what happened in Pakistan is patently absurd. I think Axelrod should back off, clarify his statement and then apologize for any perceived intent to link Hillary to this terrorist act.

The situation in Pakistan is precarious and threatening to unravel. The loss of this woman who had such passion and was so dedicated to creating democracy in her homeland that she literally risked her life for it, is where our focus should be at this time. This can only worsen and destabilize an already dangerous situation in Pakistan. We don't need to start bickering amongst ourselves over who to blame. None of the candidates for president had anything to do with what happened. Period. End of story. We need to just let this go and move on to a real discussion of the problems we face at home and abroad. Pakistan has suffered the loss of a truly great woman and there will be no replacing her. Obama's campaign does a disservice to her by creating this tempest in a teapot.

If Obama's camp would just admit that their statement was, at the very least, unseemly then maybe we could all move on.

Jim. Cherokee,

Go ahead and cross the isle. Barak does not need your vote. Clinton needs Obama to win as well. Unify the country? Too late for that. this country will forever be divided. Unify the world sounds better. Loser.

What the heck is wrong with some of you people? Go back to the statement and read it again; Axelrod didn't state Hilary is responsible, he said Hilary's vote to go to Iraq could have played a role in the country's ability to eradicate Al-Queda and in turn quell many of their attacks on the REAL progress of Democracy. Not this so called implimantation of democracy in Iraq. Obama didn't say he would invade Pakistan just because, but rather "take out" Al-Queda if Musharaff refuses to do anything about them. Something Bush should have done and is proving to be detrimental to democracy and unpatriotic due to the fact that Al-Queda is getting in good training by killing our soldiers.

Some of you are seriously brain damaged. Picking Hillary is the 2008 Equivalent of the presidential picks in 2000 and especially 2004. If she wins I pray we can live through her presidency. Its overwhelmingly obvious who is more fit to lead here- Barrack. Hillary keeps say "experience, experience" seriously, where is it? And why doesn't she PROVE IT?

Reading the responses on this blog helped me come to this conclusion: the American people are too stupid to deserve an intelligent president. If all of you people who are saying "Shame Shame" regarding Obama and Axelrod, do any of you have ANY reading comprehension skills?!?!?!

While I am not a Clinton supporter, I find these remarks to be way off base.

David of Roseburg OR,

You have the most informed and correct statement on this blog! The president doesn't run this country by themselves. The president was never meant to be a dictator which is why we have the three branches of government, not just the president in charge! The president doesn't even get to choose the entirety of the staff (we, the people, do that in electing our senators, governors, etc.). Great posting.

Everyone is going to have their opinions as to who is the best candidate (which is our right as Americans), however, I noticed (for example) in the last presidential election many (not all) people were willing to vote for the candidate that "wasn't Bush." That rationale, in my opinion, shows that those who voted by that method did not make the most informed decision (not saying either candidate was right or wrong). Despite the fact that I totally disagree with our current President's decisions, I actually researched the candidates (and will do so again) and chose the candidate based on who agrees best with my morals and judgment. That said, the person I choose may not necessarily be the candidate representing the party I typically select.

EVery single post on this blog that has the audacity to suggest that the coments from Barak Obama's camp somehow link Bhutto's death to HRC misjudgement on the war in Iraq.....ARE NOT READING THE FACTS!!! What has happend to reasoning and judgement in this country??? WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE????

HRC's choice to support the war in Iraq was WRONG!!! period!!! If we weren't involved in Iraq, we would have the resources to concentrate on the VERY serious threat in Afghanistan/Pakistan.....as recent world events (Bhutto's assasination) CLEARLY point out!!! To feed into this misguided CNN headline is the height of ignorance!!

If a Colonel becomes a General in command of a Brigade, Division, Corp or CINC and the spouse accompanies him or her during the tour...are they now qualified tocommand and lead the troops?

You make the call.

Axelrod is right. The stupid Iraq war took the eye off of Afghanistan and Pakistan – as Obama predicted in 2002.

Clinton shares some of the blame for this.

Clinton's spokesman, Jay Carson, said "This is a time to be focused on the tragedy of the situation, its implications for the U.S. and the world, and to be concerned for the people of Pakisan, and the country's stability. No one should be politicizing this situtation with baseless alligations."
I guess Carson didn't see where CNN reported (August 24, 2007) that Clinton told NH voters that another terrorist attack on the U.S. would help Republican candidates at the polls. Clinton said "But, IF 'certain things happen' between now and the election, particularly with respect to terrorism, that will automatically give the Republicans an advantage again, no matter how badly they (Republicans) have mishandled it, no matter how much more dangerous they have made the world."
Of which Clinton added if such a scenario occured, she (Clinton) is the best Democratic presidential candidate "to deal with that"
Of course, that was in one of Hillary's 'against the war' moments, back in August.
That was Hillary discussing political implications IF another terrorist attack occured, in the U.S., yes, but this assassination in Pakistan does and will effect the U.S. as well as other parts of the world.
Hillary said "It's a horrible prospect to ask yourself, 'What if? What if?' "
Hillary's own spokesman said NO ONE should be POLITICIZING this situation....
what does Carson think Hillary did in her statements of August 24, 2007?
And that was on a "what if?"
America can fully anticipate, IMO, Clinton's proclaiming again, that SHE is the best one to deal with this, now that its happened in Pakistan, to be America's next Commander in Chief.
I hope if Clinton does this, that America and Carson will see that Clinton is willing to use anything at all, no matter how tragic, to her political advantage.
Sickening.

Desperation of Obama is quite obvious, this is what happens when a candidate base his platform on hope and dreams, expect people to bank on his words without any track record to back it up. At the end of the day, people cast their votes based on issues not personalities or oratory.

Obama's inexperience is becoming to be a big hurdle for his campaign, the people can see him for what he is, an ambitious politician who wanted to be President by using his eloquence as good enough for the American people.

The assassination of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, tell us, we can't afford a President still wet behind the ears; we need a President who starts running as soon as her/his feet hit the ground. We don't have time for on the job training for Obama.

First of all to all you Obama haters out there and to all you feminist who feel that you are owed the p[residency. Hilary Clinton cannot and will not do anything for womens rights. She cares nothing about you all. your better off joining one of these feminist groups and protest or something. Second, all who keep making reference to Barak being a muslim and his middle name, go back to hickvill with all your other Hillary Clintion racist finatic friends. Third, i know Axelrod was not impling that Clinton was responsible for Bhuttos death. You lost guys and emotional women on here who support HRC are lost. She has no expeience. She was just the Presidents wife. She has experience in shopping and cooking. Maybe she should run for the white house chef position. And stop hating Barak because he is black and better then white HRC. It is true, the democrats are the most racist. Barak was right on when he made his comments about Pakistan. HIllary was wrong when she voted for the war. the truth does hurt and you HRC supporters are afraid she will lose. Stop hating and embrace your future President Barak Obama. Its funny how emotional you women on here get when the Obama camp tells the truth about your liar candidate. Get over yourselves with you "Shame on hims" and your other emotional comments. And you want Hillary to be president? Come on. She's gonna cry.

While Pakistan fights the war on terror ,in return the US and the West cry craven on the posibility of nuclear assets falling in the hands of terrorits ,which is far from reality and completly absurd.In our times of tribulation,the least you can do is keep out and stop creating more problems for the country.

Obama is also a congenital liar. Note this item in today's Sports Illustrated segment:

<>

Trouble is, when Obama was 16, there was no such thing as "threes" in basketball. The NBA started it in late 1979 and college basketball began experimenting with it on a limited basis in 1980.

"I was just raining down threes" in 1977 (when Obama was 16), huh? That's in keeping with Democrat ethical standards, such as Hillary claiming that she was named after explorer Sir Edmund Hillary - before he had climbed Everest!

WHAT ELSE DO WE NEED?

From the casualties of the war in Iraq to the heightened terrorism and re-energized Al Qaida in Pakistan, to the death of the brave Benazir Bhutto, somehow, events seem to always vindicate Barack Obama's wisdom and judgment.

It was Obama's wisdom and judgment that opposed the war in Iraq before it began; it was Obama's wisdom and judgment that said we should focus on the terrorists in Pakistan and Afghanistan (a strategy endorsed by Bhutto) instead of the wrong battlefield of Iraq; it was Obama's wisdom and judgment that said we should also talk with leaders we don't like. it was the wrong kind of experience that got us into the wrong battlefield; it was the wrong kind of experience that called judgment 'naive'; it was the wrong kind of experience that got it all wrong, over and over, and over again.

WHAT ELSE DO WE NEED?
Clinton to be nominated and screw it up for Democrats in November? Rudy Giuliani to be president and lead us to another war with Iran? what else do we need? I feel like crying!

What else do we need before we recognize a young Senator from Illinois whose judgment has been vindicated time and time again, and put him where he belongs – in the oval office?

Now, I really feel like crying!

Oh come on! I am a Clinton supporter but when I read Axelrod's statement, I did not take it as him blaming Hillary for Bhutto's assassination. This is just misleading headlining on CNN's part. So much of what has been said from both candidates campaigns has been so grossly taken out of context by the media that it's really starting to muddy up who these people really are. And lets keep a clear head here. These comments didn't come out of Obama's mouth anymore than the Obama drug comments came out of Hillary's mouth.

Hillary was way ahead, so the media skews a bunch of information against Hillary so Obama makes up ground and takes a lead, now they skew Obama camps words and things head back towards Hillary. Now it's neck and neck and we're all captivated and all we want is more CNN to find out who'll win the photo finish. Yeah, that's just polotics. I'm sure the media has nothing to do with it.

Thank you Ava and other for pointing out the obvious if you actually read the article (especially the first paragraph). It says "his chief strategist David Axelrod SEEMED to link Hilary Clinton's vot on Iraq and the death of Benazir Bhutto". He could have been linking John Edwards for all that we know!

People please think and read before you base your response on the title alone (Obama advisor links Clinton vote and Bhutto death?).

Michael L.

Despite every terrorist act in the last twenty-five years having some connection to Pakistan the US has not had the foresight or the courage to tackle the problem. Finally even with 9/11 when the link was clear and the trail lead to the lawless regions of Western Pakistan bordering Afghanistan we did little and got distracted by a totally unnecessary war in Iraq. All those who supported the war in Iraq take the blame for this including Ms Clinton.
Pouring money into the coffers of this extremely corrupt country is not going to do the job. It somehow finds its way through the ISI conduit to the Jihadists enabling them to buy more AK-47s and C4 for the suicide bombers. The country is nuclear to boot. As David Gergen says this will be and should be the challenge for the next President. I hope he or she will have the courage to take the fight to the lair of the dragon.

Chitral

Enough with the smearing! To put the resposibilty on Clinton is nonsense. Leaders of countries all around the world are always targets of the opposition. Bhutto was aware that her life was in constant danger, especially with an upcoming election. Have we forgotten that its happened to some of our leaders? John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Bush Sr, and even Reagan had an assasination attempt.

Where are my previous comments? Stop Censorhip. This is not the Soviet Union. There is no need to censor unless somebody makes a derogatory, vulgar or hateful statement.

Come on people we all know CNN is a clinton news station. So let them spin all the untruth, in the end it won't help them or the clinton's. Any educated american know's well, if Bill Clinton would have been doing his job as president, we would not be at war now. When we were attacked around the world Clinton did nothing, so what did the terrorist think, this president is to weak to come after us, let's go and attack them on american soil. The only way Bill could have caught a terrorist, if she was wearing a skirt. They say history repeats itself, but what we learn from history is the main thing. We learned the Clinton's are dishonest, cheats, they lie to make them selfs look good. Come on CNN we all know you need to get your ratings out of the basement, ever thought about reporting the news accurate, and not making it up.

What CNN is NOT reporting

Would you feel a candidate was "calculating" and hate his/her guts if he/she says the following shortly after somebody was assassinated?

"I am so moved today to go to an event like this just as Benazir was doing, making her case with the people as to why she would be their prime minister".

It was none other than HRC cmpaigning in Iowa.

JUDGEMENT: Is a vital attribute the next president most have. The comment made by Obamas advisor pointed out what bad judgement Sen. Clinton has made in the senate and in her choice of words. It has absolutely nothing to do with Benazirs death or his campiagn. I would like to think everyone in this country is looking for the next president to be trustworthy, with great judgement, and not afraid to point out the obvious which is voting to go to Iraq and voting in favor of calling a nations' military TERROIST is horrible judgement!! It has nothing to do with politics, respecting Benazir, or not voting for Obama it has everything to do with common sense people and i hope we start to use it.

Cryston,

Hillary did not "oppose Obama's suggestion to strike Al Qaeda in Pakistan if they don't". He also by the way referred to Musharraf as an "unreliable dictator" as part of that speech, which may or may not be true, but is hardly the sort of language we expect from a presidential candidate towards someone who has been cooperating with the US. No, what Hillary and Biden and Dodd and Romney and McCain and anyone with any sense opposed was the fact that he unnecessarily inflamed an already precarious situation in Pakistan by making such strident statements for no reason other than to recover from his goof up in the debate in which he naively (yes, Hillary's right) said he'd PERSONALLY AS PRESIDENT meet with leaders of hostile nations with no preconditions in his first year of office.

And unlike his and his surrogates' recent ridiculous assertions against Hillary as to Bhutto's death, his comments did in fact DIRECTLY destabilize the situation and result in street protests and a declaration of a state of emergency. The Pakistani government specifically called him out and demanded that he not make such wreckless comments about bombing Pakistan to score points in a presidential race. President Bush had to reach out and offer the Pakistanis assurances no strikes were planned, and Obama himself backpedaled and assured the Pakistanis he could work with them.

You Obama supports are like babies, cry every time when something comes out of Obama. Everybody knows that Obama is getting the bets media coverage than any other candidate on both parties. You have Chris Matthews doing Obama advertisement two hours a day, Fox News is all about trashing Hillary, all the am radio hosts are Hillary haters and yet small thing like this makes you cry like bunch of babies. I don’t even remember when was the last time any media or media personal have attacked Obama like they do to Hillary. You call CNN Clinton News Network; well maybe you all should watch Glenn Beck or Lou Doubbs. Ridiculous….

This is one of outraging comment from Barack Hussein Obama, if he has gut he should asked his adviser resign for making this kind of low level comment.

People guess what, if Obma has this kind of foreign advisor, where we will be in next 4 years?

Just say not to big mouth Barack Hussein!

Obama is slipping in the Iowa polls and Bhutto's assassination is looking like it might hurt his bid. His campaign is getting desperate. Don't for a second believe Obama is above partisan politics. Comments like this prove it. (You can't tell me Obama and Axelrod did not discuss Axelrod's new argument before he said it).

this is just a sample of the arrogance obama has & if he wins the nomination he will be strutting around like gw with oprah strapped to his hip..had another candidate said something like this about him brother al & jessie would be screaming in the streets...do not vote for this phony in 08..

I've been a fan of CNN for many years and respect their way of reporting ,but to try to improve their ratings by spinning a story just make me sick. CNN should know that there are decent ways to attract the viewers,but to suggest that the Obama campaign is linking Madame Clinton with the tragedy in Pakistan is cheap. Just a bit of advise, stick to important matters and stop making a mountain out of a molehill. Otherwise most viewers of yours like myself will switch the channel, and that's not good for you or anybody else. Obama wants to bring authenticity in American politics, so let the voters decide whether he qualifies or not. May Madame Bhutto rest in peace.
FM

Speaking of CNN, Al Gore, and global warming...... Have Al and Hillary taken credit for the record snow that we are expereincing? Have they saved the world?
Or, has the evil Mr. Bush made it snow in order to cover something up?

Al , Hillary, and the Demakooks haven't said much.

Fred D. Thompson 2008!

Wow, just wow....
Velma:
I find Obama's remarks against Mrs. Clinton offensive and in extremely bad taste.
-Obama made no remarks, an Advisor did-
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.
-The first two years-
People seem to forget 911 and what Americans felt when the Towers were hit and went down.
-What does 911 have to do with Iraq?-
EVERY RED-BLOODIED TRUE AMERICAN wanted REVENGE.
-No, some were looking for answers-
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.
-Facts? What Facts? Iran? WMD were never found in Iraq, and noone voted to go into Iran-
Why did he not want revenge?
-because any level headed individual would know that revenge will solve nothing-
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?
-Obama is not a Muslim, but if he was, why would that have anything to do with this? Is this a war against Muslims?-
I disagree with almost everything President Bush says or does because he doesn't seem to really know what is going on.
-Yeah, that's what I got from your post too, ha ha ha-
But when or intelligence says there are weapons then we shold be able to believe it.
-There are WMD in Israel, you gonna attack them?-
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.
-That's the problem, they're Men, how dare they-
It is funny that all these little men are afraid of a woman, but they should be ashamed of themselves.
-And little men at that-
How could Hillary be in any way responsible for a murder in Pakistan Mr Obama?
-Don't think he said that-
Are yo NUTS?
-Are you?-
Look to the dictator in charge of the country.
-Bush or Cheney?-
Americans WAKE UP. As the song says HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN (911)?
-sigh, again with the 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.
-good thing you're on the payroll-
GOD BLESS AMERICA and keep her safe from without and from within our country. Thank You . A Loyal American
-God, keep America and the rest of the world safe from ignorance like this-

This is pretty sad to see Obama's campaign people trying to gain ground by round-a-bout negatively linking Clinton to the Bhutto assasination. Barack, if you can't pick smarter people and control your campaign people any better than this, then I worry that you won't do any better as president. I think you just lost my support & respect.

If the U.S. had not invaded Iraq, Benazir Bhutto would be alive today? Please.

The threat of militant Islamist extremism in Pakistan predates the Iraq war by more than a decade; Axelrod ought to take in a screening of "Charlie Wilson's War." The threat grew, and developed, and incubated, independent of U.S. policy for decades. It is naive folly to believe that if the U.S. had just had the right foreign policy, we could prevent some extremist from conducting an assassination.

To the best of our knowledge, the U.S. has not taken military action in Pakistan, beyond the rare hellfire missile launched from an unmanned drone. It's not like our forces in Iraq would be fighting al-Qaeda in Pakistan if the U.S. had not invaded Iraq. (Right? Or would President Obama have announced the invasion of Pakistan in 2003?) We don't know the exact who and how and where on this asssassination plot, but the trail has yet to lead outside of Pakistan. I have yet to see any compelling evidence that there is anything the U.S. could have done to prevent this.

The Obama camp has deployed a desperate flailing argument that suggests they have absolutely no familiarity with threats from within Pakistan.

Brian of Syracuse NY, thank you. There is no doubt in my mind that Hillary Clinton is very intelligent. However, by supporting the war in Iraq, she proved to me that she would sacrifice a responsible, well-considered judgment for a ride on the bandwagon. For that alone, she deserves to lose her bid for the White House.

velma velma velma,
I am actually glad you did not capitalize your name, because you do not deserve such an honor. You are a dispicable person. Your entire post is filled with such bigotry and racism that I couldn't tell if you were actually serious or not. What does being Muslim have to do with anything here? Obama was not the one who was quoted, it was his advisor. He should not have fallen for the trap set by the reporter, and his comment was in bad taste, but this was not Barack Obama making this comment.

"EVERY RED-BLOODIED TRUE AMERICAN wanted REVENGE."

velma, revenge is for the weak. To be truly greater than those who do you wrong, you do not seek revenge. You seek understanding and forgiveness. I believe that what needed to be done after 9/11 was to find Osama bin Laden, and to punish him to the fullest extent of the law. Revenge is for people who do not have the brain power to control their own emotions. The entire nations of Afghanistan, Iraq, and soon to be Iran do not need to suffer because our Twin Towers were hit. These nations as a whole did not hijack our planes. The Muslim religion was not at fault for these attacks. Radical Extremists were to blame and will always be to blame. Your short-sighted, one track mind cannot seem to comprehend the meaning of what went on during 9/11. When I read your comment, it seems that you question Barack Obama's integrity and where his heart really lies. But did you forget that HE was the one who claimed that as President, he would seek out and find every person linked to al-Qaeda, with or without the help of the Pakistani government? No, you didn't forget that. That little bit of information was not convenient for your bigoted, racist point of view. You have selective hearing. You have diarrhea of the mouth. You are pathetic. Go to bed.

Once again, the people who are "eatin' up this spin-pie" are/were NEVER going to vote for a person of African descent to be President, or are simply so ignorant that they will left behind as Obama brings CHANGE & UNITY to these UNITED States of America!

Clinton was not the President – Bush was and is the President – he started this war not Hillary! Keep trying to hit "below the belt" – it's not working – I'm still voting for Hillary no matter how hard you people try to knock her down – the American people know what she stands for .

"And to all of those who are missing a loved one, there are no words any of us can express, except to tell you in the clearest possible terms we will — in a united American response — support you, offer assistance to you, stand with you, and pursue those who reached deep into your family homes yesterday and took someone you loved away from you."
-Hillary Clinton, 12 Sep. 2001

...How is diverting our forces from Afghanistan to Iraq, a country which had nothing to do with 9/11, pursuing "those who reached deep into your family homes yesterday and took someone you loved away from you"? Saddam Hussein was not responsible for a single American death on 9/11, yet he's dead. Osama Bin Laden was responsible and he remains free because of Clinton and the Neocons' War in Iraq.

On January 3rd, 2008, the voters in Iowa will take Hillary Clinton to task for her failed promises and empty gestures.

Read Axlerod's original statement again, folks. You'll see that the CNN reporters purposefully put the editorial "spin" on it in the first paragraph of this report. They said that Axelrod "seemed to link" Clinton's initial support of the war to the events of yesterday, when, in fact, he did not. He was correct to say that the war in Iraq has diverted our attention from al Qaeda. Further, the war has expended valuable resources that could have been used against them.

Yes, I recall how my First Amendment rights were ripped away by those misguided people who followed Pied Piper Bush into war. I would guess that some of those misguided people are those who are posting now against the war. The boorishness of my fellow Americans is truly nauseating.

My fellow Americans, you will be fooled again and again because you never learn. And, if you are old enough to remember Vietnam and Watergate, there is no excuse for your naivety. I would gladly step out of the way and let you people fall into the traps you make for yourself, but, because this country had devolved into a democracy and is no longer the Republic the Founding Fathers established, you'll drag me down with you. And, for that, I will never forgive you, nor the political "leaders" whom you follow, like lemmings, to the abyss.

It's painfully obvious this is just more rhetoric from Clinton-haters across America, who wish to hate or participate in repeated "Hillary Bashing" daily, as a hot button to inject their personal distaste for her or the Clintons in general as the blame for the global crisis of the day. However, I think its time for fairness and honest y across the humanitarian and politcal landscape ,as most folks expect for themselves. Folks need to stop blaming or expecting her to make an apology for a decision she made in good faith ,based upon facts and information she and other politicians were told , provided and felt was credible at the time...as did many others who voted for the war . It's not their fault or blame , the information provided was filtered and massaged by "so-called" experts from our president and his menions. No one asked others who voted for the war to apologize for their vote...why should she be the beneficiary of this great apologetic task....because Clinton haters want her to bear the blame and make them feel better. . I'm sick of others asking her to apologize for the war alone, bearing the same personal choices we all have had to make in our lives, with the information you have at the time . But, we don;t go around apologizing for them evreytime a choice is made. Because at the end of the day its still your choice! And that's a contitutional freedom we all enjoy...choice! Where are the other voters in the political circle who voted for the war...have you heard fromt hem yet? As with Obama who made the choice of no against the war. He had no more insight on the course of events than anyone else. So if you're wondering which side of politics I embarace; Democrat, Republican, or Conservative, its neither. I'm a citizen of this proud country, who practice , believe and embrace fairness and choice. I think its time to forego partisan polictics and prejudices against the Clintons and others, for humanity, fairness and patriotism, and the willingness to allow all of us the freedom of choice ...good , bad, or indifferent to our own. Get on board america, the Clintons are not our problem or the blame for crisis in americia....its you the indiviudal who contributes to it. Wake up folks, enough is enough!

WHERE IS MY INPUT?

This is the pathectic ramblings of the losing Obama campaign. He should fire the one that made that statment. The Clintons are the best statesmen we could ever have. There is room for Obama in the future, but right now Hillary is the experianced leader READY to be America's president.

Let us not forget people,There are people out there that want us gone. wiped off the face of the earth, because of our freedom,our christianity We do not need a leader who lies to the Americain people,Whose background, family history and religion comes with a big ? I may not agree with everything Hillary Clinton says ,but I know she is and always will be an American .

Hey CNN,
You should update your own stories after one of your "premier" anchormen interviews Barack. Even though Wolf tried to push this silly "conventional wisdom" about Axelrod's comments, Barack stood firm last night and eventually had Wolf admitting that they were correct on the merits.

We know you're looking to create headlines but at least be responsible about your journalism.

This is precisely why the Republicans are working so hard against Mrs. Clinton in the primaries. They WANT Obama to win, because they know that whoever they nominate will beat him like a drum in the general election. Amatuer time!

"Here we go" the Clinton News Network carrying the water for the Clintons. It is so obvious she is their preferred candidate-why not just come right out and endorse her spare us

I used to be big with the Clinton but not anymore; just watching Sicko makes me dislike Hillary Clinton even more now; Big Health care companies bought Hillary out. She is talk, talk, talk, and talk and no action. I was wondering: Hillary kept saying that her eight years in the White house gave the experience to be president well if we people really going to believe this nonsense or vote for her for that reason alone then we (the people) should elect Laura Bush for president because she spent so far 7 years. My point is that we the people are not stupid enough to vote for Laura Bust. And I can't believe people are linking Bhutto's death to Al Qeida. Bhutto herself named the killer two months ago. Everyone knew that she was going to die.Thank you

We Americans of all political and economic levels are either indirectly or directly accountable for these wars and post war consequences in the both Afghanistan and Iraq. We are ingenuous participants in this chatotic situation because we allowed ourselves to be seduced by Bush and his crafty administration and his greedy henchmen who have wreak havoc for the purpose of amassing power and wealth.
I applaud all of those few Americans who, since the beginning, have had the courage and fortitude to question and criticise the actions of the Bush adiministration and I shame all of those far too many Americans who have blindly believed the administration's well invented falsehoods and silently stoodby while America became embroiled in a senseless and barbaric onslaught of military might.
Had our administration been in the hands of a purdent, wise and visioned leader, capable demostrating cohesive restraint and amelioration, the supposed real or imagined menacing situation might otherwise been defused through diplomacy and tacful persuasion.

Hey CNN's Jessica Yellin, Gloria Borger and Candy Crowley who contributed to this report, why don't you post the Obama's respond to your report with Wolf and let the whole world know about that to.

We Americans of all political and economic levels are either indirectly or directly accountable for these wars and post war consequences in the both Afghanistan and Iraq. We are ingenuous participants in this chatotic situation because we allowed ourselves to be seduced by Bush and his crafty administration and his greedy henchmen who have wreak havoc for the purpose of amassing power and wealth.
I applaud all of those few Americans who, since the beginning, have had the courage and fortitude to question and criticise the actions of the Bush adiministration and I shame all of those far too many Americans who have blindly believed the administration's well invented falsehoods and silently stoodby while America became embroiled in a senseless and barbaric onslaught of military might.
Had our administration been in the hands of a purdent, wise and visioned leader, capable demostrating cohesive restraint and amelioration, the supposed real or imagined menacing situation might otherwise been defused through diplomacy and tacful persuasion.

This is really sad, a woman who wanted nothing more than peace for her country and else where has been murder. A country is in mourning, the world is in shock but Obama's people wants to blame this on Hillary Clinton in order to boost his campaign. This is a shameless way to get publicity.

Hillary's camp is in disarray, and to twist Axelrod's comments is quite typical of her "leadership". She continues to look lame and pathetic, but what else is new? When will CNN do some actual reporting on the NYT expose about how little Hillary knows about foreign policy?

**sp..."OWN daughter's pregnancy"

THIS IS WORSE THAN A MYSPACE DEBATE! 75% of you insigtful geniuses don't even read the article before responding and calling each of the candidates supporters crazy. The headline is a question for goodness sake.

"I mean, she was a strong supporter of the war in Iraq, which we would submit is one of the reasons why we were diverted from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Al Qaeda who may have been players in this event today. So that’s a judgment she’ll have to defend.”

CNN’s Jessica Yellin, Gloria Borger and Candy Crowley , should stick to their other day jobs reporting for OK Magazine and helping Lynn Spears collect her $1MM for selling the story of her won daughter's pregnancy.

Come on people. Think about what we are commenting on. Not Obama's comments but his advisors comments on Hilary's comments. Yet we are beating each other up over a story that is not a story. We should be a little more cognisant of the fact that not because CNN says that something is a story, that means that it is a story. The more we comment on it the more CNN becomes right that it is a story.

Obama said nothing.

Hilary did oppose Obama's suggestion to strike Al Qaeda in Pakistan if they don't.

Bush has said that we are to win the war over there so they don't come here. Bush actually agrees with Obama.

Let's deal with the facts and not with CNN's spin.

Thank You,

Stem cell, contraception groups paid Huck

By: KENNETH P. VOGEL | 12/28/2007 06:19 AM
Huckabee took money from groups that many religious conservatives consider off-limits.

This is the Politico.com headline this morning! It proves Huck is a lying, immoral hypocrite.
He sais he's Pro-life, but he really pro-anybody who pays me.
Jesus never compromised his morals for money, like Huck does.

I would NOT trust Huckabee with the crisis in the middle east or with domestic issues here at home.
Huckabee does not have Americas best interest at heart!
For all he flaws, I think Hillary does. I trust Hillary.

I do believe that Barack Obama answered Wolf Blitzer very well last night about the issue, and I also believe that it was taken out of context. The fact of the matter is that the pundits (the same people who are spinning this story in this way) are politicizing this death way too much, and it is triggering too much misunderstanding for the good of the American people. It is also unfortunate that all of a sudden people are talking about terrorism and foreign policy experience just because of this death. Are you telling me that this topic was not important before the death (for Democrats at least).

I can only say that Hillary Clinton as the Democratic Nominee will be the cause of another term of Republicans in the White House, and in the best case scenario, she will lose the Congress to the Republicans just like her husband did in 1994. We cannot have her as the Democrat's nominee. I know (and have read) of so many people stating that they will not vote Democrat if she is the nominee, and I am one of them. It's time to RESTORE DEMOCRACY!!! Enough with the Clintons! Enough with the Bushes!

The Obama camp is so tacky and so desperate. They will do anything to try to bring her down. He needs to start putting more energy into the issues then into attacking Sen. Clinton just because she is a better choice for the white house, because she is winning, and probably because she is a woman. I can't wait until the primary is over and Sen. Obama can go back to chicago and Sen Clinton can go back to the White House where she belongs...

you can certainly tell the difference between the comments on this ticker.

those of the ones that just read the headline, and those who actually are informed about the article...

the media did an awesome job of spining this story. some journalists might even get a good job under the clinton administration if the voters dont stop her first.

the sad thing is that the worst anyone can dig up on obama is misinterpreting and completely fabrication what people around him say. and that he has a familiar middle name... oh no!!!

obama 08'

CNN ? I'm failing to see how he said that. This is a far assumption and faulty at best.

I'm no Obama supporter, in fact I'm a Republican, but this is just bad reporting.

When one of Hillarys aide said something really stupid, she fired them. What did Barack do, pass out 'atta boys'.

Honestly, people who can't read should NOT be allowed to vote. Obama is not linking Clinton's vote to Bhutto's death and he's not even quoted in the original article. It's his advisor (Axelrod) who is seemingly linking the authorization vote to Bhutto's death. However, the logic behind Axelrod's statement is legit, though his statements was poorly timed.

Barack Obama said "it’s important for us to not look at this in terms of short-term political points scoring.”
This is what CNN spinning for news and the candidates are falling heads over heels trying to use Bhutto's death to position themselves. Its despicable and Barack Obama is the only one in the field who just offered his condolence and refused to be dragged by Wolf Blitzer to spin Bhuttos death tragedy to his advantage. He is walking the talk.
CNN is desperately looking for a macaca moment from Obama camp and that explains the futile attempt to spin and distort Axelrod's comments.

Here we go again CNN :

Let's have a debate about why or why not candidates voted for policies from the current administration. I can only guess who people will side with. Ms. HRC made her vote and she will have to live with it. Mr. Obama made his vote and he will have to live with that as well. Life is about personal choices, not political gain. HRC chose political gain(which failed), Obama chose a personal judgement. Now it's time for the American People to make there choice.
CNN you are choosing Political Access! Maybe you should re-think.

Oh yeah Obama wasn't just smoking pot when Hillary was meeting world leaders and forming personal relationships with them that continue to this day. He was "scoring some blow" when he could. Now who does any rational adult think would make a better President???

pretty childish Obama!!!

This shows we don't need someone like you in WH

It's a shame to read some of the slanderous and uninformed comments written above about the democratic candidates. Reading through these comments makes one have the impression the writters are either uneducated, ignorant of issues or are delibrately blind to the issues that make a candidate electable.
X-raying the candidates ability to make thoughtful and informed decisions, Hillary Clinton's ability to make foresighted and informed decisions is seemingly flawed as is seen from her votes on issues. On the contrary events after events have proven that, Barack Obama has the ability to make thoughtful, informed and sound decisions that could have long lasting positive outcomes. That said, being a First lady who travelled the world on leisure trips does not make a candidate experienced. So this experience issue is irrelevant because, you could have thirty years of experience doing things wrong each year. A word to a wise is enough.

Barack Obama is ok with a despicable comment by his chief media person, that doesn't just insuate Clinton has responsiblity in Mrs Bhuto's death but every other US senator who voted for military deployment to Iraq. This man needs to fired immediately by the Obama campaign and Obama needs to personally appologize to every US senator or leave the race. How is he going to reach out accross party lines by the way and be a unifier not a divider with these kinds of accusations?? Obama, by the way, wasn't asked to vote on the war in Iraq because he wasn't a senator at the time. He has however voted in favour of continuing the war and funding it several times. These kinds of comments are dangerous on the world stage and Obama has done it before stating he would invade Pakistan. He is below despicable and totally inexperienced in foreign policy. This attack should make it clear to anyone who was undecided, and some who were that this man is not Presidential material.

This is ridiculous!! It was the reporter who linked Hillary Clinton and the assassination of Bhutto in the first place. And Axelrod's comment about an unnecessary war diverting resources from a real problem was responsibly phrased. This is just hype and spin.

So sleazy. Why does Obama get off so easy with the press?

I think that was a low blow by the Obama Camp .Granted that we are in Iraq for all the wrong reasons but Clinton along with 70 other senators voted to go to war with Iraq based on the false information on weapons of mass destruction given by the socalled Cowboy President and Vice President that are in the white house
now .If anyone is to blame its those 2 nuckle heads !!!!!

I'm surprised that Obama's flunkies did not blame George Bush and man-made global warming for Bhutto's assassination. Everything wrong in the world get attributed to them.

jojomoore
Obama did not vote on the Iraq war, he was not in Washington at the time.

First, Hillary did not call Obama naive and irresponsible for his comments about going into Pakistand if necessary. She made the comment when he said he would meet with any and all world leaders in his first year in office with no pre-conditions.

Second, we do not know how Obama would have voted because he did not have a vote to make. Enough said. I for one, was enthusiastic about invading Iraq based on what my president said in his State of the Union address regarding Niger and yellow-cake uranium.

I'm sorry I fell for it but, I did because I expect the truth from my president when he/she is discussing something of such importance. It is obvious today that it was a mistake but, back then – not so obvious. Stop Monday morning quarterbacking this thing. We are where we are – now get us out of Iraq RESPONSIBLY and let's get Bin Laden and his group.

Could the man and his campaign be more insulting? I am from Chicago and could never even consider voting for this man. As a lifelong Republican I have made the decision to "switch sides" now, but he is in no way in a position to be accusing one vote from one Senator – remember, a majority of them DID resolve to back this war – not just her. Just another clear indication this man is in no way ready to lead a country. He is about as ready as I am.

GOod move, deflect your inexperience in foreign affairs by attacking someone on theirs.

Still top of the ticker, eh? Trying to make Obama look bad much?

Senator Obama defended Axelrod by stating "He [Axelrod] in no way was suggesting Hillary Clinton was somehow directly to blame for this situation"
Directly Senator? So there is an Indirect connection? Shame on you. And you are blaming "Washington" for putting a spin!

Is this the politics of hope we were promised?

The reality for every one of us is that our actions result in cascading actions. The more significant or profound the action the larger and longer lasting the cascading actions. Sending a nation to war will have after actions for at least two generations.

What Axelrod has suggested is that Clinton’s support of the war on Iraq may have contributed to events in Pakistan this week. Anyone who supports the “Butterfly Effect” will be hard pressed to argue against this.

Slightly more experience does not always equate to good judgment.

Obama defends every mistake made by his staff, while Hillary would apologize and move on.

Obama sounds like George Bush. He is no Joshua, Lincoln or Kenedy. He is simply not presidential.

NObama 08.

It’s ludicrous and ridiculous. Please Obama show you have a pair and go to the chamber stake a stand and vote and then and only then you can say something about HRC.

Hillary has shown backbone by taking some hard stances. I am so turned off by Obama and his camp right now….

I had considered voting for him but if he is the DEM candidate I will not vote for him or even perhaps I will vote for the other candidate.

Obama has turned off allot of supporters with his condoning the stupid desperate remarks of his stupid Chief advisor! Perfect example of obama letting ANYONE lead him, he is no leader! Looks like even oprah jumped ship on him now that his lack of good judgement or ability to even make a decision, including his 130 times he voted" Present" in place of yes or no in the senate becuase he was afraid to make a decision and was bullied by Bush/Chaney is finally coming out in the media. He can thank Axelrod.

He is trashing John Edwards for what he is doing behind the scenes, obam camp is sneaky and should be researched before you cast a wasted vote for him. He ALWAYS had a healthy appetite for money from lobbyists and political action committees while a state senator. Just looking at one of his state senate campaign cycles, in 2001-2002, Obama's state war chest accepted donations from, among other sources, the Manufacturers PAC; the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association; the Illinois Education Association; the Illinois Hospital Association, and the Credit Union PAC. A good place to check out Obama's campaign contribution record as a state senator is http://www.ilcampaign.org.

Obama also used lobbyists and PACs to help him raise money for his U.S. Senate run and his Hopefund. Obama experienced a conversion once he decided to run for the White House, changing his policy and declining to take money from currently registered federal lobbyists and PACs. He does take contributions from lobbyists with state clients and from individuals with government affairs jobs.
Not that most of this is really illegal. So why be embarrassed and tell these little white (you should excuse the expression) lies? Is he already losing his memory? Or is he so unsure of himself that he must reinvent himself?

OKAY... COME ON... CONGRESS WAS TRYING TO SHOW A UNITED FRONT BACK IN 2002. AND THE DECISION TO GO TO WAR WAS BASED ON SOME FAULTY INTELLIGENCE REPORT, IMPLICATING IRAQ TO HAVE HAD WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. THERE WAS SO CALL PROOF. SO AS A UNITED FRONT HILARY VOTED FOR THE WAR. SHE CURRENTLY NOT BEHIND THE WAR AND HAS BEEN IN THIS STANCE FOR SOMETIME. WHAT GETS ME, IS THAT bush IS STILL IN OFFICE, EVEN AFTER SENDING OUR YOUNG MEN OUT TO FIGHT HIS FATHER'S UNFINISHED BATTLE IN IRAQ. AMERICA PUT george bush BACK IN THE OVAL OFFICE. SO STOP TRYING TO TRASH HILARY.

Incredible! Perhaps if Sen. Obama spent more time in DC he might pick up on Pakistan's stance of a soverign nation that is assisting in the war on terror. I know he did not vote in favor of the war on terror but he show know that Pakistan was not one of the nations listed in the resolution for war. I would suggest he spend more time hitting the books and less time campaigning.

Mrs. Clinton for President. Interesting concept.

Should Mrs. Belichek be the new coach of the Dolphins? Maybe Mr. O'Conner should take Sandra's job.

I am disgusted with Obama. How can he connect Hillary with Bhutto's death? Pakistan has always been a volitile state with muslim extremism threatening any kind of democracy there.

Captain sky – It was hillary's vote along with the others that sent us to war. In hindsight, the vast majority of the American people see that it was the wrong thing to do. In what world is it inappropriate to articulate, emphasize, and sing from the rooftops the fact that he was right and she was wrong. She is campaigning as the candidate with strength and leadership.

Where was her strength when it came time to stand up to the president and the culture of fear that he and rove cultivated? Where was her leadership in fully investigating the facts, evidence, and potential consequences of giving the president carte blanche to wage war against an enemy that posed no direct threat to the US?

Even if she wasn't saying four hundred times a day that she has the "Strength and leadership" necessary to be president, making such a distinction on policy positions would be and is totally appropriate. The fact that she made the very personal qualities that relate to making such difficult decisions a staple of her campaign opens the door to any and all criticism that follows.

So no, she wasnt directly and solely responsible for the war. She was merely one of many who lacked the strength to stand up to the president, lacked the leadership to go against the drummed up sentiment at the time, and lacked the foresight and judgment to comprehend the consequences.

Obama was not one of that many. He stood strongly in his belief that the Iraq war would have tragic results, and time has vindicated that position. (The deaths of thousands of American soldiers, the death or mass exodus of a significant percentage of the entire Iraqi population, the financial toll of 10 billion dollars per month borrowed from China and other countries and set to be paid back by our children and grandchildren as we run the national deficit to record heights, the increased instability in the region – see Pakistan, etc.)

Enough is enough. seriously. I'm far from a rich man but I've already donated to Barack because he is the only inspirational national candidate we've had in decades. More importantly, he's the type of visionary and intellectual that we so sorely need. I've changed my registration to Democrat so I can vote for him in the primary.

Obama '08

Hillary Clinton made bad judgment when she stated that BUSH OUTSMARTED HER into voting for the war. So it wasn't Hilary's choice to be pro war, BUSH had outsmarted her. If you have been outsmarted by GW Bush then you do not deserve to be President.

December 27, 2007 6:21 pm ET

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.

* Clap Clap *

Boy! this article is bringing out the true racism of the Obama haters. You can see it in their comments all the hate and racism, they associate his name with Hussein, they blame him even though he voted against going to war in Iraq, and Clinton (the white lady) is getting all the credit, hogwash!

Ron, TX December 27, 2007 4:52 pm ET

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.

Thanks Ron for enlightening our readers.

It is quite clear that Obama is attempting to take the focus away from his lack of experience by this little stunt. Why didn't he go after Edwards ? Afterall it was Edwards who co-authored the bill that the Congress voted on. the fact of the matter is that Obama has ZERO experience for this job. ZERO.

Surrealist, Fort Myers, FL December 27, 2007 4:53 pm ET

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.

To Surrealist:

When Clinton and Edward had the information in front of them...Why didn't they read it? Who's the Sur-real putz? Get your fact straight. If you don't like Obama that's ok. You are entitle...but don't hate him because he was right and they were wrong. Now, promise me you are going to vote for him. c'mon, say it.

I love that a direct quote from Axelrod refutes the very title of this article, and yet they publish it as news anyway. Furthermore, he's right!!! No one is saying Hillary's vote that day caused Bhutto's death, but Bhutto's death highlights the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, which are linked to our idiotic decision to go to war in Iraq because of the massive focus and resources that were diverted for that. In turn, that decision, and those who supported it, are to be held accountable for their judgement and foresight. And what the hell is wrong with that?

How many times do we have to read that Obama was against the war (tho he couldn't vote, he wasn't yet a senator). If that is his ONLY selling point, he is in trouble. Remember school true & false tests? Even if you had NO IDEA what the answer was, you had a 50% chance of being right. So it turns out, later, after new evidence is found–that there weren't WMD, that the votes for going to war (or actually for looking harder for WMD, but Bush went to war) that Obama would have been right in his vote (if he had voted) ad nausium.
AND, when one of Hillary's staffers made a slight mistake, and worded something that could be made a big deal of, Hillary apologized and let them go, but now, Obama is in the same position–one of his staff has made a big goof, but does he apologize, or let him go? No, he defends him. This "get Hillary" and "defend the young inexperienced IL senator" is getting pretty one sided. We DO need Hillary's strength, experience, and common sense to get us out of this mess. Vote Hillary for "Madam President". We need her!!

My prayers go to the people of Pakistan and the Bhutto family. At 35 Bhutto became the first female PM of Pakistan. She didn't have all the experience that most candidates are talking about. Leadership knows no age, gender, political affiliation or up-bringing. Leadership is about knowing that we as a people are different and finding common goals/ground and doing whats good for the country.

When Obama talked about going after AQ and the fundamentalists in Pakistan we called him crazy?????

How many of us would put our lives on the line for "our people"... the way Bhutto did. How many of us would even put some effort into making a difference in our neighborhoods, our nation, our government. I hope we all do something really good today for our communities...

I wish our government didn't even make a choice for one President, but an overall council made up of the brightest and best we have in foreign affairs, business, humanity, etc. The primaries are just silly. It brings out the most ridiculous notiion that ONE person is what we need to keep us safe and turn our country around.

Abolish the parties all together and create a system that is truly the best for our nation, if that's possible.

Unless I'm mistaken Hillary wasn't President when the decision was made to invade Iraq. I'm not a Hillary supporter, in fact I don't know who I'm supporting yet, but I love people who want to blame her and her only for the invasion of Iraq and claim Obama voted against it. Obama wasn't a Senator at the time. He couldn't have voted for or against it. Remember he's still a first term Senator. The real person to blame for the invasion of Iraq is Bush. It was his agenda. The House and Senate voted to give him the authority to use military action if necessary. It wasn't a vote for a declaration of war. He chose to use that vote as his green light to invade Iraq.

Obama should apolize for his advisor's attempt to link Hillary Clinton to what happened in Pakistan yesterday. This again speaks to his inexperience. He shoud have jump on this imediately. This situation should not be used for polical gain. Could we truth someone like this as President at this time in history?

Obama' aid is definately correct. He was speaking the hard truth that some people might not want to hear.

It would be irony if Hillary benefits from such a tragic event just as Bush benefited from an Al Qaeda tape surfaced a few days before the general election against Kerry.

Remember Hillary was one of the helping hands who diverted our chase of Al Qaeda in Afgan/Pakistan and started the war in Iraq, costing our country billions of money and thousands of lives.

If Obama didn't want to score political points, why were his answers to Wolf Blitzer so full of election rhetoric? It wasn't until the very end that he said this wasn't about the election, in the meantime he went on and on about how electable he was...sigh... None of the other candidates interviewed were as self-absorbed as he seems to have become. On top of that, he looked exhausted. If Hillary had looked like that, he hate mongers would have been out with their knives. I'm sure that won't happen with Obama.

I'm seeing double standards here. Whether his guy was trying to or not, it was a definite slur against another candidate. It requires an apology from Obama to Clinton the likes of the ones he always gets when someone brings up an election issue that hurts him. Unfortunately, Barack would rather bungee jump than take the high road here. Too bad the media will give him another free ride.

CNN should change the title of the URL for this story. It's an editorial statement in itself:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/12/28/obama-advisor-links-clinton-vote-and-bhutto-death/

Does this not show people how out of touch omama is to even suggest Clinton was in any way had anything to do with this death. he still has never said what plans he has JUST CHANGE!

I have been watching Obama supporters bash Clinton for every remark her staff makes. The press seems to jump all over it too. Now, when an Obama staffer makes a horrible comment it barely gets noticed. I wasn't a Hillary supporter before but now I think the "experiece" tagline is worth a vote. Obama doesn't seem to understand how the bigger picture works. His plan for change might just be a short sighted plan for failure. Comments like this prove it.

I used to be an Obama fan but this smear campaign against is getting old. It’s sick. Hillary killed Butto ? So much for “change” and “politics of hope”. He’s just another politician trying to score some political points from this tragic event. Shameful. This is not the first time I’ve seen his people using dirty tactics on the trail while the equally dodgy HRC took all the flack. I’m supporting neither and urge everyone who was considering picking them to reconsider. There are plenty of other principled candidates in the offering.

EXCUSE THE TYPO ASTRONOMICAL DEBT

CNN you have finally got what you are looking for to bring obama down I know this ticker will be on this website the whole day.hillary clinton have slowly destroy the love african americans have for her husband she have going negative at obama for 2 months now CNN was the list cable channel that talked.but In this case it becomes a political ticker.I am black and I am proud I swear to god if hillary clinton got the normination me for the first time in my life I will vote for republican.

Just another stupid comment by a moron about a moron!

WHAT I DIDN'T ALREADY SAY:
IF BHUTTO HAD CONTINUED TO STAY OUT OF IT SHE'D BE ALIVE TODAY.
WE NEED TO LEARN FROM THIS. STOP INTERNATIONAL SOCIALISM.
BRING TROOPS HOME FROM COUNTRIES ALL OVER THE WORLD &
REPAIR OUR CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE & GUARD OUR OWN
BORDERS. SAVE A TRILLION $ A YEAR. AND SAVE LIVES & LIMBS.
CNN DO YOU WANT TO SUPPORT THE WAR HAWKS WHO ARE
BANKRUPTING OUR COUNTRY. THINK OF YOUR CHILDREN &
GRANDCHILDREN. DO YOU WANT THEM TO HAVE THE BURDEN
OF THE ASTONOMICAL DEBT WE ARE NOW ACCUMULATING?

So all the Democrats can do is stand in a circle holding hands and singing kumbaya....let's have a group hug......The real world doesn't work that way Obama

IF BHUTTO HAD CONTINUED TO STAY OUT OF IT, SHE'D STILL BE ALIVE.
SHE CAN'T HELP ANYONE IF SHE'S DEAD.
WE HAVE TO LEARN FROM THIS. WE SHOULD DECLARE OUR NEUTRALITY.
STOP THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIALISM WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN FOR SO
LONG. THINK OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE ALIVE TODAY, IF WE
WERE NEUTRAL. END FOREIGN AID. BRING ALL OUR MILITARY HOME
FROM COUNTRIES ALL OVER THE WORLD. WE CAN SAVE LIVES & SAVE
A TRILLION $ A YEAR.... REPAIR OUR CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE &
GUARD OUR OWN BORDERS & PORTS & COASTLINES. CHARITY BEGINS
AT HOME.... AMERICA FIRST. OBAMA & PAUL & KUCINICH HAVE THE
GOOD JUDGMENT. EXPERIENCE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR GOOD
JUDGMENT. THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE ARE THE ONES WHO GOT
US INTO THIS MESS. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE GOTTEN US IN
DEBT. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE BEEN STEALING THE BABY
BOOMERS SOCIAL SECURITY SURPLUS.
TELL YOUR HOUSE REP. TO VOTE FOR H.R. 219 "THE SOCIAL SECURITY
PRESERVATION ACT". RON PAUL INTRODUCED IT IN THE HOUSE BUT
THEY WON'T PASS IT UNLESS YOU DEMAND IT. THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
PAYING INTO S.S. DESERVE FULL BENEFITS. IF THEY STOP STEALING
FROM IT, S.S. CAN BE PRESERVED FOR DECADES WITHOUT CUTTING
BENEFITS OR RAISING TAXES. VOTE OBAMA OR PAUL.

You know....to suggest something like this is almost criminal.....

People are sheep, they just follow. They cannot come to their own conclusion or make a decision. Oprah announces her support for Obama, guess what? The sheep baaahh and follow Obama. Some people make stupid comments like "he does not talk like a politician, he talk's like the guy next door" . Well, the current president speaks the same way and look where it got us. So people, please vote for candidate that you truly believe will lead the country in the right direction and improve your quality of life. Not just because some celebrity stands behind the candidate.

CNN, who is the editor, VERY NASTY, MISLEADING AND DANGEROUS REPORTING, VERY DANGEROUS REPORTING. WE ALL KNOW THAT AXLERODE WAS ANSWERING A REPORTERS QUESTION.

DANGEROUS REPORTING CNN
VERY DANGEROUS REPORTING WHICH SICKEN ME

I personally am tired of Obama critisizing Clinton for her vote on the Irag War.
Had he been in the Senate at the time he also might have voted yea. THe Congress was lied to very effect;y. IOne would think that Clinton's vote was the only vote. What happened to Obama's promise of a clean campain. Guess he changed his mind.

The statement from Obama's spokesman shows me how much Obama should not be President

Obama was right on Pakistan, on Iran, he was right on Iraq.

EVEN BHUTTO AGREED WITH OBAMA;

Bhutto's reaction to Obama's Pakistan policy: "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." - Benazir Bhutto, August, 2007 ....

Hillary is confused and lacks judgement: SHE VOTED FOR THE DISTRACTION ( IRAQ) AND BILL OPPOSSED IT FROM THE BEGINING

Cnn you know better you you trying to use this to make a big deal out of and for the first time in my live I just hate this CNN.more than I did to fox news in 04m

In all this mess, could we just please get a presidential candidate that isn't so corrupted by the money, glitz and light shows? I mean, all they do is sling mud at each other then, we elect someone, they get into office and accomplish jack squat (some even less than that)...promises and no outcomes. I'm watching the current candidates and to be honest, there isn't one of them I feel is fit to be president! They either lack experience, talent, strength, knowledge or all of the above! And although the candidates may have started off their careers being completely honest, by the time they reach the level of the presidential rat race, they have become so corrupted and dishonest, I have to ask myself why I would want any of them in office! When did voting in this country turn from "the best person for the job wins" to "the lesser of two evils?" Rock the vote indeed. And before anyone chastises me for that last comment, I served this nation for more than a decade in the Army and was in the Pentagon on September 11th (so I've earned the right to have an opinion). I'm not being unamerican, just tired of the political BS that we call a presidential race.

Yeah, it'd be nice if the world was that simple that we could all just blame Hillary Clinton, it seems like Barack's campaign is the ones playing the dirty tricks now.

Geez! Why all the poeple slating the comment? He did not AT ALL say that Clinton was responsible for the assassination. Do you guys read past the irresponsible headline?

Very Simple:

Iraq war was not necessary

The point is to go after AQ and the fundamentalists where they are (Afghan/Pakistan) and not go into wars which will majorly back-fire.

INTELLIGENCE is required with foregin policy. Not blind meandering across mean-looking countries in the ME.

The guy's point was obvious – Pakistan is turning into a mess. The Iraq war is not whre we should have been. Had we focussed the efforts properly in the region, then this wouldn't have happened.

Obama knew this and so voted against the war. Clinton didn't and voted for it.

That;s the point. Stop throwing your toys out of a pram and read the quotes and maybe a newspaper from time to time).

Great ! Thank you. I just want to let you know that no man's efforts go unnoticed..soldier is not following rank, or discipline. However, we believe as a team that everything and anything will contribute to the success of our team.!!!

Sincerely,

Heather A. Eagan
41 Mill Street
Dalton, Ma 01226

P.S. By the way junkies......

Obama is crazy, the taliban? He's one of 5 people who still believe they exist or have any real signifigance he should read a few articles in national geographic and get an idea of what the tribal reigon of pakistan consists of....I think its obvious who killed her and thats our man the CIA man, the M-I6 man dictator musharraf...Hillary Clinton is a corporate shill and believes in killing women and children sure and Obama didnt go for that, but Obama is crazy the war in iraq has nothing to do with this women being dead...If that was the case Musharraf would have been dead long long ago....Everyone knows who did it Musharraf Musharraf Musharraf...Anyone who cant see that must only read the world news section of a midwestern paper

Hillary has no entitlement to the nomination or the presidency. She needs to earn it. If she's going to compare her judgment on foreign policy with Obama, I'm afraid she's going to come out on the losing end more often than not. But this is not merely a popularity contest. Our national interest and survival are at stake.

How disgraceful of Obama to comment in such a twisted, self-promoting way on the death of a foreign leader. He has underscored his ineptness and poor judgement.

Obama is an insult to the voting public.

Shame on Obama for supporting this!!!!! This guy is so full of it....doing the same things that he accused his opponents of doing.....shady politics.
He is not an agent of chnage.....just the same politician like others in the race plus NO EXPERIENCE!!!

Obama's camp just handed Clinton the Iowa election provided she takes advantage of it. If I was her, I would refuse his explanation and/or apology if offered. The media has already established in the public's mind that Obama has directly linked Clinton to this terrible deed. She can use it to exploit his inexperience and lack of common sense. He would then spend the rest of the time before 1/05/2008 trying to explain what he meant. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.

"It is time to turn the page. When I am President, we will wage the war that has to be won, with a comprehensive strategy with five elements: getting out of Iraq and on to the right battlefield in Afghanistan and Pakistan; developing the capabilities and partnerships we need to take out the terrorists and the world's most deadly weapons; engaging the world to dry up support for terror and extremism; restoring our values; and securing a more resilient homeland.

The first step must be getting off the wrong battlefield in Iraq, and taking the fight to the terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

As President, I would make the hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. military aid to Pakistan conditional, and I would make our conditions clear: Pakistan must make substantial progress in closing down the training camps, evicting foreign fighters, and preventing the Taliban from using Pakistan as a staging area for attacks in Afghanistan.

I understand that President Musharraf has his own challenges. But let me make this clear. There are terrorists holed up in those mountains who murdered 3,000 Americans. They are plotting to strike again. It was a terrible mistake to fail to act when we had a chance to take out an al Qaeda leadership meeting in 2005. If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won't act, we will."
– Sen. Barack Obama

"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."
-PM Benazir Bhutto

http://www.barackobama.com/2007/08/01/remarks_of_senator_obama_the_w_1.php
http://www.cfr.org/publication/14041/

OBAMA IS A SAD, LITTLE INEXPERIENCED MAN...that's clearly the only explanation to justify why he would defend his aides' remarks which blamed Hillary for Bhutto's death. It further demostrates the juvenile shuffling by Barry and his staff.

What is wrong with CNN? What is it that CNN wants to achieve from this kind of headline? You are going to loose your respect from your audiences soon. This is absolutely rediclous. Do you have anything against Obama? Your attitude towards him since he announced to run for the presidency tells many of us that you are not what we think that you are. Be fair, many are watching you and it may hurt you in the days and weeks or years to come.

Reading some of these blog posts is both frustrating and comical...

When Hillary called Obama "naive" it was in response to 1) Obama talking directly to Iran's leader (one-on-one, becoming a propaganda poster...) and 2) suggesting that we should unilaterally go into Pakistan. We've all seen what happens when a nation unilaterally attacks another one.....For someone such as Obama, continually boasting "I was against the Iraq vote" (yet also saying "I don't know how I would have voted...") to then say, "I'd go into Pakistan regardless of the Pakistan government" is hypocritical (and conveniently playing both sides of the fence). Maybe what's really naive is how many people have bought this rhetoric. The fact is, Obama messed up in a debate, got caught, and since then has kept to his story rather than being labeled a "flip-flopper". And please don't say, "but Hillary voted for war..." That shipped has sailed long ago. Hillary, Biden, and most of the rest voted for the Iraq resolution in order to force inspectors back in. It worked. What did not work was Bush saying he would not go into Iraq without first exhausting diplomacy and inspection - when he did. Either way, a senator voting for a resolution is a far cry from a president taking us to war, which is what (it sounds like) Obama would have no problem doing with Pakistan (a real nuclear power...). How utterly naive.

All this about Axelrod and yet no mention of Evan Bayh's earlier remarks while campaigning for Hillary in New Hampshire.

He said that Bhutto's death proves we need Hillary's 'strong leadership' and 'seasoning'.
In fact, it was these remarks which prompted the question that the reporter posed to Axelrod inquiring if Bhutto's death would be beneficial to Hillary.

Here is yet another example of the selective memory and shady politics of the Clinton Campaign.

Mr Axlerod I Just About Had It With You And Obama's Lies,For The Last Time Senator Clinton's Vote Did Not Send America Into Iraq,76 Votes By The Senate Did,But If You Were To Listen To You And Obama,Hilliary Is Totally To Blame For The War In Iraq,A Statement I've Noticed That You And Your Camp Fail To Mention,And I Wonder Why.If The American People Want To Vote A Person Who Has No Record Of His 10 Years In The Illinois State Senate,Because As He Say's He Had No Scheduler,HUH....A Person Who Say's He's Not A Drug Addict,A Person Who Says He's Not A Muslim,A Person Who Constantly Recite Repub BS,That We Should Just Take His Word For It,Just Because He Wrote About It In His Book The Autistic Of A Wanna Be,That We Should Take His word For It,I'am Not Buying It.And The Comment That were Made Today About Benzair Bhutto Where Just Pure Hypocrosy And Jealousy Because Mrs Clinton Had A Personal Relationship With Her,Is Just Right Out Pathetic Of Obama And His Flunkies,And Supporters Aswell.

I have not heard a single democrat who defended the war in Iraq saying something like, "I supported the War on Iraq based on the intelligence that it had WMDs. Had I known that Iraq did not have any WMDs or that the intelligence reports were incorrect, I would not have voted for the war..."

The above statement would exonerate any voter for the Iraq war.

It is truly a sad day for Pakistan and the rest of the world. We (the world) have lost a leader with great vision and unwavering commitment to democracy. My prayers are with Benazir Bhutto’s family and the Pakistani people. However, once again we in america seem to be very short sighted. The initial reaction that is being communicated in the mass media reminds me of Katrina. Initially it was surprise at the reality of the human suffering hidden in our urban centers. As time went on, special report after special report focused on what could have been done to prevent the tradgey either by addressing the substandard levies and/or implementing an adequate crisis response plan. Today’s tradgey in Pakistan has brought to the forefront the result of this administration’s poor foreign policy decisions and the reality of an increase in terrorism. We stopped paying attention to what was going on in that region of the world and now most of our resources are in Iraq. Is history going to repeat itself? I suspect unless America has a change in players with the necessary widsom and judgement to guide us in the right direction, not much will be different now or when the next tradgey strikes.

The mere fact that he later back-pedalled on his statement indicates that perhaps he'd been informed that he had, indeed, stepped over the line in his original statement.

Since I don't support either candidate, this won't necessairly impact my vote at this time; however, I do find it interesting to note the impact of expanded coverage over every comment made by a candidate (or, in this case, a representative of said candidate) can elicit such strong feelings among voters.

Bottom line, it really doesn't matter which news version of the truth you choose to believe. Access to such in-depth coverage as provided on news and candidate sites has certainly made this a very interesting primary year.

Obama has shown his true colors by getting his toady Axelrod put out a contrived spin that because Hillary voted for the Iraq war, America lost focus on Afghanistan, the Taliban got a respite, became bold and killed Benazir Bhutto!!! This exposes Obama's utter incompetence and naivette at foreign affairs. Till now this "experience" was treated wryly as truly kindergarten stuff – his "claim" for empathy with Muslim nations because he lived in Indonesia when he was 12 (must have been a child prodigy) and now because being black (smartly ignoring his white mother and grand mother) he can "relate" better with emerging nations!! This bumbling amateur will be a disaster – like George Bush who conscious of his limitations let Dick Cheney and Rumsfeld run amuck. Obama however has enormous intellectual pretensions and will meddle, ignore professionals given his loathing of realpolitik (to him the world is run by angels only somewhat misled) and land the US in worse muddles.

America beware of this bungler. Vote Hillary for a secure America. Only Hillary has the experience, practical mindset and a strategic understanding of the true interests of the US to regain America's lost respect in the comity of nations.

Obama is just pathetic and sad. We need to get him out immediately! Even someone like Hillary is much better than him. I dare not imagine him being our President.

So Barack Hussein Osama shows his true colors... What happed to all the flowery words of hope... He has his henchmen doing his dirty work... He has someone else carry his jock strap... The is more disgusting to me everyday.

If Obama wants to be considered "experienced" enough to be President ... I think he needs to complete at least one term as a U.S. Senator first ... and actually vote on important issues so we can know where he stands.

And I am so tired of hearing how he was right about Iraq and the almost ENTIRE REST OF THE U.S. POPULATION WAS WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!

And how is Mr. Obama ridiculous. Anything that has been said about his campaign and him he has taken like a man with more class than anyone I have ever met.

Chuck, Miami FL . I have got you an answer..
When Obama was smoking pot Hillary was meeting world leaders. She was the first, first lady to travel to the Middle East
No.
Is it Bill Clinton getting the bl– job when Hillary is meeting with the foreign leaders?

I agree with everyone saying that this news is ridiculous. How bout everyone jumps off the Hilary Bandwagon. I think people just like her because of how much she's talked about and how good the Republicans say she did after the big democratic debate, spare me. She is no good. No good for staying with a man that cheats on her, no good as a senator. And how is Mr. Obama's campaign on it's heels. Do u not look at the biased polls.

Yeah Obama, this is no time for jockeying favor for political reasons, so why did your Axelrod say it. Now your not even apologizing for it. Senator Clinton apologized to you. You must be too good to say "I'm sorry I made a mistake and so did my campaign manager"
You guys are ridiculous. You don't like back in your face do yuo?

Obama tries to blame anyone who gets involved in actions to defend against terrorists. If it isn't Bush , then maybe it's H Clinton's support for war causing whatever..now the cause of problem in Pakistan. Obama the blamer, and explainer, but not the Do-er.

Now I hear that he says to Wolf Blitzer , "As soon as I am inaugerated as president (a little premature), I will call a summit of all the Muslim leaders in the world" and we will get their opinions. What's this, is this appeasement gathering going to stop radical Islamic Terrorists? Or is he seriously as president Obama going to get the exclusive summit view from Muslims on how to run US International affairs! Whose side is he on?, and who are his advisors. God protect us from within. What would he say if Bush had said he was going to have a Christian world leaders Summit for advice?. That's right, he would be in front of nearest mike crying fowl.

Obama may be an elequent host someday, asking for world opinions, and stating his, but he is not Presidental material to lead and defend America yet.

You all crack me up, you all act as if the President of the United States is anything but a figurehead who's only real job is to veto bills they don't like and go to dinner with heads of State. The president decides nothing when it comes to other countries, their advisers do that. It would do all of you well to learn how our government really works then you would not be bashing heads so often. We need someone that has the understanding of the world in able to talk sense at the very least even though that's the number one thing we do not have at this time with our 3rd grade language level president.

The president needs to have the knowledge and understanding of world politics so they can convey their advisers messages in a way that leaves no doubt that they are behind the decisions of this country. The president needs this understanding so no gaffe is made to embarrass us in a way that makes us look backwards and foolish. Please understand that our president does not rule this land, he is usually controlled by congress, the courts and hopefully the American people.

Who would vote for anyone for President who would not take the time to study an issue once supported but later found that support to have been wrong - and would not have the fortitude to change his/her mind? Doing so is a mark of honest leadership - not of one of such stubborn mind as not being able to change a once-held position that proved to be wrong.

And what is more tiring than hearing over and over and over again ad nauseum that the Senator from Illinois was AGAINST the war in Iraq, and what's more, never voted FOR the war. How ignorant of him and of his aides who continue to count that as his MAJOR contribution to his cause for the presidency. THE TRUTH IS THIS, ONCE AND FOR ALL: He did NOT vote for the war because he couldn't. He was in Illinois working as a state representative. It's all too easy to sit on the sidelines and criticize someone who is a serious leader in the national government.

Now, it seems Mr. Axelrod has stepped in it again in linking Senator Clinton to Mrs. Bhutto's murder, and Obama is defending him. If we stop right now and ask which of these candidates we would like to be in charge to handle the Pakistan problems right now. It's a no-brainer. Hillary Clinton, with her experience and statesman logic is the one.

I think you should attach Obama's response to wolfe on this piece and let people judge for themselves.

OBAMA SPANKS WOLFE

It was with a great satisfaction that I watched Barack Obama put Blitzer in his place as he tried to sensationalize and put Axelrod's comment out of context to exploit this sad story. The senator chided Blitzer in no uncertain terms that what he was doing was wrong and he looked sharp, clear and firm as usual- and may add presidential. It is sad that CNN continues to demonstrate lack of class whether in debates, regular TV scheduling or on its blog such as Political Ticker.

This is typical of Obama's camps tactics.

Did you hear Obama's AMATEUR comments on Bhutto's death?

THIS is why we NEED someone with Hillary's expertise.

She is SO MUCH more qualified than this Blunderkind.

why is obama blaming hillary why not bush and dick hillary voted like many of you bush put fair in the usa obams should shut the hell up he looks like a terorist himself geyt momy opra maybe she will let you suck her tits i hope this obama never be usa president america be carefull what you are wishing 4 he will be worse then bush if you vote 4 obama let me tell you bush started this war destroing the usa and the world and if obama be come president he will finish what bush started it will be the end of the usa good luck

One word now describes Obama: HYPOCRITE !

Shame on Obama's campaign team! Are they in panic that the country would think that Obama does not have the credentials to be a commander in chief? Obama took strong positions including his stand against the war when it would not matter. But his 'present' votes on a few key issues are beyond legislative posturing. He did not show up for Iran vote and then later kept quiet when he was criticized immediately at a debate for not showing up. He saw how the wind was blowing and took a postion against it though he had tried to sponsor a similar legislation. Though people may admire his public speaking skills I hope they see that he has not demonstrated competence in any real issues and seem to come across as phony to some of us. Voters beware.. we dont want another incompetent and untrustworthy president. Remember when Bush ran he was viewed as trustworthy, straight-shooter and a uniter!

To make elections and primaries better. We need to ban all coverage by US News organizations.

I no longer believe anything that the news organizations say. I want to see the exact text of the speeches and entire video of speeches.

The only place to get this information is at the web sites of the candidates themselves. Forget the newspapers, the blogs, the television. GO TO THE WEB SITES OF THE CANDIDATES FOR REAL INFORMATION.

ok,

look. Fact is Iraq diverted MANY resoueces from Afghanistan, and because of that turned an easy victory over the taliban into a prolonged insurgancy with a taliban gaining ground in Pakistan. Fact is HRC supported Bush's Iraq adventure (go to the video if you need to, she did).
Fact is, when Obama said that we need to act to stop this, and refocus are efforts in Central Asia, to include the tribal areas of Pakistan, HRC called him "naive".

I think the Clintons are the ones who are "naive".... remember when the abandoned Somalia? Look how that turned out 10 years later... now it is an African hub for another al-quada taliban offshot.

clarification...

"The fact is, if making speeches and meeting people is the kind of foreign policy experience that comes close to that of Biden, Dodd or Richardson."

That should read...

"The fact is, making speeches and meeting people is not the kind of foreign policy experience that comes close to that of Biden, Dodd or Richardson."

Oh yeah, foreign policy experience.

The New York Times revealed in a detailed article this week that Hillary had no involvement in foreign policy analysis or decisions while in the White House with her husband, the actual President.

Yes, she gave some excellent speeches and met quite a few people. Her speech in China was the best.

However, she was also made a fool of in the West Bank by Arafat's wife.

The fact is, if making speeches and meeting people is the kind of foreign policy experience that comes close to that of Biden, Dodd or Richardson.

Of course, even with their experience, Biden and Dodd voted to go to war in Iraq too. Edwards did too, following suit. Hillary and Edwards obviously did so with an eye to running for President. That says quite a bit.

Most importantly, while Obama was not in the Senate, and didn't have an opportunity to read the 90-page intelligence report that Hillary and Edwards skipped, even though he was running for the Senate he made a spectacular speech against the war.

In the battle between Barack and Hillary, its judgment over being married to the former President who probably won't be running the country since he's likely to be appointed to take Hillary's place in the Senate.

One caveat – even Hillary would be better than the best Republican. They are truly a sad lot.

We have to remember that last summer when Obama said he wanted to go after Al Qaeda in Pakistan if there was actionable intelligence and Mushariff would not act, that Hillary Clinton called him naive and irresponsible. That was a terrible way to phrase her criticism of him. I thought it was appalling of her. And now, it seems that we see Mushariff's refusal to go after Al Qaeda has led to this tragedy and all the others suicide bombings recently in Pakistan. I think it puts Clinton in not a very good light. I do question her judgement and still think Obama has the better handle on foreign affairs. He has got good insight into where the problems are and where the effort needs to go. He also has called for foreign aid to Pakistan to include money to build good schools to thwart the madrassas. That is something that is really needed to stop extremism. Obama is really the one that sees clearly what needs to be done. Clinton's "experience" is not very useful.

I'll just be glad when all this primary stuff is over so this guy and his advisors can shut up, comments like this just go to show that he is not ready..oh lord come on billary we need u guys to clean up after another bush's mess

Blue Dog Coalition:
I couldn't have put it better myself. I've been waiting to see if anyone else noticed that obama wasn't even a part of the US Senate when Iraq was invaded. And with Iran: well, it's one thing to vote yes or no on whether the Revolutionary Guard Corps is a terrorist organization and explain it, but another to miss it (for whatever reason) and criticize another person's vote. If I'm not mistaken, Edwards voted no, so I'd be much more willing to listen to him and why he voted the way he did.

Matt:
Again, I agree. It would have been much better for the guy to answer the question, but decided to turn it into an insult. For those of you who think that the "C" in "CNN" stands for "Clinton," I'll explain Axelrod's logic:
Invasion of Iraq leads to–>
fewer troops elsewhere, like pakistan, which leads to–>
more instability elsewhere, like Pakistan, which leads to–>
today's events.
I'd be lying if I said that I agreed with his logic.

John, New York
Again, I agree. There seems to be an awful lot of logic on the ticker today. At the time, all I ever heard on the news networks was talk about weapons of mass destruction and at the time, invading Iraq seemed like a good idea. As you said, hindsight is 20/20, and that says nothing of the fact that this was the most devastating attack on American soil ever, which may or may not alter one's judgment. My point: given the information at the time, I don't hold it against Clinton, just like how I don't hold it against the rest of the democrats who voted in favor of the invasion. Now that we see that there are no WMDs, Clinton has said that she'd have voted differently and has backed this up, as seen in her voting record.

Despite the spike in logic, I'm disappointed to see that the phrase "Clinton News Network" is still being used. I suppose that if you use it enough times, it'll come true. Still sounds a bit silly. Kind of like promising to steer the country in a direction different from Bill Clinton's and George Bush's (Sr. and Jr.), all while under the guidance of several of Bill's advisors. I suppose that Hillary can top that by forming an exit strategy with the help of Cheney and Rumsfeld.

Poor Axelrod. He probably should have stuck with some political response along the lines of "This is a time to mourn a devastating loss, so I won't discuss that." But then again, hindsight is 20/20. Isn't that right, Obama?

I hope that he shares his four years of experience in Indonesia as a child, along with his two years in the US Senate. Goodness knows that such experience would be indispensable in this sensitive situation.

Firsyt of all CNN is biased for Clinton, they have lost any credibility with me. She get s her photos shown more and they mention her name any time they can to the exclusion of the other candidates.

David Axelrod is correct in that in this war in Iraq, our resources and energies have been depleted and instead of going after Bin Laden, we were chasing after WMD whose existence the UN inspectors were not able to verift. Clinton et al who gave Bush the vote, did not send their children, spouses or grandchildren into harm's way. That is an outrage.

I'm in NY and I still want to know what foreign policy experience does Clinton have? Visiting someplace and eating in the president's manse, is not foreign policy experience. Obama lived in Indonesia as a child, and on a bad day he has forgotten more than Hilary has ever known. What languages does she speak? Why hasn;'t she released her schedules from Arkansas and the WH? Does anyone believe that this highly divisive individual will be able to manuever rogue nation leaders effectively?

Obama is a man of integrity with more legislative experience than Clinton, who has passed more legislation than she. Obama has attracted many of 41's foreign policy advisors. Why didn't they stick with Clinton? What are her earmarks for '08? Obama not only has hope, but he has plans. His legislation to make the government more transparent goes in effect in February '08.

Obama '08.... now'd the time...he's the one

Hillary was correct in her vote and comments such at this are ridiculous and inflamatory.

It is easy to look back, judge, and adjust comments to current social realities. Yet, I have not seen nor heard substantive reaction to the problems affecting the African-American community. Senator Obama is stooge for an upper causcasian middle class and their fictive desire for change. Given comments made by Mr. Axelrod of trying to link Senator's Clinton decision to proceed with the initial incursion into Iraq, as a junior senator, to the current political problems in Pakistan is appalling. As a Democrat, I will vote for a Republican candidate first before I would even deign to consider Senator Obama. He disgusts me!

Hilary-cons are going to use "experience" to try and profit from this tragedy.
High time for a fresh experience I say. H-con experience (non-response
hiding) will keep leading the planet in the wrong direction.
Lets face it, Bhutto was and will always be the anti-Bush/Clinton.

CNN, you should be disgusted at yourself for spinning so many quotes lately. This is pathetic.

I trust will trust NPR for my news from now on, thanks. At least they are always fair.

Right, so first of all, Obama didn't make any remarks so quit acting like he's the one who said this stuff. I think it's a valid point given the context of the question, and the people crying about it should stop looking at the situation through their Clinton-toned glasses.
=========================

Quote: "To claim that the war in Iraq has contributed to the situation in Pakistan is a ridiculous stretch."

HARDLY. The war in Iraq, which Sen. Clinton and others aided George Bush in pursuing, diverted immense resources that would've been better suited fighting al Qaeda in Afghanistan. This diversion allowed al Qaeda to grow stronger, and permitted them to increase their influence in Pakistan, leading to the crisis going on there and, if aQ is responsible for today's attack, to the death of Bhutto.

So suggesting that the war in Iraq DIDN'T in some way allow this situation in Pakistan to fester is simply intellectual laziness. Start doing a little analytic causal thinking every now and then.

wow

CNN is sooooo pro-clinton and sooooo anti edwards/obama its insane

i used to lovew watching CNN until i saw how bias they were favoring the clinton machine

im sure someone at the top is making this decision to be the C linton N ews N etwork

i can now consider myself a MSNBC watcher vs. a CNN watcher

i've always believed chris a lot more that wolf

1. US should NOT have taken troops & resources away from Afghanistan and Pakistan and the Taliban (9/11 folks) to go into Iraq 2003.

2. ANY Candidate that voted for that Iraq war distraction has BAD Judgment. No matter how the Media tries to smooth it over.

3. Those Candidates should NOT be our next President (PERIOD)

4. WHY not ? You ask. Because those Candidates will continue to make BAD Judgments.

5. Obama was against the Iraq War, Obama against the Vote for war mongering of Iran and Obama was FOR continue pursuit of Taliban in Pakistan mountains. Which would most likely have resulted in a more stable Pakistan by now and NOT have lead to the death of a warrior such as BHUTTO.

6. THINK PEOPLE ! Continuing to do the same thing and expecting a different outcome is a form of insanity. OBAMA08

Karen: "The Clinton campaign is not doing good things for women's equality." I am a huge supporter of Hillary Clinton. I do not think it was a fair statement saying that she isn't doing good things. Obama sucks. I just saw the guy on CNN and he interrupted Wolfe while he was trying to read the statement Axelrod said. Is this the way Obama would react if talking to some world leader – interrupt him/her because he doesn't like what he is hearing. Get real people Obama is not the one. Clinton 08

hahaha, good job again Clinton News Network and your viscious effect is showing on the Clinton supporters...they are joining the fun of character assasination too!

Senator Obama,
Your right, the change we need is not being meet, this examlpe is clear.
While, senator Hillary Clinton talk about expirence and freindship with Bhutto,
why wasn't there earlier diplomacy when she first arrived in pakistan,between
her and Musharraf,because of the earlier civil unrest,and attempted on her life,
even if I had meet her earlier,like senator Clinton did, why wasn't more done.

This is change we need, more diplomacy,and conference.
With our enemy and friends.

CNN = Clinton News Network

You guys are getting worse than Fox. Sinking to an all time low with your misleading headlines.

Hillary will lose Iowa and New Hampshire and there is nothing that CNN can do about it. The people of Iowa and New Hampshire will have the final say.

This country is in dire need of change.

Obama 08!!!

Andy, New York, New York

Be serious!
Axelrod is right on and did not jump the gun.

Which set of maniac muslims does the world know by now that uses themselves as bombs, suicide bombers?
Moreover, who is taking credit for the hit on Bhutto?

IT IS THE SAME SET OF INSANE ISLAMISTS, on whom we are supposed to have declared; but leave to become stronger in Afghanistan and Pakistan, while we waste lives in the UNPROVOKED invasion of 'target rich' Iraq.

Hillary visited the Middle East to give the biggest terrorist's wife a big hug and kiss...Mrs. Arafat....Hillary has alot of you fooled...she is a closet communist.
being first lady..and keeping Billy Jeff's bimbo's quiet doesn't qualify you to
be president....let's not forget the finger in the wind decision making...

Obama is slipping in the Iowa polls and Bhutto's assassination is looking like it might hurt his bid. His campaign is getting desperate. Don't for a second believe Obama is above partisan politics. Comments like this prove it. (You can't tell me Obama and Axelrod did not discuss Axelrod's new argument before he said it).

Obama is winning votes even from a Conservative. hillary has got to be stopped. she is a lier and she will be a detriment to middle east progress. Obama thinks through the issues.

Ok Ken Burns and others like him. A Clinton operative correctly and legitimately points out that the Republicans will make hay out of Obama's past drug use. You rather publicly jump on the Obama bandwagon because of so-called negative campaigning.

An Obama operative incorrectly and quite shamelessly blames Hillary for Bhutto's assassination. This is as negative as it gets...

WE TOOK OUR EYES OFF THE BALL.....not only have lives been loss during 9/11 but more American lives have been loss in Irag when our focus shouldve been in Afghanistan and Pakistan where Bin Laden is now located. I'm confused the same old....experience is not getting us no where when we just gave Bush $555 Billion to support the war that we're definitely not winning. The same old thng.
As we put our comments on this website for who we think will be the best candidate, we better be smart this time because if we don't get it right it's going to get worse for us not better. And the ones who voted for this war should be accountable for it. American are paying for it by high gas prices, job losses including home forecolsures. What's so weird is it's up to us to make a CHANGE in the white house because if it doesn't happen in 2008 then when? We need to be honest with ourselves. So this year lets use our common senses and not forget who has flipped/flopped on the issues and the ones that have been consistent and can bring changes. We can forgive but lets not forget.

It is very very reasonable to associate Bill (Hilary) Clinton with the failed so-called 'war on terror' in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Instead of going after the supposed maniac muslim attackers of 911, who are KNOWN TO BE IN AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN, we wasted lives, limbs and resources in the UNPROVOKED ATTACK IN IRAQ while Afghanistan and Pakistan are smimmering!

Clearly David Axelrod was not implying that Senator Clinton is responsibe for today's events in Pakistan. We all know that. So why are some trying to pretend that they don't understand his comment? It really wasn't that difficult to comprehend. Iraq was a distraction, now the orignal problem is back. Any questions?

Barack Obama once quoted " if the United States had not gone to war in Iraq, the US Army would have had more resources to deal with the greater threat in Afghanistan and Pakistan"

This show BARACK OBAMA has GOOD JUDGEMENT.

NO MORE CLINTON POLITICAL DYNASTY.
WE NEED CHANGE NOW.

!!! VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA !!!

An America United. CLINTON/OBAMA 2008 After 8 years in leadership Obama may be ready in 2016, but for now lets unite America and stand strong. Support a CLINTON/OBAMA ticket 2008 If you follow the going on's of today in Congress. You will see the Democrats needs this election so to control the White House and actually get back to doing the peoples business. Obama can not win without Clinton, I am a strong democrat supporter, but vote for the best person for the job at hand. Obama and staff are not ready for the White House. He needs seasoning. The Hillary Clinton Administration would be a good place for him to get it. She has a strong seasoned staff. Think about it. Obama has not even publicly taken the floor in the senate., Hardly debates. and doesn't even show up if it effects his attempt at an election. I for one will vote experience even if it means I have to cross the isle.

THE OBAMA PEOPLE CRY TOO MUCH THEY CANT HANDLE THE PRESS. MY GOD HOW COULD THEY HANDLE A REAL REPUBLICAN ATTACK. OH YA THIS IS THE FIRST TIME FOR OBAMAS SUPPORTERS

Good grief, Axelrod. Have you completely lost your mind? I think with this new world danger getting stronger, we need even more someone with experience, rather than a green 1 term senator. I think this will make more people aware that we need Hillary, the person with strength and experience. Let's all get our head on straight, and then vote for Hillary.

SURE GLAD THERE NOT OUR LEADERS, WHEW!

Go Hillary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have my VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!

I am not sure of why Hillary supporters in the media kept saying this incident is a boost for her. Actually, this is a sign that she would not be accepted in places like that. They already know who she is, including the negative sides of her husband in that environment. America need a new start with someone like Barak Obama. Someone who would be able to talk to these people with a fresh face. Hillary is, and would always be seen in that environment as old American politician. Those people would not welcome U.S old political style of leadership in their environment.

Vote for a fresh start in American politics.

Obama/ Edwards

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 experience, got it total and completely right and said so. Well ..... Lets just say that was the point Mr. Alexrod was making and I believe he is correct.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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!!!

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.

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!!!

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.

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?

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.

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!

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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...

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.

Ridiculous CNN !

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!

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.

assinine comment

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

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.

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?

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

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.

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.

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.)

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

CNN: Clinton News Network!!

This is ridiculous even for CNN.

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

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 shows again that Obama and his advisor are internationally inept.

Obama needs his babysitter aka Oprah to speak for him.

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.

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".

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.

"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!

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.

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!

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!

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.

Hillary has my vote

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.

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....

CNN is ridiculous. this is getting out of hand.

Obama and his advisor David Axelrod are just ridiculous.

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.

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.

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!

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

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'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.

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!

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 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

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....

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?

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.

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)

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.

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.

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

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!

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!

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

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?

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.

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

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.

Hmmm....

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

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

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

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.

The Obama campaign is run by a bunch of scumbags.

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.

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

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.

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!

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

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

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!

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.

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

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

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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/

GOOD JUDGMENT TRUMPS EXPERIENCE.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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!