Clinton is upset with two mailers the Obama campaign is sending out in Ohio. (Photo credit: AP)
CINCINNATI (CNN) – Sen. Hillary Clinton, needing wins in delegate-rich Texas and Ohio to overtake Sen. Barack Obama in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, ramped up her criticism of Obama Saturday, accusing his team of negative campaign tactics "straight out of Karl Rove's playbook."
Clinton addressed two mailings the Obama campaign distributed in Ohio - one that lambasts her position on the North American Free Trade Agreement, which her husband, former President Bill Clinton, signed into law, and another that criticizes her proposed health-care plan.
"I have to express my deep disappointment - he is continuing to send false and discredited mailings with information that is not true to the voters of Ohio," she said, shaking the mailings to punctuate her remarks.
The NAFTA mailer accuses Clinton of switching her position on the trade agreement, saying the senator from New York was a "champion" for NAFTA while first lady, but now opposes it.
The mailer on health care was "reminiscent of the health insurance industry's attack on what we tried to do the last time we went after universal health care," Clinton said. It says her proposal would force everyone to buy health insurance, whether they could afford it or not, a charge Clinton vehemently denied.
"Sen. Obama knows it is not true that my plan forces people to buy insurance even if they can't afford it," she said.
The mailers are "blatantly false and yet he continues to spend millions of dollars perpetuating falsehoods. That is not the new politics that the speeches are about," she said. "It is not hopeful; it is destructive."
She added, "Shame on you, Barack Obama - it is time that you ran a campaign consistent with your messages in public. That is what I expect from you. Meet me in Ohio and let's have a debate about your tactics and your behavior in this campaign."
Obama spokesman Bill Burton denied Clinton's assertions that the mailers were false.
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
Pot calling kettle black. How many mailers came from the Clinton camp that were just as negative. The NAFTA allegations are, however, very true, and she can't deny that fact. Also, it is unknown exactly HOW Clinton intends to mandate her health policy, so maybe she should actually tell the public how she intends to enforce it.
That being said, she does have a point about how these negative attacks go against their campaign. While I am a little disappointed in Obama for stooping to her level, I can't really blame him. He has held his tongue for months while taking heat for any and everything the Clinton camp can come up with.
Come March 5th, it really won't matter anyways. I just hope that Clinton realizes that once she suspends her campaign, she has a duty to rally her followers around Obama. This is such an intense battle for the Democratic nomination, it would be a shame if the Republicans won solely because of bitter voters. Obama and Clinton are better candidates than we have had to choose from for a while, don't root against the winner just because they beat your candidate.
Hillary is such a hypocrite. After all the attacks she and Bill Clinton raged on Obama up until now, she has the gall to say " Shame on Who"? Searching for a new tag to hang her campaign on, she's reverted to the bitter, angry "B" which shows the real Hillary. I like the conciliatory one better.
Mh, South Carolina
This must be part of "the great Democratic conspiracy" against the Clintons. I love the fact she is talking about Republican strategy while dressed in Nancy Reagan Red!
Is this is a taste of what she will be like during Tuesday's debate? It is her last stand, Obama has pulled even in Texas and Ohio, so what has she got to lose?
Can't wait to see Obama rebut that she WAS for NAFTA and she DID SAY she would garnish people's wages who can't afford health care.
Oh, Hillary, what a tangled web we weave . . .
It's about time Hillary took Obama to task for his underhanded tactics and his unacceptable behavior. He is a fraud and I for one want her to tell him that to his face. He thinks he is above the law, morals and ethics and can do anything and get away with it. He is not a leader, he has done nothing but blow smoke at the college kids and the black community. He has copied Clinton's issues and plagiarized his own campaign staff's words. He has ties to a well know crook and takes money from lobbyists while pretending to be a new face. He is the old face of lies and deception. You tell him Hillary. Tell everyone what a liar he is.
Universal health care means a mandate. Hillary needs to come clean and admit that people's wages will be garnished. Hillary brags about her 35 years experience and thinks Bill's was a great president but she NOW wants to distance herself from NAFTA because it was NOT one of Bill's successes during his administration. It's not right to pick and choose what she wants to take pride in during her husband's administration.
The content is accurate Hillary. Instead of crying, you need to defend yourself. I think Obama did a good job to expose her plan before she spins her mouth on him.
Thanks,
There's nothing more Karl Rove-like than trying to steal MI and FL votes when you already agreed that they don't count. She herself said her health insurance would be mandatory, and there would be penalties for anyone who didn't pay for it. So I'm wondering why facts bother her so much? Hillary's back is against the wall, and it's obvious she is struggling to come up with something substantive to try and help her flailing campaign. Sorry Senator Clinton, too little too late.
I saw these mailers and they do look very much alike the Republicans add of 90s which buried first attempts of healthcare reform. But let me guess: Obamaniacs will deny everything and try to blame "politics of 90s" and .... fill the blank from Obama's thin playbook. Can't say it changed my mind though: I wouldn't vote for Obama neither in primaries nor in general elections.
Come on Hillary, you've played far dirtier, lied a lot more, and couldn't even stand on your own two feet so had to call in your hubby to prop up your failing abilities in a campaign.
Think about it, if you can't even handle campaigning against other Democrats without calling for help to your husband, then how in the heck will you stand up to the GOP battle machine and McCain?
Do the right thing and concede. Your "35 years of experience" is a lie and everyone knows it. Obama has more international knowledge and experience then you ever will and he has actually lived a varied life and not one with a silver spoon planted firmly in his mouth since birth.
Shame on you Hillary Clinton. How dare you cry foul when your campaign has engaged in lies throughout. You and your husband are a blight on our country and I can't wait for the day you officially are gone from this race. The bright side is that your husband has tarnished his already shaky legacy in this fight and no one will ever forget it.
You said you were a partner with Bill in the White House, remember?
You claim that gives you experience to lead from day one, remember?
BILL PUT NAFTA IN PLACE, YOU WERE HIS PARTNER! YOU ARE THE ONE THAT NEEDS TO GET HER BUTT SPANKED!
the problem with obama is that he does not have a plan for anything at all only change and hope for the best . i can belive people are voting for this guy , i have a feeling that many will be dissapointed with him if he gets to the white house and the american people will look very stupid , that you fall for it and thank you to cnn .........for giving us obama up to the ears......
Obama=same old lies, same old ties, same old dishonesty hiding in a dangerous disguise.
Did you support your Husbands NAFTA bill YES
Has Nafta cost american jobs Yes
Do you now say NAFTA was a mistake YES
Is your healthcare Mandatory YES
Will low paid workers be forced to buy insurance YES
Will those who don't buy or cannot afford to buy have their wages garnished YES
Do you still stand by all these decisions ????
The beginning to the end of the clinton campaign.
sometimes when people are behind, they become desperate. The clock is ticking clinton, only a couple more days until the showdown.
SI SE PUEDE
yes we can
texans for obama
HILLARY HAS BEEN PLAYING DIRTY POLICTICS ALL ALONG. I AM A HILLARY SUPPORTER BUT FAIR IS FAIR. HILLARY'S PLAN DOES CALL FOR A MANDATE OF COVERAGE. SHE STATED HERSELF THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD GO AFTER ONES WAGES IF THEY DID NOT PARTICIPATE. THAT MEANS GARNISHMENT.
SORRY HILLARY...YOU HAVE NOTHINGTO OCMPLAIN ABOUT. BOTH OF YOU NEED TO STOP THE ATTACKS. FIND A WAY TO UNITE TO GET THE REPUBLICAN OUT!!!
GO DEMOCRATS!!!
Keep up the psychosis, Hillary. You're doing a great job of keeping Obama's momentum going.
Hillary Clinton knows that no matter what happens she will not be Obama's running mate. So she will use every trick inthe book to get the sympathy of the voteing public. But little that she knows that wil not propell her to victory. The american people are not going to buy that.
Ted.
How is this different from the ad saying "Barack Obama's healthcare plan leaves out 15 million people. Which one of these people doesn't deserve healthcare, Sen. Obama?"
It's not. She sure can dish it but can't very well take it.
after all, obama was saying this during all his stumpspeeches all time. and it didnt felt for me that she was denying it in any way. why is she doing so now? Well, thouse mailings seems to have a critical reach, so that it stays in peoples minds.
Lets see how this story goes on...
FREE TV AD FOR BROKE HILLARY CAMPAIGN! lol
"Clinton addressed two mailings the Obama campaign distributed in Ohio"
Isn't it too late to audition for the Oscars?
Hilary doesn't seem to think so. lol
Did anyone watch the Hilary grandstanding? Funny as hell. lol
Although this propaganda piece does bare a striking similarity to those from the health care companies that had been directed at her during her husbands tenure as President, I must admit to not being as upset by this. While I can concede that perhaps Obama's attempt at dulling Clinton's policies isn't the best course for him to take, I will say that I believe his arguments against her health care does hold water and is concrete.
However, if he truly wanted to win, I would have advised him to not attack Hilary Clinton and to continue to ride this generous wave of momentum. Why give her ammunition to play the "I'm being treated unfairly" card like she did in New Hampshire?
I still think Obama will win the nomination, but this just might end up prolonging it if Hilary is capable of spinning this the right way.
She's right. She won't literally force people to buy her health care plan. Instead she'll just consider "going after the wages."
This is not a false attack. What Obama said was the truth.
IT IS TRUE HILLARY GIVE IT UP YOU KNOW IT SO DO WE IT WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE DEBATE YOU SAT THERE WITH NO RESPONSE! THE TRUTH DOES HURT DONT IT
This was a very childish thing for Obama to do if in fact he had the lead. It is the direct result of this imature high school popularity contest he is trying to use as a political tactic. It will ruin this party. They both should only be putting out flyers with their views and plans. Totally childish.
WE HAVE HEARD HER SAY IT OVER AND OVER, AGAIN. NOW THAT ITS CLEAR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DON'T WANT HER EXPERIENCE OR IDEAS, ITS A LIE. SOON SHE WILL TELL US SHE DID NOT VOTE FOR THE 100 YEAR WAR AND HER LOBBYISTS BELONG TO SOMEONE ELSE.