(CNN) - The morning after Hillary Clinton attacked Barack Obama over his relationship with William Ayers, founder of Weather Underground, her campaign advisers struggled with questions over her view of pardons for members of that group issued by her husband, former President Bill Clinton.
On a conference call with reporters, spokesman Howard Wolfson said he did not know where the New York senator stood on the pardons, but that he would check.
The Obama campaign has responded to Clinton’s questions to the Illinois senator at Wednesday night’s ABC debate with press releases pointing to the former president’s pardons of Weather Underground members Susan Rosenberg and Linda Evans.
The group, which formed in the 1960s, sought the overthrow of the U.S. government, and carried out violent attacks including bombings.
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
What?
You can't forgive or pardon someone who recants and changes and feels remorse and regret- after 40 years.
But you can continue to attend a church whose preacher adheres to a doctrine of violence and hate- and will not himself change.
And you can justify doing that for 20 years.
And you can justify William Ayers comments after 9/11.
But you can not see the difference in forgiving a PAST trangression in those who have grown away from the hate. Just like your white grandmother moved away from the racial bias of a white rural woman of 40 years ago.
Hate of 40 years ago DOES NOT equal hate today.
If people are going to look through every single person Obama ever knew to dig up dirt, this is definitely not off the table and I think Hillary should have responded to it. On policy issues, Hillary made it seem so easy... WRONG. Obama knows that it's a challenge and therefore had trouble explaining it all because, frankly, it's complicated! This is why Obama is the man for the job, he knows it's hard and he has answers that not ever layman can understand – this is a good thing people! Remember, he's the one that studied Constitutional Law!
it's over hillary. when obama is getting hammered over the overblown 'clinging" remarks, and you still lose ground in the polls, it's time to do the right thing.
I wonder what Bill Cinton got for pardoning those 2 ..hmmmmm..???
Please dear God people do some research! Obama went to a fundraiser at Ayers home 12 years ago!
Ayers donated $200 dollars to an Obama campaign! I have been arrested in my past and I have donated $400, should Obama give my money back or disown me as well? Jesus people!
Clinton knew about Ayers a year ago, how could you not, neo-nazi Hannity brings it up 30 seconds into everyone of his shows. She could never mention it because of her own connection to the pardoned members.
No one is clean in this world, no of us, but at least Obama doesn't owe favors to everyone from California to D.C. Obama is too good for this garbage and WE don't deserve HIM. Yes I really believe that.
This country is spinning down the drain towards hell.
What really made me happy is
If Hillary wins I'm going with McCain for president. There shouldn't be an issue with your campaign every week; especially if you are the one that instigates it. Also I'm a registered Republican but I'm willing to vote for Obama.
Obama 08
just saying
you are as delusional as your candidate is a treacherous hypocrite.
"Fair debate"? As "fair and balanced" as Faux Noise.
The personal attacks against Obama are having the exact opposite effect that the ClintRovian campaign had hoped for. Whenare they going to learn that they have torched their own campaign.
It makes as much sense as the failed policy in Iraq and how that has made us less safe.
Billary, please put your country and party before your own ego!
Sincerely,
Disgusted
What goes around, comes around. Hillary is a ruthless and desparate politician. The American people are not stupid. That's why more than half don't trust her.
My observation is that Hillary is on the attack and Obama on the defense lately and during the debate. Once again, if you are taking the "kitchen sink" approach and throwing everything you can out there, occasionally something will boomerang. Don't be mad at Obama or the press on this one Hillary people. She threw the rock that is hitting herself. She needs to be more careful about the accusations she throws.
Fairly put, it's the kettle calling the kettle black.
YEAH YEAH HILLARY YEAH YEAH YEAH YOU WON BIG TIME
BRAVO ABC
Hillary is repugnant. She tries to stick the Ayers issue to Obama, but instead it bounced right back in her face. Bill Clinton pardoned two members of the weather underground who actually committed horrific crimes against our government....that is more serious, than ayers who is a now a professor.
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Every thing this evil woman throws at Obama – has a link to Bill Clinton! Keep you foot on her neck, Bill's neck! You did great last night Obama considering it was 4 to 1! As you stated – Hillary is preparing you for John McCain! And, let's not forget that Hillary said three times that yes, yes and yes you can win! And, we are!
I kept waiting for one of the candidates to say "Hey, wait a minute, are you going to ask any questions about the issues facing Americans, or are you just going to keep showing us what you found in our trashcan twenty years ago?"
The first one to come close to doing that was Obama who raised the idea of the distraction issues taking away from real issues.
He makes the most sense of all of them. I'm confirmed.
enomisa,
Well now I've heard it all!
According to your logic, "hateful comments" (your view) is more difficult to forgive than " attacks including bombings". These people were pardoned by Bill Clinton!
What does Wolfson mean he doesn't know how Sen. Clinton feels on this issue? She keeps saying that she doesn't agree with this shady deal and that questionable deal, (only when these problems are exposed to the American voters), that Bill was involved in. Yet he (her husband) is out there stumping for her! Hello, what do you think!!!
It looks like another non-issue will keep us from addressing the policies and solutions to serious challenges that face the American people.
"Divided we fail!!!"
Hasn't Hillary already shown she's got absolutely no moral character already by now? Not to mention one serious problem with not being able to tell the truth. I asked my friend the other day who said she could be clinically diagnosed with a mental health condition based on what he's seen.
And you people want her to be President??
God help us all.
The sad part was clinton was better on the issues. If she would have let fox news and abc do its job on Obama, she would have been in a much better state when all this came out. But now she just looks desperate. When on the contrary she is a strong, intelligent woman. Hillary supporters, it's not Obama, it's not the media, it's whoever is running her campaign. I have never seen a more poorly managed strategy. She is better than her campaign. But they are not focusing on her.
If Obama is "the candidate of a lifetime", why is he having so much trouble winning a big state?
Pleeeze, everyone, try some properly placed punctuation. Stop the run on sentences. And for Pete's sake write complete thoughts. You're making me dizzy.
Kathleen the white retired professional is a nut
I will bet any amount of money she is not WHITE
I guess HRC has not heard the phrase LET THE SLEEPING DOG ALONE. She had to bring up the weather underground issue. Hannity would be thinking christmas just came early.
Now she has to explain those pardons, oops. It can't get any worse , since she finally agreed that Obama is capable of beating Mccain in Nov.
Talk about Gaffs
WATCH OUT, DEMS, BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS ARE PURPOSELY KEEPING YOU AT EACH OTHER'S THROATS AND IT IS WORKING OUT QUITE WELL.
I WILL TAKE EITHER OBAMA OR CLINTON JUST TO GET RID OF THE REPUBLICANS IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
DOES ANYBODY THINK THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING THE WHITE HOUSE WILL LEAVE IF ANOTHER REPUBLICAN IS ELECTED?
FOOLISH DEMOCRATS. GO AHEAD AND EAT YOURSELVES UP. I AM AMAZED!
leave it to cnn to do their best to rehablitate obama..lol... cnn should take some pointers from abc how to give a real debate