CE Week #12: “Clinton camp hints she won’t tell scandalous info on Obama”
November 18, 2007
ROBERT NOVAK novakevans@suntimes.com
Agents of Sen. Hillary Clinton are spreading the word in Democratic circles that she has scandalous information about her principal opponent for the party’s presidential nomination, Sen. Barack Obama, but has decided not to use it. The nature of the alleged scandal was not disclosed.
This word-of-mouth among Democrats makes Obama look vulnerable and Clinton look prudent. It comes during a dip for the front-running Clinton after she refused to take a stand on New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s now discarded plan to give driver’s licenses to illegal aliens.
Experienced Democratic political operatives believe Clinton wants to avoid a repetition of 2004, when attacks on each other by presidential candidates Howard Dean and Richard Gephardt were mutually destructive and facilitated John Kerry’s nomination.
Lou for president?
The name of longtime CNN commentator Lou Dobbs has entered speculation as a possible independent candidate for president. At age 62, he never has engaged in politics, but is reported by people who know him as pondering a presidential run.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been the most likely independent candidate, particularly if Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani win the Democratic and Republican nominations. But Dobbs’ hard-line positions on immigration, international trade and globalization starkly contrast with the three New Yorkers.
If Dobbs really chooses to run, his problem would be finding sufficient campaign funds. While billionaire Bloomberg can handle this difficulty by writing a check, Dobbs would be getting a late start in campaign finance.
Out of Iowa
Sen. John McCain soon will consider opting out of the Jan. 3 Iowa presidential caucuses to take the sting out of a probable fifth-place finish there.
McCain skipped Iowa in 2000 while nearly seizing the presidential nomination from heavily favored George W. Bush. But when McCain was the early front-runner for 2008, it was decided he would contest the state this time.
The rationale for leaving Iowa now would be total concentration on the subsequent New Hampshire primary. Although McCain defeated Bush by landslide proportions in New Hampshire eight years ago, he did so with overwhelming support from independents who are likely to vote in the Democratic primary this time.
Absentee chairman
Sen. Christopher Dodd’s absence from Washington while campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination has not only created a backlog of House-passed legislation at the Senate Banking Committee that he chairs. It also has resulted in unconfirmed presidential appointees, including three governors of the Federal Reserve Board.
The three proposed Fed governors — financier Larry Allan Klane, banker Elizabeth A. Duke and economist Randall S. Kroszner (now serving on the board) — all were nominated in May. Hearings were held by August, but the Banking Committee has taken no action on them.
No hearings have been held on other nominations referred to the Banking Committee: two members of the Council of Economic Advisers; director of the Federal Housing Finance Board; president of the Government National Mortgage Association, and under secretary of commerce for international trade.
Non-Republican leader
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, starting early on his bid for election next year to a fifth term from Kentucky, is running a television ad that omits one spoken word: ”Republican.”
McConnell does not flaunt his GOP credentials in a heavily Democratic state where Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher was just defeated for re-election in a landslide. The ad features an endorsement by Alben Barkley II, grandson of a Kentucky Democratic icon, Vice President and Senate Majority Leader Alben Barkley. ”Mitch McConnell is helping build a new Kentucky,” says the grandson, as he connects the Republican leader to ”the Barkley legacy.”
McConnell is not listed among the most seriously threatened Republican incumbent senators for 2008, and the strongest prospective Democratic challenger — Rep. Ben Chandler — has announced he will not run for the Senate. But facing what could be a dismal year for Republicans with unexpected defeats, McConnell is preparing an aggressive campaign.
Scandalous information on Obama, what? The man has already admitted trying Cocaine and Marijuana at some point in his life. It has been proven that America is more than willing to forgive extramarital affairs. What in the world could they have on this man? Could it possibly be his whole idea of bringing honesty to politics is a sham? I hope not. Obama is one of the few voices calling for change, bipartisanship, and honesty in politics. It would certainly be a blow for America for it to be false. Who is the dirty liar here, the republican columnist, the Clinton campaign, or Obama himself?
I also find McConnel Republican Leader excluding the word Republican from his ad. It said he was a leader. I am unaware if he is leader of the house or the senate anyone know? It has become more and more obvious that republicans are attempting to distance them selves from George Bush and even their party. I guess its true what Kautzman says things cant get any worse for the Republicans.
But for what reason does Kautzman think that the Republicans can win this won? Maybe because…he is one? Or maybe he has secret dirty dirt on Obama.
I agree Derrick.
I can’t believe the dumb things politicians will do to each other that ends up being a huge waste of everyone’s time. I personally don’t believe that there is a whole lot of dirt to be found on Obama – unless he has an illegitimate white child running around somewhere. Still, even then you claim that America is more than willing to forgive extra-marital affairs. Obama is one of the first American politicians who is trying to bring honesty into a corrupt and conniving world. How successful he is remains to be seen. This political system has gone without absolute honesty since the times of good ol’ “Honest Abe” and even HE played the game of politics from time to time.
So let’s see how long Obama can remain true to his word. But we can’t doubt the fact that there will be a time that he makes a promise that he just can’t keep…that’s just how it works. Then again he may prove to be able to remain 100% true to his word. Obama’s my favorite candidate so I hope that he keeps up the good honest work. In reality even if there is dirt – it won’t sway his most loyal supporters but it most likely will cost him the election. In the months ahead he needs to be very careful to keep up the honest image he has created for himself if he wants to win.
Well to me it sounds like everything is still up in the air with elections. Not really suprising considering it’s only November. Who knows about what Hillary might have on Obama? If she isn’t using it who cares? It obviously can’t be that great, and yes she is trying to use it to gain some ground for herself. It will be interesting to see what other Democratic candidates do when things get more competitive. I’m sure they will all find some dirt on Hillary, but will they use it?
About McCain, I’m actually kind of confused as to why he is considering droping out of the Iowa caucuses. I mean I thought he would still try. It seems like he’s giving up pretty early on. This suprised me.
I also found it interesting that McConnel is not using the word “Republican” in his ads. Obviously “Republican” has picked up some negative connotations after the past few years. I don’t blame him, but I still think that he should have used the word in his ads. I mean everyone knows he’s running as a Republican, why not say it? What he is doing is not going to give him any extra votes. It’s just stupid.
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. She’s She’s She’s; She’s Crafty.
Oh that Hillary Clinton: tricky she-devil. I’m not sure whether the Clinton Camp does or doesn’t have some of the proverbial “dirt” on one Barack Hussein Obama. I would imagine that they do, but it’s minor, insignificant, and a bunch of people probably already know it. It’s what could be deemed, “no biggie.” However, spreading the rumor of this piece of dirt helps Hillary bifold.
One.) The mind is a dirty, filthy place. The imagination, especially, has a tendency to run wild. A deep dark secret about Obama gets democrats wondering what. Just like (point and case) in the proceeding comments. My mind can flesh out some details that are, I’m absolutely sure, nastier than this piece of dirt which, likelier than not, is about as inane and neon (it’s a noble gas). The Democrats believe in the looming, deep dark, and particularly personally perturbing –as projection of deepest fear is a commonly human trait—Obama slaying piece of dirt. That hurts in the sphere of their head the electability of Obama, and Obama’s already hurting in this column.
Two.) Miss Hillary Clinton is seen as cunning, conniving, and ruthless. She has this piece of dirt (which, as we’ve established, is artificially inflated in the imaginative mind) and refuses to go negative. Well, I guess she’s human after all. AND she’s interested in party unity. You know, that Hillary Clinton’s not so bad.