Silly Season Revisited
Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 08:16:12 PM PDT
Somebody’s dodging the issues...
There’s been a lot of talk on the net and in the MSM about some picture that Matt Drudge posted on his site today of Sen. Obama in traditional Somali clothing during a visit to northern Kenya two years ago. Now I don’t know about you but I’m starting to notice a pattern over at Camp Obama on things like this.
First he goes after Hillary over an unconfirmed report from Robert Novak about something Hillary’s campaign may or may not say about him, and now he’s having a hissy-fit over something dug up by Drudge.
Unless BO’s got proof I think it’s safe to say these two facts are in evidence...
There's no proof that such an email even exists.
There’s no proof that such an email came from Hillary's camp.
If they want to keep whining about this then they’d better put up or shut up. In other words...
Show me the email!
Make the jump – there’s more...
Now here’s what Maggie Williams, Hillary’s campaign director had to say in a press release in response to this nonsense this morning...
"Enough.
"If Barack Obama's campaign wants to suggest that a photo of him wearing traditional Somali clothing is divisive, they should be ashamed. Hillary Clinton has worn the traditional clothing of countries she has visited and had those photos published widely.
"This is nothing more than an obvious and transparent attempt to distract from the serious issues confronting our country today and to attempt to create the very divisions they claim to decry.
"We will not be distracted."
FYI – public officials dress in local garb on trips like this all the time. Here’s a picture of Hillary with her beautiful daughter Chelsea and Benazir Bhutto on a trip to Pakistan (one of the 80+ nations she’s visited as first lady & Senator)...
This is nothing more than a BS diversion and if he really is this pissed about the release of a 2 year old photo, it's up to BO to prove what he's been pissing and moaning about while (ahem) conveniently NOT talking about the issues that are so important to voters in Ohio and Texas (and every other state for that matter).
Hillary's camp is not going to waste valuable time grilling over 700 staffers to see if someone within their ranks sent this 2 year old picture of BO to Drudge. Hillary’s staff are too damn busy supporting their candidate - who by the way is talking about the issues.
Either way, this doesn’t make sense. Hillary’s out there talking about the issues that matter to voters - issues like UNIVERSAL health care, fixing our broken economy, rebuilding the middle class, providing help to those who want to attend college, developing green collar jobs – jobs that will help break our addiction to fossil fuels, ending the war in Iraq...
She’s working hard 24/7 so it makes absolutely no sense that – on the day she’s set to deliver a major foreign policy / national security speech (flanked by loads of top military brass btw) – her campaign would send everyone in to a tail spin over some petty issue like that picture. Foreign policy & national security are issues over which she rules in this campaign.
By the way, the campaign put out the following press release about all those top military brass (27 of them) who were there on stage with her this afternoon...
Hillary Clinton to be Joined by Senior Retired Military and Defense Officials at Today’s Foreign Policy Speech
Clinton Unveils List of Flag Officers Endorsing Her for President
Hillary Clinton will set out her approach to American foreign policy in the 21st Century in a speech at George Washington University today. Joining her will be a group of senior retired military and defense officials who have endorsed her to be this nation’s next Commander-in-Chief. They are: General Wesley Clark, Lt. General Joe Ballard, Major General Antonio M. Taguba, Rear Admiral David Stone, Brigadier General John M. Watkins, Jr. and former Secretary of the Army Togo West. Generals Taguba and Watkins will formally announce their endorsement of Senator Clinton today.
Many of our nation’s most distinguished military officers stand proudly with Hillary Clinton because they believe that she has the strength, experience and leadership necessary to be President and Commander-in-Chief. They include three four-star generals, a former chairman and vice-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and many other Americans who have served their country with honor and distinction.
In addition to the endorsements of Generals Taguba and Watkins, Senator Clinton is proud to announce the endorsement today of Admiral William Owens (Ret.).
Admiral Owens served with distinction for more than 30 years in the Navy, rising to become Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation’s second highest ranking military officer.
Major General Taguba served his country with distinction for 34 years, retiring from the Army in 2007. The son of a Filipino-American who survived the 1942 Bataan Death March, General Taguba led the Army’s investigation into prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib in 2004.
Brigadier General John M. Watkins, Jr. served nearly 30 years in the Army and completed his military career as the Chief Operations Officer/Deputy Director of the Defense Information Systems Agency.
Admiral Owens, General Taguba, and General Watkins are among 27 flag-rank military officers who have endorsed Senator Clinton to be our nation’s next Commander-in-Chief. They join more than 2,000 veterans and military retirees who are members of Senator Clinton's national and state veterans’ steering committees.
Flag Officers Endorsing Hillary Clinton for President and Commander-in-Chief
General Wesley Clark
General John M. Shalikashvili
General Johnnie E. Wilson
Admiral William Owens
Lt. Gen. Joe Ballard
Lt. Gen. Robert Gard
Lt. Gen. Claudia J. Kennedy
Lt. Gen. Donald L. Kerrick
Lt. Gen. Frederick E. Vollrath
Vice Admiral Joseph A. Sestak
Major General Roger R. Blunt
Major General George A. Buskirk, Jr.
Major General Edward L. Correa, Jr.
Major General Paul D. Eaton
Major General Paul D. Monroe, Jr.
Major General Antonio M. Taguba
Rear Admiral Connie Mariano
Rear Admiral Alan M. Steinman
Rear Admiral David Stone
Brigadier General Michael Dunn
Brigadier General Belisario Flores
Brigadier General Evelyn "Pat" Foote
Brigadier General Keith H. Kerr
Brigadier General Virgil A. Richard
Brigadier General Preston Taylor
Brigadier General John M. Watkins, Jr.
Brigadier General Jack Yeager
Since the press & media aren’t really covering her amazing speech today, I will. Here are a few of my favorite parts...
Link
We are here at such an extraordinary moment in American history. The stakes have rarely been higher. I’ve had numerous historians tell me that America’s point in our arch of destiny, today is perhaps most similar to the situation confronting President Truman when he became our president and commander in chief.
Dramatic events during this past week have reminded us how volatile our world has become and how essential it is that we have sound strategy and strong leadership. From Kosovo to Cuba, from Iraq to Pakistan, to our embassy being burned in Belgrade, these are some of the most challenging spots on our global map. The world is being transformed with enormous risks and possibilities that we must meet with confidence, optimism, resolution and success.
The next president will inherit all of these global challenges and more from a president who failed to handle them well. A war in Afghanistan and a war in Iraq. America’s reputation at an all-time low. Countries rushing to acquire nuclear weapons. Crushing poverty that stymies economic and political progress in too many regions of the world. Global warming and global health pandemics. Genocide in Darfur. A rise of borderless, stateless criminal cartels. And the continuing real threat of terrorism here at home and abroad.
But while these stark realities carry dangers, they also bring unprecedented opportunities if we act wisely, if we have the right kind of leadership. There isn’t any doubt in my mind that we will not only navigate through these uncharted difficult waters but emerge stronger than ever, reasserting both our leadership and our moral authority.
The vision I have for America is one that is rooted in those values. Values that have served us well but have been temporarily sidelined because of this administration’s approach to the world.
Over the past seven years, we’ve seen what happens when the president presents the American people with a series of false choices and then is indifferent about the consequences: force versus diplomacy, unilateralism versus multilateralism, hard power versus soft. We’ve seen the tragic result of having a president who had neither the experience nor the wisdom to manage our foreign policy and safeguard our national security. We can’t let that happen again. America has already taken that chance— one time too many.
The symbol of our presidency – the American Eagle – holds arrows in one talon and an olive branch in the other. Both are symbolic tools of what we need to keep our democracy strong and our nation safe— tools that a President must know how to use in the daily course of events, but also when that 3 a.m. phone call comes to the White House because an unforeseen crisis has erupted without warning. In that split second the president has to respond and make a decision that could affect the safety and lives of millions of people here in our country and around the world. Whoever sits at that desk in the Oval Office on January 20th, 2009 needs all the tools available, all the resources at our disposal, and the wisdom to know how to use them.
I propose a new American strategy to restore our moral authority, end the war in Iraq, and defend and protect our nation.
We need a president who understands there is a time for force, a time for diplomacy, and a time for both, who understands that we enhance our international reputation and strengthen our security if the world sees the human face of American democracy in the good works, the good deeds we do for people seeking freedom from poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, and oppression.
With me, this is not theoretical. This is very much who I am, what I have done, and what I will do. The American people don’t have to guess whether I understand the issues or whether I would need a foreign policy instruction manual to guide me through a crisis or whether I’d have to rely on advisers to introduce me to global affairs.
I’m lucky to have had a pretty good inside view, over eight years in the White House and now over seven years in the Senate, of what the president goes through day in and day out dealing with all of these challenges. Obviously the work that I have done on human rights, democracy, international development gives me a deep appreciation of the importance of winning the hearts and minds of those in societies whether or not they are for us today. I believe that we can seed democracy and create new strong alliances overseas.
And I also know from my years serving on the Senate Armed Services Committee that our military power is absolutely essential but it cannot be viewed as the solution to every international problem. Yes, we must use force when necessary but as a last resort, not a first resort. As one piece of a comprehensive strategy to defend our nation and promote our values.
I’ve been honored to travel to more than 80 countries representing the United States. In sessions with foreign leaders, with influential citizens from the world of business, academia, human rights and so much else. I have traveled to Iraq and Afghanistan three times. And I've seen and have said repeatedly that we must revise our strategy in Afghanistan. When I first went to Afghanistan in 2003 I was met by a soldier who said "welcome to the forgotten front lines in the war against terrorism." I regret to say that those front lines are still largely forgotten.
She then goes on to talk about every point in the world that will need her attention and expertise as our commander in chief. From Pakistan, to Afghanistan – Darfur to China to Cuba. With these hot spots and more in play we'll need a steady hand and an experienced leader at the helm.
Now I don’t know about you, but when that phone rings in the White House residence at 3 am I want someone with her experience and her amazing knowledge of the issues. She doesn’t just have a shallow base of knowledge of a bunch of the issues – this woman knows the issues right down to the smallest of details and she knows the people involved. She wont’ need to study up for a week to prepare for a debate with her opponent – she’s ready to go now, anytime and anywhere.
Guys this is what we need to be discussing. Who’s ready to lead on day one? Who’s got the best and most universal health care plan? Who’s dedicated her entire adult life to making this world a better place for all of us – especially for children and women the world over?
For my money – the answer to every one of the above questions is Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, DEMOCRAT of New York.
