Obama Aide: Bill Clinton Comments Akin to McCarthyism

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Saturday March 22, 2008 · 6:39 AM PDT

2008/03/22 · 06:39

Bill Clinton was in Charlotte, NC yesterday and spoke to an invitation only crowd of Veterans. During that speech, he said this:

"I think it would be a great thing if we had an election year where you had two people who loved this country and were devoted to the interest of this country," said Clinton, who was speaking to a group of veterans Friday in Charlotte, N.C. "And people could actually ask themselves who is right on these issues, instead of all this other stuff that always seems to intrude itself on our politics."

To most of us and the media it sure sounded like Bill was questioning Obama's patriotism. It was subtle, but that's the message I got.

In the wake of controversy over comments made by Barack Obama's former minister, Clinton's comments could be seen as an effort to draw attention to the issue of patriotism in a state with a high population of veterans......

Take away ten of the cameras and fifty degrees Farenheit, and this could have been a John McCain event in Waterloo, Iowa, in November 2007.

The message was different, but the mood was much the same.

Patriotism has been used as a cudgel in the past. We are all aware of Democrats being accuesed of being "Defetocrats", "unpatriotic", and guilty of treason for our opposition to the war. This was a long running discussion in the left leaning blogosphere. And I don't take too kindly of it when a Democrat oh subltly accuses another Democrat of it. And one Obama Aide, a General no less is calling it as he sees it.

McPeak, a former chief of staff of the Air Force and currently a co-chair of Obama's presidential campaign, said that sounded like McCarthy.

"I grew up, I was going to college when Joe McCarthy was accusing good Americans of being traitors, so I've had enough of it," McPeak said.

"It's a use of language as a disguised insult. We've seen this before, this little clever spin that's put on stuff," McPeak said. "I have no idea what his intentions are, but I'm disappointed in the statement. I think Bill Clinton is, or ought to be, better than that."

Now, staffer for the Clinton campaign have said Bill's remarks were taken out of context and he was REALLY talking about getting the race back to talking about the issues, but if that were the case, why did he insert the phrase, "Two people who love their country"? This is a Republican tactic to keep the image of Obama as unpatriotic in the media and with the voters. Thank You General McPeak for speaking out.

What is your opinion? Is McPeak right, or am I and others reading too much in the quote?

Poll
188 votes Show Results
Do you think McPeak was right in comparing Bill Clinton's remarks to McCarthyism

Yes, it's time someone called it for what it is.

No, the camparison is too extrememe. Bill Clinton was taken out of context

Pie

188 votes Vote Now!
Do you think McPeak was right in comparing Bill Clinton's remarks to McCarthyism

Yes, it's time someone called it for what it is.

149 votes

No, the camparison is too extrememe. Bill Clinton was taken out of context

30 votes

Pie

5%

9 votes

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