"The item did not identify these ‘agents,’ nor did it reveal the nature of the charge. It was devoid of facts, but heavy on innuendo and insinuation of the sort to which we’ve become all too accustomed in our politics these past two decades. If the purpose of this shameless item was to daunt or discourage me or supporters of our campaign from challenging and changing the politics of Washington, it will fail. In fact, it will only serve to steel our resolve.
"But in the interest of our party, and her own reputation, Senator Clinton should either make public any and all information referred to in the item, or concede the truth: that there is none.
"She of all people, having complained so often about ‘the politics of personal destruction,’ should move quickly to either stand by or renounce these tactics.
"I am prepared to stand up to that kind of politics, whether it’s deployed by candidates in our party, in the other party or by any third party.
"The cause of change in this country will not be deterred or sidetracked by the old ‘Swift boat’ politics. The cause of moving America forward demands that we defeat it."
For anyone worried that Obama will sit back while others make false accusations, here's proof he won't!
UPDATE: I saw somewhere else someone suggesting this may be Rezko related. If I am not mistaken, that story has been investigated a thousand times...and each time, nothing sinister was found.
Even so, Obama has been forthright about it and said it was a total lapse of judgment on his part.
Has Hillary ever said the same about anything she has done? Even Hsu???
UPDATE 2: Howard Wolfson responds (tactlessly...):
"Once again Senator Obama is echoing Republican talking points, this time from Bob Novak," he said in an e-mailed statement. "This is how Republicans work. A Republican leaning journalist runs a blind item designed to set Democrats against one another. Experienced Democrats see this for what it is. Others get distracted and thrown off their games. Voters should be concerned about the readiness of any Democrat inexperienced enough to fall for this. There is only one campaign in this race that has actually engaging in the very practice that Senator Obama is decrying, and it's his. We have no idea what Mr. Novak's item is about and reject it totally. Instead of pointing fingers at us, Senator Obama should get back to the issues and focus on what this election is really about."
UPDATE 3: Mark Halperin, FAR from my favorite politico, has this analysis...take from it what you will...
UPDATE 4: Obama spokesman Bill Burton:
"The ‘experience’ America's looking for today is not the practiced Washington art of evasion and deflection. Once again, the Clinton campaign refuses to answer two simple, direct questions:
Are "agents" of their campaign spreading these rumors? And do they have "scandalous" information that they are not releasing?
"Yes or no?"
Comments are closed on this story.