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Obama Foreign Policy Adviser Calls Clinton a 'Monster'

March 06, 2008 9:49 PM

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., may be reluctant to throw a punch at Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y. -- but at least one adviser doesn't appear to be, at least when she thinks she's off the record.

Samantha Power, the executive director and founder of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard, is touring Europe to promote a book, and she gave an interview with The Scotsman, which quotes her saying of Clinton, "We f***** up in Ohio. In Ohio, they are obsessed and Hillary is going to town on it, because she knows Ohio's the only place they can win. She is a monster, too -- that is off the record -- she is stooping to anything."

Power said, "you just look at her and think: ergh. But if you are poor and she is telling you some story about how Obama is going to take your job away, maybe it will be more effective. The amount of deceit she has put forward is really unattractive."

The newspaper notes that "If a conversation is to be off the record, that agreement is usually thrashed out before the interview begins. Sometimes, public figures say something and then attempt to retract it by insisting it was 'off the record' after the event. But by then it is too late, particularly if it is in the public interest that the story be published...

"In this instance, Samantha Power was promoting her book and it was established in advance that the interview was on the record."

In December, Obama said he had "been very clear to my campaign. I do not want to see research that is involved in trying to tear people down personally. If I find out that somebody is doing that, they will be fired. And I have been absolutely crystal clear about this, and I have been clear about this for a very long time."

Would this count? Should Power be fired by the Obama standard?

- jpt

UPDATE:   Statement from Samantha Power: These comments do not reflect my feelings about Sen. Clinton, whose leadership and public service I have long admired. I should not have made these comments and I deeply regret them. It is wrong for anyone to pursue this campaign in such negative and personal terms.  I apologize to Sen. Clinton and to Sen. Obama, who has made very clear that these kinds of expressions should have no place in American politics.

Statement from Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton: Sen. Obama decries such characterizations, which have no place in this campaign.

March 6, 2008 in 2008: Democrats | Permalink | Share | User Comments (263)

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Does 'SEA HAG' count as a monster? Because I see her as sort of a 'SEA HAG' but I really don't put that into the 'Monster' category.
Hmmm... I could be wrong.

Posted by: PulSamsara | Mar 7, 2008 11:42:20 AM

She can't win. But she can ensure that Obama is so bloodied, to use Rush Limbaugh's description of the Clinton strategy, that Obama is damaged goods come the fall. After all, if Hillary can't get the nomination, then nobody should.

Posted by: val | Mar 7, 2008 11:40:41 AM

well, it's politics as usual for Obama. Saying one thing and then not doing what he says. He is change I certainly can't believe in. If he ends up being the nominee, which I doubt, it will be a landslide for McCain. Hillary's supporters will go in droves to vote for the one who is more qualified. And that is definitely not Obama.

Posted by: newsworthy | Mar 7, 2008 11:28:49 AM

Great speech AmazonTraveler!! I agree 100%

Posted by: toby | Mar 7, 2008 11:28:33 AM

I have a great idea for a music video lol. We need to get some of Hillary's clips where she is doing her "Bride of Chucky" poses and set it to the song by, The Automatic called "Monster". The Lyrics are perfectly made for this ROFLOL.

Posted by: Barbarian | Mar 7, 2008 11:27:33 AM

John, please go vote for John McCain, ad yourself to all the others who voted for Obama in primary's and have since jumped ship to the Republicans!

The candidate of change is proven to be the swindler of words, from stating no lobbyist money taken in, well directly anyhow, it is all bundled for him Chicago style!

The candidate of change who has eliminated prior opponents by dirty Chicago political tactics!

The candidate of change who sends out negative flyers continually that have been proven false and when a truthful flyer appears on him, he crys foul!

The candidate of change who won't release who contributed to his bundled money!

The candidate of change who has won only 2 Primarys because he cannot stack and use strong arm tactics when people can vote, but controls the caucus's by intimidation!

The candidate of change who takes on Chairs of commitees to pad his resume, yet doesn't hold a single meeting proves he is a W.O.R.M.

W.hat O.bama R.eally M.eans

empty chair + empty suit + empty words = Obama

Posted by: Clear Choice | Mar 7, 2008 11:27:16 AM

AmazonTraveler....nice post except....Hillary's problem is that for, better of worse really do not like her. I am someone who has come to dislike her only recently. It is based on the way she has conducted this campaign. She has shown her true nature of being nothing more than a political animal and reminiscent of the same people who control the White House today. That is her problem...If she is nominated Democrats will have missed an opportunity and made a very big mistake.

Posted by: John | Mar 7, 2008 11:22:42 AM

hey russell, you might as well say hello to President McCain for that matter because after bill's arab connections come to light, and the news reporters finally report truthful on the NAFTA/hillarygate issue, and oh yeah, Peter Paul....can't forget about him, right?!

So you hillary sheeple keep dreaming. Y'all should have known better to stand behind another clinton, knowing full well that karl rove is standing out in the hallway

lololololol


Posted by: LA in Indiana | Mar 7, 2008 11:21:51 AM

Actually, I'd love it if Clinton and Obama would discuss the actual issues, but Clinton isn't able to win on issues.

She can say "Oh Obama selling our country out to NAFTA", when now it looks like it was actually Clinton's camp that said it. That WOULD have been a negative on Obama, and it would make me pause - but now it seems that CLINTON is the one who said it. Maybe all her ties to foreign leaders gives her experience schmoozing with our allies, than some neophyte from Chicago.

Her staff send out pictures of Obama "dressed like a muslim", in order to imply he might blow us all up. That's just like the slam at McCain about his Indian daughter. Same damn playbook.

She and her husband imply that black people in South Carolina vote for black "extremists" like Jackson, knowing that we white folk were going to remember Jackson's H-town comment, and somehow think Obama is the same kind of person. That's someone who knows how to balance her allegiances, and keep community lines open. Oh yeah.

But maybe Monster isn't the right word. Cookie Monster is charming, for example.

Maybe we should just stick with fear-mongering bigot. At least the facts support that.

I'm an independent, owe allegiance to no party - and I will vote for McCain if she somehow manages to turn the democrats into muslim-hating quivering sheep. They're probably the same people who secretly voted for Bush the last 8 years.

You can't control a brave people, that's why they try to use fear on you. That's how Bush won the election, and apparently Hillary's on the same game. So please America - keep the powermad out of office. Vote McCain, Vote Obama, or even that fruitbat Ralph Nader. But keep the Clinton Hate Machine out of office.

Posted by: Hillarasaurus Rex | Mar 7, 2008 11:18:18 AM

In response to an earlier comment-

Foreign policy IS a "Grown-up" issue. Yes, let's hope that Obama's foreign policy advisor does grow-up.

Posted by: ST | Mar 7, 2008 11:18:07 AM

oh, and by the way, y'all hillary sheeple worried about Rezko?

you might want to google Peter Paul

lolololol

just stupid

lololololol

Posted by: LA in Indiana | Mar 7, 2008 11:11:04 AM

I think that the manner in which Hillary has conducted herself has been wildly inconsistent, and patently NOT her own woman, being maneuvered in a million different directions by schizophrenic campaign strategists. What has been revealed in recent weeks has been a petulant child - and to have back-to-back petulant children for president is a disastrous choice for the country.

Kudos to Senator Obama who is still doing his best to introduce civil discourse into American politics. As for Ms. Powers, I think it's perfectly possible to respect someone's past record and yet call them on current behavior.

Posted by: Jan | Mar 7, 2008 11:10:43 AM

I believe Obama's team should follow the rules set by Clinton in this campaign....That is, have your followers be as negative of your opponent as can be, disavow responsibility for you followers, and never apologize. Clinton wanted this type of fight so give it to her.

Posted by: John | Mar 7, 2008 11:10:34 AM

dee..If Hillary is so let popular in then she should run for president of Ireland. She is not popular here other than core Democrats. She will not win over moderate Republicans or Independents like myself, particurly in the South or Midwest. John McCain will. As much as I dread another Republican in office I would view it as the lesser of the two evils.

Posted by: John | Mar 7, 2008 11:06:48 AM

Looks like all the Obama supporters don't beleive their canidate either. They keep saying that she does not have or should apologize for her remarks. It is their canidate who set the standards for his campaign now he and his deciples say that it is ok to ignore his promises. Looks like man over principle. Audatious but not very hopeful.

Thanks from the Hillary campaign the donation meter is going faster than Rezko fleeing U.S. marshalls. We could not have asked for a better fund raiser!

Posted by: russell | Mar 7, 2008 11:05:54 AM

Vanessa....I agree with you...I am a 54 year old man...an Independent and former Edwards supporter....Hillary has driven me to support Obama because of her cold, calculating, purely political approach to this campaign and her arrogance. If she is nominated she will drive me to support McCain as well..

Posted by: John | Mar 7, 2008 11:00:59 AM

At least someone has the audacity to point out the obvious, since media is afraid of stepping on Clinton toes.

Posted by: Daniel | Mar 7, 2008 10:58:57 AM

To Vanessa:

Think again. I will not "cross over" to vote for Senator Obama. I am a registered independent voter; and I will vote for McCain before I vote for Barack. Barac is a nice guy, but too inexperienced, AND, I really, truly do not like the character of his supporters in general, as well as his "key advisors", such as the "senior foreign policy advisor" indentified in this article. No Madeline Albright is she. She sounds more like a petulant child. How insultint! I cannot believe she would make the stupid comment she made about Senator Clinton, and to an overseas publication no less. Obviously the author of the piece was not impressed by his subject.

Posted by: Ms. Smith | Mar 7, 2008 10:54:03 AM

Obama is trying to get the nomination via caucuses and superdelates and by passing the actual citizen voters who have overwhelmingly supported Hillary Clinton. We have seen the contempt his supporters show for anyone who is not aboard the Obama cult.

Posted by: geevill | Mar 7, 2008 10:53:38 AM

Samantha Power's comments are a disgrace!! Her entire "off the record" conversation is unprofessional and extremely inappropriate, particularly since she was talking to a foreign journalist. She should offer her resignation and Obama should accept it.

I live in NJ and PA is nearby, I will make it my goal to go campaign for Hillary in PA as hard as I did in NJ.

The so called "uneducated" people (code word for working class) are the backbone of the Democratic party, not the college students and the upwardly mobile. Power should be advising the Republicans.

Pennsylvania, remember this woman's words on April 22!!!!!!

Posted by: Bea | Mar 7, 2008 10:53:28 AM

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