“This is becoming more apparent every day. My good friend Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones from Ohio represented me on one of the TV programs in the last day or two— some of you may have seen her. And she was on against someone representing my opponent and for the first time, actually, the host, asked the representative of my opponent to name one accomplishment.“That is all we’re asking. We’re asking to compare our records. We’re asking to compare our years of service. We’re asking to compare our ideas, our solutions.
“Because it’s not just about my opponent and myself, this election is about you. It’s about what you can expect, what your dreams will be, what your futures hold. Right now too many people are struggling, working the day shift and the night shift, trying to get by without health insurance, just one paycheck away from actually losing their homes. They cannot afford four more years of a president who just doesn’t see or hear them. They need a president ready on Day One to be the Commander in Chief of the United States military.”
« Lesson: Prepare Your Surrogates. | Main | The New Normal: McCain and Obama Clash Over Pakistan » HRC Continues To Pound Obama On "Accomplishments"20 Feb 2008 09:54 am Comments (43)
We're back to the "Day One" thing again, eh? Before, though, it was ready to be president on day one and now it's ready to be commander in chief. The politics of fear rears it's ugly head once again. 
(to the tune of "The Year Of The Cat") In a party without any vision He doesn't answer any questions For McCain or Giuliani They’ll worship him until they dump him
Wow Hillary is STARVING for an opening! Because this guy couldn't name one than one doesn't exist? (Ethics reform)But lets talk about her failures because they vastly outperform her "accomplishments". Iraq-the biggest vote of her political career and health care.
I'm just wondering who will bow out first, Marc or Hillary? Which person will quit pounding his/her against the wall and, with some grace, admit that it's over? I'm voting for Marc on this one. Please don't let me down.
Is she still running? Why?
Follow-up: So I've been reading Barack's book lately, and he tells the story of the first day he arrived in Indonesia as a child. His step-dad cut off a chicken's head, then threw it up in the air. When it hit the ground it ran around in circles spewing blood all over the place. This reminds me a lot of that.
It's over.. Too bad the Clintons don't know it..
Um...can anyone name a Hillary Clinton accomplishment?
Marc, this is a lousy post. Scare quotes around "accomplishments" in the title, video of and pulled quotes from her speech, no commentary at all...this might as well be a press release from the Clinton campaign. I suppose you are interpreting events here in a sense, but I cannot see any value added by your journalistic experience/viewpoint. I can see this exact information on the Clinton '08 website. (Update: I checked Clinton's site - Actually, it takes some hunting around to get this kind of thing. She doesn't bundle it all as nicely as it is here.)
I can't stop thinking of the West Wing, season 2, when Bartlet (in flashback) complains that he doesn't see why he should refer to Hoynes as "my opponent."
I can't stop thinking of the West Wing, season 2, when Bartlet (in flashback) complains that he doesn't see why he should refer to Hoynes as "my opponent."
I can't stop thinking of the West Wing, season 2, when Bartlet (in flashback) complains that he doesn't see why he should refer to Hoynes as "my opponent."
I can't stop thinking of the West Wing, season 2, when Bartlet (in flashback) complains that he doesn't see why he should refer to Hoynes as "my opponent."
And she was on against someone representing my opponent and for the first time, actually, the host, asked the representative of my opponent to name one accomplishment. The irony, that 'the host' was Chris Matthews, is stupendously rich.
sorry for dupes. technical gltches. problem with anti-duplicate destructo-beam.
Amazing, Hillary talking points posted without comment. Heckuva job, Marc-y. Also, the comments at 10:14, 10:25, and 10:30 are brilliant.
Why is nobody talking about the fact that the host was Chris Matthews?
Has anyone seen the clip? I don't know what MSNBC said to Chris Mathews, but he was astonishingly blunt and the silences were extremely long. It went on for quite some time.
Actually, I agree with what she said. We should compare their records and accomplishments. What legislative goal has Hillary ever accomplished that was risky, or hard? I can't think of one. I can think of three for Obama off the top of my head. Unanimous passage of the confession recording bill in Illinois. Working together with Republicans in the Gang of 14 to get anything at all accomplished. Opposition to the war back when it was politically dangerous. What's Hillary got to her name? A spectactular failure of a health care initiative, when she wasn't even in the legislature, and ... what? She's been in the big leagues for 16 years, and all she's done is sit on the bench or strike out.
She gets more and more unlikable the more desperate she gets. Can you say grating "ex-wife"?
Obama's speech (October, 2002): Good afternoon. Let me begin by saying that although this has been billed as an anti-war rally, I stand before you as someone who is not opposed to war in all circumstances. The Civil War was one of the bloodiest in history, and yet it was only through the crucible of the sword, the sacrifice of multitudes, that we could begin to perfect this union, and drive the scourge of slavery from our soil. I don't oppose all wars. My grandfather signed up for a war the day after Pearl Harbor was bombed, fought in Patton's army. He saw the dead and dying across the fields of Europe; he heard the stories of fellow troops who first entered Auschwitz and Treblinka. He fought in the name of a larger freedom, part of that arsenal of democracy that triumphed over evil, and he did not fight in vain. I don't oppose all wars. After September 11th, after witnessing the carnage and destruction, the dust and the tears, I supported this Administration's pledge to hunt down and root out those who would slaughter innocents in the name of intolerance, and I would willingly take up arms myself to prevent such a tragedy from happening again. I don't oppose all wars. And I know that in this crowd today, there is no shortage of patriots, or of patriotism. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war. What I am opposed to is the cynical attempt by Richard Perle and Paul Wolfowitz and other arm-chair, weekend warriors in this Administration to shove their own ideological agendas down our throats, irrespective of the costs in lives lost and in hardships borne. What I am opposed to is the attempt by political hacks like Karl Rove to distract us from a rise in the uninsured, a rise in the poverty rate, a drop in the median income - to distract us from corporate scandals and a stock market that has just gone through the worst month since the Great Depression. That's what I'm opposed to. A dumb war. A rash war. A war based not on reason but on passion, not on principle but on politics. Now let me be clear - I suffer no illusions about Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal man. A ruthless man. A man who butchers his own people to secure his own power. He has repeatedly defied UN resolutions, thwarted UN inspection teams, developed chemical and biological weapons, and coveted nuclear capacity. He's a bad guy. The world, and the Iraqi people, would be better off without him. But I also know that Saddam poses no imminent and direct threat to the United States, or to his neighbors, that the Iraqi economy is in shambles, that the Iraqi military a fraction of its former strength, and that in concert with the international community he can be contained until, in the way of all petty dictators, he falls away into the dustbin of history. I know that even a successful war against Iraq will require a US occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences. I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East, and encourage the worst, rather than best, impulses of the Arab world, and strengthen the recruitment arm of al-Qaeda. I am not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars. So for those of us who seek a more just and secure world for our children, let us send a clear message to the president today. You want a fight, President Bush? Let's finish the fight with Bin Laden and al-Qaeda, through effective, coordinated intelligence, and a shutting down of the financial networks that support terrorism, and a homeland security program that involves more than color-coded warnings. You want a fight, President Bush? Let's fight to make sure that the UN inspectors can do their work, and that we vigorously enforce a non-proliferation treaty, and that former enemies and current allies like Russia safeguard and ultimately eliminate their stores of nuclear material, and that nations like Pakistan and India never use the terrible weapons already in their possession, and that the arms merchants in our own country stop feeding the countless wars that rage across the globe. You want a fight, President Bush? Let's fight to make sure our so-called allies in the Middle East, the Saudis and the Egyptians, stop oppressing their own people, and suppressing dissent, and tolerating corruption and inequality, and mismanaging their economies so that their youth grow up without education, without prospects, without hope, the ready recruits of terrorist cells. You want a fight, President Bush? Let's fight to wean ourselves off Middle East oil, through an energy policy that doesn't simply serve the interests of Exxon and Mobil. Those are the battles that we need to fight. Those are the battles that we willingly join. The battles against ignorance and intolerance. Corruption and greed. Poverty and despair. The consequences of war are dire, the sacrifices immeasurable. We may have occasion in our lifetime to once again rise up in defense of our freedom, and pay the wages of war. But we ought not - we will not - travel down that hellish path blindly. Nor should we allow those who would march off and pay the ultimate sacrifice, who would prove the full measure of devotion with their blood, to make such an awful sacrifice in vain. Let's turn the page, VOTE OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT!
This is extremely insider and sort of represents again how elitist and condescending her campaign is. Obama does need to remind people of his accomplishments, but there's a way to do that beyond having your shill go on TV. They are obviously trying to draw attention away from his big wins last night, and knowing our pathetic, lazy media, they probably will. This is a good example of what we will get with a Hillary nomination. Focus on meaningless issues with a heaping dose of smugness.
Let's talk about accomplishments. I would argue exhibit A, Campaign Organization! He has it and she doesn't! All I ever heard over the summer was how competent and well organized she was. Meanwhile Obama was quietly on the ground teaching the new "young" electorate how to caucus (think Camp Obama) . Ingenious! Talk about solutions! I could name more...internet fundraising. Small donor fundraising, text messaging, letting the people feel as if they are taking control of the campaign...hmmm -these are real solutions. This is leadership. A leader doesn't necessarily have to have the "best" plan; however, a leader has to know the best way to get people to implement it (possibly compromise) I don't see her stubborn self doing it.
You mean the accomplishment of winning 10 straight primaries against the establishment candidate by a minimum of 17 points, that accomplishment? Oh, I forgot that's not an accomplishment because all the people who voted for him are dupes. Yeah, that's going to get her a lot more votes.
Ms. Tubbs was also asked about Clinton's legislative accomplishments and was equally vague. But at least she avoided mentioning Hillary's vote for the Iraq War, vote on Iran, vote for the flag burning amendment, vote for the Patriot Act...
Speaking of accomplishments, one neither candidate has managed is getting the required number to win. Let me also note that I was in Chapel Hill when Jordan's college team won and the win lead to some rioting.
I saw it live and I was surprised to hear Matthew asked the guy what Obama has ever accomplishment after the lady listed Hillary's. The problem was that the lady spoke about happened not during her years as the senator for NY. If my memory is correct, and I do believe it is, what the lady mentioned were things she did as First Lady and as far as I am concerned that doesn't count. The guy was taken off guard and that was disrespectful of Matthew. When Keith mentioned that he was hard and the guy, Matthew said, "That why the show is called Hardball." Keith replied, "But this is not Hardball." Obama has accomplishment more things Hillary has ever done and the fact he was working side by side with homeless people during his early days in Chicago and how he helped to pass a health care plans there are things that Hillary can't out shine. What she is doing is running on her husband's record instead of hers and think many people a that dumb and stupid that they won't see or remember. She is also a Bush lite. Hillary truly believes that after 8 years of Bush we want to hear more of the same craps about bombing and invading another country then cause the world to save of behind.
It is the Texan legislator's fault for not doing his homework and I think it is good Chris Matthews called him on it. The facts are: As US Senator ,Obama INTRODUCED the following legislation:"Ethics Reform" (Obama, Feingold), which passed congress in Sept., 2007, limiting gifts from lobbyists and disclosure of campaign contributions. The "Iraq War De-Escalation Act" to cap troop levels in Iraq. The "Coburn(R) Obama Transparency Act" which provides USAspending.gov web site that lists organizations receiving Federal Funds. The "Lugar-Obama Initiative" to reduce threats of nuclear terrorism,conventional weapons and weapons of mass destruction. He CO-SPONSORED: The "Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act" with McCain. He added 3 Amendments which passed Senate, but not House. He was primary sponsor of "Democratic Republic of Congo Relief, Security and He tried to create an Independent Office of Public Integrity to Monitor Congress, which Hillary Clinton ,with 20 other Democrats, rejected. As State Senator, Obama gained Bipartisan support for reform of the following legislation: ethics, health care, tax credits for low-income, welfare reform and increased subsidies for childcare. He led passage of legislation mandating videotaping of homicide interrogations and death penalty reforms. Source: Wikipedia and Newsweek magazine
Hillary is lucky people have chosen to largely ignore Barack's accomplishments. He has had many more actual accomplishments in the Senate - in a shorter time, as she's also pointed out - than she has ever had as a politician. And he's shown on many seperate occasions to have better judgment than Hillary. Iran vote? What the hell was she thinking? What has she done to prove to anyone that she could be a mildly competent president?
A campaign is not a legislative accomplishment. "Vote for me because other people vote for me" is not a rallying cry. And yet so many people seem to think it should be. In fact, if a candidate uses that rationale, as some supporters have suggested: "vote for me because my campaign has done 10% better than the competition and getting votes" then that is even more reason for intelligent, thinking people to wonder just who it is they are voting for. He's done nothing. He speaks well. He promises to unit. We know our 2 party system will not allow us to be united. So you have to fall back on what he has "done". Which apparently is nothing other than getting people to vote for him in a popularity contest.
for all of those who apparently believe that obama is 'all words and no action,' please read this: HILLARY VS. OBAMA LEGISLATIVE RECORDS During Obama's first (8) eight years of elected service (in Illinois) he sponsored over 820 bills - 233 regarding healthcare reform, 125 on poverty and public assistance, 112 crime fighting bills, 97 economic bills, 60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills, 21 ethics reform bills, 15 gun control, 6 veterans affairs and many others. IN ADDITION, DURING HIS FIRST YEAR IN THE U.S. SENATE, HE AUTHORED 152 BILLS AND CO-SPONSORED ANOTHER 427. THESE INCLUDED: *The Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 (became law) *The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, (became law) *The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, (passed by the Senate) *The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, (became law) *The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, (In committee) In all, since he entered the US Senate, Obama has written 890 bills and co-sponsored another 1,096. AN IMPRESSIVE RECORD, FOR SOMEONE WHO SUPPOSEDLY "HAS NO RECORD" HILLARY CLINTON, WHO HAS SERVED FOR 6 YEARS IN THE U.S. SENATE, AND CLAIMS TO KNOW HOW TO "GET THINGS DONE" HAS MANAGED TO AUTHOR AND PASS NTO LAW ONLY TWENTY (20) PIECES OF LEGISLATION, ONLY FIVE (5) OF WHICH HAVE ANY REAL SUBSTANCE: 1. Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims of 9/11. 2. Pay for city projects in response to 9/11 3. Assist landmine victims in other countries. 4. Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care. 5. Designate part of the National Forest System in Puerto Rico as protected in the wilderness preservation system. posted 09:20 am 02/20/2008 on huffington post by MiaFL
Interestingly enough a videographer taped supporters of both groups outside the location for the LA debates and Obama supporters were much more articulate. In fact, several Hillary supporters were interviewed who not only could give no specifics as to her record, but finally could only state that they were there to be a visible presence because their union had told them to. How come the news organizations didn't spend any time focusing on that "embarrassing moment" for Hillary's campaign. Oh that's right they still call it the Clinton News Network. (nterestingly enough they've closed comments on the articles about her this morning.)
I'm disgusted that Hillary and her campaign would try to exploit the embarrassment of a low level local supporter and use it as an attack against Obama, as if the ignorance of this supporter when put on the spot in any way reflects Obama's very real and very significant legislative accomplishments. I can't say the same about Hillary's record. http://thepersonalispolitical.tumblr.com/post/26828168
For better or worse, there is in our history no indication that previous legislative performance is a reliable guide to presidential success. Perhaps the best example is Lyndon Johnson, whose Senate expertise enabled passage of the landmark 1964 and 1965 civil rights bills, but who idiotically inflated JFK's 20,000-man investment in Vietnam into a half-million, the result being the greatest embitterment of Americans toward their government since the Civil War, and fault lines which persist to this day. As Maureen Dowd noted a few days ago, there is simply no way to know how a President will behave, because the challenges he'll face haven't arisen yet.
That was the second time Matthews tried that line with an Obama surrogate. The third time -- and we know that Matthews likes riding hobby-horses -- whoever's up will be briefed and given a written test beforehand.
Personally, I feel Senator Clinton will do anything to put another notch of accomplishments on her belt. Two-terms of her and the former President in the White House is enough for me. Senator Obama has accomplished so much in the time that he has been in the U.S. Senate. And if Senator Clinton is including the eight years that she was in the White House as first lady, it should not even be credited toward experience. I say out with the old and in with the new.
Senator Clinton has repeatedly reduced this race to petty tactics, manipulation, and 'gotcha' antics — they have all backfired because the American people don't want more divisiveness and strife in government; we want inspired leadership that empowers us to act for ourselves. Senator Obama has done a number of important things as both State Senator and U.S. Senator, including reforming death penalty laws, introducing the state's Earned Income Tax Credit, and improving improving ethics guidelines in both the Illinois and U.S. Senate. In the the U.S. Senate, apart from being selected as a key Senator to revamp Senate Ethics guidelines, he also worked to secure nuclear proliferation and curb the dangers of 'loose nukes', and created greater transparency in the government through a law that allowed every American to know how their tax dollars were being spent. But of greater importance to me is what he has done on the campaign trail. Senator Obama has inspired and energized countless Americans to volunteer and vote — Americans who never before volunteered, who never voted in a primary, and some who never voted at all. He has restored or instilled in many a belief that the government is their government, and has secured for them what will hopefully be a lifelong accountability to themselves, each other, and their nation. If that is not a legacy of greatness in itself, I do not know what is.
Please write Chris Matthews at hardball@msnbc.com and let him know how you feel about what he did. Did he challenge Ms. Jones to name ONE legislation she passed? All her supporters just say she has some vague experience or that she has done more for America. The media just accepts that it's truth she accomplished something. But living in NY, I haven't really seen or heard of anything she has done. I wish I could challenge anyone of her supporter's with the information MiaFL up above. And another thing. Does anyone who is married write their spouse's experience on their Resume? I'd say 99.9% of people don't. Yet Hillary does. She wasn't voted into office, she was MARRIED to the President. Why is this just ignored? It's sad really.
The main reason I would want Barack to win is because....I can't imagine how poorly the Obama supporters would react if Hillary won the nomination. I don't think they would vote at all...unless Barack was the nominee. It's kinda scary.
Mathews lifted the line in question from the conservative right wing talk radio. I heard exactly the same line being repeated last week ad nauseum from Rush to Beck to Hannity with EXACTLY the same bumbling response!!! After all these years it really surprised and then disappointed me to realise that Mathews is a bought and paid for piece of shit. Right wing shit at that.
MEDITATION REVEALS OBAMA ACCOMPLISHMENT! I then mediated hour upon hour staring into a flame then closing my eyes thinking only positive thoughts on this young senator with the single focus of finding the accomplishment. Then I awoke enlighten!!! I Found his accomplishment. " He has the backing of the average voter who doesn't know why they want to elect him other than they like his speeches that allow them to project all their hopes and desires into one man. Now that's an accomplishment"
And whom do you support TAMPAKEV? After you finish your meditation, perhaps you will have time to read further up in this thread, where about half a dozen posters provide the information that you seek. Peace.
|
Subscribe to this blog by Email Twitter || On Facebook || QIK Live Channel  Recent Posts
Monthly Archives
|
| 
Copyright © 2009 by The Atlantic Monthly Group. All rights reserved.
Well, Obama is beating her up and down all over the country. He's won tough elections. That's an accomplishment Hillary can't claim.
This campaign has shown that Hillary can't manage her way out of a paper bag. When the autopsy of her managerial incompetence is written once her campaign finally dies, I think most of us will be shocked that she was ever considered the "inevitable" candidate.
Posted by SDinIA | February 20, 2008 10:02 AM