Clinton Defends Obama and Counters McCain in Denver (Updated)

Hillary Clinton seized on the very first opportunity to defend Barack Obama at the Democratic Convention on Monday, telling her supporters at the New York State delegation breakfast that the party was united to elect Obama to achieve "the right kind of change." Rejecting recent attack ads from the McCain campaign, Clinton left no doubt about her view of recent GOP efforts to use her past comments on the campaign trail:

Now I understand that the McCain campaign is running ads trying to divide us and let me state what I think about their tactics and these ads: I am Hillary Clinton and I do not approve that message.

Jonathan Singer, a writer for MyDD, a blog that often covered Clinton favorable in the primaries, recommends that the Obama Campaign run with Clinton's message:

That sounds like a great script for an ad to be put out by the Obama campaign, or even the Democratic National Convention -- Hillary Clinton speaking to camera, right after a brief excerpt of the RNC IE ad, saying "I'm Hillary Clinton and I do not approve that message... Now I ask each and every one of you to work as hard for Obama as you worked for me." What better way to dispel the false notion perpetuated by some in the media, and exploited with paid media by the McCain campaign, that Clinton isn't on board with the Democratic ticket of Obama-Biden this year?

Clinton's former web strategist, Peter Daou, is circulating a grassroots YouTube clip of her remarks today:

Comments (25)

1. No,no, Mr. Melber.

   We all know Hillary's "real motive"...her loyalists like local FRANKGRITS and PUMA have made it quite clear.

   Obama loses in the Fall...we should all give full CREDIT to Hillary and her folks for helping get McCain elected.

   And mention it every day...until 2012!

   Right, FRANK?

   Posted by Maskdelta at 08/25/2008 @ 2:25pm

2. >>>Hillary Clinton seized on the very first opportunity to defend Barack Obama at the Democratic Convention on Monday, telling her supporters at the New York State delegation breakfast that the party was united to elect Obama to achieve "the right kind of change."<<<

   And what exactly does Hillary think the RIGHT kind of change is?

   Does this mean that "lobbyists are good" like she said in her campaign, and that the "right" kind of change is just a "cosmetic" change from Republicans to Democrats?

   Posted by Metteyya at 08/25/2008 @ 2:30pm

3. Posted by lvliberty1 at 08/25/2008 @ 2:39pm

   Shall we go back and see what your beloved Dubya (or his surrogates!) said about McCain in 2000, LL?

   Posted by Maskdelta at 08/25/2008 @ 3:03pm

4. "Shall we go back and see what your beloved Dubya (or his surrogates!) said about McCain in 2000, LL?"

   Indeed.

   Talking out of your rear (backwards thinking) makes you a smartass, but does not denote wisdom. Given the placement of your priorities, however, this should not surprise anyone.

   Posted by libraridan at 08/25/2008 @ 3:21pm

5. The obsession with HRC is fascinating, probably diagnostic. It's amazing how powerful she is for those of us who support her and those of you who are threatened by her. If Obama loses in November, it will be his fault. The more you express your hatred of HRC, analyze everything she does, blame her for Obama's failing campaign, you will be responsible for her supporters staying home in November, voting for Nader, McCain or other candidates. The fact that half of Hillary's supporters do not support Obama shows there are serious problems. If you want to help Obama persuade HRC supporters to vote for him, you are not helping. All of these comments make me feel more defensive about HRC and less likely to support or vote for Obama in November.

   Posted by Jenny5 at 08/25/2008 @ 3:40pm

6. Posted by Jenny5 at 08/25/2008 @ 3:40pm

   Jenny, so why isn't the "obsession, fascinating and probably diagnostic" with Hillary....reversible?

   Those OBSESSED with "avenging" her or out of spite seeing to it that Obama loses...or even seeing to it that she gets "her rightful shot" in 2012?

   None of my comments to FRANK are necessarily about Hillary, who may now honestly want to see Obama win out of patriotism...

   they are directed at HIM or those like him (you maybe?) who are OBSESSED with her in a benevolent manner.

   FRANK idolizes Hillary in a mirror-image way that the Right loathes her. NEITHER is "healthy".

   Posted by Maskdelta at 08/25/2008 @ 3:56pm

7. The only Real PUMA's that exist are sprinting through the jungles after rabbits....Trust not MSM Hype and Repubs in Disguise!

   Posted by nicholasclaxton at 08/25/2008 @ 4:09pm

8. The only Real PUMA's that exist are sprinting through the jungles after rabbits....Trust not MSM Hype and Repubs in Disguise!

   Posted by nicholasclaxton at 08/25/2008 @ 4:10pm

9. What?

   Posted by Jenny5 at 08/25/2008 @ 4:52pm

10. You missed the point. I agree that the "obssession" with Hillary is reversible, i.e., that's why I said she is powerful to those of us who support her and to those of you who are threatened by her. I don't care if you think I am a PUMA or a republican. It is irrelevant. You should try to counteract their efforts to destroy the party. In fact, I am a lifeling democrat who has subscribed to the Nation for 20 years. I think the PUMAS are crazy. At the same time, I am disgusted by the sexism towards HRC by the media, DNC, Obama campaign, and those who contribute to the Nation blogs. If you are a democrat and progressive, you should be concerned too. I want the party and Obama campaign to address these issues. Unfortunately, that has not happened.

    Posted by Jenny5 at 08/25/2008 @ 5:13pm

11. That's just great, Hillary. Don't try to tell us now that you didn't mean those things you said about Obama in the primary race. You knew they would be used against your then-opponent.

    With 'friends' like Hill and Bill, who indeed needs enemies?

    P.S. I'm female, middle-aged, and certainly not sexist in my lack of enthusiasm for HRC.

    Posted by notbuyingit at 08/25/2008 @ 5:42pm

12. Jenny5 and the rest of you luke warm liberals...anyone who supports a candidate instead of a political persuasion, a woman instead of a liberal cause, a black man instead of the Republican catastrophy, isn't any better than the idealogs of the conservative right. Get off it, Hillary and Obama are a mirror image of one another's policy values, whereas Hillary-McCain, or Obama-McCain are diametically opposed to one another. Cut the crap. Figure it out, maybe gender bias is actually based on disgust with exactly the kind of behaviour you are demonstrating.

    Posted by montanadon at 08/25/2008 @ 6:21pm

13. Billary, er, Hillary cool-- you go girl.

    New con repubs don't like it like that.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 08/25/2008 @ 6:23pm

14. I'm sorry, but I missed all of the sexism coming out of Obama's campaign. And if the "puma's" (lol) are pissed about Hillary media coverage, I think most of it was the same as Baracks. Unfortunately, most of hers was made up of negative coverage...

    Posted by Daisenryaku at 08/25/2008 @ 6:41pm

15. There was not much anti-woman rhetoric or action out of the Obama campaign, although I seem to recall a bit of racism out of the Clinton campaign--pandering to the (white) working class, not to mention the all-to-typical (for her) crap from Geraldine Ferraro. Not that I see the latter as unique to the Clinton campaign as much as a segment of the population that wants some sort of justice in the country, but is not willing to sacrifice their privilege to achieve it.

    That said, the corporate media was absolutely, absolutely brutal in its anti-woman stance towards Clinton--far worse to her for being a woman than anything Obama got for being half-white. Disgusting.

    Posted by onthehelm at 08/25/2008 @ 7:01pm

16. Neither Obama or Clinton are liberals. 40 years ago they would have been considered right of center Democrats. Both of them fall far short of being "Progressive". Which is just a euphemism for "Socialist". As a Democratic Socialist in the European Tradition, I find both of them inadequate to my vision of America. I would like to see Bernie Sanders or Dennis Kucinich running this Republic. But as a realist, I will be voting for Obama as a step in the right direction. The Democrats need to unite at this convention and quit squabbling over two candidates who are arguably republican light.

    Posted by chaoszen at 08/25/2008 @ 7:06pm

17. Why do fascists like 2Happy continuously post nonsensical rhetoric on a liberal blog? I never post anything on a right wing corporatist neocon blog. If I did it might indicate an undercurrent of interest in their blatherings...

    Posted by chaoszen at 08/25/2008 @ 7:29pm

18. During a primary campaign, people say all kinds of things to edge ahead of their opponents, especially Democrats, who have a tendency to push hard against the other contenders. It's also essential to remember that Hillary long expected to be the logical choice for the office of president, and said things she never expected to retract or dismiss. We all know that campaign rhetoric is a heavy component of primaries. Consequently, I am convinced that we need to listen to what she is saying NOW.

    Posted by DEACMAN77 at 08/25/2008 @ 7:52pm

19. Posted by Jenny5 at 08/25/2008 @ 5:13pm

    When Hillary won primaries, did Obama yell "racism"?

    He won, she lost. She, but mostly (apparently) her followers, need to "be a person" and take defeat graciously and not try "The ref didn't like us!"

    That's a kid's game.

    Posted by Maskdelta at 08/25/2008 @ 8:11pm

20. Posted by 2HAPPY at 08/25/2008 @ 8:14pm

    as the song goes...

    "The Good Rush tells him sooooooooo...."

    LOL

    Posted by Maskdelta at 08/25/2008 @ 8:54pm

21. "Agreed! So, go out there and reward them and vote Obama! My media stocks are counting on ya!"

    Nope, they are much more counting on people to remain ignorant and continue being sold to the companies that advertise in the papers.

    Hope you have not invested to much in media stocks, or at least hope your son is not relying on you to use those returns to get his return ticket from France (well, maybe not--cheese and red wine is not a bad way to while away the time). Been taking a beating for two years.

    Posted by onthehelm at 08/25/2008 @ 8:56pm

22. Glanced at MSNBC, Rachel just called FrGr, Hillary supporters that are following her lead, "post-rational".

    Is that to the point or is that to the point.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 08/25/2008 @ 9:06pm

23. er, Glanced at MSNBC, Rachel just called FrGr, Hillary supporters that are NOT following her lead, "post-rational".

    Posted by hsuBfools at 08/25/2008 @ 9:23pm

24. Why'd Hillary keep running from McCain? We vote not party and ideology and of course not race. We vote the man who better manages the country and economy.

    Posted by HelenDAO at 08/25/2008 @ 11:14pm

25. The bottom line is not any of this stuff.

    It is Clinton's speech tonight, the one she is probably giving as I write.

    If she is really committed to the Democratic ticket, that is what her speech will be about. Why it is VITAL in her opinion to vote for Obama-Biden. This would have to include a significant section endorsing Biden as the vice-presidential candidate. Since I am sure they have collaborated a lot in the Senate -- they are both centrists and initial supporters of the invasion of Iraq.

    If that is not the heart and soul of her speech, her "endorsement" is just that a quote-endorsement-unquote. Is she strong enough and liberal enough to devote her speech to leading her base into the camp of Obama-Biden, giving NO QUARTER to those who would see abstention or a vote for McCain as a way to strike back.

    I actually tend to think she will do this. This would cut an image of a strong leader, not just another leader with a strong ego, which is not exactly the same thing, as I hope the American people are finally beginning to notice.

    If she clearly supports Biden, she can make jokes about the Republican ads. One I thought of was "If he had chosen me, they would have been launching a impeachment movement instead of ads bemoaning my sad fate."

    If she is deep smart, this is what she will do regardless of her husband's hurt feelings. I think in reality that the political realities developing are such that she MUST be seen as no less than 100 percent Obama-Bodem. She must sternly answer every argument that could be used to pit her or her supporters against him -- she will stand no chance of nomination in 2012 (if Obama loses or hits a rock politically) or in 2016. Hilary may be 70 or 68 then, but apparently that is not an insuperable barrier today.

    Posted by ffeldman at 08/26/2008 @ 9:55pm