No Comparison
So right-wingers are in a frenzy because Drudge has reported that Clinton cashed in on 9/11, making a $100,000 speech to foreigners on that day. Of course, it’s not true: Clinton gave the speech to a group in Hong Kong by video, from Chappaqua, where it was September 10th. On 9/11, Clinton’s schedule did not include high-paying speeches to private parties.
Funny, however, that right-wingers are upset about a former president cashing in, as their hero of all heroes, their political savior and angel on Earth, Ronald Reagan, went to Japan to accept a $2 million gratuity for making two twenty-minute speeches. Not to mention that GOP front-runner Rudy Giuliani has a history of making $100,000 speeches, all of which are based solely upon his fame as the “9/11 mayor.”
So please, right wingers, save the polemics for a situation that (a) isn’t bogus, and (b) is slightly less than outrageously hypocritical.
I’m disappointed you ignored the real issue here, and that’s who the source of this misinformation is. It came from the Obama campaign, along with a second, more distressing email accusing the Clinton’s of being too India-friendly (very much in the xenophobic vein of accusing an opposing candidate of being too Israel-friendly.)
I don’t blame right-wingers for jumping on the bandwagon. That’s their M.O. But let’s not ignore what it is our fellow Democrats are doing.
As far as I’m concerned, Obama had better distance himself from both emails immediately.
Sy: Forgive my reflexive disbelief, but there have been so many attempts by conservatives to ignite an internecine war amongst Democratic candidates that I take any such claim with a huge grain of salt. One rather outstanding example was the story that said that Hillary released the story about Obama and the madrassa. Reports now seem to be fairly solid that the source was an email by an Obama staffer. You’re right in that Obama should distance himself.
Still, the central thesis of my post stands: Republicans are hypocritical to an extreme by jumping on this particular bandwagon.
Also, as Greg Sargent pointed out, these jabs between campaigns happen all the time. But this one story didn’t catch on because of an ordinary oppo press release by a campaign staffer. It gained press because of the attention it got by right wing sites like Drudge. It’s not as if this became a story because the Obama campaign was pushing it. It was background noise until the wingnuts latched onto it.
Obama has spoken out about the memo matter:
electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/jun/18/obama_personally_responds_to_indian_american_community
desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070618/NEWS/70618028/1001/archive
I’m by no means a fan of his, but at least regarding this issue he’s back in my good graces.