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FACT CHECK

Factcheck.org: Hillary's Adventures Abroad

We find some exaggerations in Clinton's claims of foreign policy experience.

By Joe Miller | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Mar 13, 2008 | Updated: 5:28  p.m. ET Mar 13, 2008

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  • Posted By: Illinois Voter @ 04/14/2008 1:30:56 AM

    Comment: <http://www.nytimes.com/adx/bin/adx_click.html?type=goto&page=www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/opinion&pos=Frame4A&sn2=f8475720/9aad5d74&sn1=e953c8ee/c8117c88&camp=foxsearch2008_emailtools_810902c-nyt5&ad=UTSM3.19.8&goto=http://www.foxsearchlight.com/underthesamemoon/>

    By LISSA MUSCATINE and MELANNE VERVEER
    Published: April 1, 2008

    Washington

    AS staff members who traveled with the first lady, Hillary Rodham
    Clinton, to Bosnia in March 1996, we have followed with more than
    passing interest the extensive news coverage of her landing in Tuzla.
    Video footage clearly shows that Mrs. Clinton?s assertions that she
    landed ?under fire? and that the arrival ceremony was canceled were
    wrong. She said so herself last week.

    Yet even since she acknowledged her mistake, the commentary has
    continued unabated. Reports are now being embellished (to borrow the
    term du jour) to suggest that Bosnia was not really a danger zone. Her
    visiting American troops on a peacekeeping mission in a hostile
    environment is now being treated as if it were a trip to the beach.
    During a week of nonstop coverage, few journalists went beyond the
    irresistible video footage to ask what else happened on this trip and
    how Mrs. Clinton might have erred in the details about the landing in
    Tuzla. So here are some facts that provide context:

    We flew in a C-17 cargo plane from Germany to Bosnia precisely because
    it was capable of steep descents and ascents into and out of areas of
    conflict. We were issued flak jackets on the plane before landing in
    Tuzla and were told the tarmac ceremony might be canceled or curtailed
    due to sniper fire from the surrounding hillsides. The first lady and
    Chelsea Clinton were moved to the armored cockpit for the landing.
    Armored vehicles were placed around the tarmac, and Apache helicopters
    hovered overhead.

    In a recent e-mail message to a British blogger, Ejup Ganic, who was the
    acting president of Bosnia during Mrs. Clinton?s visit, wrote: ?I
    remember that visit quite well. Although the NATO troops were in Tuzla,
    we still believed that some positions on the hills were occupied by
    radical Serbs, so I was worried about the overall safety.? The planned
    welcoming ceremony was shortened, he said, but it still lasted a bit
    longer than expected because a nongovernment group brought along a
    little girl to sing to the first lady.

    Later, Mrs. Clinton flew from Tuzla to two military outposts by
    helicopter, escorted by Apache gunships.

    • Posted By: Illinois Voter @ 04/14/2008 01:32:44

      Comment: As has been reported, Mrs. Clinton?s trip to Bosnia included a U.S.O.
      component with the comedian Sinbad and the singer Sheryl Crow. The
      helicopters that carried them to performances at American base camps
      zigzagged just above the trees to avoid potential ground fire, according
      to Carey Cavanaugh, who was then a State Department official traveling
      with Sinbad, and helicopters flew alongside to deal with the threat of
      anti-aircraft fire or snipers. These facts explain why many of us,
      including the first lady, believed that the conditions on the ground
      were precarious. We were worried about sniper fire and were prepared to
      rush off the tarmac when we landed.

      In their single-minded focus on the landing in Tuzla, reporters and
      commentators have omitted any discussion of what Mrs. Clinton
      accomplished on her trip. In addition to showing support for our troops
      and for the peace accords in Bosnia, Mrs. Clinton met with Bosnian
      religious leaders, women and community activists and, when she returned
      to Washington, was able to give administration officials her firsthand
      assessment of the nascent reconstruction effort.

      After leaving Bosnia, she met with leaders of Turkey and Greece and in
      those countries promoted efforts on behalf of international development
      and democracy. In Istanbul, five years before 9/11, Mrs. Clinton
      presciently convened representatives of some of the world?s major
      religions to advance a dialogue about religious reconciliation and ways
      to counter religious extremism.

      The video of her arrival on the tarmac in Bosnia may be great theater
      and easy fodder for commentators, but it shouldn?t be allowed to obscure
      what else was happening on this important trip when the cameras weren?t
      rolling.

      Lissa Muscatine was the chief speechwriter and Melanne Verveer was the
      chief of staff for Hillary Rodham Clinton when she was first lady. Ms.
      Muscatine is an adviser to Mrs. Clinton?s presidential campaign.

  • Posted By: Bobbb @ 04/06/2008 8:36:15 AM

    Comment: WOWSA !!! Imagine, more fodder for the public. hmmmmm Now I see how the Berlin Wall can be built between the US and Mexico. Imagine all the poorly educated people that are not able to access the internet and must rely on what they are being told. How sad can that be??? I hope someone begins offering a chicken in everypot and a computer in every family room. Fact checking is so much easier in this day and age. God bless and take care all. :-)

  • Posted By: ranhill @ 03/31/2008 11:36:45 PM

    Comment: GTX13 is a idiot of immeasurable stature, somewhere between completely stupid and grossly retarded. You are without peer and thank God for that. I have a question for you, Oh Dimwitted One: Is it hard for you to type messages with that white hood over your head? Let me suggest you cut eye holes in it like all your other fellow morons.

  • Posted By: GTX13 @ 03/30/2008 8:30:23 PM

    Comment: By speech, Barrack Hussein Obama loves to show he is a patriot; a real "beneficiary patriot" with big money coming from a highest job as U.S. Senate and "others" undisclosed sources. Because Obama and his poor wife has met an "incredible persecution and discrimination" in this country ! Even now, during of this ongoing campaign of his ambition for presidency, he is ready to blame anybody being against him to be a ..."racist" !!(???...)
    But let's turn the next page ! In fact, my family and the most American people, consider Obama is a "racist in his soul" according his judgement and his practice! We know for sure, based on the facts, he has endorsed the hatred over two decades against the whites, just because the skin colour ! Maybe he was "blind" or irresponsible sitting beside the pastor Writes, when he was blaming the white people, US government and others ! And never Obama has dismissed what he was listening in his church ! And all those in the name of...Jesus Christ ! This is the highest level of hypocrisy !
    Dumb dogs are dangerous ! Now, he is talking like a chatterbox searching for...excuses !! (?!) IT IS TOO LATE ! Better Obama to leave the scene ! Everything in his camp was compromised and Dick Morris's arrogance was stuck into the mud ! Obama and his puppets will crumble into the dust ! And American people will not cry at all ! HARES MAY PULL DEAD LIONS BY THE BEARD !!!

  • Posted By: Not4Barack @ 03/29/2008 11:13:32 PM

    Comment: Hillary Clinton has not exaggerated her experience any more than Obama has downplayed his connection with Jeremiah Wright - over 20 years and now he disowns him -it's all political - we all need to calm down and look at all the facts - Obama is as big a liar as Hillary - and he will do anything to win - as will she.

  • Posted By: Medge @ 03/29/2008 10:40:59 PM

    Comment: What made Hillary think that she could tell so many fantastic stories and get away with it? Did her blind ambition render her unable to tell the difference between fantashy and reality? It's a pity. She could have done so much better, had she been more honest and sincere from the beginning, but she has gotten herself so deep into her own fantasies, that not even fake tears would get her out of it.
    She should take a couple of weeks off; get some rest and a few sessions of therapy; call a press conference and anounce she is ready to admit her mistakes and quit the race for the presidency, and live happily ever after.
    after.

  • Posted By: Logan6 @ 03/29/2008 6:05:23 PM

    Comment: Hillary Clinton needs to begin to prepare her exit from the race... Several sources in her own camp admit that she has virtually no chance of winning the nomination except if she succeeds in finding James Hoffa's body and moving it in Obama's flower garden to put the blame on him.

    Since there is little chance for the body to be found, she makes all these negative assertions. The goal seems to be the 2012 election. By putting enough doubts on Obama, Hillary is hoping that he will lose to McCain and that she or Chelsea (who is also an experienced leader after her journey at the White House mansion) will be able to run in 2012. The Clintons might then be able to capitalize again with the rental of the Lincoln Bedroom to big lobbyists.

    Whatever happens, since the Judas story with Richardson, we know that Hillary believes in ressurection; she or her husband Bill would be Jesus if I understood correctly the story. So, we can assume that Hillary will not hesitate to play the kamikaze with this election or the next one since she will probably reborn again, as the savior.

    Hillary Clinton needs to begin to prepare her exit from the race before she hurts herself or others.

    • Posted By: GTX13 @ 03/30/2008 19:56:30

      Comment: Barrack Husein Obama needs to begin to prepare his exit from the race before he hurts himself or others !

  • Posted By: diannesss @ 03/29/2008 2:07:37 AM

    Comment: Why does Obama get credit for helping neighborhoods in S. Chicago when he has inferred he left them to go to college so he could better help them. In reality he went to college to help his wife and family get a very expensive home high income prestige and has donated very little to charity, except his disgusting church. Check his tax returns. I wonder how much of his minister's income helped those same poor neighborhoods, as well. Obama is a real phony and Clinton staying in the race is a great thing. I have contributed to the DNC but absolutely will not unless MI and FL are counted with their original vote counts, and not with any reductions (because Obama took his name off the list, or some of his supporters did not support him with a vote--counted or not, as their reason). In the past , votes were not counted for Blacks, Women, poll taxes, poll tests and now FL and MI. Although there was a rule (law) against these votes they were changed in the name of justice and fairness. The DNC says it won't change the rules, well my, and many others, votes will not support this in Nov. Since when does one candidate have the right to determine the outcome of this election? I wouldn't vote for Obama under any circumstances, none of which is color! Check the videos on C-Span for the Iowa Caucuses and see O supporters get counted twice by being counted then panning left on the screen and being counted again. I really got disgusted with Mrs. O when she said, "If you can't run yourown house how can you run the White House." (Referring to Senator Clinton). And of course the O claims that he would have separated from Wright if he hadn't retired (because the issue won't go away) when last week he said he could "no more give up on his pastor who brought him to Jesus, than his white grandmother". FLIPFLOPPER ROYALE or LIAR, take your pick. I have spent over 40 years trying to help others--minorities, poor , disabled--and I'll bet O has not done as much for others as I, and Clinton, have done. Reagon's nomination, Ted Kennedy's and others nominations went to the convention. If the DNC is so worried about McCain why isn't it and the great incompetent Howard Dean, with other Dems like Kennedy,and the supporters of the Dem party campaigning against the REPs. How stupid can you think people are that we are falling behind because we need to wrap this up. Unless Obama's Folks have forgotten, this is an America for ALL the people. (Incidently, if I hear one more person called "folks" I'll scream; what an illiterate phrase that has been usedoften by Mrs O and O who are supposed to be educated at fine schools (It sounds like it came from the fine education of W).

    • Posted By: elizabethpaige @ 03/30/2008 01:17:25

      Comment: He did work in S. Chicago neighborhoods and he does deserve credit. . Nothing wrong with wanting a better education,

  • Posted By: kryn10 @ 03/28/2008 4:51:57 PM

    Comment: Hillary had extensive foreign experience and involvement in day-to-day foreign issues. She doesn't claim to have made major political decisions, but she claims to have been very instrumental behind the scenes. It is ludicrous to think there should be a "record" of her foreign policy work when she was not "officially" employed in this capacity. However, that does not mean she does not have extensive experience. It was like she had a private mentor for 8 years, that she was aware of negotations, of how foreign affairs were managed, which methods were effective, and which ones were not. She accompanied Bill to over 80 countries and although she did not make a major decision, she was aware of all the negotiations going on. This first hand experience is priceless. Business people pay a fortune to have a mentor because the experience is priceless. These are things you cannot learn in Harvard. Wordly experience is worth far more than only "book" experience. Everyone is trying to say "that trip was not dangerous, or she did not make that decision." YOU ARE ALL MISSING THE POINT. IT IS THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING INVOLVED IN EVERY ASPECT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS THAT THE WHITE HOUSE HAS TO DEAL WITH THAT MAKE HILLARY'S EXPERIENCE PRICELESS. It is not the fact that she did not single handedly bring about peace in the world. Get real. If your father owned a business and for eight years trained you how to run that business, that would be worth a lot more than a kid coming out of a college without any other experience. STOP FALLING FOR OBAMA'S FANCY SPEECHES AND NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING - ALWAYS TRYING TO PORTRAY HILLARY'S EXPERIENCE AS "JUST WOMAN'S WORK." HILLARY WAS AN AMAZING POLITICAL ASSET TO BILL IN THE WHITE HOUSE. OBAMA IS A SEXIST AND A RACIST TRYING TO DOWNPLAY HER ROLE.

    VOTE HILLARY 2008

    • Posted By: daundaground @ 03/29/2008 14:09:38

      Comment: Either you live where there's no books or libraries or internet....or your eyes are so wide shut you will never get it. I'm a 26 yr military veteran and I worked with the Clinton's during their time in the White House. I can tell you she does not have the vast foreign experience she claims. If all you're looking for is experience, then why don't vote for John McCain. He has 26 years in politics. Before you do that you may want to check your history. Some of our worst Presidents were people with the most political experience and some of our best Presidents had very little experience. People like FDR, JFK, Abe Lincoln , Taft, Roosevelt, Eisenhower to name a few. Integrity means the most to me. The ability to be honest and do the right thing even when no one is watching. In my 26 military years of traveling to friendly and unfriendly countries....I know when snipers were firing at me. Hillary's claim of mispeaking is really a political way of saying she was caught in a lie. She has no integrity. She dismissed it as a mistake because she got caught. Do you research and stop listening to the biased media. There are many more tall tales. Hillary has actually only completed one full term as Senator. Check your Senate website and check the votes and the bills that were introduced by all the candidates. There's no comparison with John McCain and his 26 years....but it should help to open your eyes a little. Don't fall for the political tricks...unless you are predujice. Before you jump me and ignore that comment, look the work up. If your eyes are wide shut, I'm sure you won't listen to any of this so have a good one. the future is already destined. Time will tell all.

  • Posted By: jackie I-H @ 03/28/2008 1:05:41 PM

    Comment: I think that it's time for the media to call Senator Clinton on her statements saying that it was mis spoken when in actuality its a lie / She lied about her experiences and she needs to be held accountable it's unfair for her to make statements about important issues and then smile as though its a joke . This is too serious . Wheter she 's a woman or not the facts still stands she needs to be held accountable also. I think it's unfair for anyone to heol media resposnible and say that the media is too hard on Senator Clinton because she's a Woman. When she made the decision to run for the President she knew what her options would be . You just don't make differences no matter what colr, creed, race, or gender . Everyone is responsible and accountable for their actions.

  • Posted By: MrsH98 @ 03/27/2008 6:30:22 PM

    Comment: You can't believe a word Hillary Clinton says regarding her "35 years of experience:

    See the article: FACT CHECK
    Factcheck.org: Hillary's Adventures Abroad
    We find some exaggerations in Clinton's claims of foreign policy experience.

    By Joe Miller | Newsweek Web Exclusive
    Mar 13, 2008 | Updated: 5:28 p.m. ET Mar 13, 2008


    Clinton claims to have "negotiated open borders" in Macedonia to fleeing Kosovar refugees. But the Macedonian border opened a full day before she arrived, and her meetings with Macedonian officials were too brief to allow for much serious negotiating.

    Clinton's activities "helped bring peace to Northern Ireland." Irish officials are divided as to how helpful Clinton's actions were, and key players agree that she was not directly involved in any actual negotiations.

    Clinton has repeatedly referenced her "dangerous" trip to Bosnia. She fails to mention, however, that the Bosnian war had officially ended three months before her visit ??? or that she made the trip with her 16-year-old daughter and two entertainers.

    Both Bill and Hillary Clinton claim that Hillary privately championed the use of U.S. troops to stop the genocide in Rwanda. That conversation left no public record, however, as U.S. policy was explicitly to stay out of Rwanda, and officials say that the use of U.S. troops was never considered.

    How many other things has she lied about?? Once a liar, always a liar.

  • Posted By: fidelidad @ 03/26/2008 2:01:50 PM

    Comment: And she did spend some time in the cockpit ;-)


    So it was probably no accident that the C-17 pilot was a woman, Capt. Cheryl Beineke of Ohio. She is among just four female C-17 pilots out of about 100 in the Air Force.

    "I'm loving every minute of this," the pilot said after Mrs. Clinton spent several minutes in the cockpit.

    Source - Lexis - By RON FOURNIER, AP International, March 25, 1996


    Ok now why don't we take a look at some of the instances where St. Obama's misspoken, eh?

  • Posted By: fidelidad @ 03/26/2008 2:00:53 PM

    Comment: Another report:


    THE First Lady of the United States, Hillary Clinton, visited her country's troops at their fortified outposts in north-eastern Bosnia today and said their peacekeeping work was "extraordinary to behold".

    Mrs Clinton's helicopter flight to Camp Alicia, home of a mechanised infantry outfit and a combat engineer batallion 15 miles east of Tuzla, took her over burned out villages and farm houses whose roofs had been blown off in the fierce fighting before last December's Paris peace agreement ended the 43 -month-old war in Bosnia.

    A machine gun emplacement guarded the entrance of the outposts and marked Bosnian minefields were visible outside its perimeter.
    ...
    After lunch with the troops in a makeshift dining hall surrounded by sandbags, she flew on to Camp Bedrock south of Tuzla to visit an army field hospital.

    Mrs Clinton, who later returned to Tuzla for a show starring singer Sheryl Crow and comedian Sinbad, said she was "amazed at how much has been accomplished in such a short period of time" by US troops in Bosnia.

    Source - Lexis - The Herald (Glasgow), March 26, 1996

  • Posted By: fidelidad @ 03/26/2008 1:59:52 PM

    Comment: And a comment left in an open thread at TalkLeft on Sunday - apparently, Sinbad (the guy who set all this off) wasn't on the entire trip with Senator Clinton - just part of it...


    I did some research on Lexis Nexis last night (5.00 / 6) (#131)
    by standingup on Sun Mar 23, 2008 at 04:45:19 PM EST

    The trip she made to Bosnia was on March 25, 1996. I can't find anything in the press reports that supports the exact account that Hillary has recollected but Sinbad's account might be underscoring the risk too. She did visit two outposts outside of the base camp in Tuzla without the celebrities there for the USO tour.


    Protected by sharpshooters, Hillary Rodham Clinton swooped into a military zone by Black Hawk helicopter Monday to deliver a personal "thank you, thank you, thank you" to U.S. troops.
    ...
    But this was a day of celebration and celebrities - a day for the U.S. troops helping to uphold the Bosnian peace accord. Mrs. Clinton hosted a USO show with comedian Sinbad and singer Sheryl Crow and briefly addressed the gathering.
    ...
    But the highlight of her trip were visits to two fortified posts outside the U.S. base in Tuzla. Even President Clinton, restricted to the base by bad weather in January, did not see as much of this war-wracked region as Mrs. Clinton did Monday.
    ...
    Riflemen rushed to the brush line as the helicopter landed and surrounded her as she walked into the post. Located in a "separation zone," the U.S. outpost nestles between two tree lines. Just months ago, one was Serbian territory, the other Bosnian.

    Security was tight - fighter jets accompanied her C-17 cargo plane to Tuzla - but officials said the first lady took no extraordinary risks on the trip.

    Lexis - By RON FOURNIER, Associated Press, March 25, 1996

  • Posted By: fidelidad @ 03/26/2008 1:58:20 PM

    Comment: Contemporaneous news accounts confirm that Hillary's trip to Bosnia was a dangerous situation:


    Hillary's trip to Bosnia marked the first time since Eleanor Roosevelt that a first lady traveled to a potential combat zone. Accompanied by singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow and comedian Sinbad, Mrs. Clinton traveled to this northwestern Bosnian town on a morale-boosting tour for the 18,500 U.S. troops participating in the NATO-led peacemaking operation. She heard a poem of peace from a Bosnian girl and praised U.S. troops for 'showing what American leadership is.'...This trip to Bosnia marks the first time since Roosevelt that a first lady has voyaged to a potential combat zone. During World War II, Roosevelt toured the devastated streets of London and the southwestern Pacific, bringing cheer to U.S. troops. [Washington Post, 3/26/96]


    Hillary was 'protected by sharpshooters' in a 'military zone' when she visited troops in Bosnia. "Protected by sharpshooters, Hillary Rodham Clinton swooped into a military zone by Black Hawk helicopter Monday to deliver a personal 'thank you, thank you, thank you' to U.S. troops. 'They're making a difference,' the first lady said of the 18,500 Americans working as peacekeepers in Bosnia. Mrs. Clinton became the first presidential spouse since Eleanor Roosevelt to make such an extensive trip into what can be considered a hostile area, though others have visited hot spots..." [Charleston Gazette, 3/26/96]

    • Posted By: elizabethpaige @ 03/30/2008 00:49:25

      Comment: Hillary Clinton is no Eleanor Roosevelt.

  • Posted By: fidelidad @ 03/26/2008 1:57:47 PM

    Comment: Hillary recently misspoke about her trip to Bosnia. She accurately describes the trip in her book, Living History:


    'Due to reports of snipers in the hills around the airstrip, we were forced to cut short an event on the tarmac...' "Security conditions were constantly changing in the former Yugoslavia, and they had recently deteriorated again. Due to reports of snipers in the hills around the airstrip, we were forced to cut short an event on the tarmac with local children, though we did have time to meet them and their teachers and to learn how hard they had worked during the war to continue classes in any safe spot they could find. ... We were then off to the fortified American base at Tuzla, where over two thousand American, Russian, Canadian, British, and Polish soldiers were encamped in a large tent city." [Living History, p. 343]

  • Posted By: fidelidad @ 03/26/2008 1:57:08 PM

    Comment: Lissa Muscatine, who served as Hilary Clinton's chief speechwriter in 1996 and accompanied her on the Bosnia trip, feels that I have failed to provide a full picture of what took place. She gave me her "vivid recollections" of the arrival in Tuzla, which I quote below:


    I was on the plane with then First Lady Hillary Clinton for the trip from Germany into Bosnia in 1996. We were put on a C17-- a plane capable of steep ascents and descents -- precisely because we were flying into what was considered a combat zone. We were issued flak jackets for the final leg because of possible sniper fire near Tuzla. As an additional precaution, the First Lady and Chelsea were moved to the armored cockpit for the descent into Tuzla. We were told that a welcoming ceremony on the tarmac might be canceled because of sniper fire in the hills surrounding the air strip. From Tuzla, Hillary flew to two outposts in Bosnia with gunships escorting her helicopter.

    • Posted By: elizabethpaige @ 03/30/2008 00:58:37

      Comment: Nowhere does Lissa Muscatine say Hillary had to run with her head down to avoid sniper fire. Clearly HRC is a liar. Footage shows that the welcoming ceremony was not cancelled. It also shows a tranqujil pleasant greeting including the obligatory presentation of flowers by a child. This level of lying is not only ridiculous, it also raises concern as to Hillary's mental stability.

  • Posted By: fidelidad @ 03/26/2008 1:55:47 PM

    Comment: Hillary visited N. Ireland 7 times from 1995 & 2004, she brought together women from communities, Catholic & Protestant, to meet & work together toward a common goal of peace in N. Ireland.

    In Sept., 1998, she spoke at first Vital Voices Conference on Women in Democracy in Belfast, brought 400 women to promote their leadership in peace process. Hillary announced $2 M in public/ private partnerships to support community, expand child care services, assist women in business & strengthen advocacy skills. She pledged she & Pres. would stand with them as they took risks for peace & urged them to transform their ideas into actions, & their dreams of a peaceful Ireland into reality.

    I serve on board of Vital Voices Int., founded by First Lady Hillary to promote political & economic empowerment for women, co-sponsored 1998 conference with First Minister David Trimble & Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon, who praised work of conference. It is, puzzling Lord David Trimble referred to Hillary???s involvement in N. Ireland Peace Process as ???a wee bit silly???, when his wife, Daphne, attended all training sessions sponsored by Vital Voices & actively involved in its reconciliation & development work.

    Hillary???s passion & commitment to N. Ireland contributed to peace process & to Good Friday Agreement of 1998, but it continues to this day. As Senator, she has visited Rep. of Ireland & N. Ireland, where she met all political leaders, including the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, whom she also meets every year during his St. Patrick???s Day visits to Washington. When Martin McGuiness & Ian Paisley visited Washington as First & Deputy Ministers of new N. Ireland Assembly, they met Pres. Bush & then Sen. Clinton, to thank her for her contributions to the peace process. Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume stated, ???Anyone criticizing her foreign policy involvement should look at her very active & positive approach to N. Ireland & speak with people of N. Ireland who have highest regard for her & are very grateful for her very active support for our peace process.???


    On March 17 Northern Ireland Minister Bertie Ahern visited with Senator Clinton & presented President Bush the traditional 'good luck' shamrocks; followed by a lunch with Congressional leaders. Minister Ahern also spoke with Senator Obama on the phone & informed him that Senator Clinton did contribute to N. Ireland's peace process. According to Minister Ahern, Sen. Obama finally agreed that Sen. Clinton did have an important role in helping N. Ireland achieve peace.

    • Posted By: daundaground @ 03/29/2008 14:17:43

      Comment: How ironic since the war ended 3 months before the trip.

  • Posted By: fidelidad @ 03/26/2008 1:51:16 PM

    Comment: In the Toni Rezko Trail, a native of Syria, going on right now in Chicago, the prosecution has wire taps of conversations that took place in Rezko???s office. Many of these taped conversations after 2004, when Obama was a Senator representing Illinois. Ironically, in the Prosecution???s evidence, ???Senator A??? is present in many of them. It raises questions in my mind who is ???Senator A???? Aren???t there only 2 Senators representing Illinois? Flip a coin and take a guess, I???ll take heads on Obama. But I bet that coin has heads on both sides.

  • Posted By: fidelidad @ 03/26/2008 1:50:39 PM

    Comment: Barrack is running his campaign saying he doesn???t want to run negative advertisements. He wants it to be about the issues. People are now saying Hillary is running a negative campaign. Just wait for the Republican Machine to get a hold of Barrack, will people still say that Republicans need to quit mudslinging, or will they have voter???s remorse because they never researched their candidate? I urge that everybody look through the speeches of Change, and Hope, and Grandstanding and really ask themselves, ???Who is Senator A????

  • Posted By: fidelidad @ 03/26/2008 1:50:07 PM

    Comment: watching the story of Syrian native Toni Rezko. We are missing the whole story on this political ???fixer??? and who is the one financing this machine. Obama has been involved with Rezko since 1995! An Iraq billionaire, Nadhmi Auchi, has been the source of Rezko???s funds for dirty work. Auchi is also investing in a nuclear power plant in Iraq. It is interesting that Bush???s Energy Plan passed by two votes. Barrack crossed over the isle and voted in favor of Bush???s plan. It brings questions to my mind if there were any foreign interests involved in Obama???s decision.

    Passing by two votes is quite a happening for Barrack. When the Illinois House passed a River Boat Gambling issue by two votes, Barrack instantly stood up and said, ???I???d like to change my vote to No!??? He stated that he pulled the wrong handle and wanted to vote NO on the issue. Did he miss the yes handle and accidently pull the ???Present??? handle on issues like porn shops, strip clubs, and schools being across the street?? Did he do this 129 times by mistake while in the Illinois House for 9 years? May 2nd, 2007, he stated ???Maybe he didn???t use his best JUDGEMENT!??? Yet he says we need to trust his JUDGEMENT.

  • Posted By: fidelidad @ 03/26/2008 1:44:25 PM

    Comment: ABC News: 'Obama...seemed to exaggerate the legislative progress he made' on ethics reform. "ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: During Monday's Democratic presidential debate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., seemed to exaggerate the legislative progress he has made on disclosure of "bundlers," those individuals who aggregate their influence with the candidate they support by collecting $2,300 checks from a wide network of wealthy friends and associates. When former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel alleged that Obama had 134 bundlers, Obama responded by telling Gravel that the reason he knows how many bundlers he has raising money for him is "because I helped push through a law this past session to disclose that." Earlier this year, Obama sponsored an amendment [sic] in the Senate requiring lobbyists to disclose the candidates for whom they bundle. Obama's amendment would not, however, require candidates to release the names of their bundlers. What's more, although Obama's amendment was agreed to in the Senate by unanimous consent, the measure never became law as Obama seemed to suggest. Gravel and the rest of the public know how many bundlers Obama has not because of a 'law' that the Illinois Democrat has 'pushed through' but because Obama voluntarily discloses that information." [ABC News, 7/23/07]

  • Posted By: fidelidad @ 03/26/2008 1:42:58 PM

    Comment: Sen. Obama said 'I passed a law that put Illinois on a path to universal coverage,' but Obama health care legislation merely set up a task force. "As a state senator, I brought Republicans and Democrats together to pass legislation insuring 20,000 more children. And 65,000 more adults received health care...And I passed a law that put Illinois on a path to universal coverage." The State Journal-Register reported in 2004 that "The [Illinois State] Senate squeaked out a controversial bill along party lines Wednesday to create a task force to study health-care reform in Illinois. [...] In its original form, the bill required the state to offer universal health care by 2007. That put a 'cloud' over the legislation, said Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon. Under the latest version, the 29-member task force would hold at least five public hearings next year." [Obama Health Care speech, 5/29/07; State Journal-Register, 5/20/04]

  • Posted By: fidelidad @ 03/26/2008 1:42:14 PM

    Comment: FactCheck.org: 'Selective, embellished and out-of-context quotes from newspapers pump up Obama's health plan.' "Obama's ad touting his health care plan quotes phrases from newspaper articles and an editorial, but makes them sound more laudatory and authoritative than they actually are. It attributes to The Washington Post a line saying Obama's plan would save families about $2,500. But the Post was citing the estimate of the Obama campaign and didn't analyze the purported savings independently. It claims that "experts" say Obama's plan is "the best." "Experts" turn out to be editorial writers at the Iowa City Press-Citizen - who, for all their talents, aren't actual experts in the field. It quotes yet another newspaper saying Obama's plan "guarantees coverage for all Americans," neglecting to mention that, as the article makes clear, it's only Clinton's and Edwards' plans that would require coverage for everyone, while Obama's would allow individuals to buy in if they wanted to." [FactCheck.org, 1/3/08]

  • Posted By: fidelidad @ 03/26/2008 1:41:09 PM

    Comment: Chicago Tribune: Obama's assertion that nobody had indications Rezko was engaging in wrongdoing 'strains credulity.' "...Obama has been too self-exculpatory. His assertion in network TV interviews last week that nobody had indications Rezko was engaging in wrongdoing strains credulity: Tribune stories linked Rezko to questionable fundraising for Gov. Rod Blagojevich in 2004 -- more than a year before the adjacent home and property purchases by the Obamas and the Rezkos." [Chicago Tribune editorial, 1/27/08]

  • Posted By: fidelidad @ 03/26/2008 1:40:27 PM

    Comment: LA Times: Fellow organizers say Sen. Obama took too much credit for his community organizing efforts. "As the 24-year-old mentor to public housing residents, Obama says he initiated and led efforts that thrust Altgeld's asbestos problem into the headlines, pushing city officials to call hearings and a reluctant housing authority to start a cleanup. But others tell the story much differently. They say Obama did not play the singular role in the asbestos episode that he portrays in the best-selling memoir 'Dreams From My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance.' Credit for pushing officials to deal with the cancer-causing substance, according to interviews and news accounts from that period, also goes to a well-known preexisting group at Altgeld Gardens and to a local newspaper called the Chicago Reporter. Obama does not mention either one in his book." [Los Angeles Times, 2/19/07]

  • Posted By: fidelidad @ 03/26/2008 1:39:28 PM

    Comment: Obama misspoke about his being conceived because of Selma. "Mr. Obama relayed a story of how his Kenyan father and his Kansan mother fell in love because of the tumult of Selma, but he was born in 1961, four years before the confrontation at Selma took place. When asked later, Mr. Obama clarified himself, saying: 'I meant the whole civil rights movement.'" [New York Times, 3/5/07]

  • Posted By: fidelidad @ 03/26/2008 1:38:37 PM

    Comment: Obama claimed credit for nuclear leak legislation that never passed. "Obama scolded Exelon and federal regulators for inaction and introduced a bill to require all plant owners to notify state and local authorities immediately of even small leaks. He has boasted of it on the campaign trail, telling a crowd in Iowa in December that it was 'the only nuclear legislation that I've passed.' 'I just did that last year,' he said, to murmurs of approval. A close look at the path his legislation took tells a very different story. While he initially fought to advance his bill, even holding up a presidential nomination to try to force a hearing on it, Mr. Obama eventually rewrote it to reflect changes sought by Senate Republicans, Exelon and nuclear regulators. The new bill removed language mandating prompt reporting and simply offered guidance to regulators, whom it charged with addressing the issue of unreported leaks. Those revisions propelled the bill through a crucial committee. But, contrary to Mr. Obama's comments in Iowa, it ultimately died amid parliamentary wrangling in the full Senate." [New York Times, 2/2/08]

  • Posted By: fidelidad @ 03/26/2008 1:38:03 PM

    Comment: Sen. Obama consistently and falsely claims that he was a law professor. The Sun-Times reported that, "Several direct-mail pieces issued for Obama's primary [Senate] campaign said he was a law professor at the University of Chicago. He is not. He is a senior lecturer (now on leave) at the school. In academia, there is a vast difference between the two titles. Details matter." In academia, there's a significant difference: professors have tenure while lecturers do not. [Hotline Blog, 4/9/07; Chicago Sun-Times, 8/8/04]

  • Posted By: fidelidad @ 03/26/2008 1:35:29 PM

    Comment: Something else Obama forgot: His 2002 anti-war speech!!! There is no record of it in its entirety, just a 23 second snippet, but the rest of the speech is mysteriously MISSING. In December, Obama then decided to reenact the speech with crowd cheering in the background, and released it as an ad, thereby duping millions of people into thinking they were listening to the actual event instead of a reenactment! (confirms David Alexrod to the Chicago Sun-Time in December 2007.)

  • Posted By: fidelidad @ 03/26/2008 1:34:29 PM

    Comment: Obama actually seems very comfortable working with lobbyists on legislation. To site just one example???

    According to ABC, Obama ???has quietly worked with corporate lobbyists to help pass breaks worth $12 million,??? that gave two overseas companies tariff suspensions. Both companies also have facilities in Illinois.
    One of these companies, Nufarm, told its shareholders it was making ???more money than ever before in North America because it had increased its prices on its U.S. and Canadian customers, predominantly farmers.??? This had the effect of profiting business interests in his state, while punishing its farmers.
    According to ABC News, ???With a dozen tariff suspension bills to his name, Obama stands out as the most prolific of any Democratic presidential hopeful on the topic.???
    Despite Rhetoric, Obama Pushed Lobbyists??? Interests
    OOPS??? he forgot. Or didn???t he mind?

  • Posted By: fidelidad @ 03/26/2008 1:30:31 PM

    Comment: While campaigning, Obama told several hundred people in Iowa, ???No lobbyists need apply to my White House.???
    However, in contrast to his pledge to fight against the influence of special interests, his record on employing lobbyists isn???t quite so pristine. Several high level members of his campaign are registered lobbyists, including his New Hampshire campaign manager. Lately, he has softened his campaign line to, ???They are not going to run my White House.???

  • Posted By: fidelidad @ 03/26/2008 1:29:56 PM

    Comment: Obama bragged in the Iowa debate about the ???nuclear legislation I???ve passed.??? When he encountered resistance from the nuclear industry??? including Illinois-based Excelon, the country???s largest nuclear plant operator and one of Mr. Obama???s largest sources of campaign money, he edited his bill several times, making it weaker each time. The bill, however, never passed. It died. But Mr Obama gained a chief political strategist??? David Axelrod. In October 2007, Obama resubmitted the bill in its watered-down version.

  • Posted By: fidelidad @ 03/26/2008 1:29:17 PM

    Comment: Senator Obama is chair of of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee???s Subcommittee on Europe, having been appointed in early 2007. According to Congressional Records, the subcommittee???s jurisdiction includes ???all matters, policies and problems concerning the continent of Europe, including the European member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.??? That means it has jurisdiction over NATO.
    As Senator Clinton asserted in a recent debate, ???NATO is critical to our mission in Afghanistan. He???s held not one substantive hearing to do oversight, to figure out what we can do to actually have a stronger presence with NATO in Afghanistan.???
    Politifact

  • Posted By: fidelidad @ 03/26/2008 1:28:53 PM

    Comment: On Wednesday, Feb 27, 2008, CTV reported that a senior member of Obama???s campaign, Austan Goolsbee, spoke directly with the Canadian Consulate General in Chicago to assure them that if Obama publicly spoke about opting out of NAFTA, they should not take it seriously. It would just be political posturing??? campaign rhetoric. Obama flatly denied the report, attacking both Senator Clinton and Senator McCain for their comments on the issue.
    On March 4, the New York Times, among other sources, revealed that the conversation had indeed taken place, and published the memo. The Canadian government announced that an investigation would begin to find out who was responsible for leaking the memorandum concerning the conversation.
    CTV News
    New York Times
    New York Times published the memo
    OOPS??? he didn???t know

  • Posted By: fidelidad @ 03/26/2008 1:28:04 PM

    Comment: In addition to the controversy concerning his numerous ???present??? votes while in the Illinois legislature, Obama also maintains that he just pushed the wrong button on 5 or 6 other votes. (Let???s not even go there!)

    According to the New York Times, however, an examination of Illinois records shows at least 36 times when Mr. Obama was either the only state senator to vote present or was part of a group of six or fewer to vote that way, causing many to question whether he was really just trying to avoid taking a stand.

  • Posted By: fidelidad @ 03/26/2008 1:26:32 PM

    Comment: Obama took donations from federal lobbyists and political action committees for his House and Senate races and his own Hopefund political action committee. He only stopped taking this political money ??? and began speaking out against it ??? when he launched his presidential campaign in February 2007. However, he still takes hundreds of thousands of dollars from their high level employees.

    Questions have also been raised about Obama-sponsored legislation during the last year he was in office there. It is alleged that, in the interest of making Obama appear more prolific, then Illinois Senate Majority Leader Emil Jones appointed Obama as sponsor of many pieces of legislation, even though other senior senators had spent many years working on the bills.

  • Posted By: fidelidad @ 03/26/2008 1:25:38 PM

    Comment: Opponents have asked Senator Obama to release the records from his term of state office in Illinois. Since he has little other experience in politics (he did, after all, declare his presidential candidacy barely 2 years after election to the US Senate), this doesn???t seem an unreasonable request. The records might also shed light on his relationship with Rezko and some of the other corrupt individuals he rubbed shoulders with during his climb up through Chicago politics. But lo and behold, the records all seem to have mysteriously disappeared.

  • Posted By: fidelidad @ 03/26/2008 1:23:28 PM

    Comment: According to the Sun-Times, Barack Obama, ???allegedly decent guy and agent of change??? in Washington, requested an earmark in 2006 for $1 million taxpayer dollars for the University of Chicago Hospitals, where is wife, Michelle Obama, was a vice president. Said hospital, by the way, gave Michelle Obama a huge raise (nearly $200,000, more than doubling her salary) in 2005 after Barack was elected to the United States Senate.

  • Posted By: donkeyhung @ 03/26/2008 10:25:39 AM

    Comment: Let's talk about the fact that no one likes a bitchy, moody, exagerrated, and deceptive politician. This is what Hillary brings to the table. A bunch of hate attacks on Obama's compaign. So what if a reverand speaks out his mind, that has nothing to do with what comes out of obamas's mind. Why doesn't anyone deem it appropriate to attack Hillary's cheating husband and how that looked bad for our country ? Why doesn't anyone call her on it. Then she flip flops all the time,,,,,are you kidding me that she said she misspoke about what really happened in Bosnia,,,,when she duck for cover because of incoming sniper attacks ! Please, Hillary why don't you do U>S> a favor and shut your trap you "monster" !

  • Posted By: kcp48 @ 03/25/2008 1:56:46 PM

    Comment: I have set here a listen to Hillary and obama what they say are going to do, but it is all talk. Their are more people out of jobs, homes, and not much money to keep going so what are you going to do to help this people, is my question. WE CAN SAY WHAT WE WANT BUT WHEN Bill Clinton was in office we all where working , going place and not having to fine jobs or food and a place to live, so peolpe who would I vote for is Hillary hopefully she can put American people back on their feet. It will be tough because theirs a lot of things that has to be fix first. I wish her luck. As for Obama he is not ready, for someone to have to have college kids to back him who has parents still paying for there college he is not what I would want to run our country. Obama all I here is about his color this so stupid it's about what can you do help everyone know matter what race they are, so think about this.I have work through bad Presidents and good ones, but so far this has been the worst.

  • Posted By: RidgeR14 @ 03/24/2008 9:06:07 PM

    Comment: Time to stop this Democratic fracticide. Super Delegates can stop this by just getting behind Obama since he has more delegates won, more states won and more popular votes.
    Bill Clinton briought shame to the Presidency at a personal level that led to the Bush-Cheney era of the worst of times for the US. No more Clintons or Bushs please

  • Posted By: DRANMI @ 03/24/2008 5:00:49 PM

    Comment: I knew Hillary was lying thru her teeth, she's a liar, a cheater and a theft. Just because you were first lady in the White house does not make you commander-in-cheif ready. And if the phone happens to ring at 3:00 a.m. I sure would not want Hillary to anwer it because she lie and agree to our deaths. Hillary is sooooooooo phoney with that paste up smile on her face. What ever Bill did as President she's trying to take all the credit for it, another lie. The truth is coming out now Hillary through you schedule, thanks. Now her new lie to get votes is that she is addressing President Bush regarding mortgage, (Obama did this already!) still it's all a lie she is still trying to keep this nonsense going in the party. HILLARY STOP LYING, PLEASE and step down so that we can get this Democratic Party running properly, so that we can fight the fight with Sen. Mccain.

    • Posted By: john boy @ 03/25/2008 14:33:33

      Comment: I imagine Hillary will stop telling lies when Obama stops being Anti America.
      All Politicians lie. Obama has lied too. The truth to this Hillary was in Bosnia representing the U. S.
      Obama has never represented the U S no where. If Obama went to represent THE US, he would have to ask Rev. Wright, Rezko, Farranhkan, Rev. Meek for advise.

      • Posted By: elizabethpaige @ 03/30/2008 01:04:21

        Comment: Sen. Obama is not anti-America, far from it. Sen. Obama will be a great president. The whole world is excited about Sen. Obama being the leader of the Free World . God knows America could do with a lot more friends, starting with a president who is admired and respected.

      • Posted By: daundaground @ 03/29/2008 14:24:56

        Comment: To quote the movie "Rush Hour".....Are you listening to the words that are coming out of his mouth...or are you listening to the media and the anti-American Wright. My grandmother is predjudice and a little racist but that doesn't make me one. And yes I love her very much. I've given 26 years of my life to the military and it is really depressing to see we are so divided. Quit spreading hate and listen to the words. All 3 politicians are the same...only J. McCain has 26 years experience. He's also awfully old. So what do you do?? Do you vote for the lady with zero integrity that will lie to win or someone you beieve feels the same as the folks he's associated with for years. Big decision huh. For me it's John McCain or Obama. Your word is the only thing you have that's worth something to the country. If you lie about stuff, how can we trust you with anything. Really really think about it.

  • Posted By: queenpinnana @ 03/24/2008 11:31:28 AM

    Comment: What is more important in the White House, a liar who is a legend "in her own mind", or someone new who hasn't been part of the old Washington Politics for eons? I wish that Edwards would state who he is going to endorse, instead of sitting on the fence like a big chicken. If he endorses Obama, that will put this election vertually to bed.

  • Posted By: elizabethpaige @ 03/23/2008 5:45:33 PM

    Comment: People do not like Sen. Clinton talking at them in a shrill voice with her manic, bright-eyed but phoney smile. It's unfortunate that she never learned that self-praise is no recommendation. She endlessly lies about having foreign policy experience.

    Bill Clinton signed on to NAFTA. Now Sen. Clinton is trying to use NAFTA's unpopularity against Sen. Obama. How's that for dirty politics?

    Sen. Clinton agreed that FL and MI delegates would not be seated at the Democratic National Convention if those states broke the rules. Those states did break the rules. Sen. Obama did not break the rules. Now Sen.Clinton is trying to blame Sen. Obama if they're not seated. She's concerned that MI and FL voters will be 'disenfranchised'. Her concern for the will of the voters won't prevent her and her husband from trying to button-hole superdelegates into giving her what the voters at large haven't given her.

    Sen. Clinton was 'angry' when Gov. Richardson called her to say he prefers Sen. Obama for president..
    Thanks, Gov. Richardson, for standing your ground.

    As for Sen. Clinton fixing the economy, she hasn'tbeen able to manage her campaign finances.

    Bill Clinton never had to deal with a failing economy. His specialty was monkey business: serial adultery, hitting on young female staffers, perjury, impeachment, scandal, endless lawsuits that go on even as we speak. He disgraced his presidency, he humiliated his wife and his daughter - and Sen. Clinton is still with him.

    Then she has the gall to scream, 'Shame on you, Barack Obama' because of a comment in an Obama campaign brochure.

    Sen. Clinton is not presidential because she is not a good role model for anyone.

    • Posted By: john boy @ 03/25/2008 14:36:50

      Comment: Let's talk about Obama as a role model. Obama is teach his children to say G D America by letting them sit under Rev. Wright. Is that the type of role model you want in the White House?

      • Posted By: elizabethpaige @ 03/30/2008 00:43:25

        Comment: I'll bet you have no proof that Sen. Obama had his children listening to Rev. Wright's sermons. Probably all of the children were in Sunday school as there seem to be no children in the congregation.
        If you would vote for someone who's a proven liar, who cares what anyone says in church? Obviously not you.

    • Posted By: john boy @ 03/25/2008 14:35:38

      Comment: The only reason Richardson endorsed Obama is because Obama is talking to Richardson about being Vice President. Richardson waited to see which one was going to offer the V P to him before he endorse anyone. Let's call a spade a spade.

  • Posted By: pugs @ 03/22/2008 6:30:01 PM

    Comment: You know I just saw how an increasing number of Americans are burning their homes just before foreclosure out of desperation, to see those chldren in back of their parents it was so sad, lets get to the real issue, Hilary really is the one that can bring about the change Americans need in this internal time of economic crisis, Maybe Obama can just do his own show, maybe with share Oprah's show since all we know for sure he can do is talk.

    • Posted By: Jumpingnots @ 04/06/2008 20:28:55

      Comment: Hilary is an repeted liar that we all know by now there comes not an straight forward word out of her mouse
      she is a born liar so despared to tell you anythink to get her and Bill back in that White-House for her own ego trip.NOT THIS TIME VOTE OBAMA !!!!!

  • Posted By: pugs @ 03/22/2008 6:24:55 PM

    Comment: Ok Joe Miller,
    The one thing that is very transparent in your writing is just how much you dislike Clinton, common on you even have to follow up the wonderful speech she gave in China (have you even sen it?) by a stupid current remark, remember you were supposed to check facts, you were really reaching on that one. Lets see what if you STUCK to the facts!

  • Posted By: fasher @ 03/22/2008 9:39:57 AM

    Comment: Hillary Clinton was not elected as Co-President. Her experience as First Lady cannot be counted as Presidential experience.

  • Posted By: L.E.B. @ 03/20/2008 2:17:43 PM

    Comment: What is Sen. Clinton's relationship to "The Fellowship," aka The Family, purportedly a conservative right-wing Bible study and prayer group. According to accounts I've read, this is an extremely secretive group that has been around since the 1940's. Members are supposed to include Santorum, Ashcroft, Inhofe, Brownback, and George Allen.

    Anyone have more info?

    L.B.

  • Posted By: dal@wv @ 03/18/2008 7:56:38 PM

    Comment: She just needs to shut up and go away and take her lying husband and all his girlfriends with her..................

  • Posted By: maggy @ 03/18/2008 7:00:02 PM

    Comment: Gotta give her credit, though.....she writes a very impressive resume. (She's been 'doing this for 35 years'??.....doesn't she mean she's been married to Bill for 35 years?...oh...but if she said that, it wouldn't help much, now would it?)

  • Posted By: maggy @ 03/18/2008 6:55:22 PM

    Comment: Hillary Clinton is "hyperbole personified."

  • Posted By: xy55 @ 03/18/2008 1:45:53 PM

    Comment: "Both Bill and Hillary Clinton claim that Hillary privately championed the use of U.S. troops to stop the genocide in Rwanda. That conversation left no public record, however, as U.S. policy was explicitly to stay out of Rwanda".?????
    ONE MESSAGE TO THE CLINTONS: You may say or any thing you like, but don't use the Rwandese tragedy for your own interests.
    Who was in charge of US policy, frankly????
    Was Bill Clinton the commander-in-chief or not?
    The official US position has always been that the US didn't not intervene in Rwanda because there was no clear intelligence on what was really going on. And now, Bill and Hillary Clinton say they perfectly knew what was going on??? And as a reward, Hillary should be recognized as a capable commander-in-chief??? Even if Rwanda may seen as too far a too poor to be taken into consideration by the American public, the cynicism shown here by Hillary Clinton and her husband disqualifies her as a leader of this Great Nation.

  • Posted By: bruciejo @ 03/17/2008 10:20:27 AM

    Comment: I keep hearing about the " 80 countries visited" from Hillary-- I guess I should have voted for Bob Hope!!

  • Posted By: jrp01 @ 03/16/2008 9:17:53 PM

    Comment: I see where Clinton is touting her "experience to be a commander-in-chief. She actually has no experience in this area and is, in fact, married to a "DRAFT DODGER" - - the only elected official in this country to hold that title. I really don't see how she can relay "experience" in that area as she supported Willie's decision to run to Canada when called upon to serve his country. Sounds like a COWARD to me.

  • Posted By: jrp01 @ 03/16/2008 9:14:16 PM

    Comment: I see Clinton has touted her "commander in chief" experience again. Has anyone considered she has had no experience in that area and in fact is married to a DRAFT DODGER!!!!!!! I don't understand why someone hasn't picked up on that. Bill Clinton is the only elected official in this country that purposly avaided the draft when called to support his country!!!!! Go figure - Hillary as commander-in-chief - NOT!!!!!!! She might as well take her ball and go home as a washed up has been!!!

  • Posted By: elizabethpaige @ 03/16/2008 11:30:10 AM

    Comment: Mother Tums Clinton? No, thanks.

  • Posted By: ybescared16 @ 03/16/2008 4:18:14 AM

    Comment: I prwfer Obama for the reason that he is the only canidate that is not scared to talk to other countries.I like Obama because he's the only one that can bring change to this country and for the american people.Look back in time and see how your grandparents was so scared of elvis and rock and roll and that's what i see today is people scared again of something new and different.

  • Posted By: FRANK TELLS @ 03/15/2008 4:40:32 PM

    Comment: I WANT TO FIX HILLARY CLINTON FOR STAYING WITH BILL WHEN SHE SHOULD HAVE DIVORCED HIM OVER:
    1. HIS ANTIMASTURBATION
    2. HIS CHEATING ADULTERY
    ALSO IM AGAINST HER NOT LISTENING TO ME ABOUT VOTING AGAINST THE ANTI POKER BILL (PHONE CALLS, LETTERS) AND RECEIVING FUNDING FROM HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES WHEN THEY ARE ALREADY OVERCHARGING AND AGE DISCRIMINATING. I ALSO BELIEVE LIKE JOE LIEBERMAN THAT BILL CLINTON SHOULD HAVE BEEN IMPEACHED AFTER ILLEGALLY CHEATING ON HIS WIFE.

  • Posted By: LMeyer @ 03/15/2008 1:40:40 PM

    Comment: Lets see you do an article about Obama's VAST EXPERIENCE .. of NOT VOTING... what does he bring to the table? mmmmmm not much.

    For those of you who think Hillary is gleaming her experience from being "First Lady" get a clue: HRC has served as a US Senator since 2001. In addition to her Senate accomplishments, she has been intimately involved in legislation providing health care for children and prescription drugs as over-the-counter that were previously only available by prescription. She is an active member of the Armed Services Committee and has a long standing reputation because of her foreign travels.

    What has Obama done?? Lets see some exposure to his experience, or lack thereof.

    • Posted By: AMCNYC @ 03/16/2008 23:06:45

      Comment: Lmeyer,
      The article is about very well researched and confirms the specific Hillary's exaggerations, a.k.a. lies, about her foreign policy experience that she used to claim Commander-in-Chief status, and, by the way, what she supported her 3.00am attack ad content with. FactCheck .org are not the only source to have exposed Hillary on this. Among her most egregious "big whopper" lie was the claim that she negotiated the opening of borders in Kosovo - and that lie was knowingly made, because she knew she didn't, she knew she didn't have national security clearance so could never be involved in any negotiations, and she knew she arrived in Kosovo after the borders were open. Got it? She knew she was lying to the American public and giving them a false understanding of her qualifications. Question of ethics here - does the USA want a Chief Executive who is 100% comfortable lying to its citizens? Bush lied to us about Weapons of Mass Destruction, because he wanted to start war with Iraq. Would President Hillary lie to us just to push through something she wanted? Absolutely.

      Furthermore, a First Lady is all very nice, and she was a laudablely active First Lady - - but that in no way qualifies ANYBODY for the Commander-in-Chief role. BTW, Hillary moved to become a senator pretty quickly after Bill's term ended. It could very well be that she travelled to all those countries on tax payers' $'s while she could, just so she'd be able to use the experience in her ambitious political campaign.

      She has been a senator for much longer than Obama, yes indeed. She's done OK, but nothing as substantive as Obama's record. See below - the first lists his achievements, the second compares them both. The writer, like you, didn't know anything about his Senate record and was
      very surprised - Hillary's don't come close in scope, he's a big thinker, he takes more risks, he is more successful at getting his bills passed, "obama is the superior choice, he is a leader, who cares about the issues, he can inspire this country to change". Go take a look, get informed about him rather than critiquing from a position of ignorance.
      http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/21/164117/783?new=true
      http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/20/201332/807/36/458633

      Finally, Hillary's last-minute 3.00am attack ad probably cost Obama Ohio. Interestingly enough, Ohio is one of only two states that has Election Laws against false statements in advertising, misleading information, etc.. It seems pretty clear from the FactCheck.org analysis - "clear and convinving evidence" that Hillary Clinton used her exaggerated/falsified experience claims as content support for her attack ad.
      I wonder if the Obama campaign will file a complaint against her - - I would. She stole Ohio with a lie.

  • Posted By: LMeyer @ 03/15/2008 1:28:46 PM

    Comment: Just a few notes to the article about Hillary's foreign travels..She made several trips to Bosnia since March, 1996 through December, 2007. She was in Northern Ireland on more than one occasion as well - as far back as June of 2005 through December of 2007.

    I hardly think that the women of Macedonia would have presented Hillary with the Mother Theresa Award for drinking tea. And as far as her "influence on peace" in Northern Ireland, I would gamble a bet that if you spoke to the NI Administration, they may have a different opinion of her impact.

    Let's face it -- yes, perhaps the interpretation of her comments about foreign policy experience are a bit overstated. However, she still has had a powerful presence and is well respected by these countries.

    Can we say the same for Obama? Don't think so. During his entire term in the Senate I think he may have traveled abroad on a few occasions, and his "experience" with foreign policy has been absorbed from his colleagues.

    Lets let the American public decide what they believe best, and leave all of the opinions out of this. Just report the facts.


  • Posted By: caprpicorn7 @ 03/15/2008 11:14:41 AM

    Comment: If this is all the experience she brings to the table, then she has been lying. Hillary Clinton talks as though she set policy during her husbands tenure. This is why i won't vote for her. She is so full of it. I don't think that Hillary Clinton should be nominated because i don't think she can be trusted.

  • Posted By: dunnhaupt @ 03/15/2008 6:54:27 AM

    Comment: Hillary socially met foreign leaders at cocktail parties and receptions but she went shopping while her husband negotiated. The foreign leaders she met 16 years ago were people like Blair, Berlusconi, Chretien, Chirac and Schröder, but they are all long retired to private life and would be no help to anybody.

  • Posted By: writeseth @ 03/15/2008 12:31:20 AM

    Comment:

    Hillary has always been more discreet in her work. She is not out for the glory, but rather works herself to the bone. All these false images of that people have her are from people that really don't know all the work she has done. In her term in th senate, she's even passed legislation with the very people who tried to impeach her husband. If that's not bringing people together, I don't know what is.

    • Posted By: gagirlnow @ 03/24/2008 19:15:55

      Comment: WRITESETH: Just what are drinking or better yet smoking? Could it be Bill's discarded cigar??????????Hillary is about as discreet has that hole in your head. I can see from here. She is her own biggest fan. She stretches the truth, cries fowl when things don't go her way, even musters up a few tears. Whatever works for Bill and Hillary is expected to work for everyone. She is behind and has no way of closing the gap. The best thing she could do for the Party is concede. It's time for her to throw in the towell. I get the impression she is doing just like Bill when he refused to leave following his impeachment. There's the door - not get to steppin' Hillary.
      YES WE CAN!
      OBAMA 08

  • Posted By: MChieco @ 03/14/2008 11:55:41 PM

    Comment: Re Obama , lets just say If Im Ted Kennedy, right now Im having a really stiff drink.

  • Posted By: Captain Kirk @ 03/14/2008 5:31:12 PM

    Comment: Please tell me more about Obama!!! I can't wait to hear about that. Don't forget to make everything as objective as this finely research article is. Wow!

  • Posted By: alicia hicks @ 03/14/2008 4:57:31 PM

    Comment: Mrs. Hillary Clinton at least was there when these things were happening, that gives her experience at least some, in those cases. The truth is Mrs. Clinton is needed by the whole world, she was the first lady, not the head of the Security Council. Don't forget The Clinton have a history of letting the Armed Forces do their job. Her diplomatic presence says a lot about her ability to be engaged and her leadership.

    • Posted By: qwertyuiop @ 03/27/2008 17:48:27

      Comment: I've pretty much stayed out of the fray, but the comment about the Clintons having a history of letting the Armed Forces do their job crushed a nerve. I was on active duty through the Clinton era, and it was well known that bill clinton DEPLORED the military, and did not attempt to conceal the fact. The military officers and aides in the white house were taken out of uniform and turned into waiters. Those people who suffered through the Clinton years on active duty will be looking for anyone but the clintons to serve as Commander in Chief. The basic premise of the clintons is to do, or say, whatever it takes to win. I truly do not see any candidate who is stellar, as there are questions with both of the remaining ones, however either of them would be a large step above having to rely on the "clinton political machine".

  • Posted By: vince.stewart @ 03/14/2008 4:48:26 PM

    Comment: Hillary seems to exaggerate on many 'experience' isssues, which the public were beginning to see, and I believe that was the reason for her losing many primaries in a row. She doesn't look genuine when she is on television; look at her eyes and her body language.... Her claim of having more experience because she was first lady is really the one that makes me shake my head....preposterous.

    She reminds me of a very fridgid, cold, "do anything to advance herself no matter what the price others pay, power oriented woman", much like you would find in the offices of Corporate America. This is not the candidate that America needs right now.

    And also if she becomes the Democratic candidate, John McCain will have a field day tearing her apart due to a large amount of dirty laundry. I encourage all to do some reading about Hillary/ The Clintons.

    Just my $0.02

  • Posted By: MChieco @ 03/14/2008 4:35:18 PM

    Comment: Lets say you were interviewing candidates for a global position and candiidate A had been to 80 countries around the world and candidate B had been on the south side of Chicago. Would you nitpick candidate A to death and hire the guy from Chicago ?

    • Posted By: daundaground @ 03/30/2008 17:51:55

      Comment: If you're looking for foreign experience, why don't you look at John(GWbush) McCain? Over the past 26 years in the military, I've been to close to 80 countries also. So what?? Open your eyes. It would have been better if she never mentioned that. I was undecided, but as the race goes on HRC is pushing my vote to Obama. She is nothing more than a typical politician that happens to be a woman and more importantly married to a former President. She's trying to build her resume off her husbands work. If she was more honest,