Bob Novak: Hillary has dirt on Obama; Update: “Shameless,” says Obama; Update: Clinton spokesman blames GOP?
posted at 12:46 pm on November 17, 2007 by Allahpundit
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…but, bless her tender little heart, she’s decided not to use it. No one’s saying what the nature of the dirt is but people are bound to connect it to Ron Rosenbaum’s probably apocryphal nugget about a giant sex scandal involving one of the candidates set to burst at the LA Times. I don’t buy it; the Messiah doesn’t strike me as a skirt-chaser. Which means it’s either a financial scandal — not a subject Her Majesty would want to introduce into the campaign — or maybe … his prior drug use?
Novak says the fact that she’s declining to use the information makes her look “prudent.” Indeed. Such is the Clinton machine’s reputation for ruthlessness that if an Obama scandal does break, everyone but everyone will assume Hillary leaked it. Not only would that play into her “wicked witch” image but the liberals she needs to win next year won’t like the idea of her trying to ruin a fellow Democrat. The “prudence” lies in recognizing that while his reputation may suffer, so will hers.
I’d add that going around whispering that she knows something, leaving people’s imaginations to run wild and assume the worst (like I’m doing here), makes her look not only like a royal A-hole but a nervous royal A-hole, especially in light of those new polls showing him within five points in Iowa. Exit question: Does this explain why the Messiah’s been so gun shy in going after her about Norman Hsu?
Update: Obama’s calling her bluff.
“If the purpose of this shameless item was to daunt or discourage me or supporters of our campaign from challenging and changing the politics of Washington, it will fail. In fact, it will only serve to steel our resolve.
“But in the interest of our party, and her own reputation, Senator Clinton should either make public any and all information referred to in the item, or concede the truth: that there is none.
“She of all people, having complained so often about ‘the politics of personal destruction,’ should move quickly to either stand by or renounce these tactics.”
Update: Hillary’s communications director points to Novak’s conservative sympathies and alleges a devious divide-and-conquer plot afoot.
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If Obama was smart, he would say bring it on. Everyone makes mistakes, and he is willing to own up to his…is she willing to own up to hers?
There is nothing that she would have that would hurt his base (short of murder), and it would show desperation on her part. Come on, look what she defended, rapist, perjurer, involved in stealing state secrets, legal billing, stonewalling, campaign fraud…what hasn’t she defended?
right2bright on November 17, 2007 at 12:53 PM
is clinton really the right person to bring up a sex scandal?
lorien1973 on November 17, 2007 at 12:56 PM
So she’s sparing the Messiah - for now.
Rick on November 17, 2007 at 12:58 PM
I think it might be safe to say that Hillary has dirt on EVERYBODY.
FBI files, anyone?
Tony737 on November 17, 2007 at 12:59 PM
Or she’s making it up.
aengus on November 17, 2007 at 1:00 PM
I agree - I can’t see how any of this makes her look “prudent”. He won’t have to dig too far to find her skeletons (and Bubba’s).
Rick on November 17, 2007 at 1:01 PM
Maybe Michelle Obama ought to demand that Hillary make public her insinuation or shut up.
redjeep on November 17, 2007 at 1:01 PM
Perhaps Obama is a limp wristed noodle nibbler? A little “light in the loafers”.
This is a riot. Imagine Hillary mentioning that she has dirt on someone! The woman is covered with it! Sandy Burgler?! When do we get that question?
csdeven on November 17, 2007 at 1:02 PM
Obama says bring it on:
Allah’s right. If they’re going to duel this one out, Obama needs to Hsu her now.
T J Green on November 17, 2007 at 1:08 PM
The clinton machine has dirt on everyone, just because the time isn’t ripe yet, doesn’t mean they won’t get around to using it eventually. Just trying hard to look like they’re doing something good… but don’t worry, when they need it, it’ll come out.
4shoes on November 17, 2007 at 1:12 PM
Hillary is doing a passive aggressive play on this. She isnt outing this story to the press she is doing a whisper campaign to get the Press fired up enough to do research.
It seems interesting that A) Hillary is trying to get away with this and B) The Press doesnt care about it.
I wonder if the press is trying to give Obama the JFK “keep quiet about the sex allegations they arent important” treatment ?
William Amos on November 17, 2007 at 1:13 PM
I can’t imagine that Hillary’s that nervous. Soros has already decided that she’ll run against Giuliani and win. I mean, you don’t think Obama was really stupid enough to answer the same drivers license for illegals question that hurt Hillary like he did? Just some drama to make things look real.
Buzzy on November 17, 2007 at 1:15 PM
I think Im gonna go play Phil Collins “In the air tonight” during the next democratic debate.
This is going to escalate into something good
William Amos on November 17, 2007 at 1:15 PM
Awesome! Good for Obama. Cankles will personally deny all knowledge of course and put this off to over zealous “agents”.
csdeven on November 17, 2007 at 1:16 PM
Delicious. I agree with AP that Obamessiah does not fit the skirt chaser — or loafers, for that matter — profile. His smoking and previous drug use would seem to be much more likely, and frankly who cares?
No, if it’s a sex scandal my money says it’s The Sickeningly Silky Pony, and a scandal of the Bathroom Loafer variety.
But even more likely would be a Chicago money problem that is as yet unrevealed. This town is filthy and he’s been here long enough to get a lot of filth on his loafers.
Jaibones on November 17, 2007 at 1:17 PM
I dunno Hillary isnt the type to go off half cocked (Bill on the other hand)
Hillary has to have the goods or she wouldnt go shopping. She has dirt and wil play the role of Valerie Plaume in this whole scandal.
William Amos on November 17, 2007 at 1:20 PM
Well, I wonder if I was on to something a day or so ago? It appeared to me that there was always a new scandal afoot with Hildebeast. The pattern seemed to be that before we could get a handle on the first scandal, a new one would pop up and the original would be forgotten. It is almost as if the sum of all the scandals is really one big scandal. I suspect that one of these days, the last scandal will be debunked and because all of them are connected, the appearance will be that because the last one is debunked, then they are all debunked.
Thus Cankles appears to be made of teflon.
csdeven on November 17, 2007 at 1:23 PM
She isn’t the only one who knows what the dirt is. Maybe she has a little time to keep it close to the vest, but she can only control the timing for a short while. The more convoluted it gets the better off she is.
If she has a secret, her campain probably caught wind of what he did, investigated it, and found it true. I doubt it is some kind of heterosexual affair, unless it is fairly recent. If it happened more then a year ago it probably wouldn’t cause Obama’s campain much trouble.
If it has something to do with homosexuality and she releases it the information would be very problematic to Obama. Homosexuality would probably alienate male black voters, and married black women. It would also backlash onto Hillary during the Democratic primaries, as one of the more vocal minorities in the party would get angry about her outing a gay.
Dirty money is boring to Democrats, they have shown repeatedly not to be very concerned about how their party get its cash. Hillary has no room to point fingers either, she doesn’t want more scrutiny brought upon her campain. Dirty money is possible though, the reason Hillary gets away with her financing is the MSM basically shields her. This could cause problems for both Hillary and the MSM, Democrats might start asking about the double standard, which now only effects Republicans.
Rode Werk on November 17, 2007 at 1:26 PM
Good move by Obama, and really stupid move by Hillary. Why would you choose to pull this crap after CNN just gave you a debate “victory.” The press spent all day yesterday spinning the idea that Hillary is someone who can punch back, she’s tough, this girl doesn’t slap she hits. Now she looks like that stupid, annoying girl on the schoolyard who comes up to you and says, “I know something you don’t know.” Sheesh!
Weight of Glory on November 17, 2007 at 1:35 PM
I think the quick and forcefull responce by Obama shows that their campaign knew this was making the rounds and who was peddling it. They arent attack Novak for drumming this up they went right after Hillary.
William Amos on November 17, 2007 at 1:37 PM
And the backbitting begins…
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1107/6949.html
William Amos on November 17, 2007 at 1:42 PM
In other words makes her look like what she really IS!
Why does Hillary (and her people) accuse her opponents of slinging mud when she is all primed to sling some herself when needed? Tim Russert asked her a simple yes or no question and asked for a simple yes or no answer and he gets accused of going after her. Anybody who makes a true statement or asks a legitimate question that she doesn’t want to answer is accused of turning negative.
I doubt if she has the support that the pollsters say but the voters had better wake up to the frightening possibility of this phony getting the nomination and (God help us) the presidency. I never thought the voters of New York would vote her in - but they did!
OBX Pete on November 17, 2007 at 1:44 PM
Robert Novak is a huge gossiper.
terryannonline on November 17, 2007 at 1:51 PM
Blue on blue attacks. Luv it.
RobCon on November 17, 2007 at 1:52 PM
The other fly on the wall is Richardson. I’ve thought from the beginning he’s only there to walk away as VP candidate, and has never really spoken negatively about Hillery… In this horse race, besides Sandy Burgler, who knows more (or had the opportunity to have first hand knowledge) about the Clintons than Richardson, spending a number of years in their hip pocket. Hillery is just too danged slippery to get caught bluffing - but not above hanging someone else out to dry for it if it blows up. Someone else is spreading the manure.
24K lady on November 17, 2007 at 1:54 PM
terryannonline - Novak reminds me of the little ol’ lady down the street that pulls open a curtain everytime a car passes. Don’t trust him after the Plame affair.
24K lady on November 17, 2007 at 2:00 PM
Yeah. The sad thing is I think he is incredibly smart and would be an excellent journalist if wasn’t such a muck racker.
terryannonline on November 17, 2007 at 2:04 PM
Damn! You just described my dear wife!!
OBX Pete on November 17, 2007 at 2:06 PM
How in tarnation do you know that B. Hussein Obama is not a skirt chaser?
Is he a eunuch?
corona on November 17, 2007 at 2:22 PM
Obama won’t allow his feathers to get ruffled - especially since the booing at the debate. He’s scared and will drop out soon to become the obvious choice for VP.
tgillian on November 17, 2007 at 2:27 PM
This is just another Clintonian flip-flop-flap-flip-flop -reverse psychology…. blame it on the GOP tactic.
shooter on November 17, 2007 at 2:34 PM
It doesn’t really matter. This seems more of a “have you stopped beating your wife” kind of thing.
As long as the ties back to her remain somewhat nefarious, the defeatocrat base won’t care too much.
He!! I bet she would actually be lauded by some in the drive-by media for hitting back so hard….while they worry over their own dirty laundry.
91Veteran on November 17, 2007 at 2:36 PM
If anything this will fire up the anti war. They hate hillary for being “Bush lite” and will be disillusioned if she wins the nomination.
Remember these is the same group that thinks 9/11 was an inside job They wont stop at the conspiracy theories
William Amos on November 17, 2007 at 2:39 PM
I got my campaign contributions from Norman Hsu
He gave me money that I sure could use
People love it when I lose,
They love my dirty laundry
Well, I coulda been suing a McDonalds, but I married up
I just have to look good compared to the rest, I dont have to be clear
Come and whisper dirty tricks in my ear
See my dirty laundry
See me when Im up
See me when Im down
See me when Im up
See me when Im down
See me when Im up
See me go round and round
We got the silky-pony who
Comes on all poor like
He can tell you bout channeling the dead with a gleam
In his eye
Its interesting when people die-
See his dirty laundry
Can we trash Obama yet?
You know, the boys in my campaign got a
Running bet
Got the dirt on him all set!
I love others dirty laundry
You dont really need to know whats going on
You dont really want to know just how far Ive gone
Just leave me well enough alone
Eat my dirty laundry
See me when Im up
See me when Im down
See me when Im up
See me when Im down
See me when Im up
See me when Im down
See me when Im stiff
See me when Im talkin southern black all around
My dirty little secrets
My dirty little lies
Ive got my dirty little fingers in everybodys pie
I love to cut em down to size
I love dirty laundry
I can do the innuendo
I can pounce and I can sing
When its all said and done I havent told you a thing
You all know that my crap is king
Give me dirty laundry!
- Hillary Rodham Henley
MB4 on November 17, 2007 at 2:52 PM
Her royal a-****ness is showing herself to be a bit removed from royalty.
Hillary as the Pres. would be like Bill with a whole lot of anal jealous enmity added in.
Speakup on November 17, 2007 at 3:34 PM
geeze, this sounds a lot like the “obama medrassa” plot. what do you guys think?
do you agree that this is another setup from the clinton machine to bait the right into doing their dirty work and ultimately taking the heat in the end?
jummy on November 17, 2007 at 4:26 PM
Or Hillary leaked this to Novak in hopes he would put it out and give her the vcover she eeded to A) get the dirt out about Obama and B) blame it all on the right wing conspiracy that this came out
William Amos on November 17, 2007 at 4:30 PM
concisely put. any sort of high-level infighting among the dem candidates should be viewed through the realization that obama is a strawdog who is well aware of his status as such. there is no primary contest here.
jummy on November 17, 2007 at 4:33 PM
jummy - Novak fell for another one, and yes it’s only a matter of time before the hearings start!
24K lady on November 17, 2007 at 4:41 PM
Its gone full nuclear. Fox, CNN and ABC all are running the story now
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/
William Amos on November 17, 2007 at 4:59 PM
OK someone answer this. Why is Obama asking about a SPECIFIC scandalous item ? This answer below seems strange to me
William Amos on November 17, 2007 at 5:01 PM
Hillary is doing what her staff accuses others of. The Mormon-phone-attack the other day was likely Hillary inspired to stir up the GOP, then they start the “whispers” about Obama and accuse the GOP of being the bad guys as a way of denying what Novak was told.
Novak needs to spill the beans on any source that uses him in this way.
T J Green on November 17, 2007 at 5:05 PM
I think it might be safe to say that Hillary has dirt on EVERYBODY.
FBI files, anyone?
Tony737 on November 17, 2007 at 12:59 PM
Not very likely as these files are now 15 years old.
georgej on November 17, 2007 at 5:07 PM
Doesn’t seem like it to me, either, but people usually don’t appear prone to that until it happens.
mikeyboss on November 17, 2007 at 5:57 PM
Georgej, I’m pretty sure her FBI contacts are up to date. As well as their IRS contact, and NSA etc etc
sweeper on November 17, 2007 at 6:19 PM
What if Hillary has something and is trying to use it without actually using it, so to speak? Given the race-based politics within the Democrats, Obama is a shoo-in for VP, but it would be very awkward for Hillary to offer him the job if she nukes him during the campaign.
Lancer on November 17, 2007 at 7:37 PM
BARACK and HILLARY: Not yet ready for slime-time players.
Dr. Charles G. Waugh on November 17, 2007 at 11:06 PM
Now we know where the Mormon push polling came from. The hilary camp is suffering from a little psychological projection blaming the gop.
peacenprosperity on November 18, 2007 at 2:37 AM
Maybe she’s trying to preempt something coming out about her that she knows they have.
JiangxiDad on November 18, 2007 at 9:54 AM