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"Monster"-Gate: the Clintons Get Away with a Slur, While Respected Obama Aide Forced to Resign

Posted by David Corn, Mother Jones at 1:13 PM on March 7, 2008.


The Clinton people do deserve chutzpah points for trying to turn this nothing-burger into a full-course feast.

The big news today--if you listen to the Hillary Clinton camp--is that Samantha Power, a foreign policy adviser to Barack Obama (and author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide), referred to Clinton as a "monster" in what she believed was an off-the-record remark with a reporter. She did apologize. But the Clintonites, ever on the lookout for an issue (or non-issue) to hype, quickly called on Obama to fire Power.

Non-News Flash: Aides to presidential candidates routinely refer to the competition in harsh terms, particularly when they talk to reporters off the record. More than once, a top Clinton person has told me that s/he believes Obama is a self-righteous fraud--or worse. It was, of course, always off the record. But if I had reported any of these remarks, I could have gotten the pop The Scotsman has received for disclosing Power's comment.

The Clinton people do deserve chutzpah points for trying to turn this nothing-burger into a full-course feast. During a conference call with reporters yesterday, Clinton's top spinner, Howard Wolfson, compared Obama and his aides to Kenneth Starr because they dared to question Clinton's refusal to release her income taxes. (In The Washington Post, Dana Milbank credited me with asking the question that prompted the Ken Starr remark --a quip obviously locked and loaded before the call.) The comparison was ridiculous. But in Democratic circles, there's not much of a bigger slur than, Hey, you're Ken Starr! For Democrats, Starr is the functional equivalent of a monster.

So the Clinton crowd does not have the moral high ground in this round. Yet what was the net result? Power, a talented journalist and thinker who gives a damn about genocides (certainly more so than Bill Clinton did during the Rwanda nightmare), was forced off Obama's campaign. On Friday morning, she released a statement:

With deep regret, I am resigning from my role as an advisor [to] the Obama campaign effective today. Last Monday, I made inexcusable remarks that are at marked variance from my oft-stated admiration for Senator Clinton and from the spirit, tenor, and purpose of the Obama campaign. And I extend my deepest apologies to Senator Clinton, Senator Obama, and the remarkable team I have worked with over these long 14 months.

Well, at least she had the heart to apologize and admit she had gone too far in denigrating the opposition. You won't see such sentiments at Clinton HQ.

AlterNet is a nonprofit organization and does not make political endorsements. The opinions expressed by its writers are their own.

Digg!

Tagged as: obama, clinton, samantha power

David Corn is the Washington bureau chief for Mother Jones magazine.


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View:
Newsflash
Posted by: g50 on Mar 7, 2008 1:29 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Hillary IS a monster. She cannot get my vote unless she squares up to the fact that she and her husband are an unmitigated disaster for the Democrats and are pathetically narcissistic leaders who do only what is right for themselves. Hillary Clinton is a vile human being and the sooner the sooner Democrats can have some authentic leaders.

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» RE: Newsflash Posted by: g50
» RE: Newsflash Posted by: Schroeder
» "Two for the price of one" Posted by: foreverhope
She could have just called her a jerk I guess...
Posted by: jebpgh on Mar 7, 2008 1:44 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
It's funny. Power had this epiphany about Clinton after watching her performance in Ohio. She saw how that race was run and concluded that Clinton was a "monster" which reflects more on Clinton than Power. Funny thing - Power is a noble prize winning, Harvard professor expert on genocide -- and when she makes an off-the-record comment ---- bam! time to go. This from the campaign that touted Bill Clinton as the "first black president". It's getting pretty sad.

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» Ooops - Pulitzer not Nobel! Posted by: jebpgh
The Tell-Tale Heart
Posted by: wagadog on Mar 7, 2008 1:58 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Clinton's hypersensitivity is starting to remind me in the narrator's in the Edgar Allen Poe story "The Tell-Tale Heart."

Only instead of hearing one of her many victims' heart beating under the floorboards, what terrorizes Hillary Rodham Clinton is the ghostly chuckling of Ken Starr...

Classic guilty conscience at work.

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» RE: The Tell-Tale Heart Posted by: mkdelta69
Smooth
Posted by: MobileSucks on Mar 7, 2008 2:15 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
"Of the record". Yea, real smart.

A nice little gift to the Clintons.

I wish that it would somehow end up helping Obama but it wont. And this is just the sort of thing Hillary Clinton will exploit to her advantage. She feeds on dirt like the "Monster" comment and it makes her stronger.

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» RE: Smooth Posted by: Quannah
Power may have exemplified an important Obama difference
Posted by: lb on Mar 7, 2008 2:27 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I'm hoping there is still room for Power in the Obama administration. Her book was wonderful. Unlike the Bush administration, she seems to believe the UN could have a significant role in the world, and talked about ways we could be involved more constructively. Her involvement with Obama was one reason I had hope for his candidacy. I hope she will be back (Ambassador to the UN?)

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Y'know--this sounded just like Business As Usual, a couple of pros talking.
Posted by: Longdream on Mar 7, 2008 4:11 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Whatever the hell The Scotsman is, I won't be buying any of it. Pissant whores.

But that's what I mean about Obama. No ifs, ands or buts. No trying to squee out of it, deny it, spin it or turn it against Clinton. Powers apologizes, and she leaves. Just hours after it happened.

That's because he means what he says.

I'm sick of this injured innocence, guilt-by-association crap, and I'm not alone in that. At this point, I wouldn't walk across the street to piss on Clinton if she were on fire.

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great point Longdream.
Posted by: gallery on Mar 7, 2008 4:40 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I had the same thought about how quickly Obama's team canceled out the inevitable backlash that the clinton camp would sieze on to cry about how AWFUL everybody is to poor hillary.
By diffusing the situation now, Obama can invite, the very smart and accomplished, Ms Power back to a position in his cabinet.
Who's gonna complain then ? The republicans ?

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» RE: great point Longdream. Posted by: Longdream
Power: a deep-dish hottie
Posted by: Bobsays on Mar 7, 2008 4:44 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Saw her speak and she is really interesting and thoughtful and a hottie. Bad move to get rid of her.

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» RE: Power: a deep-dish hottie Posted by: Longdream
msfraz
Posted by: msfraz@cox.net on Mar 7, 2008 7:43 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
And why didn't the Clinton's answer the phone in 1994 when Gen. Romeo Daillare was pleading for help in the Rwanda genocide? Another lack of judgment like Iraq?

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» RE: msfraz Posted by: Quannah
Ms. Power
Posted by: desidid on Mar 7, 2008 7:44 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
resigned on her own. But I wonder why the press didn't seize on the Wolfson comment, and why more pressure hasn't been brought to bare asking for his resignation. It now appears that the Clinton campaign is free to say whatever they like with little scrutiny from the press.

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» RE: Ms. Power Posted by: VByers
» RE: Ms. Power Posted by: mkdelta69
The videos Hillary Clinton does NOT want you to see!
Posted by: jhecht on Mar 7, 2008 8:35 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq8aopATYyw

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMfUajhL24I&feature=related

part 2 - spread it wide & far!

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Domelady
Posted by: domelady on Mar 8, 2008 8:31 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
How one sided these comments are. Does anyone remember the 90s? I was paying tuition for two college children and still climbed out of the hole which I had been thrown in by the 12 years of Regan/BushI. By the way now with 5 grandchildren the hole is starting too engulf me again, thanks Jr.

Pres. Clinton had only two years of a co-operating Congress after that while still managing to balance the budget, get America out of debt and provide millions of new jobs, the unemployment rate was at it lowest point in recent history. After that many hours of time were wasted on everything from travelgate to whitewater. Remember no proof of wrong doing. As for the impeachment give me a break I was not happy or proud of him at that time but since Hillary had served as counsel to the Judicary committee which layed the groundwork for the impeachment of Nixon, she realized this WAS wrong and if there is one thing I know about women they defend their own even if they are very angry with them.

Had the administration been successful with the universal healthcare plan that was spearheaded by Hillary we would not be in the healthcare or financial crisis we are now suffering through. Every industrial nation provides healthcare for it's citizens, in relation to business this would level the playing field. Wake up good for business good for keeping jobs IN America.

I don't know why let alone how this brave woman gets up every day and works for the commongood. She has been the target of humiliating attacks since 1990. None of which have any basis in fact. Remember Ken Starr didn't find anything! Yet she solders on!

We, especially women should be standing up and thanking her for all the doors she has opened which many of our daughters have walked through.

As for blacks in America, has anyone noticed the older leaders, like Rep Lewis, stood with her. Knowing her history going back to her college days were she lead students in a revolution at Wellesley to change admission policy to include more racial diversity not only among student but among faculity. Too bad too many who are pressuring the black leaders, who know how they have succeded in bringing about the needed change and who stood with them, don't know their own history.

Please learn history before you jump on the Hillary hating bandwagon. It serves democrats NO GOOD to throw voices of equality under the bus.

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» RE: Try this. Posted by: Longdream
» RE: big mouth, baby, looser Posted by: mkdelta69
» RE: Try this. Posted by: domelady
» Longdream Posted by: Quannah
Girly men crying wimpy loosers
Posted by: mkdelta69 on Mar 8, 2008 10:46 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Both Clinton and Obama would be light years better than the idiot we have in power.

The question is, who is more equiped to dismantle the military idustrial religious complex that has dismantled all checks and balances on their corporatocracy.

Both Clinton and Obama has strengths and weaknesses. A big one is out front in this cryfest. Hillary can take the worst the Group Of Pigs in the republican party and the hateRS of the democratic posers (Group Of Pigs lite) can throw at her. Obama's organization rolled over like Saddam's Republican Guard.

GLASS JAW. THE MILITARY INDUSTRIAL RELIGIOUS COMPLEX WILL CHEW HIM UP IF HE DOESN'T INCREASE THE LEARNING CURVE.

EXPERIENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Mare
Posted by: nomomorons on Mar 8, 2008 1:37 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
1. Yes, Hillary will do and say anything to win; maybe that makes her a monster. Certainly, she is not the woman I want to represent me. I would feel the same if she were a man.
2. Obama is not interested in winning the nomination and the office at all costs; his commitment is thorough. Unless he can win in a manner consistent with the way he intends to govern and lead, he flat out isn't interested.
3. The pundits are addicted to trauma and drama--which explains the fascination of the media with the Clintons. They have little stomach for or interest in the deeply centered "sea change" that Obama proposes and represents. They are bored with him, now that the drama of his meteoric rise has settled in a bit.
4. She was correct in resigning; the Obama "way" cannot allow this slip to slide. It would undercut his campaign's legitimacy and his own sense of purpose.
5. This is all, probably, beyond the comprehension and interest of most members of the media. Alder and Olberman being two redemptive exceptions.

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Nafta
Posted by: JSquercia on Mar 8, 2008 4:57 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
It appears that Hillary is guilty of doing exactly what she accused Obama of with regards to the NAFTA situation and yet the Media seems strangely uninterested

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» RE: Nafta Posted by: Quannah
Monstergate
Posted by: epd071148 on Mar 8, 2008 6:25 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
We now have the counterbalance to the right-wing media bias & total lack of objectivity, in the Obama worship practiced by those who purport to represent liberal thinking. Everything that Clinton or anyone in her organization does is automatically presented in the worst possible light, while Obama is portrayed as an idealist, toally incapable of political calculation.

Clinton's ads calling into question Obama's inexperience, particularly in foreign policy matters, are entirely justified. You can not compare them to republican fear-mongering, which has been used solely to scare the electorate, so that they ignore the undemocratic policies of the republican movement. Clinton has no need to distract the public from her domestic policy positions, which are well defined and clearly beneficial to working class Americans. We should all place a high value on the readiness of a president to respond to crises with knowledge & cool-headedness.

Many in the 'liberal' media refuse to analyze the positions of the candidates, but prefer to fall back on reflexive Clinton bashing, and idolization of Obama because of his 'message of hope'. No one has higher hopes for this country than Hillary Clinton, who has persevered through the skewed, mostly baseless attacks of the last 16 years, and still retained her vision of social equality for all Americans.

Because it benefits their dream candidate, the 'liberal' media has accepted the republican lies that Clinton & the rest of Congress had the same intelligence estimates as Bush, and that the Congressional vote that Bush manipulated to go to war with Iraq, did not call for measures that, if honestly pursued by Bush, could have averted war.

Meanwhile, they bestow on Obama the virtues of reasoned thinking and political courage, because he came out against the war at that time. Of course, since he was not at that time a US Congressman, he made this decision without access to any intelligence estimates, pro or con, and without any responsibility. Obama's "Giulianni-like fixation" with tauting this proclamation, displays the thinness of his resume.

Instead of using any excuse to bash Clinton & praise Obama, the media should be objectively presenting us with the strengths & weaknesses of BOTH candidates, and the benefits of their policy positions. Otherwise, we could well end up rueing the fact that we unquestioningly bought a message that they are selling with the same fervor that they once used to taut the legitimacy of the Iraq War.

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» RE: Let's think for a minute. Posted by: Longdream
» :) Posted by: Quannah
» RE: ) Posted by: Longdream
Do You Know Who Senator Brooke Was?
Posted by: todayspeaker on Mar 9, 2008 11:47 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Nobody ever mentions that the Massachusetts senator Hillary Rodham blasted in her Wellesley graduation speech was the first black senator voted in from Massachusetts, Senator Brooke (spelling?).

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