Comments on: Lanny Davis's View: The Carl Bernstein attack on Hillary, and differentiating facts from opinion

By: Hillgirl

Hillgirl — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:37:27 +0000

Well done Lanny. You nailed it. I have heard many people who know Sen. Clinton personally describe her as you do–caring, kind, funny. I also know that she is hugely qualified, incredibly courageous, focused, and dedicated to public service. The rest is all spin and misogyny perpetrated by those who do not know her. Thank you for posting this piece!

By: JoeCHI

JoeCHI — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:12:39 +0000

Righton, Lanny!

The Obamabots need to stop chugging the Kool-Aid.

Just. Say. No.

By: C. Elliott in VA

C. Elliott in VA — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:19:17 +0000

I still amazes me that people will blindly follow someone like Hillary Clinton. Go ahead, many a republican did the same thing with Bush and look where that has gotten us. Hillary won't be any better.

By: Neel Hammond

Neel Hammond — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:54:06 +0000

Mr. Davis,
The problem is with the Clintons and the truth. Their judgments on many things are correct; however, Hillary should learn to say "I don't know" as Obama has, instead of repeating an offensive lie 3 times about bullets in Bosnia, while brave young Americans were actually dodging real Bosnian bullets. It's the equivalent of Bill's "I never had sexual relations with that woman".
Lanny, if they've offered you a political position if elected, don't quit your day job.

By: susiewat

susiewat — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:53:30 +0000

Thanks Lanny for being brave enough to give us your view! I say brave enough because I'm sure that you must have known how you would come under attack from the other camp with the old "if you aren't for us then you are against us" mentality.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:15:27 +0000

The fact remains the Clinton's are a political juggernaut, bent on destroying Obama's credibility in hopes of winning the nomination, regardless of the damage to the Democratic party or the future of Barack Obama. In truth, perceptions are more powerful than these contested "facts" of Bernstein's essay, if Clinton is perceived as these things, well I'm sorry but that's what people will probably think. The same story for Obama. Why do you think pictures of him in Islamic garb "somehow" made it to the press with a juicy story of Islamic sympathy attached, despite no tangible connection to him and Islam? Unfortunately, it's forums like these that dull the mind of the voter offering polarized, opinionated and useless commentary about our next president.

By: Naomi

Naomi — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:14:12 +0000

Thanks for that, Lanny. It's not often these days that you see pieces written about Senator Clinton that are not drenched in hate and contempt. Personal attacks on these candidates are not what politics should be about, and yes... all sides are guilty of it. I had more respect for the Obama campaugn before he started condecending the American people and treating Hillary like "the little lady". He's a fine speaker and all, but when you boil down his eloquent speeches, there's not much left that's truly nourishing... more so than your regular political speech. Just my opinion....

By: Sean Dunn

Sean Dunn — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:13:48 +0000

Lanny, oh Lanny, I would love for you to represent me because I truly believe you would go down with the ship. But you ahve been forced to take som many positions defending this candidate that it is sad to watch you drown.

By her own actions and assertions and because of the way she will be perceived by a majority of Americans who either did not vote for her or wish they could change their vote, her presidency would fail. In three weeks she has gone from the hunted (Bosnia) to the hunter (ducks). She is against free trade but her top two advisors (husband and Penn) have made more than a million dollars supporting it. She bowls but she doesn’t.

She spends more time trying to bring Obama down than raising herself up. In truth, we are seeing why she has spent so much time riding his coattails. I truly beleive he would not have been president without her but that doesn’t mean the tables can simply flip. She will do better in the Senate, where the glare of politics and media does not shine so brightly. She simply can’t handle the light.

Which is also the funny thing about her support from women. She is not Dianne Fienstien or Barbara Boxer or Nacy Pelosi. She is where she is because of the man she picked, 28 of her 35 years of service are directly tied to him. Is this really the best option for a woman at the top of the ticket? You are a soldier for your team, but it is a losing cause.

By: John

John — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:05:57 +0000

Excellent rebuttal. Because of the attacks on Clinton you cited this democrat will never vote for Obama.

Go Hillary!!

By: Robbie

Robbie — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:03:47 +0000

This was supposed to be a an article reviewing Carl's article? All I see is more Obama bashing by comparing and contrasting subtle less obvious issues (with a lot of personal chest pounding). Nothing new.

By: Donald Bernk

Donald Bernk — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:02:09 +0000

I guess someone forgot to point out to Mr. Davis that Mr. Bernstein's blog was an opinion piece, not a detailed, referenced, footnoted book of fact (sort of like the one Bernstein wrote and then based his opinion piece on).
I find it honorable that Mr. Davis continues to stand up 100 percent for Senator Clinton, no matter the criticism and no matter the facts.
He is as loyal a friend as anyone could ever want.
But as the designated defender when things get tough for the Clintons, his opinions really don't carry much weight.
Why on earth anyone should count his musings as more serious than those of a serious journalist who wrote a serious book on Senator Clinton is beyond me.

By: Judi

Judi — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:57:15 +0000

How unfortunate that all the lovely things you say about your friend are overshadowed by her desperation at winning this nomination race. I used to respect her and thought she would make a fine president. Now, I press the mute button when she is on TV.

By: Phoenix

Phoenix — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:32:01 +0000

Thank you Lanny. Such attacks should not go unanswered. Always love seeing you on TV.

By: Jean

Jean — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:30:58 +0000

I don't understand the reasoning behind the hatred towards Clintons. As a matter of fact, all Americans, the rich and the poor, own Clintons a big THANK YOU for eight years of peace and prosperity!

By: Barbara

Barbara — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:21:54 +0000

THANKS Linny
Well said > Barbara

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:16:47 +0000

Well said Lenny. This is consistent with what I have been seeing throughout the campaign from people who really know Hillary. I am sure Barack Obama is a very good man and I believe he is easily the second best candidate of the two major parties but I can't stand to hear comments from supposedly intelligent, informed individuals like Carl B. (whom I respect) perpetuate as fact things they must know to be false regarding Hillary. Such an impressive individual deserves much better in my opinion.

By: Paul D Martin

Paul D Martin — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:16:00 +0000

The problem with the Clintons and those in their circle is that they have never understood the fundamental argument. It doesn't really matter if all of the accusations about the Bill and Hillary over the years are true or how much doubt you can cast on said accusations. People have a hard time lending credibility to such a sketchy, scandalous group (vis a vis George W Bush). The Clintons have done a lot of good things over the years in public service, but like Ted Kennedy, Hillary has been a party to too many scandals to ever be the President.

By: Chris from NY

Chris from NY — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:54:26 +0000

This is what makes this race so interesting... I agree that Hillary has the best of intentions, but the methods she and her campaign have used, for which she is responsible, are questionable at best.

She will lose this primary battle. My only hope is she loses with grace, puts her support behind Obama, asks her supporters to fully support Obama. Without her full support, she is giving up any future opportunity she might have.

By: OC democrat

OC democrat — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:38:21 +0000

Hey Lanny....How do you explain the Bosnia sniper fire story? Oh! that's right – Hillary has come up with a new name for "tall tales" – "mispeaking".....HRC may be all that you indicate in your artible, but nevertheless – also and still a LIAR.....

By: Ric

Ric — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:20:50 +0000

I have always been amazed at the FACT that four people at the same intersection at the same time witnessing the same accident see four different perspectives and causes of the accident. Each of them believing his/her version to be the correct one.
That's why it doesn't surprise me that good, intelligent, caring people in this country are able to view these two candidates so differently. What does surprise me is the ease with which people buy into mis truths. I believe that the campaign of HRC, fully aware of how easy it is to spread damaging falsehoods has lowered itself to levels even the pessimistic me finds unbelievable. HRC & company know for a fact that BHO is far from elitist, yet they continue to spread this lie. They know that Senator Obama has done more to unite this party and this country than anyone since JFK, yet they call him polarizing. I guess when you realize that you are a loser, you will resort to anything to try to win. As a lifelong Democrat, one who voted Bill Clinton twice, I am appalled at the campaign of Hillary Rodham Clinton. This campaign has done more to damage our party and our candidate than the Republicans ever could. To her the motto "win at any cost" holds true. What does it matter, when she accepts the fact that she has lost the nomination she knows that her future political life is at best stagnant. What does she have to lose. It's time Hillary for you and all of your supporters to put the best interest of this party ahead of your own self serving interests. Accept the fact – there is no legitimate way for you to win this nomination. And please know that if somehow you and your cronies are able to steal this nomination, you will not receive my vote. I will not vote for McCain I will write in the name of Senator Obama. And I believe millions of others will as well. This may well give the nomination to McCain – splitting the Democrats – but I honestly believe even McCain has more morals and ethics than you do.