Bernstein: Hillary Clinton: Truth or Consequences
Hillary Clinton has many admirable qualities, but candor and openness and transparency and a commitment to well-established fact have not been notable among them. The indisputable elements of her Bosnian adventure affirm (again) the reluctant conclusion I reached in the final chapter of A Woman In Charge, my biography of her published last June:
“Since her Arkansas years [I wrote], Hillary Rodham Clinton has always had a difficult relationship with the truth... [J]udged against the facts, she has often chosen to obfuscate, omit, and avoid. It is an understatement by now that she has been known to apprehend truths about herself and the events of her life that others do not exactly share. " [italics added]
As I noted:
“Almost always, something holds her back from telling the whole story, as if she doesn’t trust the reader, listener, friend, interviewer, constituent—or perhaps herself—to understand the true significance of events…”
The Bosnian episode is a watershed event, because it indelibly brings to mind so many examples of this tendency– from the White House years and, worse, from Hillary Clinton’s take-no-prisoners presidential campaign. Her record as a public person is replete with “misstatements” and elisions and retracted and redacted and revoked assertions...
When the facts surrounding such characteristic episodes finally get sorted out - usually long after they have been challenged - the mysteries and contradictions are often dealt with by Hillary Clinton and her apparat in a blizzard of footnotes, addenda, revision, and disingenuous re-explanation: as occurred in regard to the draconian secrecy she imposed on her health-care task force (and its failed efforts in 1993-94); explanations of what could have been dutifully acknowledged, and deserved to be dismissed as a minor conflict of interest - once and for all - in Whitewater; or her recent Michigan-Florida migration from acceptance of the DNC’s refusal to recognize those states’ convention delegations (when it looked like she had the nomination sewn up) to her re-evaluation of the matter as a grave denial of basic human rights, after she fell impossibly behind in the delegate count.The latest episode - the sniper fire she so vividly remembered and described in chilling detail to buttress her claims of foreign policy “experience” - like the peace she didn’t bring to Northern Ireland, recalls another famous instance of faulty recollection during a crucial period in her odyssey.On January 15, 1995, she had just published her book, It Takes a Village, intended to herald a redemptive “come back” after the ravages of health care; Whitewater; the Travel Office firings she had ordered (but denied ordering); the disastrous staffing of the White House by the First Lady, not the President - all among the egregious errors that had led to the election of the Newt Gingrich Congress in 1994.On her book tour, she was asked on National Public Radio about the re-emergence of dormant Whitewater questions that week, when the so-called “missing billing records” had been found. Hillary stated with unequivocal certainty that she had consistently made public all the relevant documents related to Whitewater, including “every document we had,” to the editors of the New York Times before the newspaper’s original Whitewater story ran during Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign.
Even her closest aides - as in the case of the Bosnian episode18 years later - could not imagine what possessed her to say such a thing. It was simply not true, as her lawyers and the editors of the Times (like CBS in the latest instance) recognized, leading to huge stories about her latest twisting of the facts. “Oh my God, we didn’t,” said Susan Thomasas, Hillary’s great friend, who was left to explain to the White House lawyers exactly how Hillary’s aides had carefully cherry-picked documents accessed for the Times in the presidential campaign. The White House was forced - once again - to acknowledge the first lady had been ‘mistaken;” her book tour was overwhelmed by the matter, and Times’ columnist Bill Safire that month coined the memorable characterization of Hillary Clinton as “a congenital liar.”
“Hillary values context; she does see the big picture. Hers, in fact, is not the mind of a conventional politician,” I wrote in A Woman In Charge. “But when it comes to herself, she sees with something less than candor and lucidity. She sees, like so many others, what she wants to see.”
The book concludes with this paragraph:
“As Hillary has continued to speak from the protective shell of her own making, and packaged herself for the widest possible consumption, she has misrepresented not just facts but often her essential self. Great politicians have always been marked by the consistency of their core beliefs, their strength of character in advocacy, and the self-knowledge that informs bold leadership. Almost always, Hillary has stood for good things. Yet there is a disconnect between her convictions and her words and actions. This is where Hillary disappoints. But the jury remains out. She still has time to prove her case, to effectuate those things that make her special, not fear them or camouflage them. We would all be the better for it, because what lies within may have the potential to change the world, if only a little.”
The jury - armed with definitive evidence like the CBS tape of Hillary Clinton’s Bosnian adventure - seems on the verge of returning a negative verdict on her candidacy.
– Carl Bernstein, 360° Contributor Editor's note: Read other blogs from the 360° team of contributors at cnn.com/360
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Filed under: Carl Bernstein • Raw Politics |
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Hillary flat out LIED! Now she's trying to play on our iIntelligents by trying to shift the heat to Obama! As far as I'm concern she cannot be trusted.
Sharon
Houston, Texas
To an earlier poster-
The "real issues" make up very little of the president's job and given how little the planks in the platform of the leading Democrats differ this really boils down to a question of character and competence.
Since I prefer the "most powerful person in the world" to be well-connected with reality, I would prefer a president that doesn't lie to me. I am unlikely to get that, so I'll lean toward the candidate that lies less.
It's funny that you pick on Hillary for maybe one thing she has lied about, but you don't say anything about the Bush Administration. They have told one lie after another and you just accept it. Funny how the Republican, Conservative media itself distorts things... Why don't you say anything about that??? We can't trust you, the media, or any of the polititins that supposably "lead" this country...
Hillary gets high on power. You can see it in her eyes every time she speaks. She was also obviously neglected by her husband and might find comfort and solace in the spotlight. But she's also ruthless in her quest for power, like many other politicians. I'm not thrilled with any of the candidates (and McCain is insane for thinking we can win in Iraq) and once again the presidential election will come down to the lesser of two evils.
Folks, this is Carl Bernstein, a man who proved during Watergate that he could sort out the facts from fiction. That alone should tell you the consequences if the country decides Hillary is the president they want in office. We've had 8 solid years of lying in office; let's not venture down that path again, please.
hes ill not have been my pastor thats cool ! here my question is why bill clinton invite him in white house and pray 4 him about monica lswck ? ofcourse obama pastor he a big and crazy mistake i am afic-americas i deeply reject hes comment ! but u have think hes americans like me and you hes part of you and me so lets forget about the past ! we love this country much we can even american do not love us back ! i am 21 years old black americans so please let b smart this our country unite state of american ! so of you guy talking about obama hes this and that ! hes fighting for us the young generation hes our gift ! you can hate him how much you can but hes honest than the 1 you love !
To Cindy who wrote "What does it matter that she embellished her trip to Bosnia? It isn’t hurting anything! "...
It's a matter of character. If one has a habit of mischaracterizing basic facts as often as what Carl's piece suggests, then you can not trust the person to be honest about their policies. One thing that we should have learnt from Bush's presidency is that while leadership, vision, experience are all important values for a president, honesty and integrity are most important. Putting a leader and visionary but a dishonest person in a position of power could cause enormous harm. Bush administration was dishonest about the reasons to go to war with Iraq and the implications have been devastating not only for US but for the whole world.
Hillary's lies, to parapharse Rev. Wright, have come home to roost. And Bill's indicretions are coming home to roost for Miss Chelsea.
Here is what bothers me most about the Bosnia issue: There was no need for the embellishments. In and of itself, it was a remarkable undertaking by a sitting first lady to visit a war zone. Instead of commenting that she remembers being told of the dangers during her trip, but the immense satisfaction of uplifting the spirits of the troops during a difficult time, she had to pervert it. Instead of noting the ceremony was briefer than planned due to some snipers, she had to change it to "running for cover".
She is a remarkable woman who has done remarkable things. I think she could do a lot more good for the Democratic party if she stayed in the Senate and became Majority Leader. Her candidacy for the Democratic nomination, however, is done. We already have a presidency marred by delusions about the truth. I really would prefer not suffering a repeat.
Rhonda & Allyn,
The real issues that need to be discussed are the economy, the wars, our health care issues! Who gives a crap that she embellished a story about herself! Everyone tries to make themselves look better at some point and time! No one is perfect! I am sure Obama and McCain have done the same.
Hillary has not lied about any of the real issues that matter to us the American people! If so why aren't 360 and Anderson harping on that? They can't because she hasn't!!
I'm not for her or Obama I just hate all of the focusing on stuff that in the long run doesn't matter and won't effect us at all! We need to get back to what matters and stop all of this nonsense of the back and forth bickering between the two Dems. It does nothing but hurts them both in the long run. It gives the Reps more ammo to use against them.
Cynthia, Covington, Ga.
"Nobody is perfect; everyone makes mistakes." But – What we are really talking about here is someone who is going to represent the highest office of the land not only to the people of this land, but to the world as well. From what I have seen and heard of and from Hillary for so many years, with and without Bill, there is no way I would vote this person into office. There is lying and concealing of facts and things that she has done, which have not made the full light of day yet. She seems to have a meanness about her and a bitter, revengeful streak that is relentless, which is why she takes offense at everything. She is rude and crude at times, and seems to be very power hungry. Being President is not about power, but about service to the people: it is about having a humble, willing spirit and the wisdom of the ages. If you don't have these qualities, all the knowledge and understanding in the world can not and will not be apropriately used and applied to situations as they come up and therefore will be of no help to the people. Of the three candidates, she is by far the least capable of representing this country when viewed from the perspective of humbleness, willingness and wisdom.
How do you make a "misstatement" about sniper fire.
Go Obama!
I truly hope there are Hillary Clinton supporters who read this. There seems to be an opinion throughout her supporters that she is the honest, matronly, "shame-one-you" (but not me!) candidate.
I regularly see comments from Clinton supprorters calling Obama a "liar", which is strange because he appears to be the most open and honest presidential candidate I have witnessed in the past 3 decades. Even when it would appear to be to his detriment to be forthcoming (i.e. admitting drug use, where Bush and B. Clinton tried to hide theirs)
Hopefully more people will realize this is one of the most devious, deceitful, lying politicians of the past century. All the waving shame-on-you fingers and 3AM threats cannot be allowed to overcome the Truth.
Hillier do not trust this woman;She's bringing shame to the democratic party! Obama,08
She is the most dangerous type of human being, arrogant, power hungry and stupid.
Nobody with half a brain would make up a story like Bosnia with witnesses present. Unbelievable - Ann Curry, a extremely credible source was on that trip with Hillary, and can atest first hand that she's nothing more than a liar. We are not talking about truth exageration here, just out-right lies.
See, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman" - runs in the family I guess.
She feels entitled and damn the rest of us. Pathetic.
Hillary is still the BEST! NO ONE CARES about the Bosnia issue and EVERYONE will see this when she wins Pennsylvania and the rest of the upcoming primaries.
People, wake up and realize that SHE WILL BE THE NOMINEE. Anyone who thinks otherwise is foolish and naive. If the superdelegates weren't going to vote for her, they would have already voted and Obama would be the nominee. But, that is NOT the case.
SHE WILL WIN THE NOMINATION. Union endorsements, negatives, adds, and celebrity endorsements have ALL FAILED AGAINST HER!
If not Hillary, then McCain!
HILLARY 08' 12'
Again and again Hillary shows us that she will say and do anything to become president.
It does not matter what the facts actually are.
What a joke! Carl Bernstein has been trashing Hillary since his book came out on her but doesn't mind making money off of her with same collecting royalties and on book tours, etc. And for lying to the American people, no one can keep up with Barack Obama. If he had been honest about his church, pastor affiliation before he got into the campaign, NO ONE would have voted for him and he knows it. That is why he danced around it and only brought it up when caught through Video footage. Then lied and lied to the American people, changing his story the more he got caught. I see today he has even lied about being a "constitutional law professor". Truth is he is a lecturer (on leave) without tenure. Pretty big discrepancy. His lies can go on and on, but the American people seem to want to give him a pass, including Carl Bernstein. I do not see Carl bringing up any of Obama's "embellishment accomplishments", only Hillary's. Double standard always since this campaign started.
Hillary did not just miss-speak once, she did it repeatedly. The local news here showed her repeating the same sniper story on three different occasions.
Either she is lying or she has an incompetent staff.
What ever the case may be, this shows she is not fit for the Presidency
Hillary is scary..... Listen, she is not truthful, she will do anything to get elected and she is not effective.
Read about her running of her own campain – the teams are disjointed, she is not in touch with the regional managers and frankly, if she can't manage the campain how will she manage the USA? ;-(
Cynthia I think you are missing the point. This IS an issue. She was using this story as an example of her foreign policy experience. The example she gave is not true. If she is willing to lie about her qualifications in this one area, then in what other aspects of her experience and qualifications for the office is she willing to deceive us? Think about it like this, if you were hiring someone and found a lie on their resume, would you say "oh no big deal" or would you wonder what else they had lied about and question their overall integrity and suitability for the job?
No one is saying she needs to be perfect. Perfection and candor are not synonymous. One can be a candid, genuine person and make mistakes (even big mistakes). The whole point of this article is that Hillary has a pattern of saying things that aren't completely true and then finding a way to rationalize it later. So far all the people who commented on this article that are so appalled that Hillary is being attacked for not being perfect, get over yourselves and your biases.
Interesting analysis. The iconic thing is that her dissembling helped put Newt in the Speaker's seat and now will help McCain win the White House. It is one thing to shoot yourself in the foot; it is another matter entirely to take deadly aim and fire.
The devil is a liar and the truth will set you free. Its amazing to see how Hillary surrogates are actually defending lying. And lets be honest, that's what it was – a lie. Clinton jumped all over Obama when he used some phrases from a Duvall Patrick speech, claiming if "your'e running a campaign of words (her evaluation of the Obama campaign) then they should at least be your words." Well, Duvall Patrick is a friend and part of Obama's campaign and suggested he use those words. Clinton has only herself to blame for this Bonsnia business. I say if you are running a campaign based on your experiences they should be experiences that actually happened. She did not play a major role in the Northern Ireland peace process, she did not start S-chip, she did not take sniper fire. If I exaggerate my qualifications on a resume I will be excluded from a job. So should she.
Hillary's campaign seems to be missing her biography. There are so many small stories to tell that add up to a remarkable woman who has devoted her life to the causes of the public well-being. The public needs to see this side of Hillary. Otherwise, we all lose.
I think Sen. Clinton is our only hope, obama is out. There is no way he can withstand the Republican attack machine, however Hillary is one tough Lady that will take Mccain apart. Obama will just whine about Mccain not being fair. This is contact sports.
Cindy wrote, "What does it matter that she embellished her trip to Bosnia? It isn’t hurting anything! All of them embellish on a lot of things! Why are you all picking on her!? I bet if you searched through Obama’s trash you’d find stuff he lied about!
Give it a rest and get back to the real issues PLEASE!!
We do not care about this!! All of your picking through and analyzing this crap to death every night on 360 is taking away from the time that we could be hearing about the real issues that matter! Get over it!!"
Trustworthiness doesn't matter Cindy? Our ability to have confidence and faith in our leaders doesn't matter? Of course it does. If you can find a consistent precedent of instances of blatant dishonesty in Obama's record please do.
The fact is that the Clintons are liars. Let me say that again: they are liars. There is a consistent precedent of their use of dishonesty as a tool for nothing more than political expediency. Their many closets are filled with the skeletons of Vince Foster, Ruby Ridge, Waco (a debacle that some sources say Hillary gave the final word on), Whitewater, sex scandals, blatant lies, etc. Hillary's "experience" is not much more than a legacy of cheerleading and failures.
There's no parallel in Obama's record for the failures and exaggerations and obvious dishonesty that can be found in Hillary's record.
I can watch family films of myself 10 years ago and not remember things that happened correctly. As for the Bosnian thing the other people on the plane said there was gunfire the plane took on and everyone was told to put on bullet gear and prepare to run out of the plane as the ceremony will not take place as planned. However at the landing they were given the all clear. So who does remember their past exactly right. My family and I argue all the time about how things happened in our past.
Hillary is a very private person and smart. She is not going to give anything away she does not have to. This is exactly what you need as a president. Obama openly talks about bombing Pakistan, that is literally going to get Pakistan to declare war on us upon Obama becoming president. You cant talk about everything and you sometimes have to cover up a little in order to keep worse things from happening. Anyone that is married knows you have to stretch things sometimes to get by in marriage. It is not a matter of trust but sometimes your spouse just needs to hear something positive when times are bad.
Hillary's heart has been always in the right place. She is the right candidate. She is not a motivational speaker with empty hyped promises but a real person with faults and the willingness to make good.
Vote for the right person that can get this job done, Hillary 08.
The devil is a liar and the truth will set you free. Its amazing to see how Hillary surrogates are actually defending lying. And lets be honest, that's what it was – a lie. Clinton jumped all over Obama when he used some phrases from a Duvall Patrick speech, claiming if "your'e running a campaign of words (her evaluation of the Obama campaign) then they should at least be your words." Well, Duvall Patrick is a friend and part of Obama's campaign and suggested he use those words. Clinton has only herself to blame for this Bonsnia business. I say if you are running a campaign based on your experience they should be experiences that actually happened. She did not play a major role in the Northern Ireland peace process, she did not start S-chip, she did not take sniper fire. If I exaggerate my qualifications on a resume I will be excluded from a job. So should she.
Oh Carl, I think you get a little to excited at the end of this article trying to reject Senator Clinton. It seems you have trouble making a choice in your own mind about the Senator. I read your book–it was quite an achivement of being the pretentious person you like to be. These are not the Watergate Years any longer my friend–your days of trying to cast people for your own personal gain are gone. One moment you stick up for the Senator as she is your personal rag doll, the next you burn her at the stake. Pick one.
What don't people get about Hillary lying again? It was a FLAT OUT LIE! There is no wiggle room because she did it 3 times on this single issue. Why would I want to vote for someone stupid enough to tell a bold face lie, get caught and then claim she misspoke? She LIED.. not misspoke! This women given a clear choice between telling the truth or lying.. will lie every time. Her entire career has been composed of half truths and outright lies! Does any rational person buy the story of the Whitewater records simply appearing in the White House? One of the most highly secure buildings in the world, but they just appeared.
If people want to buy into her brand of politics be my guest. I wouldn't vote for her if she was the only one on the ballot. Gosh I guess that already happened in Michigan didn't it? This women is a congenital liar as proved over and over again. People want to make excuses for having a complete liar as president go for it. BTW.. I feel exactly the same way about the lies that GW has been pumping out. How about a little honesty in government? Nah.. the dopes would rather excuse all the lies. Keep those people exactly the same way they grow mushrooms.. In the dark covered with horse manure!...
Please– these weak, desperate attacks on Hillary are nothing but dogmatic media spin. I guess it's hard to find an argument against Hillary that is more substantial than (mis)interpreted political rhetoric?
All I know if I was really under enemy fire I would have a VERY GOOD recollection of that.
Misspeaking, embellishing, misstating . . . The appropriate word is lying. Do we want another president lying to us for four to eight more years?
how long wil clinton lied to the american people? they lied when bill clinton had an affair with monica, they lied about the whitewater, they lied about her firing some head administration when bill was president but he didn't call it (IT WAS HILLARY)
Once again we see the true colors of the Clintons.
Name one politician who has not embellished anything. Everyone wants to take credit for the whole thing even if they contributed only little.
Grow up guys, this is a race for the top most job in the world.
Obama is in limelight only for the last 2 years with hardly any accomplishment. He has less positives at the same time less negative. Clinton on the other has been in limelight for atleast 20 years. She has lot of positives and at the same time negatives. Press only likes to talk about negative as they get good viewership.
Hillary is not a typical first lady that Obama camp is trying to portray. This is evident from this Bosnia video, she went to a war zone and acted presidential. Hillary had to embellish her speach so that people give credit to her and not think her first lady experience as not just a tea party one. Give credit for that. Not many first ladies have that kind of experience.
Excuse me, I should have left out the word "bipartisan" from my comments. There is nothing bipartisan about Obama's style of doing things – he represents the blacks and no one else!
Hey!
Hillary was in the line of fire, Bill "never had sex with that woman" and Al invented the internet!
Any more questions?
Allxdreamer, you are delusional if you think that NO ONE has any thing on Hilllary that they can use.......I believe it is the other way around, they are milking this Wright thing becuase Obama's book of scandals is thin compared to her enecyclopedia of lies and scandal.......You just wait until August rolls around or whenever Peter Paul v. Clinton is scheduled to begin.....I just hope that this time Hillary is thrown in jail for perjury and not slapped on the wrist like Bill was
Marian Jones lies under oath about steroids and she gets locked up for 6 months, Bill and Hill lie under oath several times about several scandals and they are still allowed to occupy public office position.....Why?
An interesting side note to the whole Hillary Bosian Adventure story is the spin the Clinton Campaign has supplied, and a gullible media appears anxious to believe. She has been telling similar versions of the same story since January. It seems that with each re-telling the story becomes more vivid and dramatic, but she has been "mis-speaking" about this event for at least 3 months. Her most recent version was certainly the mist specific and dramatic, but this was most certainly not a one-time event.
She has been around Bill for too long and to lie is part of their life. If not, ask them what the meaning of "is" is.
Anderson, come on what next will Hillary be crucified for, forgetting to brush her teeth? Ten years ago an incident happened. SHE WAS IN BOSNIA. Where has Obama been other than on vacation in the Virgin Islands? How can you and most of the media play up such an insignificant mistake? Is it because you all have a constant battle to see who can bash her before another does?
Its about time we have discussion and perhaps reporters seeking information of importance to all Americans, All these critics should try illiciting some thoughts on the Economy, the Iraq war, Health Care, Education, Social Security. These are what we the people want to hear about, not the lack of possibiltiy of one candidate or the other to get a nomination. One last note. Do any of the media care that millions of people had voted in Florida and Michigan, and to have their vote nullified makes a mockery of our system of voting in America. The Republican Legislature forced the change of date for their Primary, not the Democrats there. The DNC should take immediate action to change the Open Primary and Caucus method. It only hurts the Democratic candidates and effects the outcome by diluting one candiate or the others ability to win a particular state and delagates
And Obama's inability to tell the truth? When asked on CNN about his knowledge of Rev. Wright's sermons of racism and anti-American rants, Obama stated that he did not know about them until the Presidential election. Then in his "greatest speech ever given on race" (which didn't answer any questions about his belief in Rev. Wright and Farrakhan and his campaign's blasting Geraldine Ferraros comment), he stated that he did know about them but could not disown the reverand anymore than he could disown his "typical white person" grandmother.
He also lied earlier in the campaign when he said he didn't know Rezko that well, but when the Rev. Wright story broke he gave an interview with the "hometown paper" he stated that they had frequent breakfasts and lunches and talked on a daily basis.
He also lied about withdrawing troops from Iraq and NAFTA when his own advisors revealed his true intentions with both of those isues.
OBAMA is a liar and a radical racist dressed in an used carsalesman's clothing and we can not afford to believe in the change he offers!
What beats me is why knowing that she is such "a congenital liar" people believe her and vote for her. She would be worse than President Bush in lies and deceit.
Tammy,
What did you have for breakfast on February 5? Can't remember that key detail? You must be a liar.
See- the connection doesn't hold- yours is far to far a jump to assume that any church going person is going to remember EVERY sermon they hear. And more importantly, if a particular sermon does NOT resonate with a person- they'd be more likely to forget it. And even farther, aside from all of the was he there, or wasn't he- HE didn't say the things that the Pastor did.
I know my dad says things I disagree with and loathe to hear all the time, but does that mean that I will dissassociate myself with him? No- hardly. Adults, intelligent ones- that is, can agree to disagree and take wisdom from mentors where it applies to them and let go of that which does not fit.
Hillary, on the other hand changed the story as it relates to foreign policy, and is now saying "I'm human". Give me a break.
If we, as Americans, are supposed to have separation from church and state- why wouldn't her recollection of foreign exchanges be more important?
Cynthia's comment above brought to mind a conversation I had with my wife years ago about President Clinton's denial of any sexual liaison which subsequently was proven to be true. My wife said he lied merely about sex and that it was no big deal. My point was he lied to me and the rest of the American people (indeed he lied to the entire world.)
I do not want my accountant to lie to me.
I do not want my attorney to lie to me.
I do not want my doctor to lie to me.
Why in God's name would it be acceptable for my President to lie to me?
Trust is something hard earned but easily lost.
I am so tired of the Clintons. They exhaust me. I don't want lying and cheating to be real campaign issues, but they are. If she didn't lie about Bosnia, or NAFTA, etc., if she owned up to who she really was and then said what she wanted to do as president rather than trying to paint us a picture, we could trust her, and then we'd know what we were getting if she was elected. But we don't. I feel sorry for Hillary because I think she is constantly reconfiguring who she is in her minds eye, reshaping her past and her present personality to fit what she thinks the world wants to see, and always doing it in comparison to someone else. That has to be a very hard existance. But it is not an honest existance. Obama may have had the wrong pastor, his grandmother may have said the wrong things, but he doesn't lie about it. He doesn't distort who he is. He has enough respect for the country and himself to let us decide who we think he is. His personailty does not change. And we are allowed to make our own decisions based on his views of the issues and how important his imperfections are to us.
It's one thing for Senator Clinton to state that she has more foreign policy experience, and is more qualified to be the Commander-in-Chief than her Democratic rival Senator Obama, despite the fact that she has never had to make foreign policy decisions, nor make the tough calls that her husband had to deal with. I'm sure she feels that simply by being part of the White House during her husband's term, she has gained some valuable experience.
I do have a problem, however, when she claims to have been under threat of sniper fire in Bosnia in 1996. That's not something over which you simply have a brain fart. First of all, the Dayton Peace Accords had already been signed several months before. Furthermore, being "sleep deprived" should cause you to be confused about such a high-adreneline rush as dodging snipers. It just doesn't wash.
Finally.
It's always hard to argue with facts.
The woman is a creep.