As Hillary's poll numbers continue their strong leading trend in the primaries, it is understandable that her opposition is now making an effort to draw distinctions. Unfortunately, Obama and Edwards, lacking clear distinctions on policy positions, and trailing on experience and leadership attributes, have chosen to focus on what they hope voters will see as "personal" distinctions or some might say - personal attacks. Hillary Clinton and her Team know full well that the frontrunner is always attacked and Hillary herself says that "If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen." She knows things will only get hotter and is prepared for that. It's also good preparation for the General Election. Even though pundits like Chris Mathews and Russert have accused her of playing the gender card, she has chosen not to do that. While some supporters, especially women, may have been offended by the pile on by Russert and friends last week, Clinton continues to view this as business as usual. I think it's interesting that Obama and Edwards have chosen to question Hillary on transparency, honesty, and doubletalk, as if they are somehow pure in this regard.
Edwards said to George Stephanoupolus on Sunday that every candidate should meet the same challenges and circumspection. Funny thing is, at the debate - they were hardly held to the same standard as Clinton. At any rate, if you are going to go after your opposition on such characteristics, and everyone should be held to the same standard, then you better make sure your own house is in order.
Some highlights of the hypocrisy that is starting to shine on Obama and Edwards follows:
http://www.suntimes.com/...
Living in a glass house
POLITICS | Obama's push for Clinton to disclose her first lady papers raises questions about his own transparency
November 5, 2007
BY LYNN SWEET Sun-Times Columnist
WASHINGTON -- White House hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), who is making government transparency a centerpiece of the latest phase of his campaign, does not always practice what he preaches when it comes to his own business.
Obama is accusing chief rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) of being secretive and slowing down the release of her official first lady papers in the Clinton Library, documents that could help buttress -- or erode -- her claim of presidential experience.
Since last Tuesday's Democratic debate in Philadelphia, Obama has been stepping up his criticism of Clinton on the matter of transparency, which makes it timely to look at his own record.
Sometimes Obama has come late to the game. He did not stop taking rides on subsidized corporate jets until the week he was tapped to be the Democrats' chief spokesman on ethics in January 2006. In 2005, Obama took 23 such private aircraft flights, some to attend fund-raisers he headlined. In 2006, Obama led the fight to ban lawmakers from taking cut-rate private air travel.
On other fronts, the Obama transparency record is lacking.
• • An Obama spokesman, Ben Labolt, last week declined to say where Obama's records from his years in the Illinois State Senate are located. There is no law mandating the state to archive the records. The records from Obama's office -- if he kept them -- would potentially show appointments with lobbyists, policy memos, meetings, etc.
• • Obama has supported more earmark disclosure to bolster government transparency. Last June, Obama disclosed the earmarks he requested for Illinois and national interests. However, his office, after repeated requests since June, has yet to disclose earmarks Obama sought in 2006, before he was running for president.
• • Obama does list the names of hundreds of bundlers -- people committed to raising at least $50,000 for the campaign -- on his Web site. He brags about the disclosure on the stump.
But that's literally all Obama does, list a name.
• • Obama's campaign has refused to identify the biggest bundlers, people who are raising at least $200,000 for him and are given membership in his National Finance Council. Obama, as all major candidates, declines most of the time to disclose details about most fund-raising events.
• • Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) routinely releases a detailed schedule of his Washington, D.C., meetings -- with international leaders, Illinois state and local officials, constituents and lobbyists.
Now Edwards:
George Stephenapolos was great in interviewing Edwards. For those of you who missed it, some of the questions were: ( I paraphrase)
Aren't you the new Karl Rove of the left, appealing only to your base, at a time when the country wants to get away from that?
Are you saying Senator Clinton is corrupt?
What is your position on the 40 states that allow DL's for illegals. (snip) Isnt that the same as what Senator Clinton has stated?
You say you are more electable, but the polls show otherwise. (snip) I have two polls here from North Carolina showing Sen Clinton way ahead of you.
For the full transpcript or video go to:
http://abcnews.go.com/...
Edwards seemed to get frustrated and sounded angry. His answers were hardly Yes or NO, and there was plenty of double speak and contradiction to be had here. His answer on licenses for illegals was similar to Clinton's, yet he has the audacity to say she's not forthright. Go figure?
These are just a couple of examples of hypocrisy by both Obama and Edwards. And if you're going to dish it out, be prepared to defend your own impurities.