Everyone figured that the Clinton’s would be upset that Senator Ted Kennedy endorsed Barak Obama for the Democratic Presidential nomination this week. After all, former President Clinton and Senator Kennedy worked closely together during the Clinton’s administration. What is shocking is how the Clintons, lead by the former president, have suddenly decided to attack Kennedy and attempt to tear down his reputation in the Democratic Party.
Twice in the last week Bill Clinton has tried to attack and slander Senator Kennedy by linking him to President Bush and his disastrous No Child Left Behind bill. Early in the week in Arizona the former president did just that io9n a speech. “I want you to think about this, and I have to say, this was a train wreck that was not intended. No Child Left Behind was supported by George Bush and Sen. Ted Kennedy and everybody in between. Why? Because they didn’t talk to enough teachers before they did that.” The Clinton tried to suggest that the standards in the bill, which are loathed by educators, are Kennedy’s fault and that he had made a deal with Bush.
Let’s discuss the truth. Hillary Clinton was one of those that Bill describe, as “everybody in between.” She voted for No Child Left Behind and at the time had nothing negative to say about the bill. Now, like everyone else she is in favor of changing it. In terms of the bill, its language and standards bear little resemblance to the one drafted by Kennedy, and the Kennedy drafted a bill was not the unfunded mandate that the Republicans pushed through.
The Clinton campaign must be so desperate that they are willing to lie and slander one of the Democratic Party’s greatest senators, while at the same time conveniently forgetting their own complicity in the issue of education reform. I always supported Bill Clinton but now I think it is time for him to leave the stage and go home, and if this is how a new Clinton White House would be, then Hillary should go with him.
I think you’ve got the bartblog confused with littlegreenfootballs. That’s where the repugs post.
Comment by buzzchilly — February 2, 2008 @ 7:00 pm
The Clinton Haters seem to forget why they hate the Clintons so. They hate the Clintons because the Clintons kicked their sorry asses at every turn during the 90s.
How can Obama hope to withstand the storm of criticism he will surely receive from the GOP attack dogs if he wins the Democratic nomination if he can’t defend himself against members of his own party?
Obama hasn’t seen anything yet.
–Volt–
Comment by Volt — February 2, 2008 @ 9:02 pm
Obama’s campaign has always been divisive. It has to be to succeed. Last years polling said most Democrats would vote for Clinton. The only way to win is to take her out.
Ted Kennedy tried a similar tactic against Jimmy Carter in the 1980 primaries. I’m guessing he and Kerry want to get some of Obama’s good press while it lasts. They also score some high-profile progressive street cred without much risk to themselves.
Comment by Danger Bear — February 3, 2008 @ 3:27 am
I find it interesting that a life long Democrat like myself is suddenly a called a repug because I happen to call out the Clintons on something. Last time I checked the Bartblog was for Democrats of all types not just those that are in lock step with the Clintons.
The post itself was not an Obama endorsement in any way. The post was a defense of Ted Kennedy and his decades of Demcoratic leadership attacked by the Clintons.
As an Edwards supporter I havent decided who gets my support and I have not shown any preference in any of my posts throughout the campaign. Maybe we should be more careful before we go attacking each other.
Comment by N — February 3, 2008 @ 11:42 am
Since the Repub’s and the Media can’t get enough of Obama then I have to call Bullshit on the whole Hillary=GOPLite farce,so popular with the HuffPo,Airy the Huff,DailyKosis,and last but not least of the corporate funded Liberal sites Crooks&Liars.
As for Teddy,Fuck Him!
I seem to remember that Teddy was one of the so-called liberals that were carving the Clinton’s
backs when the Good Ol’ Boys repaid Bill’s leniency of the former administrations treason in the interest of bi-partisanship rather then enforcing this nations highest rule of law.
If this was the reason they all dogpiled him then I could understand,mostly.
The more They trash Hillary,the more it just reinforces in the minds of the people who it is
that frightens the power elite.
Comment by Rainlander — February 3, 2008 @ 12:29 pm
Kennedy sponsored no child left behind. Kennedy linked himself to the act, not the Clintons.
Here lets us a true authority on this. How about Sen.. Edward Kennedy. Trust him on this?
http://kennedy.senate.gov/newsroom/press_release.cfm?id=d2a7fba3-2a9b-48b2-9841-6e8d9c283dc9
“Five years ago, Congress and President Bush made a bold and historic promise. We pledged in the No Child Left Behind Act that the federal government would do all in its power to guarantee every child in America, regardless of race, economic background, language or disability, the opportunity to get a world-class education.
We have made progress toward fulfilling that commitment. Before the act was passed, most states lacked ways to track student progress and teacher effectiveness. Many state accountability requirements had no commitment to improving education for every child. Only four states had approved assessments that tracked and reported the achievement of every group of students in their schools.
Today, all 50 states have standards, assessments and accountability procedures that enable us to track the achievement of every group of students. Every school measures performance, based not on overall student population but on progress in closing achievement gaps and getting all students to meet high standards. Schools across the country are using assessments under the No Child law to identify weaknesses in instruction and areas of need for their students.
These are significant reforms, and we can’t simply ignore them.”
[...]
“The writer, a Democratic senator from Massachusetts, was a lead author of the Leave No Child Behind Act.”
So who is it that linked Kennedy with that Act? Kennedy.
Does Kennedy disavow the act? No.
And it is the Clintons’ fault?
Comment by zenferret — February 4, 2008 @ 12:23 am
In today’s world, if you tell the truth in a political campaign, then you’re a vicious attack dog, a racist, and worse.
But lying about your opponent seems okay.
Comment by Peregrin — February 4, 2008 @ 3:19 am
First I never said Kennedy did not co-sposor the bill. However the bill as originally written was not an unfunded mandate.
Second it seems that Clinton supporters find it okay to link Senator Kennedy to Bush without also linking Hillary. Hillary voted in favor of No Child Left Behind, going so far as to hold a press conference in support of the bill.
Throughout this campaign the Clintons have attacked other candidates for the same votes that Hillary herself made. I guess its okay to have poor judgement (think Iraq war vote) as long as you are a Clinton.
So who is twisting the truth now?
Comment by N — February 5, 2008 @ 11:05 am