Clinton Engages In 'Republican' Techniques According To Obama

Can Tran March 10, 2008

Prelude to the Mississippi primary that is due to take place on Tuesday, March 11, United States co-Democratic frontrunner Barack Obama has continued to launch an offensive against co-Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton. This time, Obama is attacking Clinton for using what he calls “Republican Tactics.”

It would look as if Obama had plenty to say to Clinton.

“When in the midst of a campaign you decide to throw the kitchen sink at your opponent because you’re behind,” Obama said starting his attack on Clinton, “and your campaign starts leaking photographs of me when I’m traveling overseas wearing the native clothes of those folks to make people afraid, and then you run an ad talking about who’s going to answer the phone at three in the morning, an ad straight out of the Republican playbook, that’s not real change.”

The photograph of Obama wearing a traditional garb was taken when he had visited Kenya. There were many that had mistaken it for a Muslim garb. However, it revealed to be Somali and not a Muslim garb. There were those in the Republican Party that started linking Obama to Islam by using his middle name of “Hussein.”

Since then, the Republican National Committee had denounced using Obama’s middle name in future attacks against the Democratic frontrunner.

Former GOP presidential hopeful and underdog candidate Mike Huckabee had even went to Obama’s defense. Huckabee said that it is common for those traveling overseas to wear the garb of the local people of the area.

John McCain who had clinched the GOP nomination on March 4 said that he would be the one to answer the phone at three in the morning. Obama criticized the ad saying that it is to play on the fears of the people and scare them into voting for Clinton.

In an ironic note, the girl in the ad named Casey Knowles who is now 17 and will turn 18 before the election in November said that she will vote for Obama. Knowles even suggested that she and Obama get together and make a counter-ad.

Last week, Obama was accused by Howard Wolfson, spokesman for the Clinton campaign, of using “Ken Starr” tactics.

Asides the picture of him in the native garb and the three a.m. ad, Obama continued to attack Clinton. He attacked Clinton on accepting money from lobbyists and faltering on NAFTA.