Subject: Hillary For President News Briefing for Wednesday, December 05, 2007
From: "Bulletin News Network" <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked], [email-masked]
Date: 5 Dec 2007 06:35:15 -0500

HILLARY FOR PRESIDENT NEWS BRIEFING (Executive Version)
Full version is attached and available online at http://www.bulletinnews.com/clinton

TO: CLINTON CAMPAIGN

DATE: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2007 6:30 AM EST

TODAY'S TABLE OF CONTENTS

SEN. CLINTON'S CAMPAIGN:

+ In Debate, Democrats Criticize Bush Over Iran Policy.

+ Clinton, Obama Clash On Universal Healthcare Examined.

+ Clinton To Vow To Energize U.S. Economy.

+ Clinton, Obama Camps Spar On Abortion.

+ Clinton Rejects Talk Of "Dynasty."

+ Bill Clinton Accuses Press Of Ignoring Wife's Experience, Obama's Lack Thereof.

+ Clinton Campaign Launching Database To Track Push Polls, Similar Tactics.

+ Democratic Fundraiser Hsu Indicted.

+ Penn Says Criticism Of Obama Kindergarten Dreams Were Joke.

+ Obama Says Clinton Unable To Win General Election "Mandate."

+ Dozens Of Black SC Ministers Endorse Obama.

+ Edwards Goes Positive In Final Weeks Of Campaign.

Sen. Clinton's Campaign:

IN DEBATE, DEMOCRATS CRITICIZE BUSH OVER IRAN POLICY. Seven of the Democratic presidential candidates gathered at the Iowa State Historical Museum for a debate sponsored by National Public Radio and Iowa Public Radio, with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson absent for the funeral of a soldier killed in the Korean War. Befitting the more staid format – the event was only broadcast on NPR – the candidates primarily exchanged mild jabs on Iran and discussed China trade and immigration. Although President Bush was the focus of the candidates' criticism for saying a new intelligence report that Iran abandoned its nuclear weapons program in 2003 did not change the threat from the regime, Hillary Clinton took fire for her vote on the Senate resolution that characterized the Iranian Revolutionary Guards a terrorist organization. The AP (12/5, Fouhy) reports, "Democratic rivals assailed" Clinton for her vote on the resolution, which "they portrayed as misguided and dangerous in light of a new intelligence report that says the Iranians stopped pursuing a nuclear weapon years ago." The Democrats, "unlike the campaign's Republican contenders, proposed no drastic crackdown on illegal immigrants. On China, they said more should be done to put U.S. companies on equal footing with Chinese imports, but again they proposed no radical new remedies." This article was published in some 34 papers and websites, including the New York Sun, the Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier, the Concord Monitor and Newsday

The Des Moines Register (12/5, Leys, 158K) reports the Democrats said "America should get tougher on China, tone down threats to Iran and find a humane way to control immigration." Sen. Chris Dodd "predicted that Republicans would try to trash Democrats over immigration." Dodd said, "They're going to use this as a wedge issue here, to inflame the passions and the fears of too many Americans. We've seen it before in our country. It's dangerous politics." The Register adds the "leading Democrats agreed that American citizens should not be asked to turn in immigrants whom they believe are in the country illegally." Obama said, "We do not deputize the American people to do the job that the federal government is supposed to do."

NPR (12/5, Horsely) led its report with the candidates discussion of the new National Intelligence Estimate on Iran, adding Clinton "said she is relieved by the intelligence findings, and called on President Bush to pursue diplomacy with Iran. Clinton has come under criticism from fellow Democrats for her September vote in favor of a Senate Resolution calling the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization. Obama - who skipped the vote while campaigning in New Hampshire - has said it gave President Bush a 'blank check' to go to war against Iran."

The CBS Evening News (12/4, story 4, 0:45, Couric, 7.66M) reported, "Clinton's rivals attacked her for voting to label Iran's revolutionary guards a terrorist organization. Clinton said her vote in the Senate was meant to encourage diplomacy but John Edwards called it a pretext for war." John Edwards, presidential candidate: "That's supposed to be diplomacy? What possible conclusion can you reach other than that we are at war?" Senator Hillary Clinton: "I understand politics and I understand making outlandish political charges, but this really goes way too far."

The Los Angeles Times (12/4, Martelle, Abcarian, 881K) reports the "main Democratic presidential candidates teamed up" to "blast the Bush administration over its policy toward Iran, saying a new intelligence assessment proves the White House has needlessly ratcheted up military rhetoric." Sen. Joseph Biden said "the report indicated that Iran dropped its program before international pressure came into play." Biden said, "It was like watching a rerun of his statements on Iraq five years earlier."

USA Today (12/5, Lawrence, 2.28M) reports Clinton "portrayed herself as a full member of her husband's foreign-policy team and defended her approach to Iran in a genteel radio debate Tuesday dominated by international issues." The "tenor was mild compared to the crossfire between the Clinton and Barack Obama camps in recent days over experience, character and policy. Tuesday's skirmish: abortion." Clinton said Tuesday "that 'I vehemently disagree' with Bush that 'nothing has changed.' He should 'seize this opportunity' to launch diplomacy, she said."

The Politico (12/5, Brown) reports John Edwards "accused" Clinton "of failing to 'stand up' to President Bush and Vice President Cheney." Edwards said, "I just want to be clear to the listeners that we have a real division here. I mean, among the Democratic candidates, there's only one that voted for this resolution. And that is exactly what Bush and Cheney wanted."

The Washington Post (12/5, A10, Balz, Kornblut, 723K) reports Clinton "faced repeated criticism in a debate here for supporting a Senate resolution her rivals said encouraged saber-rattling rhetoric from President Bush toward the Middle Eastern nation." Clinton "sparred mainly with" Edwards, "who accused her of taking a step toward war when she voted in September for a resolution labeling the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization." Clinton said, "I understand politics, and I understand making outlandish political charges, but this really goes way too far. Having designated the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization, we've actually seen some changes in their behavior."

The Wall Street Journal (12/5, Cooper, 2.06M) reports that on Iraq, Clinton "was clearly not in the mood for conciliation, accusing Mr. Obama of backing surgical bombing of Iraq (Mr. Obama said she took her facts out of context) and condemning Mr. Edwards for playing politics on the issue."

Clinton, Obama "Pull Punches." In an analysis for the AP (12/5), separate from the general AP story on the debate, Beth Fouhy contrasts the event's calm with the "intensifying effort" to win in Iowa, noting that the candidates "politely discussed" the three issues addressed. "But the focus for most political observers remained on Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, who have stepped up a bitter war of words as polling has showed Obama opening up a slight lead in Iowa. In this format, the two chose to put aside their tough talk and generally found common ground on most topics. Clinton even said - 'I agree with Barack' - at certain points, such as on the question of whether U.S. citizens should turn illegal immigrants over to law enforcement. Obama, in turn, toned down his criticism of Clinton's Senate vote in September declaring the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization even as Edwards, Biden and Chris Dodd said the vote had amounted to a step toward war. 'They largely pulled their punches because they realize that escalating a tit-for-tat mudfest presents risks all around,' Democratic strategist Dan Newman said."

The New York Daily News (12/5, Kennedy, 729K) reports, "Democratic debate showdown: Hillary versus Barack. Let's get ready to ... snooze. The first faceoff between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama since she launched a scorched-earth campaign to take him down was no wrestling-cage match. Instead, they had a soothing, civilized chat about policy. That's because the confrontation came at an NPR-sponsored Democratic debate. There were no YouTube snowmen. No cheering sections. No TV cameras."

Edwards, Biden, Dodd Called Winners, Clinton Gravel Losers. On his 'The Fix' blog on the website of the Washington Post (12/4, 723K), Chris Cillizza lists the debate's winners as Edwards, Biden and Dodd. Edwards effectively parlayed his populism and "politely highlighted what he called real divides between himself and" Clinton, while Biden and Dodd "were given considerably more time to make their points" than in past debates, "and they did so effectively." Clinton is labeled a loser since despite her dwindling lead, she is still attacked as though she were the clear frontrunner, and because "she has taken considerable flack for her positions" on Iran and illegal immigration, while "her strongest issue, health care, was left out of the mix." Mike Gravel is also listed as a loser because "his role in these gatherings is to serve as the resident crank."

CLINTON, OBAMA CLASH ON UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE EXAMINED. The Wall Street Journal (12/5, Meckler, 2.06M) reports while the "leading Democratic presidential candidates agree on most policy issues, a sharp dispute has emerged: Who would do more to provide health coverage for the uninsured?" Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have been "engaged in a bitter back-and-forth over whose health plan covers more people. Former Sen. John Edwards has jumped in, saying his plan is the best of all." With the "race tight and health care the No. 1 domestic issue for Democrats, their differences have become a point of continuing tension." Clinton "charges that Mr. Obama's plan would leave 15 million people without insurance. Outside experts agree that number is in the ballpark." But Obama adviser Austan Goolsbee "argues that if Mrs. Clinton's health plan is enacted, she will have to waive the mandate for millions of people. That is because, he says, there isn't enough money for subsidies to make health insurance affordable enough for people to buy it."

The New York Times (12/5, Seelye, 1.18M) reports Clinton "has been attacking Senator Barack Obama's health care plan, saying that while her proposal would provide universal coverage, his would leave out 15 million people." But while Clinton is "right that Mr. Obama's plan would leave out millions, she is being misleading in implying that her own plan covers everyone. Mandates rarely achieve 100 percent compliance. In addition, they are almost impossible to enforce. Because of those difficulties, Mrs. Clinton's own plan would probably leave out millions." Joseph Antos, a health policy expert at the American Enterprise Institute, said, "If Obama's plan were to leave 15 million people without insurance, I think Senator Clinton's plan would certainly do the same, not because of a mandate but because of the fundamental problems of getting people to recognize that they should buy insurance and making them buy it."

CLINTON TO VOW TO ENERGIZE U.S. ECONOMY. The New York Sun (12/5, Wapshott) reports that Sen. Hillary Clinton, speaking to business leaders in New York, will paint "herself as the Democratic presidential candidate most likely to be able to protect Americans from the cold draft of a hesitant economy turning to recession. Delivering what she is billing as 'a major economic policy address,' she will attempt to convince business and money-market leaders that she is the candidate who can restore the American economy to the prosperity enjoyed during the administration of her husband, President Clinton."

CLINTON, OBAMA CAMPS SPAR ON ABORTION. The New York Post (12/5, Earle, 648K) reports that Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign "had a pro-choice supporter bash rival Sen. Barack Obama's record on abortion rights -- but his camp responded with past praise from his basher. Ellen Malcolm, president of pro-choice EMILY's List, held a press conference denouncing Obama for voting 'present' instead of 'yes' on a 'critical' abortion rights bill when he was in the Illinois Legislature. She also faulted a US Senate floor speech he gave opposing Chief Justice John Roberts, because Obama 'barely' mentioned Roe vs. Wade. But Obama's camp released a May 2006 letter from Malcolm praising his 'fighting to make change happen.'"

CLINTON REJECTS TALK OF "DYNASTY." The New York Post (12/5, Earle, 648K) reports that Sen. Hillary Clinton "yesterday rejected the idea of a Clinton 'dynasty' -- confronting head-on the criticism that only people named Bush or Clinton have sat in the White House since 1989. 'There is no dynasty. There is no determination from on high. People get to vote for whoever they want. People get to vote against whoever they want,' Clinton told National Public Radio after a Democratic debate yesterday." Clinton "also said she advised her husband on foreign policy when she took trips abroad and she invoked the Clinton name as a Bush-slayer. 'I was deeply involved in being part of the Clinton team during the first Clinton administration,' she said. And, she added, 'It takes a Clinton to clean up after a Bush.'"

BILL CLINTON ACCUSES PRESS OF IGNORING WIFE'S EXPERIENCE, OBAMA'S LACK THEREOF. The AP (12/5, Elliott) reports that at a campaign event for Sen. Hillary Clinton in Keene, New Hampshire, former President Bill Clinton lamented what he characterized as reporters' tendency to ignore Sen. Clinton's experience "-and, without naming him, the relative lack of experience of her closest Democratic rival, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. 'One percent of the press coverage was devoted to their record in public life. No wonder people think experience is irrelevant. A lot of the people covering the race think it is (irrelevant),' Clinton said to students at Keene State College. Clinton referenced a study from the Project for Excellence in Journalism that indicated much of the coverage of the race is dominated by daily horse race reporting rather than about policy issues." This article was published by some 25 papers and websites, including the Los Angeles Times, the Miami Herald, the Charlotte Observer and Newsday.

The Washington Post (12/4, Shear, 723K) reported on its 'The Trail' blog that former President Clinton "mocked what he called a 'fashionable idea' that politicians 'should somehow be disqualified from our national leadership because they have actually been changemakers in the past.' Referring to his wife as a 'positive change maker' for 35 years, Clinton said that her experience 'indicates you will be more likely to successfully execute change as president.' But Clinton saved his most pointed criticism for the press, which he said was doing a poor job of covering the presidential campaign."

CLINTON CAMPAIGN LAUNCHING DATABASE TO TRACK PUSH POLLS, SIMILAR TACTICS. The Des Moines Register (12/4, Jacobs, 158K) reported on its website, "Hillary Clinton's campaign is starting a file of 'dirty campaign tricks' after a handful of supporters reported that negative information about the Democratic presidential candidate is being peddled by telephone." A number of Iowans have reported anti-Clinton telephone push polling, noting that the callers "said they were from the Obama campaign." Meanwhile, "Clinton pollster Mark Penn said today the campaign has found no evidence tying recent push polls to any campaign. Late Monday night, Clinton's campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle, sent e-mails warning that some supporters have gotten calls telling them incorrect caucus locations."

The New Hampshire Union Leader (12/5, DiStaso) reports, "Also yesterday, a North Country Clinton supporter accused a John Edwards campaign worker of calling her last Friday, during the height of the tense hostage situation in Rochester, and trying to convince her to vote for Edwards. Edwards' campaign spokesman responded by accusing the Clinton campaign of using 'Friday's frightening situation to attack other campaigns.' Obama spokesman Bill Burton, in his own e-mail to Obama supporters, called Doyle's allegations a 'flat-out falsehood' and 'the latest attack in a silly season where our opponents have promised to stop at nothing in an effort to tarnish Barack Obama's character.' Obama's camp on Monday urged supporters to contribute $25 to 'show our opponents that this kind of negativity will only make us stronger in our determination to bring about the change America needs.'"

DEMOCRATIC FUNDRAISER HSU INDICTED. The AP (12/5, Neumeister) reports a Federal grand jury "on Tuesday indicted a top Democratic fundraiser accused of cheating investors of at least $20 million and using some of the money for illegal donations to political candidates such as Hillary Rodham Clinton." In the "15-count indictment, the government accused Norman Hsu, a 56-year-old clothing-industry entrepreneur, of duping investors nationwide with a massive Ponzi scheme." The government "said Hsu also violated federal campaign-finance laws by making contributions to various political candidates in the names of others."

The Los Angeles Times (12/5, Neubauer, Fields, 881K) reports prosecutors "said Hsu promised investors hefty returns on deals to provide businesses with short-term financing, persuading hundreds of people nationwide to entrust him with more than $60 million. But there were no such deals, the indictment says. Though Hsu made some payments to sustain investors' faith, tens of millions of dollars may have ended up in his pockets."

PENN SAYS CRITICISM OF OBAMA KINDERGARTEN DREAMS WERE JOKE. MSNBC's Live (6:40 a.m.) broadcast that Mark Penn, chief strategist for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, was asked yesterday on MSNBC if the Clinton campaign in panicking because of recent polling numbers. Penn said "No, we have a very comfortable lead in the national polls. I think it's a campaign, and the campaign, I think there's always -- you know, a back and forth, in such a campaign, nothing unusual going on." Penn was also asked about recent Clinton attacks on Obama and bringing up Obama's Kindergarten teacher, "isn't she playing into his hands?" Penn said "Oh that is so silly. You know, I have to say that I really wonder at the end of the day he put out an attack on her, trying to say that she had some 20 year plan, and at the end of a long thing as a joke, the campaign put out that he always wanted to run from kindergarten. It was a joke! And the spin machines here are so hyped up here about Senator Clinton and her campaign that someone would pick up on a joke like that and treat it as though it were serious."

OBAMA SAYS CLINTON UNABLE TO WIN GENERAL ELECTION "MANDATE." The Des Moines Register (12/4, Beaumont, 158K) reports that Sen. Barack Obama, speaking yesterday to Register editors and reporters, said "that Hillary Clinton's high negative poll ratings would make her unable to win a mandate for change, should she win the general election next year" because she wouldn't attract Republicans and independents. "'I believe that I can much more effectively attract new voters, and Republicans that have been disillusioned with the other side, and independents who are trying to find a political home, and potentially create a working majority for change,' Obama" said.

DOZENS OF BLACK SC MINISTERS ENDORSE OBAMA. The AP (12/5, Smith) reports Barack Obama "picked up the endorsement of almost 130 black South Carolina ministers Tuesday in this early voting state where he runs even with rival Hillary Rodham Clinton for the crucial black vote. ... Rev. Joseph Lowery and the Rev. C.T. Vivian, a close adviser of Martin Luther King Jr., attended the announcement." These "endorsements for the Illinois Senator came a week to the day after" Clinton "visited upstate South Carolina where she announced the endorsements of more than 80 black ministers." Rev. Joseph Lowery said, "we believe Barack Obama will not use his religion as a crutch or a hammer, but will draw on the moral imperatives of our faith and apply them to the political, social and economic problems of our country."

EDWARDS GOES POSITIVE IN FINAL WEEKS OF CAMPAIGN. The Politico (12/5, Kuhn) reports John Edwards' "role as the positive populist in the Democratic field has returned at a moment when the political stakes could not be higher. In the final month before the Iowa caucuses, the Edwards campaign has decided to refrain from the aggressive strategy that defined its message for months." The "daily rhetorical sparring between Obama and Clinton has only made the Edwards campaign more confident that the best tactic to distinguish its candidate is to rise above the intraparty bout, which Edwards was largely instigating as recently as mid-November." The "tactical shift away from the combative rhetoric is also rooted in the campaign's belief that the time to earn political benefit from criticizing Clinton may have passed."

Copyright 2007 by the Bulletin News Network, Inc. Reproduction without permission prohibited. Editorial content is drawn from thousands of newspapers, national magazines, national and local television programs, and radio broadcasts. The Hillary For President News Briefing is published five days a week by BulletinNews, which creates custom news briefings for government and corporate leaders. We can be found on the Web at BulletinNews.com, [email-masked], or called at (703) 749-0040.