Gov. Bill Richardson Misquotes Hillary, Launches False Attack

[wyldwolf]

Yesterday, Gov. Richardson falsely accused Hillary of flip-flopping on her Iraq position:

"Senator Clinton's statement that we could 'certainly get all the troops out within a year' is a stunning flip-flop from what she has been saying all along. She consistently has called for leaving troops in Iraq to fight al-Qaida, train Iraqis, and protect U.S. assets. Has that suddenly been abandoned? If so, why has she changed her mind?"

The press release misquotes Hillary. She did not say she would bring all the troops home within a year. Here's what Hillary actually said, as reported in the New York Times yesterday:

“I think we can bring home one to two combat brigades a month,” she said. “I think we can bring nearly everybody home, you know, certainly within a year if we keep at it and do it very steadily.”

Hillary has been talking about a schedule of 1-2 brigades per month – which could be accomplished in a year or so -- since July:

"You know, I put forth a comprehensive three-point plan to get our troops out of Iraq, and it does start with moving them out as soon as possible. But Joe is right… I have done extensive work on this. And the best estimate is that we can probably move a brigade a month, if we really accelerate it, maybe a brigade and a half or two a month." (Youtube/CNN Debate, 7/24/07)

She has also consistently said that, once redeployment is complete, only a small number of troops would need to remain for a limited period of time. From a Moveon.org forum in April:

"Well, my goal is to end the war when I’m President, and to bring our troops home, but as has been stated in the provision passed by both the Democratic House and the Democratic Senate, we do envision a vastly reduced residual force to remain for some limited period of time…" (Move.org Forum, 4/10/07)

She has also voted twice to redeploy the bulk of our forces within a year.

(links and references at the source - http://facts.hillaryhub.com/)

[ccpup]

1. looks like Richardson is angling

for a VP slot or a Secretary of State slot or something from one of the other candidates.

[jenmito]

9. Funny. It looked like he was angling for a slot in HER admin. earlier...

Maybe he believes what he's saying and doesn't like the "new Hillary."

[TwilightGardener]

2. I have to say this about Richardson--not a very skilled politician.

A likeable man, but not Presidential material.

[Deep13]

3. Unfortunately, you are probably right. nt

[MethuenProgressive]

7. If he had Edward's Trial Lawyer $ support, or Obama's corporate support, he'd be a Top 3.

The MSM picked their choices months ago.

[TwilightGardener]

15. No, you have to have more than a resume--you have to have political smarts and skill.

I could see Biden or Dodd breaking out of the top tier, but not Richardson.

[Kucinich4America]

16. Not Presidential material?

Even though his resume is probably better than all of the other candidates combined.

[TwilightGardener]

19. Resume is only a part of it.

[MethuenProgressive]

22. True, some of it is celebrity endorsements.

Unfortunately.

[zulchzulu]

4. How many Hillary staff does it take to keep up on all her MANY positions?

There must be thousands of people with terrabytes of data to sort through to find out just where she stands on a position at any particular time.

Hmm... an idea for an ad...

:rofl:

[MannyGoldstein]

8. Actually, It's Quite Easy

Many politicians - such as Edwards - hold a different position at different times. The magic of Clinton is that she's able to hold all positions at all times - and she does a fantastic job at it.

In the rare event that she's asked to give a simple answer, she's kind of screwed, e.g., her amusing soft shoe at the debate over her position on drivers licenses for illegal immigrants. But, generally, her omniposition strategy has worked well for her.

[wyldwolf]

11. for example?

[MethuenProgressive]

5. For Richardson's side of the argument:

HillaryHub is of course taking a very partisan stance.
Here's what Richardson has to say about the difference on Iraq between him and the Big Three:
http://www.thedifferenceoniraq.com/
And here's more on Clinton's actual record on Iraq:
http://action.richardsonforpresident.com/page/content/2013/clintonrecord/

CLINTON RECORD
Refuses to Pledge to Get Our Troops Out by 2013, the End Of Her First Term
RUSSERT: Senator Clinton, Democrats all across the country believed in 2006, when the Democrats were elected to the majority in the House and Senate, that that was a signal to end the war, and the war would end.

You have said that will not pledge to have all troops out by the end of your first term, 2013. Why not?

CLINTON: Well, Tim, it is my goal to have all troops out by the end of my first term. But I agree with Barack. It is very difficult to know what we're going to be inheriting. You know, we do not know, walking into the White House in January 2009, what we're going to find. What is the state of planning for withdrawal?


-- From 9/26 DNC Debate at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.


Clinton: up to 60,000 Troops?
Clinton has stated that, "she would keep a reduced military force there to fight Al Qaeda, deter Iranian aggression, protect the Kurds and possibly support the Iraqi military."
-- From: "If Elected... Clinton Says Some G.I.'s in Iraq Would Remain." By Michael R. Gordon and Patrick Healy. The New York Times. 15 March 2007.

The kind of residual force Clinton describes is similar to that elaborated upon in reports by the Center for American Progress, and the Center for a New American Security, both that describe a residual force of 60,000 or so troops.
-- "Strategic Redeployment 2.0: A Progressive Strategy for Iraq." The Center for American Progress. By Lawrence Korb and Brian Katulis. May 2006.
-- "Phased Transition: A Responsible Way Forward Out of Iraq." Center for a New American Security. By James N. Miller and Shawn W. Brimley. June 2007.

Additionally, Senator Clinton voted on September 21st in support of the Levin Amendment 2898 that Senator Levin himself estimates, if enacted would only, "cut troop levels in Iraq by more than half."
-- From: "Senate Blocks Bill on Iraq Combat Tours." By Anne Flaherty. Associated Press. 19 September 2007.

[wyldwolf]

17. theses are two different things, though

In your post, Richardson argues about his overall differences with the top three. However, his release is a specific critique of one specific statement from Clinton, which was obviously taken out of context (as the NY Times showed.)

[asdjrocky]

6. Guess he sees a better shot at VP with Edwards or Obama now. n/t

[Armstead]

10. "But you can't predict because you never know what the situation will be..."

Uh, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know what the situation will be.

It will be what it is now. Nebulous, amorphous, and difficult to say what will happen when American troops leave. About what it's been ever since we launched this misguided invasion.

Given that reality, even the answer that Hillary will own up to is deceptive and -- as with most things Clintonian -- able to be spun whatever way one chooses.

Either she will committ to a rapid withdrawal or she won't. Which is it?

[DURHAM D]

12. Kind of sad - Bill called the NY Times on a false premise.

I know he doesn't have much money so he is understaffed - but still, he needs to get it right or it makes him look desperate and foolish.

[flordehinojos]

13. i will not sin. i will not sin. i will not raise false testimony against anyone, ever! o, God.

forgive me. i just sinned. (Bill Richardson at the Confessional).

[Alamom]

14. Thank you for clarification. I thought maybe the Gov. was misquoted.nm

[annie1]

18. I also recall her saying it would take longer. I remember during a debate there...

was an argument between hillary and the gov on this, does anyone remember what it was?

[MethuenProgressive]

21. On a pledge to get us out of Iraq before 2013. Edwards, Clinton & Obama differ w/ Richardson on that

see: www.2013IsTooLate.com

[Cameron27]

20. Thanks,

Richardson gets a little fuzzy sometimes, he went after Edwards for pretty much the same thing but was wrong then too.