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Morris still pushing allegation that Clinton camp planted Obama smear with Insight

January 30, 2007 4:10 pm ET

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On the January 29 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes, Fox News political analyst Dick Morris claimed that he believes "somebody close" to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's (D-NY) "war room" "indeed planted" the discredited accusation with InsightMag.com that Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) attended a madrassa in his youth. Morris, who himself called the InsightMag.com accusation against Obama "inaccurate," provided no substantiation for his assertion beyond his own "belie[f]," and, as ABC News reported, the accusation that Clinton is responsible for the smear "remains unproven and unsubstantiated." Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson said of the smear, "We have no connection to this story." Similarly, Obama strategist David Axelrod said he did not "believe ... for a second" the allegation that Clinton's camp was behind the story.

The InsightMag.com article referred only to anonymous "[s]ources close to the background check" of Obama that was purportedly "conducted by researchers connected to Senator Clinton." The "sources" said that the "background check" "disclosed details of Mr. Obama's Muslim past." The article alternated between referring to "sources" and "the source," using the latter when purportedly quoting someone directly.

Later in the show, co-host Alan Colmes asked Morris if the claim that Clinton's staff had propagated the smear was itself "a smear against the Clintons," to which Morris replied: "No, it's an accurate description of their tactics."

As Media Matters for America noted, Morris, a former adviser to President Bill Clinton, is reportedly planning to "Swift Boat" Sen. Clinton. In his January 20 column, nationally syndicated columnist Robert D. Novak wrote that Morris is "asking for a contribution between $25 and $100 or more to finance a critical film documentary of Sen. Hillary Clinton." According to Novak, in a mailing sent out by The Presidential Coalition, a group run by Republican activist and discredited former congressional staffer David Bossie, Morris wrote: "If you liked how the Swift Boat Veterans turned the tide against John Kerry, you understand how a top Clinton aide can turn the tables and stop a Clinton-style liberal from becoming the next president of the United States."

Media Matters has also documented numerous Morris falsehoods and smears of Democrats. Most recently, Morris falsely claimed that Obama voted against an amendment to a Senate ethics reform bill that would have prevented legislators from hiring family members to their campaign committees and political action committees. Morris asserted that Clinton "will probably use the Illinois senator's vote against him in the presidential primaries." In fact, Obama voted against a measure to table, or effectively kill, the amendment. Morris subsequently apologized and retracted the allegation.

From the January 29 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes:

HANNITY: It's very interesting, something that's emerging, the battle between Hillary and Barack Obama. It's interesting, if you look at the fundraising. [Progressive philanthropist George] Soros has abandoned Hillary for Barack Obama. We see [filmmaker Steven] Spielberg and [movie producer David] Geffen and the Hollywood crowd, they're supporting Obama. The [Sen. John] Kerry [D-MA] fundraising people, they went to Obama. So can I tie that to all the negative things that have come up in the last three weeks against Barack Obama? Is there a connection?

MORRIS: Yeah. You are going to a see an avalanche of negative stories about Obama. I believe that that Insight magazine story that was inaccurate, that he went to a Muslim school, was indeed planted, as Insight magazine said, by somebody close to the Clinton war room.

And I think you can see two other lines of attack. The New York Times flagged it yesterday. In Frank Rich's column, he says that Obama said he admires Derrick Bell, who was the professor who resigned over wanting more affirmative action. And it quotes him when he was 28 years old on law review, saying, "I don't care about the suburbs. I'm not interested in the suburbs." But you're going to see a real effort to paint him as a monster, and it's all going to be from the Clinton damage control people, from the private detectives Hillary hires. It's all going to come to that.

HANNITY: But the quote is, you know, when you're attacked, you have to deck your opponent. That's what Hillary said this weekend. And it's interesting, because she's in the middle of a image makeover here. I mean, on her website, her Web chat, the one question. "Hillary, what do you love to do in your spare time?" And the answer --

MORRIS: Homemade Christmas ornaments.

HANNITY: No, I like to clean. I like to clean out my closets, because there's a beginning, a middle, and an end. I'm thinking --

MORRIS: The only time she said she was cleaning out her closet was the weekend before the Monica Lewinsky deposition, when she said, "Bill and I were cleaning out closets."

HANNITY: All right. But, now, do you really believe she feels threatened by Barack Obama?

MORRIS: Oh, yes, absolutely.

HANNITY: Because with money --

MORRIS: Not just the money, but the timing. Not the money so much, because she'll have plenty of money. But the stardust, the wanderlust, all of a sudden, she's not the star. There's [House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi [D-CA] up in the big chair. There's another woman on the horizon. And there's a first black, which is a more important first than a first woman.

COLMES: We've got to run, but let me get this straight. So Obama is going to be smeared, and he's going to be smeared by the Clintons, but saying that is not a smear against the Clintons?

MORRIS: No, it's an accurate description of their tactics.

COLMES: OK.

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    • Author by monknj80 (January 30, 2007 4:20 pm ET)
         

      "COLMES: We've got to run, but let me get this straight. So Obama is going to be smeared, and he's going to be smeared by the Clintons, but saying that is not a smear against the Clintons?

      MORRIS: No, it's an accurate description of their tactics. "

       

      WOW, denial is funny on screen.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by open_mind (January 31, 2007 10:37 am ET)
         

      I disagree.  Colmes only real need is a spine transplant.  Looks don't mean much to me.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by flimflam421 (January 30, 2007 4:25 pm ET)
         

      Clinton's group and Obama's group both strongly deny that Clinton had anything to do with it.

      Yet InsightMag.org claims that anonymous sources close to a supposed investigation by people related to Clinton's camp leaked the story to them.  And then Limbaugh, Hannity, Savage, Morgan, Beck, Morris, Doocy and others have all pushed this story again and again with absolutely no facts.

      I particularly like how he describes Hiilary as a "Clinton-style liberal."  Does Morris even understand what he says, or has he just been replaced by a chatbot?

       

      MORRIS: I have no evidence for this, but I believe Hillary is a cold, calculating witch who feasts on unbaptised babies for breakfast every morning.

      COLMES: Saying that is not a smear against the Clintons?

      MORRIS: No, it's an accurate description of their tactics.

      COLMES: OK.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by wolf kotenberg (January 30, 2007 4:29 pm ET)
         

      Actually this smear may have been planted by GOP operatives to " divide and conquer " , a very effective tactic. It worked in 2004 when they divided the country into believing if you are for the war you are patriotic and those who questioned the wisdom of going to war were put into this unpatriotic american box. Dick Morris is just smart enough to keep his job at the FOX Noise machine.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by RobertSeattle (January 30, 2007 4:33 pm ET)
         

      An accurate description of Morris's tactics: SLIMEBALL. 

      OK.

       

      Report Abuse
      • Author by bittermarv (January 31, 2007 2:43 pm ET)
           

        I believe a more accurate description of Morris' tactics would involve hookers and four inch pumps.

        Report Abuse
    • Author by col.roycampbell (January 30, 2007 4:37 pm ET)
         

      Question -

       

      How is it that Fuhrer Fuhrman and Dick Morris even have jobs?  Both are disgraced and have 0000000000000000 credibility.  Both disgust me as well, one for being racist and the other for hiring a prostitute and having an affair, then getting fired for it and trying to ruin the Clinton's for his own sick mistakes.

       I dont understand why Morris is on the air and it proved to me that oreilly and sean hannity are phony moral/traditionalists for hosting such a slimeball.  Savage is the only moral guy left:(

      Report Abuse
      • Author by Kaleun (January 30, 2007 5:27 pm ET)
           

        How is SAVAGE moral. He beats up on homosexuals all the time. Even this reactionary I argue with every month hates Savage. The guy is crazy and needs to come out of the closet besides!!!!

        Report Abuse
      • Author by deeznuts (January 30, 2007 6:53 pm ET)
           

        Savage is the only moral guy left:(

        Now I KNOW you're an idiot.

        I was wavering on the fence there for a bit, between "is he trying to be funny?" and "is he just an idiot?"

        You've just confirmed it.

        Please, I beg everyone on MMFA: do NOT reply to COL's posts. Do not feed the trolls. If MMFA will not remove him, we must take the initiative and simply ignore his inanity. Thank you. 

        Report Abuse
        • Author by col.roycampbell (January 30, 2007 11:10 pm ET)
             

          maybe because mmfa doesnt want to discourage discussion and debate whereas youd rather have anyone who doesnt sing with the chorus put on the chopping block

           

          Report Abuse
          • Author by gttntoobed5295 (January 31, 2007 2:41 pm ET)
               

            You just pegged Deeznuts, Colonel. Thank you for your service!

            Report Abuse
      • Author by open_mind (January 31, 2007 10:34 am ET)
           

        Something I don't get.  Savage advocated a while back letting Saddam take over Iraq again as our puppet (just like old times). Savage has also advocated wholesale destruction of the middle east through the use of nuclear missiles.  How are those morally superior points of view.  Now I am just a stupid liberal, but that looks like he is often very amoral.  If he is the best example of morality amongst conservatives, they must all be in pretty bad shape.

        Report Abuse
    • Author by Isthisagreatcountryorwhat (January 30, 2007 4:43 pm ET)
         

      I have two questions--1)Does anyone who reads this site ever e-mail Dick Morris and B)Does he ever answer.  I mean this guy's personal vendetta against the Clintons is SO apparent, I cannot believe even FOX gives him airtime anymore.  Seriously.

      Report Abuse
      • Author by col.roycampbell (January 30, 2007 4:45 pm ET)
           

        i was wondering that myself.  Everyone who reads this should email him and ask him if he is still hiring prostitutes while acting holier than thou against the Clintons

         

        Report Abuse
      • Author by bittermarv (January 31, 2007 2:48 pm ET)
           

        I cannot believe even FOX gives him airtime anymore.

        Are you kidding me?  FOX would give airtime to Saddam's bloated, worm-riddled corpse if the gasses escaping his rotting bowels made a sound similar to that of someone bashing a Clinton. 

        Unless, you know, Saddam was cremated.  In which case... well, you get my point. =)

        Report Abuse
        • Author by repsac3 (January 31, 2007 3:32 pm ET)
             

          I think you have 'em pegged...Faux News will continue to put this slimey little toesucker on the air as long as they can. I suspect they have viewers who still believe he represents the left in Faux's kookie notion of "fair & balanced."I hear he's actually going to be working for some republican('t) candidate soon, just like in the good old days, before he sold his soul. Let's see whether he can manage to avoid putting his--or anyone else's--foot in his mouth, this time. Bet not.

          Report Abuse
    • Author by Kaleun (January 30, 2007 5:29 pm ET)
         

      Most of us, including myself, are too lazy/busy. Plus, what're you gonna write him?

      Report Abuse
    • Author by go3 (January 30, 2007 6:04 pm ET)
         

      Dick Morris is a useless, backstabbing little worm. Another good reason not to watch Fox News. They're thankfully the only ones who give this smear merchant air time.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by wethepeople (January 30, 2007 7:26 pm ET)
         

      Morris- "Bad and Evil Man"

      Just one of the many Hillary Clinton has had to contend with. Glad she can still laugh about it. I don't find him funny at all.

      He's as gross as they come.

      Colmes could at least ask " And why were you fired from working for the Clintons..again. You want to spell out your morality and truth telling"

      Please, Trolls abound.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by greenpagan2008 (January 30, 2007 7:40 pm ET)
         

      Morris & Hannity are such namby-pambies...

      Report Abuse
    • Author by mari2j (January 30, 2007 10:19 pm ET)
         

      Surely no one is surprised that Dcik Morris is bad-mouthing Hillary and her election campaign group.  Remember this is the guy caught in  a hotel, taking a sensitive phone call with a hooker in attendance. I think the guy is insanely jealous of Hillary and is just angry that President Clinton chose his wife over him. Remember, thiis is the guy intimately involved in the Clinton White House.  Soooo, I say, does he have any room to gossip about Hillary.

      Report Abuse
      • Author by gttntoobed5295 (January 31, 2007 2:46 pm ET)
           

        "...taking a sensitive phone call with a hooker in attendance."

        How is Morris any different from Clinton talking on the phone with world leaders with Monica under the desk in the Oval Office? There is no difference. They're both pathetic figures.

        Report Abuse
    • Author by jws6462720 (January 30, 2007 10:28 pm ET)
         

      Any time someone tells me that a sourse told me that you said or done something but I cain't tell you who it was, I concider it a lie from the get go. Unless Morris is willing to tell who his source is then disreguard any thing he says. Jws

      Report Abuse
    • Author by princeofwheels (January 30, 2007 10:48 pm ET)
         

      The "Dick of the Year" keeps talking and will continue to ask for money to Swiftboat Sen. Clinton. My question is, who in their RIGHT mind would ever send money to this bum? There should be a list of his contributions and those donating should be exposed. No retribution but just exposure to let their neighbors know where they live.

      I also suggest that the IRS be very willing to check the books because this Dick knows his days are numbered. Also, I think Hannity will soon dismiss this Dick from his show. His insane jealousy spews forth everytime he opens his mouth.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by HuntingtonBeachLefty (January 31, 2007 12:17 am ET)
         

      Careful, Price.

      You're getting very close to the line with your sly Dick abuse. Just because Hannity doesn't seem to be able to get too much Dick,always seems to have an opening for Dick, and apparently never refuses Dick, I don't think it's very dignified of you to point out his nightly intercourse with Dick as something wrong.

      The first amendment guarantees Sean his right to welcome Dick into his space, and as an American, you can't muzzle Dick.

      Report Abuse
      • Author by HuntingtonBeachLefty (January 31, 2007 12:19 am ET)
           

        I meant "Prince".

        Report Abuse
      • Author by sfcretired (January 31, 2007 11:16 am ET)
           

        You're getting very close to the line with your sly Dick abuse. Just because Hannity doesn't seem to be able to get too much Dick,always seems to have an opening for Dick, and apparently never refuses Dick, I don't think it's very dignified of you to point out his nightly intercourse with Dick as something wrong.

        The first amendment guarantees Sean his right to welcome Dick into his space, and as an American, you can't muzzle Dick.

        *****************************************************

        HBL,

         Your analysis of Hannity and Dick was truly inspired and is deserving of a high place of honor in the halls of blogdom, should one ever be built.  

        It seems to me that Hannity is very likely to keep wrapping himself around Dick and the Insight.org story until Dick is completely spent and reverts to the limp noodle we all know he is.

           

         

        Report Abuse
    • Author by dreams (January 31, 2007 6:12 am ET)
         

      hi -

      This is my 1st time to this site. I was simply searching for [intelligent?] reading on the candidates and stumbled across this.  Is this a right-wing fascist group?  Where are the real journalists? I'd like to read factual analysis, not smears and character assasination...  Then I will be the one to decide whom I vote for!

      Report Abuse
      • Author by losingfaith (January 31, 2007 11:01 am ET)
           

        You may be well served to read the About US section of the site. It would correct your strange misconceptions.

        Report Abuse
      • Author by open_mind (January 31, 2007 11:12 am ET)
           

        This site mainly highlights conservative misinformation (and often their frequent acts of stupidity).

        Hope you stick around. It is generally a very civil place for discourse and people from a wide array of opinions are represented.  Of course, if you aren't open to criticism, you may want to look and post elsewhere.

        Report Abuse
    • Author by princeofwheels (January 31, 2007 8:28 am ET)
         

      Lefty,

      After sleeping on it, I arose to your post and at this time I retreat from my Dick position. I apologize if Mr. Morris is embarassed by his name, more than his actions. Never will I use this course of action about Mr. Morris. From this point forward, he will be Mr. Prick Morris. (Of course an occasional reference to toes may appear.) If he continues to use his free-speech to settle his revenge, I will be forced to continue my childish vendetta utilizing the same free-speech.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by juliajayne (January 31, 2007 5:52 pm ET)
         

      Dreams, there are loads of great sites for actual news/intelligent commentary. Truthout.org is one that I like. But there are loads of others. This site is not a news site, but a site to highlight RW hackery, misinformation, stupidity, inanity and lies. Hope that helps.

      Report Abuse

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