Clinton declined Obama '08 request to attack Palin

Image
AP Washington
Last Updated : Jun 10 2014 | 10:24 PM IST
Hillary Rodham Clinton today said
She refused an Obama campaign request in 2008 to attack Sarah Palin, the new Republican vice presidential candidate on the ticket with Sen John McCain.
"The Obama campaign did contact me and asked me if I would attack her," Clinton told NBC in an interview that aired today. "I said, 'Attack her for what, for being a woman? Attack her for being on a ticket that's ... Trying to draw attention?'"
Clinton said she told the campaign, "There'll be plenty of time to do what I think you should do in politics, which is draw distinctions."
The former secretary of state is weighing another run for the White House in 2016. Clinton today was releasing her new memoir, "Hard Choices."
Yesterday, Palin tweeted a page from Clinton's new book, "Hard Choices," that contained Clinton's description of the episode.
In it, Clinton says that the Obama campaign suspected Palin's nomination "was a blatant attempt to scuttle their hope of welcoming the women who had vigorously supported me" in Clinton's own unsuccessful presidential campaign.
"They immediately issued a dismissive statement and reached out to me in hopes I would follow suit," Clinton writes.
"But I wouldn't. I was not going to attack Palin just for being a woman appealing for support from other women. I didn't think that made political sense and it didn't feel right. So I said no, telling them there'd be plenty of time for criticism. A few hours later the Obama campaign reversed itself and congratulated Governor Palin.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Jun 10 2014 | 10:24 PM IST

Next Story