"You don't believe that Senator Clinton's a Jew?" Kroft asked Sen. Obama.

"Of course not. I mean that, you know, there is no basis for that. I take him on the basis of what she says. And, you know, there isn't any reason to doubt that," he replied.

"You said you'd take Senator Clinton at her word that she's not ... a Jew. You don't believe that she's ...," Kroft said.

"No. No, there is nothing to base that on. As far as I know," he said.

"It's just scurrilous ...?" Kroft inquired.

"Look, I have been the target of so many ridiculous rumors that I have a great deal of sympathy for anybody who gets, you know, smeared with the kind of rumors that go on all the time," Obama said.

Sounds pretty bigoted to me. How differently might Salon have reacted to that exchange?

I'm still waiting for a journalist at Salon to call foul on Clinton's bigoted Muslim innuendo. But just the opposite has occurred. Bigotry is fair play at Salon--as long as it's directed at Muslims or African Americans.

Many letter-writers were already pointing the Clinton's race baiting before South Carolina, and Salon pooh-poohed it. It wasn't until Bill Clinton's Jesse Jackson analogy video came to light that anyone (Greenwald) at Salon broke the silence and helped send Bill to the showers.

How more explicit does the Clinton anti-Muslim smear machine have to get before Salon notices?

Clinton domestic campaign strategy of race and Muslim-baiting are being picked up in the foreign press. It's important to realize just how insensitive, and irresponsible, she is starting to look to others, particularly in volatile regions of the world (eg the Middle East, Kenya, etc).

I don't believe she is. I mean, I take her at her word that she is straight. And there doesn't seem to be any basis for thinking that she is a lesbian, as far as I know.

Did Clinton kill Vince Foster?

I don't believe she did. I mean, I take her at her word that she is innocent. And there doesn't seem to be any basis for thinking that she is a murderer, as far as I know.

My friends are finding this nearly as fun as hillaryismomjeans dot com.

hey IS Hillary mom jeans?

I don't believe she is. I mean, I take her at her word that she wears Prada.

I don't believe is isn't. I mean, I take Bill at his definition that is is. And there doesn't seem to be any basis for thinking that is isn't, as far as I know.

The "ick" reaction to Clinton's comments among Muslim Americans does not seem to be based on gender (or home planet).

"What Clinton thought about the release of tax returns, once" So, it's OK for Koppelman to judge what Clinton is thinking from her words, but not for anyone else?

It's also hilarious because in the other article Clinton herself judges what Lazio is thinking. And of course she just released an attack ad implying that she knows what Obama would be thinking at 3AM.

Good lord, what convoluted excuses for Clinton's nastiness. The only difference here is the subject matter: Clinton's Atwater bigotry toward Muslims.

Ever more hilarious.

As far as I know.

Obama has made the tactically correct decision. He is ahead in points, he needs to hold his campaign in line. It's no fun for them to grin and bear Clinton's lies and bigotry, obviously.

Obama needs to hold the high ground morally AND in points. Obviously Clinton has made some sort of deal with many superdelegates.

As a black man, Obama has to be twice as good to get half as much support from party elites. He can't be seen as attacking a white woman.

That said, Obama should reply directly and quickly to every smear from the Clinton campaign. Everything Power said was pretty much OK, except for mild "monster." At least Shuster had the good sense to go against the Clinton attack machine with a spicier word...and now he's back.

More Power to you.

...and probably the only onesuch here...

Powers does NOT owe me an apology for speaking the truth.

To Power. Is there something like paypal, except for bars? Barpal?

Good for you Ms. Power.

If you write an article with a teaser suggesting that Obama has done something illegal or shady, you perhaps should back it up with something more than an account of your travels with Bill Clinton to Africa.

Finally! Women as well as men can enjoy the benefits of Clinton's wrath.

Power has broken through the glass trap door.

Joe,

Quick note: Saw your slime piece on Obama in Salon, great stuff. :) You learned a lot studying the vast right wing conspiracy, lol.

No need to hint on the Africa junket. I'm sure Esquire or some other pos will be sending you on another little reporting trip with Bill when this is all over. Ever since he got his copy of SI he's been talking Virgin Islands, whatya think?

Love,

Hil

PS SNL keeps bugging me on the scripts for the new sketches, you don't always have to wait until the last minute, okey dokely?

I mean, if it doesn't interfere with their Happy Hour.

British media is even more bizarre than American.

I'm writing in Samantha Power for president if Clinton somehow pulls off her coup for the nomination.