Yes, Hillary's Fact Hub has decided to clarify the facts as regards Richardson's recent accusation of flip-flopping, depending on what the meaning of clarify is, of course. Obfuscation might be a better word.
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.”
Via this pdf, here is what Clinton said to Russert at a debate.
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.
Comments