Obama adviser resigns over 'monster' remark, says she didn't want to damage campaign
By Susan Milligan, Globe Staff
WASHINGTON -- An award-winning foreign policy adviser to Barack Obama resigned today after her comments in a Scottish newspaper calling Hillary Clinton a "monster'' were denounced by both presidential campaigns.
Samantha Power, a Harvard professor and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of a book on genocide, apologized for her remarks and said it would be disruptive to Obama's campaign for the Democratic nomination for her to stay on as his unpaid adviser.
"I care passionately -- obviously, too passionately -- about the Obama campaign,'' Power told the Boston Globe. "At the moment I felt I might do damage to the campaign, it was essential for me to remove myself and all the distractions that I had brought'' to the campaign.
Clinton said Obama had done "the right thing'' by accepting Power's resignation. But the episode "raises disturbing questions about what the real planning and policy positions inside the Obama campaign happen to be,'' she told reporters while campaigning in Hattiesburg, Miss.
In an interview conducted Monday and published today, Power told The Scotsman that Clinton "is a monster, too -- that is off the record -- she is stooping to anything'' to win the nomination.
This morning, Power issued an apology for the comments, and the Obama campaign said the candidate decried the description of his rival.
High-level Clinton supporters, however, called for Power to be fired, and Power resigned herself soon after the story broke in US news outlets. "This is the worst kind of politics,'' Representative Gregory Meeks, a New York Democrat and Clinton supporter, told reporters in a conference call.
Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson noted that Bill Shaheen, Clinton's co-chairman in New Hampshire, was asked to step down after discussing Obama's admitted youthful drug use, and staffers in Iowa were fired after spreading false email rumors that he was Muslim.
Expressing "deep regret'' for the comments, Power said in a statement: "I made inexcusable remarks that are at marked variance from my oft-stated admiration for Senator Clinton and from the spirit, tenor, and purpose of the Obama campaign. And I extend my deepest apologies to Senator Clinton, Senator Obama, and the remarkable team I have worked with over these long 14 months."
Power said in a telephone interview with the Globe that she was in the middle of the Scotsman interview in London when she received an upsetting call about Clinton campaign tactics in Ohio, which the New York senator won Tuesday, along with Texas, to revive her candidacy. Tired after a red-eye flight and exasperated over reports from the field in Ohio, "I overreacted in a way that was unacceptable and deeply embarrassing,'' said Power, who is on leave from her Harvard post.
Greg Craig, a former Clinton administration adviser who is now on Obama's foreign policy team, praised Power's intellect and commitment. "She's an impressive thinker. She's a brilliant writer. She's a tremendous activist and she's a great human being. She has been damaged by this process,'' Craig said.
Power has previously complimented Clinton, telling TV interviewer Charlie Rose that Clinton "would be a great president,'' but that she was working for Obama because she thought he would do a better job in the office. "I have only met her once, and I find her very, very affable and actually very intellectually curious and not ideological,'' Power told Rose last October.
The Clinton campaign speedily sent out a fund-raising appeal attached to the Power remarks. "A small contribution now -- even as little as $5 -- will show the Obama campaign that there is a price to this kind of attack politics," Clinton campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe said in an e-mail to potential donors.
The Clinton campaign has used previous controversies to raise money; last year, the campaign used a Washington Post Style section column discussing Clinton's barely-noticeable cleavage' on the Senate floor to raise cash.
The Democratic nomination fight has grown testier since Tuesday's primaries, with Obama's camp raising questions about Clinton's tax returns and her records as first lady -- and Clinton's responding by saying Obama is "imitating Ken Starr," the independent prosecutor who tried to impeach former President Bill Clinton.
Asked the difference between calling someone a "monster'' and comparing someone to Starr, Clinton at first said the media had made the Starr reference. Reminded that it was her spokesman who had done so, Clinton said, "One is an ad hominem attack, and one is a historical reference.''
Hillary is a monster...she cheats to win at all cost...
She said Obama was talking to the Canadian and she her self was doing the same thing, but it didn't come out untill after the Ohio and Texas primaries...
Give me a huge break! A volunteer adviser called Clinton a monster, Obama denounced the remark immediately, the volunteer adviser resigned within a day, and Clinton says this "raises disturbing questions about what the real planning and policy positions inside the Obama campaign happen to be.'' Excuse me? The fact that Clinton would suggest such a comment was in any way related to the "planning and policy positions" of the Obama campaign is bizarre. She doesn't think the Pulitzer Prize winning Harvard professor could think of this particular characterization all by herself? She's not actually suggesting this was some kind of strategy like her campaign's Muslim rumors (etc.), is she? What good could anyone possibly think this would do for Obama? I'm baffled. What does she mean?
If I had a choice to referred to as Ken Starr or being called a monster,I would prefer the latter.One thing is for sure. Americans have short memories bordering on amnesia. This has become a fight which advantages Hillary because she will throw sand in your eyes and then kick you where it hurts. Why do you think that she is peddling the Clinton-Obama ticket. She is trying to con for votes. If in fact Obama wins ( I don't think that enough people owe him favors )and Washington is all about favors.If it's true that she and Bill had a co-presidency
( I would hold Presidential historians to hold him to that whether she wins or not.
Why would she accept a demotion to vice president ?
Oh common....Obama is heavily funded by Al-Qaeda, obviously. So, Obama is not just a monster as well but worst the anti-christ. His mother was a bitch and his father was a freaking muslim. If one could remember, the terrorist group used medical doctors to scare people in the UK by staging to blow themselves up. Now, Al-Qaeda is using a "rhetorically preaching" black man to wreck havoc in the very heart of US politics in the person of Obama.
It is too obvious, a black man popping out of nowhere too suddencly preaching for change, hope, and whatever then wanting to occupy the US presidency? Think!
I wonder who this is better press for. Only's Hillary's campaign is negative?
Enough of Kindergarten. Teacher, teacher ...so and so called me a name. I agree, Hillary is a monster. Other descriptive adjectives that come to mind are the wicked old witch, casting her evil spell on Obama. If she fanagles the nomination, I will hold my nose and vote for McCain. Can we expect to see Bill in the next series of Cialis commercials?. I am sick of all the ED ads!
I dislike Hillary and have less feelings for Obama. However someone of her standing should of not been so foolish to make such a statment. It goes to show the public what kinds of people are runing and who they have working for them.
I don,t think eighter one will make a good president. Hillary is not good for the country she's only good for Hillary. Obama is so off the wall he make a sham of the Oval office. I don't think much of McCain. As a former military person I follow McCain into battle he proved himself as a stand up guy. As president I have second thoughts.
Way to make Harvard look even more ridiculous! (and like the People's Republic of Cambridge). I am embarrassed to tell people I was born and raised in Mass.
Go Red Sox!
I think this is a riot! A communist calling a Marxist a "a monster". Unfortunately for Power, this Freudian slip represents the opinion of many. Hiliary IS a monster. She would murder her own mother to be president. The Clintons are the Nixons of the left wing - megalomaniacs.
It is just an indication of how unstable Obama's campaign is. You want to see how Obama will do in the White House? Look at the work of Deval Patrick and you will see that the "yes we can" turns into a "no you didn't".
Its all an illusion-- and all the people that are following him like the Pied Piper will realize that you are being treated like a bunch of lemmings and being led off a cliff.
It's evidence of how brutal this race has become. Its Clinton's fault for choosing to run a dirty campaign. All Powers did was speak the truth. I'm sad her act had consequences. But I bet it felt good to say those words. Meanwhile, the important question is: why won't Clinton show us her tax returns? What is she hiding????
Power made an unguarded comment that a newspaper reporter decided the world needed to hear, even though Power immediately attempted to place the remark "off the record."
Meanwhile, Senator Hillary Clinton seemed quite comfortable saying for the record during a '60 Minutes' interview that Senator Obama is not muslim, "as far as I know."
"Monster" might be a bit over the top, but would "devious and disingenuous" be closer to the truth?
So what if she was talking to the canadians. She represents NY which borders Canada, She it a senator who is on many committees which may interact with other countries, like defense as an example. She is running for president and both nominees want to get early support from allies on the world stage. It is what she said that counts...not who she was talking too.
Actually, Ms Power should have been FIRED rather than being allowed to resign.
Regarding the comments made by: "Greg Craig, a former Clinton administration adviser who is now on Obama's foreign policy team, praised Power's intellect and commitment. "She's an impressive thinker. She's a brilliant writer. She's a tremendous activist and she's a great human being. She has been damaged by this process,'' Craig said."
Mr. Craig, I hear tiny violins playing in the background as salty tears fall down my cheeks.
Samantha Power told the truth. Hillary Clinton's spoken words and actions speak for themselves. It is unfortunate that Senator Obama has lost a major member of his advisory staff and poitentially one of our nation's great secretaries of state.
I am dismayed at the reporter from the Scotsman broke his professional ethics by quoting an off-the-record remark, said in confidence.
Ms. Power needed to go. A foreign policy advisor needs to be able to ascertain the difference between a "monster" and a cretinous rat.
This just demonstrates how amateurish Obama and his campaign really is. Just a phone call from someone about some tactic used by the opponent, and this "brilliant writer, impressive thinker" lost it! How can we rely on these naive amateurs to run the country!
And BTW, despite all our disappointments about George Bush, he was composed even after his aide whispered in his ear about 911. Frankly, it's hard to believe someone blurted out the 'monster' word on hearing such a minor thing, unless that's really what she thought of HRC. Liar!
She should be fired from Harvard too. They booted the previous Harvard president for inappropriate comments about women, so this prof should be ridden out of Cambridge on a rail too!
Big surprise, huh.......the Clintons are liars and cheats.....Haven't we learned this lesson already?
Obama should not have accepted Samantha Power's resignation. By accepting the resignation he is simply playing into the Clinton game. Ms. Power's comment is accurate, and to accept her resignation is tantamount to telling the world that Obamna is not tough enough to stand up to Clinton's attacks.
I'm an 85 year old Republican, committed to support Obama providing he demonstrates the ability to stand up to both the Clinton and McCain contentions that he is too young, too inexperienced, and incapable of being an effective chief executive.
Step one: Reverse the acceptance of Ms. Power's resignation. Bring her back on board and declare that while her comments were unfortunate, they diid not justify her dismissal. Further, her judgment and contributions could not be dismissed so lightly.
Jack Nugent
Scottsdale, AZ
It’s 3:00 o’clock in the morning and the red phone rings. A crisis is brewing in some part of the world. Who’s going to protect your sleeping kids? Overheard in an alcove off the oval office:
“Hello, it’s Bill”
“Yea, I just got in, now that was some experience, I’ll tell you about it some time.”
“No she’s sleeping, can I help you?”
“Wait a second, I need some Advil.”
“No, I don’t want to get her up and have her see me like this, let’s let her sleep.”
“I’m the night person here.”
The vitriol from the Obama camp, well known to those on the inside, is now clear. They hate Clinton, Hill or Bill. His campaign is driven, not as they'd like to have one believe, by hate.
clinton is an extremely tainted candidate.
is it any surprise americans are embracing the least tainted candidate like obama regardless of claims of inexperience? too much 'experience' is a bad thing, especially when its just a euphemism for dirty politics.
Hillary is a sick twisted monster. It's just too bad that people are supporting her for all the wrong reasons. Nobody stops to actually research anymore.
Hillary is a true Clinton - a professional politician - who will do anything to win. The real issue here is how easy it is to get results by going negative. Shows you something about the people that are listening...
The real monster is Obama supporters who are not afraid of name calling ! We could create a nasty name for you Mr. Obama , but we chose not to! What's a boohoo campaign!
I call this woman "Stupid". How can she be a professor and also an award winner? I think this might be a reverse psychology that Obama use. Now this will make everyone think Hillary is a monster lolz... nice way to do it Obama. This is another reason I don't vote. All of these political craps are liars. I don't go for either parties Clinton nor Obama.. but personally I believe Clinton is better than Obama. You will see....
For the sake of the party, both candidates need to lighten up.
obama is a neophyte...idiot and is obviously not qualified to be president. has anyone given a rundown on his parents...i.e.how did his father make a living...how did barack get the money to go to harvard...please search these things out....thanks
so this is Obama's "Condi." Well, she sure has the Condi attitude of arrogance and entitlement down pat. send her back to the dysfunctional sect of the Kennedy clan, i hear they've adopted her. It took Robert Kennedy's family to show us some genuine intelligence and concern for the common man in their choice of who should be the Democratic nominee..
The depth and breadth of Barack Obama's crossover support and primary victories are evidence that the only obstacles between the Democratic Party and Barack Obama winning the presidency in a landslide are the Clintons and party bigwigs.
The Clintons would have us believe that Hillary and Bill have been thoroughly vetted. If this were ture, then why don't we have answers for:
FOREIGN CLIENTS: How will Hillary know whether Bill's advice serves U.S. interests or the interests of his Russian, Chinese, Indian, Kazakhstan, Dubai, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman or Brunei clients?
MONEY: Do the Clinton Foundation's, Clinton Library's, Clinton campaign and Clinton's income tax records show a proper accounting for the funds received for charitable, public and political purposes versus the Clinton's private income?
PARDONS: Will Hillary "reject" contributions or compensation from persons she pardons unlike her husband Bill who accepted contributions from Marc Rich the partner of Viktor Bout (the merchant of death), and her brother Hugh Rodham who accepted compensation from drug lords who were pardoned by Bill?
As a Republican leaning independent, my support of a Democratic candidate for president will "stop dead in its tracks" if Hillary Clinton is on the ticket.
Her comments weren't "the worst kind of politics," but an honest statement of what she really felt as a witness to Clinton's win-at-all-costs behavior. She is not a politician in any sense of the word, yet the following quote seems to fit:
"A gaffe is when a politician tells the truth" - Michael Kinsley (journalist)
The truth sometimes hurts and, unfortunately, it is not politically correct to speak truthfully these days.
who care about the clinton,weneed to thing about who to get job done and stop the war obama is the men the white house is not for a family house so let take it back and we don't want bill to be are vp
neither one is credible
obama had hope
now he's just another naysayer
clinton has been a bitch from the get go
now what
we are in a world of hurt
dear God
help us all
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