Hillary: Obama Has Passed “3 a.m.” Test
Appearing on ABC’s This Week, Sec. of State Hillary Clinton was asked whether President Obama has passed the “3 a.m.” test that she raised in her famous campaign ad against him in the 2008 primaries. “Absolutely,” said Clinton. “And, you know, the president in his public actions and demeanor, and certainly in private with me and with the national security team, has been strong, thoughtful, decisive, I think he is doing a terrific job. And it’s an honor to serve with him.”
Hillary: I Initially Rejected Sec. of State Offer
Also during her This Week interview, Hillary Clinton said she’d initially turned down the offer from President Obama to be Secretary of State, thinking it was “absurd” and wanting to go back to serving New York in the Senate. “But he was quite persistent and very persuasive. And, you know, ultimately, it came down to my feeling that, number one, when your president asks you to do something for your country, you really need a good reason not to do it,” said Clinton. “Number two, if I had won and I had asked him to please help me serve our country, I would have hoped he would say yes.”
Obama Spends Morning Touring Paris With Family, Headed Back To Washington
President Obama spent the morning with his family in Paris, visiting the Pompidou Center for his daughter Sasha’s eighth birthday. He then left Paris, and is scheduled to arrive back at the White House at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Axelrod: Attacks On Sotomayor A “Sideshow”
Appearing on CNN’s State of the Union, David Axelrod dismissed right-wing attacks against Sonia Sotomayor as a “sideshow.” “The point she was making is that we’re all the sum total of our experiences and you bring those experiences with you to the bench,” said Axelrod. “It’s the same point that Justice Ginsburg and Justice Alito have made and I think that the debate is kind of a diversion from her 17-year record as judge.”
Gingrich: Sotomayor’s “Latina” Comments Would Disqualify A White Person
Appearing on CBS’ Face The Nation, Newt Gingrich expanded on his denunciations of Sonia Sotomayor. “The language she used — well, if you say, People of this ethnic background are superior to people of this ethnic background, just take out her language and put in the word “white,” said Gingrich. Put in “white male” where she had “Latina,” and that person would be — frankly, be disqualified from the court. It also would be disqualified as a — as a juror.
Shelby: Public Option Would Destroy “The Best Health Care System The World Has Ever Known”
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) warned that a public option for health care would “be the first steps in the — destroying the best health care system the world has ever known.” Shelby explained: “Because government — when the government’s involved more and more in the details, and you start the one pay deal, and you’ve got the government competing with private enterprise, with all the incentives government has and the power, they will destroy the marketplace for health care, and it will be a mistake, and the American people better be careful in what they want.”
Palin Attacks “Weakness” Of Proposed Defense Cuts In Alaska
Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) has attacked the White House’s proposed cut of $1.2 billion for missile defense in Alaska, arguing that the program is more necessary now in the wake of North Korea’s missile tests. “Reducing Alaska’s defense readiness in these perilous times is a show of weakness, it is not a sign of strength,” said Palin.
Grassley Attacks Obama’s Paris Visit: “We still on skedul/even workinWKEND”
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is now ramping up his Twitter-speak attacks on President Obama, calling him a hypocrite for visiting Paris. In one Tweet: “Pres Obama you got nerve while u sightseeing in Paris to tell us’time to deliver’ on health care. We still on skedul/even workinWKEND.” And another: “Pres Obama while u sightseeing in Paris u said ‘time to delivr on healthcare’ When you are a ‘hammer’ u think evrything is NAIL I’m no NAIL”
