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CRP CHAIRMAN RON NEHRING ISSUES STATEMENT ON HILLARY CLINTON'S DEBATE DODGE BALL

CRP CHAIRMAN RON NEHRING ISSUES STATEMENT ON HILLARY CLINTON'S DEBATE DODGE BALL

(SACRAMENTO) - California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring today issued the following statement in response to yesterday's debate responses by Democrat presidential candidate Senator Hillary Clinton:

"Today may be Halloween, but after seeing the Democrats performances in their presidential debate yesterday, we can all agree that the biggest nightmare for our country would be having Hillary Clinton in the White House.  Clinton continued to duck and dodge every tough issue and question, refusing to give straight answers and often times providing conflicting answers to statements made as recently as within the past few weeks, months, even minutes before. 

"The people of California deserve a leader who is candid, straightforward, and forward looking, not one more concerned with spinning and stringing together contradicting, conflicted, and confusing answers to serious questions."

Hillary Continued A Strategy Of "Avoiding Direct Answers To Questions." "[S]he continued her strategy of avoiding direct answers to questions: She wouldn't say how she would address Social Security; she declined to pledge whether she would stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, or say whether she supports giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants." (Nedra Pickler, "Clinton Gets No Love In Democrats Debate," The Associated Press, 10/31/07)

Hillary Dodged Questions About Release Of Papers From Clinton Presidential Library:

When Asked If She Would Release Papers From The Clinton White House Years, Hillary Responded That It Was Not Her "Decision." Russert: "But there was a letter written by President Clinton specifically asking that any communication between you and the president not be made available to the public until 2012. Would you lift that ban?" Hillary: "Well, that's not my decision to make ...." (Sen. Hillary Clinton, Democrat Candidates Presidential Debate, Philadelphia, PA, 10/30/07)

• "In An Exchange Sure To Inflame Clinton Critics, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton Side-Stepped A Question Over Whether She Would Approve The Release Of Presidential Papers Related To Her Role In The White House During Her Husband's Presidency." (Susan Davis, "Clinton Papers At Issue," The Wall Street Journal's "Washington Wire" Blog, blogs.wsj.com, 10/30/07)

Hillary Dodged Question On Illegal Immigration:

Hillary Refused To Answer Whether She Supports Giving Driver's Licenses To Illegal Immigrants. "Near the end of a Democratic debate Tuesday where she deflected most darts aimed at her by her rivals, White House hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) just would not say whether she backed a proposal by New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer to give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants." (Lynn Sweet, "Hillary Waffles On Immigration," Chicago Sun-Times, 10/31/07)

New York Post's Charles Hurt: "She tied herself up in knots - in a way her opponents couldn't - with her non-answer about whether she favors giving driver's license to illegal aliens." (Charles Hurt, "Foes Couldn't KO Her - So She Socked Herself," New York Post, 10/31/07)

• Hurt: "Her evasiveness on the most talked-about issue in the state reminded everyone of the worst of husband Bill and what could be in store if another Clinton makes it to the White House." (Charles Hurt, "Foes Couldn't KO Her - So She Socked Herself," New York Post, 10/31/07)

The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder: "[T]he way Clinton answered this [drivers license] question provided her opponents with a point of evidence to attack her credibility and character." (Marc Ambinder, "Before The Scramble To The Spin Room, Some Thoughts," The Atlantic's "Marc Ambinder" Blog, marcambinder.theatlantic.com, 10/30/07)

Hillary Dodged Question On Why She Has Two Positions On Social Security:

NBC's Tim Russert Asked Hillary Why She Had Two Positions On Social Security - A "Public Position" And A "Private Position." Russert: Senator Clinton, I want to clear something up which goes to the issue of credibility. You were asked at the AARP debate whether or not you would consider taxing, lifting the cap from $97,500, taxing that, raising more money for Social Security. You said, quote, It's a no. I asked you the same question in New Hampshire, and you said no. Then you went to Iowa and you went up to Tod Bowman, a teacher, and had a conversation with him saying, I would consider lifting the cap perhaps above $200,000. You were overheard by an Associated Press reporter saying that. Why do you have one public position and one private position?" (Sen. Hillary Clinton, Democrat Candidates Presidential Debate, Philadelphia, PA, 10/30/07)

Hillary Dodged The Question, Claiming She Didn't Have Two Positions And Dismissed Her Suggestion To Iowa Voter Of Lifting The Income Cap For Social Security Taxes. Hillary: "Well, Tim, I don't. I have said consistently that my plan for Social Security is fiscal responsibility first ... Russert: "But you did raise it [lifting the tax cap] as a possibility with Tod Bowman?" Hillary: "Well, but everybody knows what the possibilities are, Tim. Everybody knows that. But I do not advocate it. I do not support it. I have laid out what I do believe, and I am going to continue to emphasize that." (Sen. Hillary Clinton, Democrat Candidates Presidential Debate, Philadelphia, PA, 10/30/07)

FLASHBACK TO LAST DEBATE: When Asked At The Last Debate About Her Plan For Fixing Social Security, Hillary Repeatedly Avoided The Question And Refused To Offer Any Specifics. Russert: "But you would not take lifting the cap at $97,500 off the table?" Hillary: "Well, I'd take everything off the table until we move toward fiscal responsibility and before we have a bipartisan process. I don't think I should be negotiating about what I would do as president. You know, I want to see what other people come to the table with." ... Russert: "So, Senator, a simple question, a simple question: What do you put on the table [for solving Social Security]?" ... Hillary: "I'm not putting anything on the proverbial table until we move toward fiscal responsibility." (Sen. Hillary Clinton, MSNBC Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Hanover, NH, 9/26/07)

• RE-LIVING HISTORY: MSNBC's Chris Matthews: "Bill Clinton never took a position on reform of any entitlement program. ... [I]t's a very cynical move because you're saying to the public I am not telling you anything I intend to do." (MSNBC's "Hardball," 9/26/07)

Hillary Dodged Question About The Alternative Minimum Tax:

"Clinton Also Wavered When Asked If She Backs A Plan Put Forward By One Of Her Chief Supporters, Rep. Charles Rangel Of New York." (Mark Z. Barabak and Peter Nicholas, "In Debate, Rivals Say Clinton Is Too Divisive," Los Angeles Times, 10/31/07)

Hillary Would Not Commit To A Specific Plan Dealing With The Alternative Minimum Tax. "Rangel has suggested repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax, which has proved a burden to some middle-class Americans, and imposing a 4% surtax on individuals earning more than $150,000 a year or families making more than $200,000. Clinton said she agreed with Rangel's goal but did not like ‘all the details' and declined to commit to a specific approach." (Mark Z. Barabak and Peter Nicholas, "In Debate, Rivals Say Clinton Is Too Divisive," Los Angeles Times, 10/31/07)