Rubio: Clinton Talks Highlight "Everything That's Wrong With Politics"

Marco Rubio, Florida’s Republican Senatorial candidate, is describing reports of President Bill Clinton’s attempt to talk his opponent out of the race as “a reminder of everything that’s wrong with politics in Washington.”

“This is basically an attempt to rig a backroom deal,” Rubio said during an appearance Friday on Fox News. “This is exactly what’s wrong in American politics today.”

According to a report from Politico, Clinton came close to securing Democrat Kendrick Meek’s departure from the race, a move that would clear the field for moderate independent candidate Charlie Crist, who is currently trailing Rubio. Meek follows behind both.

Rubio’s camp also sent out an email questioning the White House’s involvement in the negotiations. 

“We … know that Crist personally talked with Clinton’s senior adviser and the White House,” the email reads. “But here’s what we don’t know: 1. What specifically did the White House know about this deal?  2. Who at the White House did Crist talk to? 3. Was the White House aware that Crist had agreed to caucus with the Democrats in exchange for Meek dropping out?”

The White House came under fire from Republicans earlier in the year when reports surfaced that Clinton had tried to convince Pennsylvania Democrat Joe Sestak to drop a primary challenge against Arlen Specter in exchange for an advisory position.

Clinton did not offer Meek a job, according to a Democratic source cited by Politico. Instead, Clinton reportedly argued that the decision would help open up future opportunities for Meek.

White House Downplays Rumors Of An Obama-Clinton Ticket

The White House is attempting to play down rumors that President Obama could consider picking Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as his running-mate in the 2012 Presidential election.

“It is … absolutely untrue,” White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters during a gaggle Wednesday. “It’s not a discussion that’s happening.”

Although rumors that Clinton could replace current Vice President Joe Biden have circulated since the early days of the administration, an interview with veteran journalist Bob Woodward on CNN Wednesday evening, wherein Woodward said the idea was on the table, reignited them.

Gibbs emphasized Wednesday that Biden continues to play a key role in the administration.

“The President would tell you that the decision to pick Joe Biden to be the Vice President was one of the best decisions he’s made,” Gibbs said. “Joe Biden is doing an extraordinary job handling an array of very difficult issued.”

The Press Secretary added that he was unsure where the rumors sprang from.

“This was a little bit of a head scratcher,” he said.

Clinton Issues Solemn Warning Against Violent Rhetoric As Bombing Anniversary Approaches

As the 15th anniversary for the Oklahoma City Bombing approaches, former President Bill Clinton gave his perspective on today’s similarly heated political climate and issued a solemn warning to pundits and politicians alike to watch their words.

“There is a difference between criticizing a policy or a politician and demonizing the government that guarantees our freedom and the public servants that implement them,” Clinton said Friday during remarks before the Center for American Progress. “The more prominence you have in politics or media ... the more you have to keep that in mind.”

The two term Democrat explained that he was not troubled by the political bickering surrounding the health care debate, and stressed that disagreement is an important part of American politics. However, said Clinton, a line should be drawn when violence becomes a feasible risk.

“All you have to do is read a paper every day to see how many people there are who are deeply, deeply troubled,” Clinton said. “There are people who advocate violence and anticipate violence.”

The former president also addressed the conservative activists that have staged dozens of “tea party” protests nation-wide since President Barack Obama assumed office.

“The Boston tea party was about ... no taxation without representation. It was not about representation by people you didn’t vote for and didn’t agree with but can vote out in the next election.”

Added Clinton, “They say they’re for limited government and a balanced budget. When I left office we had the smallest workforce since Eisenhower and we had four surpluses for the first time in seventy years.”

Clinton: For Every Dollar We Spend, We Must Show Results

By Benny Martinez - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the House Foreign Affairs Committee Wednesday that the State Department’s FY2011 budget request has increased to $52.8 billion, a $4.9 billion increase over 2010.

$3.6 billion will be directly allocated to supporting efforts for what Clinton referred to as “frontline states”; Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq.

“These figures are more than numbers on a page,” Clinton said. “They tell the story of challenges we face and the resources we need to overcome them.”

Clinton said that the investments in these nations will focus on security, developing democratic institutions and ensuring that the right personnel are adequately trained in order to take full advantage of these investments.

“For every dollar we spend, we have to show results,” she said.

In her opening statement, Clinton said there will be an increase in civilian presence in Afghanistan, and continued efforts to develop institutions and increase economic opportunities.

Regarding Pakistan, Mrs. Clinton said investments will concentrate on combating and diluting extremism. Iraqi investments will be allocated toward reducing our military presence and increasing our civilian presence.

Clinton also emphasized that despite a $2.6 billion dollar investment in Iraq, the Department of Defense’s budget for the country will decrease by nearly $16 billion, “a powerful illustration of the return on civilian investment.”

The Mrs. Clinton expressed optimism over the State Department’s budget request, saying it “will help build the foundations of peace, stability and prosperity in these ‘frontline states.'”

Secretary Clinton: Iran Could Become A Military Dictatorship

The apparent shift in power from Iran’s government to the country’s Revolutionary Guard signals the rise of a military dictatorship, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Tuesday.

“The Government of Iran, the supreme leader, the president, the parliament, is being supplanted,” Clinton explained during a town hall exchange at a Qatar-based university. “Iran is moving toward a military dictatorship.”

Clinton down-played the possibility of a U.S. led attack against the Islamic Republic, stating that the sanctions being pursued currently by the U.S. should offset the need for military action.

“We are planning to try to bring the world community together in applying pressure to Iran through sanctions adopted by the United Nations that will be particularly aimed at those enterprises controlled by the Revolutionary Guard,” Clinton said.

However, the Secretary did stress that the U.S. will be prepared to defend itself if the needed.

“We will always defend ourselves,” said Clinton. “We will always defend our friends and allies. And we will certainly defend countries here in the Gulf who face the greatest immediate nearby threat from Iran.”