Bill Clinton's "fairy tale" triggers pro-Obama backlash

The Associated Press

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Bill Clinton's "fairy tale" triggers pro-Obama backlash

The former president drew criticism for the "fairy tale" comment he made while campaigning in New Hampshire for his wife Hillary Clinton, Obama's main rival for the Democratic Party nomination in the November presidential election.

"Give me a break. This whole thing is the biggest fairy tale I've ever seen," Clinton had said in accusing Obama of distorting his stance on the war.

The most senior black in the Democratic congressional leadership, Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, told The New York Times on Friday that he may end his neutrality in his state's January 26 primary because of recent remarks by the Clintons, including the "fairy tale" comment.

Ben likes: The First Black President About To Lose His Standing?

Ed Morrissey/Captain's Quarters

Petards can be dangerous devices. For a couple who brag about their ties to the African-American community, these attacks on Obama seem uncharacteristically tone-deaf. Using terms like "fairy tale" to describe Obama's call for change and unity may say a lot more about the Clintons than it does about Obama.

Joel likes: The Attempts To Discredit Obama's Iraq War Stance Have

Thomas B. Edsall/Huffington Post

Obama's October 2, 2002, speech at an anti-war rally in Chicago in which he laid out his case against the war provides a very strong refutation of the case that his opposition to the war did not necessitate leadership and courage. The speech was exceptionally prescient, and it was a serious wager in direct opposition to the claims of the Bush administration, most of which went unchallenged by a majority of House and Senate Democrats at the time.