[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/05/05/art.clinton.lafayette.ap.jpg caption=" Obama says Clinton scolded him about Iran before."]
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Hillary Clinton sounds too much like President Bush. That's Barack Obama's take on Clinton's threat to "totally obliterate" Iran if it attacks Israel.
Clinton initially made the comments a couple weeks ago, saying: "I want the Iranians to know that if I'm the president, we will attack Iran. In the next 10 years, during which they might foolishly consider launching an attack on Israel, we would be able to totally obliterate them."
Obama says this isn't the language we need right now. He says it's too similar to the kinds of things President Bush says, what Obama calls "bluster and saber rattling." Obama says Clinton is changing the rules right before an election. He said she scolded him about Iran before, saying "we shouldn't speculate about Iran, we've got to be cautious when we're running for president."
Clinton's not backing away from her comment. She says she wants to make it "abundantly clear" to Iran that if they attacked our ally Israel, they would face a "tremendous cost." However, Clinton adds that "nobody wants to go to war with Iran." She refuses to say whether she would order a nuclear response.
Here’s my question to you: Is Hillary Clinton’s comment that the U.S. could “obliterate” Iran if it attacked Israel with nuclear weapons appropriate?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Bob from Charlotte, N.C. writes:
Jack, I'm so beyond caring whether anything that comes out of that woman’s mouth is appropriate, true, honest, or worth my time to even listen to. She has and will say anything to try to steal this election. Appropriateness or truth have no meaning to her.
Robert from Fayetteville, Arkansas writes:
How many Americans does she put at risk by saying something so reckless?
Anthony from Worcester, Massachusetts writes:
Senator Clinton’s comments are absolutely appropriate. All the candidates have said an attack on Israel is tantamount to an attack on the United States. We need a president who will fight back and protect both Israel and the United States, not one who thinks just talking with Ahmadinejad will make everything okay.
Anne from Seattle writes:
I'm no fan of Hillary, but I was shocked at the stupidity of her remarks. She seems to be adopting Bush's cowboy politics and that is scary. Bush's administration has hurt our international ties and status. I don't want another president who makes decisions before consulting with advisers at home or our allies around the world. This irresponsible language is so much more damaging than anything in the Reverend Wright debacle.
Phil from Ashburn, Virginia writes:
Inappropriate and unwanted. She could have said that America will protect our friends and strongly react with all available options. Using words like that sounds like bullying.
Larry from Florida writes:
What’s to think about? We need to stand with our allies. They nuke our friends, we retaliate. That’s not war mongering! That’s common sense. It seems talking to Iran is like talking to the wall. No one hears it.
Annie from Atlanta writes:
She's using the fear card right out of the Republican playbook, taking pandering to new places. I expected more from her.