TPM Cafe
Senator Chuck Schumer is now responding on behalf of fellow New Yorker Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama's quasi-attack on her from earlier today. As you know, Obama's campaign today sent out a memo highlighting a difference between he and Hillary at last night's debate over the question of whether the Bush administration's policies have left us less safe. No word from Camp Hillary on this. But now Schumer has stepped up for her with this: America is looking for a president who understands the threats the country faces and has the experience and strength to deal with them effectively. Despite the Bush administration's failures, America's first responders have worked tirelessly over the last six years to make the nation's cities and towns safer. As a Senator from New York, Hillary Clinton is grateful every day for their efforts. She has fought to build on the progress we've made in crucial areas like air safety and disrupting the terrorists' financial networks. So it sounds as if Schumer, too, is suggesting -- without directly addressing the question -- that he agrees with Hillary that "we" are safer. And his response is suggestive. Would saying we are less safe somehow betray an ungratefulness towards our first responders?