APOLOGY NOT CALLED FOR

"She is a monster too ... she is stooping to anything. You just look at her and think: ergh. But if you are poor and she is telling you some story about how Obama is going to take your job away, maybe it will be more effective. The amount of deceit she has put forward is really unattractive."

Who is that monster? According to Samantha Power, one of Barack Obama's foreign policy advisers, it is none other than Hillary Clinton. Power made those remarks during an interview in London with the Scottish newspaper, The Scotsman, during which she said Clinton would stop at nothing in her zeal to seize the lead from Obama.

Soon after her remarks were published, Power, as well as Obama, issued an apology. Following demands by the Clinton campaign that she be fired, Power resigned from Obama's staff. But, did Power's remarks really call for an apology and her resigantion? Political expediency ruled the day. Personally however, I believe neither an apology nor the resignation was called for.

Maybe the term "monster" was a little strong, but everything Power said about Hillary was true. The relationship between Obama and Antoin "Tony" Rezko serves as a good example of Clinton's deceit. Rezko is a shady Chicago real estate investor who is now on trial in federal court for taking millions of dollars in kickbacks and for trying to shake down a Hollywood producer for campaign contributions.

Rezko has been a hefty contributer to Obama's campaigns and, some years ago, Barack also received a sweetheart land deal from him. In the week before the Ohio and Texas primaries, Clinton continually trashed Obama over his relationship with Rezko. Nevermind the shady Arkansas land deals, known as Whitewater, which she herself had made. Nevermind the dubious campaign contributions she has accepted over the years. Hillary is the kettle calling the pot black.

Clinton keeps complaining that Obama has been attacking her instead of talking about the issues. Nevermind the slash and burn strategy she has been waging against Obama throughout the campaign. She has perfected the art of trashing anyone she considers a threat. Hillary excoriated Gennifer Flowers, Paula Jones and other women with a vengence when they revealed sexual improprieties by hubby Bill. And now, after Obama promised to give her hell, Clinton is comparing him to Ken Starr, the much maligned (by the Clintons and their allies) former Whitewater special prosecutor.

Speaking of deceit, NAFTA has been a cornerstone of Bill Clinton's legacy, but while campaigning in Ohio which has lost thousands of jobs to that agreement, she joined in the criticism of NAFTA and promised voters she would change it if elected. And what about the Samantha Power flap? Was Hillary really offended by the monster characterization? Of course not! She loved it because it afforded her campaign the opportunity to divert attention away from Obama's message.

So when you look at "Hatchet Job" Hillary's past history and add to that her trashing of Obama - all talk, no substance; not ready to be commander-in-chief; less qualified than McCain - she does come across as a deceitful monster who will stoop to any level in order to destroy anyone who gets in her way. That is why I believe Power and Obama did not owe Hillary Clinton an apology. On the upside though, with the departure of Samantha Power there is one less anti-Israel adviser on Obama's foreign policy team.