Sen. Hillary Clinton Refuses to Acknowledge Making Mistake Over Voting for Iraq War

As Democratic Presidential contenders campaign across the nation, the war in Iraq continues to weigh on the minds of potential voters. Over the weekend, Senator Hillary Clinton had to face difficult questions from concerned residents in New Hampshire about her authorization of the Iraq war. During a town hall meeting on Saturday in Berlin, New Hampshire, Roger Tilton--who drove three hours from Nashua to see the Senator in person--questioned her.

Roger Tilton: I want to know if right here, right now, once and for all and without nuance, you can say that war authorization was a mistake. I, and I think a lot of other primary voters — until we hear you say it, we're not going to hear all the other great things you are saying.
Sen. Hillary Clinton: Well I have said, and I will repeat it, that knowing what I know now, I never would have voted for it. But I also (applause), I mean obviously you have to weigh everything as you make your decision. I have taken responsibility for my vote. The mistakes were made by this president who misled this country and this Congress into a war that should not have been waged.

Senator Hillary Clinton, speaking Saturday in New Hampshire. She was answering a question from audience member Roger Tilton who joins me now live from Manchester, New Hampshire. Welcome to Democracy Now!

* Roger Tilton, financial adviser in New Hampshire. He attended a town hall meeting in New Hampshire where Senator Hillary Clinton spoke, and asked whether her decision to authorize the war in Iraq was "a mistake."

Hillary Clinton has also said she would not rule out attacking Iran. She spoke earlier this month at a dinner organized by AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

* Sen. Hillary Clinton: "U.S. policy must be clear and unequivocal: We cannot, we should not, we must not permit Iran to build or acquire nuclear weapons. In dealing with this threat as i have said for a very long time, no option can be taken off the table."

Senator Hillary Clinton speaking February 1st at a dinner organized by AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Anne Miller is the Director of New Hampshire Peace Action -- And she joins me now from Manchester, New Hampshire as well.

* Anne Miller, Director, New Hampshire Peace Action.

Senator Barack Obama made a stopover in New Hampshire on Monday - one day after Hillary Clinton campaigned there. It was Obama's first trip to the influential primary state as an official Democratic presidential candidate. He officially entered the race on Saturday in his home state of Illinois. Speaking at an evening rally at the University of New Hampshire, Obama addressed the issue of Iraq.

* Sen. Barack Obama, speaking in New Hampshire.

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