Clinton team compares Obama to Starr

Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign on Thursday compared rival Barack Obama to independent prosecutor Kenneth W. Starr, the Clintons’ chief nemesis of the 1990s.

Clinton declined to comment on the comparison, made by her chief spokesman in a conference call with reporters and in a memo distributed by the campaign.

Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson said Obama’s statement that he planned to be more critical of Clinton’s record was reminiscent of the attacks the Clintons endured during investigations in the 1990s.

“After a campaign in which many of the questions that voters had in the closing days centered on concerns that they had over his state of preparedness to be commander in chief and steward of the economy, he has chosen instead of addressing those issues to attack Sen. Clinton,” Wolfson told reporters. “I, for one, do not believe that imitating Ken Starr is the way to win a Democratic primary election for president.”

Starr was appointed independent counsel in 1994 to investigate the Clintons’ real estate dealings that became known as Whitewater.

His investigation grew to other topics, including the death of Deputy White House Counsel Vince Foster, a close friend of Hillary Clinton’s, and the Monica S. Lewinsky affair. Starr’s findings formed the basis for President Clinton’s impeachment.

Many Democrats think the Starr investigation was politically motivated. Injecting Starr into the debate is a way for Clinton to depict herself as a victim of enemies out to get her. She’s already complained about the media being against her.

After losing three out of four contests Tuesday night, Obama told reporters Wednesday that he planned to increase his criticism of Clinton’s record.