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While speaking to reporters in Denver, former President Bill Clinton gaffed to the point where he had to downplay his remarks for fear they would be interpreted as pertaining to the current election and Obama’s campaign.
Here’s the report from The Hill:
DENVER — Bill Clinton appeared to undermine Sen. Barack Obama again Tuesday.
The former president, speaking in Denver, posed a hypothetical question in which he seemed to suggest that that the Democratic Party was making a mistake in choosing Obama as its presidential nominee.
He said: “Suppose you’re a voter, and you’ve got candidate X and candidate Y. Candidate X agrees with you on everything, but you don’t think that candidate can deliver on anything at all. Candidate Y you agree with on about half the issues, but he can deliver. Which candidate are you going to vote for?”
Then, perhaps mindful of how his off-the-cuff remarks might be taken, Clinton added after a pause: “This has nothing to do with what’s going on now.”
The comments are unlikely to be taken as an innocent mistake by those Democrats who continue to be angry with the former president for, they say, not supporting the Illinois senator wholeheartedly, if not implicitly undercutting him.
The controversial comments came just hours before Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), the former first lady and principal rival to Obama, was due to speak from the convention podium.
Democrats concerned about what the former president might say when he addresses the Democratic convention Wednesday night would likely have cringed at his remarks Tuesday to a group of foreign dignitaries.
The former president talked about the importance of a politician being able to deliver on his promises following an electoral victory and how voters factor in that ability to deliver when picking their candidate.
During the contentious and at times nasty nomination battle between Clinton and Obama, the Clinton campaign repeatedly pushed the question of whether Obama, a freshman senator, had the experience or the ability to deliver on his promises if elected. Clinton, they argued, was more suited to do so.
Ouch, the man just keeps stepping in it. In fact, it’s becoming somewhat comical now since both Bill and Hillary have been given prime time speaking roles at the convention. I’m not saying for sure someone dropped the ball, but there’s no way I would have invited Bill Clinton to have a major speaking role after the trouble he caused earlier in the primary season.
What do you think, was Bill speaking about Obama or did he just slip up?
(4 votes, average: 3.5 out of 5)
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Bill Clinton has had a colorful life. Girlfriends, dresses, cigars, taking home White House furnature. He was found guilty of draft dodging and leaving the Country. Luckily A pea nut farmer pardon him or he never had been President. Bad luck reached his income copasicity when he lost his law degree for lying under oath at his impeachment trial. He made up for that in Speaker income. But Bill don’t go back to old ways. Don’t try to lie out of trouble, again. You said what Biden and others have said. Obama is no ready to be President.
I know that Bill is very upset on how this primary played out, and is bitter. But, least we forget, he was still able to do his job as President, and almost all with a Republican ran Congress. No one man is an Island, but, I still miss the 8 years of getting to a balanced budget, no wars, a strong economy… In past conversations, I totally had gotten the sense that he truly loves his Country, and wants whats best for it and us. I do think, he speaks before he thinks his comments through at times, and has done so frequently most recently. I also believe, he feels betrayed by his base, and the true statements will show on Wednesday, when he speaks, thats where it really counts anyhow. I still think an Obama/Clinton Ticket, would have swept away the competition, not be in a statistical dead heat at this time, but only in November will we know how accurate this last hope of mine will be true or not…one thing I do know, is that we, cannot afford as a Nation, another 4 years of a Republican in the White House!
I don’t claim to be a mind reader and he didn’t say it outright, but it’s a bit of a stretch NOT to believe there’s any correlation between his remarks and this presidential campaign.
However, his original intent is moot. He’s a politician; he should know the repercussions of such slips of the tongue. Just as Hillary should have known better when citing the RFK assassination as a motive for staying in the race, Bill should know better than to make such a dangerous comment.
Excuss me.. Republican congress paasses budget Bill. Bill Clinton only ether signs or veto budget bill. Give thanks to Republic Congress that he had.
Didn’t Bill pardon more people in his last days of office than what Bush has done in his whole two terms thus far?
I think someone should muzzle Bill. He screwed it up for Hillary in the Primaries and he’s probably not going to do Obama many favours.
Haha, muzzle him on which end?
Nz, presidents traditionally pardon people before they leave office, so we will have to wait on Bush. His pardoning of Libby was an extraordinary case because it was in the midst of his term, not at the end. Clinton did pardon a lot more people than normal, but again, we will have to wait before comparing.
This whole pardon thing is ridiculous. Why do we have a justice system if the whole process can be derailed by a swift stroke of the pen? Clinton abused this executive “right”, I hope that Bush does not do the same.
Isn’t pardon given to the President by the Constitution. As such is legal and acceptable unless there is a ammendment?
Bill, always with the facts. I like your style. But in this case, I’m with Stalin pointing out he “abused” his legal right as President.
Moody- Did I say I disagee with him ? I hate Bill Clinton and his wife. You should get a petition stared and get pardon corrected. I would like to sign it. I want McCain elected. Obama is not qualified and never want him as President. His Pork belly spending that went to his wife hospital where she work,and then his wife getting big, big raise is my personal reason. I stick with facts, or try to do that. Soo many try to use foul feelings to make a candidate or whatever look bad. I try not to do that with facts. I hope you understand stand me better
I don’t see the ‘gaffe’, only the talking heads trying to read way too much into what is being said, and focused far too much on giving us their own analysis than on just lettings us access the same unfiltered info that they themselves have painstakingly researched.
Parse more than a sentence of what’s said, please, and take the man at his word when there’s no evidence to the contrary. We all want a better country - republican or democrat or neither. Nit-picking every little phrase and continually second-guessing and even insisting on unstated motives IS what removes the ideas from the public dialog that the candidates and even pundits do occasionally try to put in.
I personally think the reporter in this case should come under professional review for exceptionally low performance in restraining his own emotional point of view in his reporting, but that’s a matter between him (or her) and his entertainment industry employer.
Bill, your hate for the Clintons, Obama and the Democrats in general are plainly obvious.
Puddy Never said I like them. But I use FACT. You like insulting with your ugly lanuage.
If ugly language means wanting to spell correctly then I apologise, education isn’t such a bad thing.
Your wish to insult continues. Did you answer Babs on how you vote ? If you check articles I don’t hate Democrats in general. I was raised Democrat. My family except for Brother are mostly Democrat. You Do need Dr. Phil as you said.
I did answer Babs Bill, but not in this thread in another.
Dr.Phil is great, one of the funniest shows on TV, who’d have thought that there was that many nutters walking the street?
Dr Phill is funny? Sorry you see it that why. He helps people with their emotional woes. I don’t think that is a laughing matter. But enjoy.
Ninja Take the politican at his word. Don.t look at what he has done. Want to buy a bridge
Bill, Dr.Phil is a TV show that shows people who want to be on TV. It’s daytime Jerry Springer but without the chairs being thrown and the swearing.
nz You mad a bad call. I called you on it. Now your covering your tracks. You do go personal. You do make fun of people. My bad spelling and grammar. Jack got called on using too far out and insulting comments. You have not gone that level that I have seen. A person should not be judged by labels either. Not all liberals are equal. Same with conservatives. Liberals differ in views. My aim is to respect. Call those that demean.. Dr Phil helps. Though I rarely watch. If you were talking about Jerry or Steve W. I would have agreed with you.They throw chairs and totally funny. But those two shows purpose is not to help.
I have to say that I agree with former president Clinton when he said that it was a mistake choosing Obama as the democratic candidate. I honestly believe 110% that we don’t need him as our next president. And several of you may disagree.
Bill, your starting to lose me a little, I don’t know what the purpose is of your post and to be honest I don’t want to know either.
David, what do you mean when you say “we don’t need him as our next president” what would you actually need from a President?