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Bill Clinton Contradicts Hillary on Running 'The Bureaucracy'

January 25, 2008 5:23 PM

The hydra that is Team Clinton is powerful, intelligent, and not always consistent.

Yesterday in Walterboro, SC, former President Bill Clinton said that “the President is not called the 'Chief Executive Officer of America' for nothing.  You don’t run the bureaucracy but you are responsible for seeing that your ideas turn into positive changes in other people’s lives.”

(Listen to it HERE.)

Isn't that pretty much what Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, said and was HAMMERED by Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, for saying?

Let's go to the transcript….

The original quote that so offended Sen. Clinton was in the Reno Gazette-Journal, when Obama said, "I don't think there is anybody in this race who can inspire the American people better than I can. And I don't think there is anybody in this race who can bridge differences ... better than I can. But I'm not an operating officer. Some in this debate around experience seem to think the job of the president is to go in and run some bureaucracy. Well, that's not my job. My job is to set a vision of 'here's where the bureaucracy needs to go.’”

At the Vegas debate, Clinton pushed back on what Obama said, repeatedly, countering that "I think you have to be able to manage and run the bureaucracy."

And in an interview with Bloomberg the next day, she said she was “taken aback” by Obama's admission. "I think it’s important that we have a president who understands that you have to run the government,” she said.

And on and on.

And then yesterday her husband -- who, presumably, would know -- said pretty much the complete opposite.

-- jpt

January 25, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (43)

User Comments

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This is the politics of anything goes, lies, distortions, divisiveness...and apparently it works! Check out the polls showing Hillary up 12 points in California, 23 points in New York.

Wake up America, is this really what you want for the next 4-8 years???

Tell Hillary 'no' on February 5th, and help heal this country.


Posted by: Alan | Jan 25, 2008 9:52:16 PM

I appreciate Mr. Trapper being one of the few people truly taking the Clintons to task on their outrageous words and actions.

It has been clear for some time now that the Clintons will say and do anything they believe will be politically advantageous. Unfortunately, their mindset is exactly the same as Karl Rove's. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I'd ever see Democrats, especially an ex-President who I admired and voted for twice, stoop to this disgraceful level.

How a person runs their campaign says everything about how they will run their White House. We saw it with Bush/Rove. We're seeing it with the Clintons. We've had enough. They will continue to destroy this country the way they are currently destroying the Democratic Party. We have the power to change that at the polls.

Enough Bush/Clinton. Enough distortions and lies. Enough of do or say anything for power. We know what the definition of is is.

Posted by: Terri | Jan 25, 2008 9:48:33 PM

Yes, please vote for Obama on the day of your primary. But also please call the DNC, your representatives, and the three campaigns to tell them what you're thinking. I told them that I have every classic liberal position, on everything from Iraq to health insurance to gay marriage to climate change, but I'll campaign for McCain if Hillary is the nominee.

I've always been told by friends in politics that a phone call is treated as more important than an email. So find the phone numbers and dial 'em!

Posted by: Dave | Jan 25, 2008 9:40:11 PM

As a woman, it is disappointing that Hillary is so dependent on Bill Clinton to drag her across the finish line in this campaign. It confirms she can't handle the job. Or that she is just a front for a third term for her husband Bill. They are not to be trusted. I am turning the page with Obama. He can unite us with bipartisan support and get the job done. And he can be truthful with us. And I find that most important. The Clintons just lie.

Posted by: Sis O, IA | Jan 25, 2008 9:40:02 PM

Will everyone who has posted comments about the Clintons' behavior in this campaign please talk to 10 undecided voters about what you have noticed? I'm glad we have the blogging community...there is also a world out there that doesn't even know the word 'blog.' Please reach out to them.

Posted by: kate | Jan 25, 2008 9:06:40 PM

I'm a democrat who voted for Clinton in 96 and was torn between Hillary and Obama, but seeing on what I've seen from Hillary has convinced me that they are exactly the same peopple that we're running away from. They would do and say anthing to win the presidency. Don't be fooled, this is a team effort on their part to take over power.

Clintons are from the same gutter as Cheney and Bush. Say no more to "karl Rove" Politics. Obama is the intellingent, ccomplished, uniting and insipiring leader that we need right now.

Posted by: Ray | Jan 25, 2008 8:46:04 PM

Alright everybody. I see we are all in agreement here. We may be talking but let's put this man in office. Let's PLEASE put this man in office. I am with all of you. I too have seen the trash these people have dealt and I have written to the DNC about it along with thousands and thousands of others. And I'm not kidding! BE SURE TO VOTE FOR HIM when the time comes. We can all change this so quickly. VOTE FOR HIM!

Posted by: Sandy | Jan 25, 2008 8:42:34 PM

IF THAT DOESN'T SHOW YOU THAT SHE IS NOT READY TO LEAD THIS COUNTRY, WHAT WILL?

Posted by: KHALIL | Jan 25, 2008 8:37:58 PM

Please the vote out for Obama. I believe we can keep the bad guys from winning this time. But it's up to us to saying 'Enough!' to a government me can't trust, much less respect.

Posted by: Lmoo | Jan 25, 2008 8:33:43 PM

As Molly Ivins famously said, "When someone tells you who they are, believe them."

Jake, I think you missed the message there. Team Clinton plans to divide up the job of President as follows:

Bill: Chief Executive Officer of America. Not running the bureaucracy, but responsible for seeing that their (i.e., his) ideas turn into positive changes in other people’s lives.

Hillary: Managing and running the bureaucracy.

Posted by: Tom J | Jan 25, 2008 8:26:11 PM

At this point, Bill and Chelsea are probably the only ones who could believe in her.

I hope South Carolina isn't fooled by all their dirty politics and tactics. Bill has been unbelievable even for him. I'm hearing now their tactics to divide the vote down racial lines might be working.

Vote for Obama South Carolina. We are better than this and have come to far.

Posted by: A Texan for Obama | Jan 25, 2008 8:23:40 PM

People don't waste your vote to make a difference!!! Don't vote for Hillary just because she is a woman. Don't voter for her just because you remember Bill. Look at them now. They both have done unforgivable things throughtout this campaign. People like this should not run our country. Obama is in this for ALL OF US!!!!! Unlike the Clinton's who are in this for themselves and the power.
Please do your FACT CHECKS. Think of what kind of future we are handing to our children and grandchildren. They desreve better then this.

Posted by: Tired of the Clinton's | Jan 25, 2008 8:21:23 PM

Washington mafia or real change? A vote for Clinton is a vote for politics as usual...except even worse.

Posted by: Deborah | Jan 25, 2008 8:13:11 PM

hillary we are still waiting for those documents you are refusing to release.change begins by confessing and releasing all the stuff, then we can talk about your so called 35 years of experience. are you sure hillary you are doing this for yourself or for Bill. it is begining to show by the venomous tirade and attacks he is unleashing on Barack and the media personnel.

Posted by: nason | Jan 25, 2008 8:02:48 PM

Obama: now thats the President! He knows what a president does. Hillary lacks expirience to even know what the president does! My question who is going to led this country is it HILLARY or BILL. No MORE Clintons!!!

Posted by: Lian Lea | Jan 25, 2008 7:54:40 PM

I am so digusted with this Obama Grand standing .It was totally RUDE how he Hogged the Stage at the last debate.It took Edwards Calling him down and Reminding him that they had Three debaters not one.The Look he gave Edwards Gave me chills. What is America thinking Have we not had enough of arrogance in the White House to last a Life time?? The Clintons did well in the presidency for 8 years, at least he got us out of the red.

Posted by: GS | Jan 25, 2008 7:40:48 PM

It sounds like Sen. Clinton will attack Obama no matter what he says. If he says the sky is blue, her camp will come up with something to the contrary. She is obviously using the tatic of confusion, much like President Bush. She is continuously taking Sen. Obama's words and defining them to be what she wants the public to presume. I will not endorse anyone who's willing to result to such trickery. America has been bamboozled enough by its current president. Why is Sen. Clinton not defining her own visions to the public instead of "summarizing" everything Sen. Obama says? RED FLAG AMERICA: WE HAVE A CANIDATE THAT WILL WEASLE AND WORM TO GET AMERICANS TO BELIEVE WHAT SHE WANTS THEM TOO!

Posted by: Kiara | Jan 25, 2008 7:12:38 PM

I've called all three campaigns to let them know that, despite being as liberal a Democrat as you'll find, I simply won't be able to support Hillary in a general election. I just can't stand the thought of four more years without having any respect for my president.

Posted by: Dave | Jan 25, 2008 6:59:13 PM

If you are a voter who says they want "change" in washington, but then you support these two, who can't even CAMPAIGN differently, and continue the politics of slime, then you, voter, don't really want politics to Change....so stop fibbing.

Posted by: julien | Jan 25, 2008 6:58:34 PM

THE CLINTONS WILL SAY ANYTHING BUT CHANGE NOTHING.

Posted by: christ F | Jan 25, 2008 6:42:04 PM

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