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Bill: Hillary's Tougher than Mandela and Rabin

January 07, 2008 11:08 AM

I know former President Bill Clinton's frustrated that Iowa (and soon New Hampshire) voters aren't seeing in his wife what he sees, but some of his vouching is taking on a rather overstated tone.

Just a few days ago, in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, the former president said, "I have been blessed in my life to know some of the greatest figures of the last hundred years. Because of what you did. You, you gave me the chance to be president. You voted for me twice here, and I'm very grateful.

"I go to Nelson Mandela's birthday party every year and we're still very close. I believe if Yitzhak Rabin had not been murdered in 1995 we would have peace in the Middle East. I loved him as much as anyone I've ever known.

"But if you said to me today, 'I'm gonna give you one last job for your country  -- go and do this -- but it's hazardous and you may not get out with life and limb intact and you have to do it alone except I'll let you take one other person,' and I had to pick one person whom I knew who would never blink, who would never turn back, who would make great decisions under pressure and would never forget what the purpose of being there was, I would pick Hillary of the people I've known and I would never even think about it. It would be an easy choice."

Listen to the former POTUS HERE. (The audio is not great, but it works with the transcript.)

High praise. Because Mandela and Rabin are/were some pretty tough dudes.

1993 Nobel Peace Prize Winner Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, was incarcerated at Robben Island Prison, off Cape Town, from 1964 until 1982, and at Pollsmoor Prison until 1980. 

Under the command of 1994 Nobel Peace Prize Winner Yitzhak Rabin, the Israeli Defense Forces won the Six Day War against Egypt, Syria and Jordan in 1967.

-- jpt



January 7, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (95)

User Comments

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@Braintease

Thinking in response to your comment, the more it seems to me Obama wouldn't have the experience. Gordon Brown has got an awesome intellect, in addition to which he just spent ten years running the UK ecmonomy as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Believe me, since he took over from Blair, if it can go wrong for him it has. He seems to be getting a grip of it now, but he was in danger of getting swamped up until Christmas. If it happens to a man with immense experience of politics, leadership and delaing with pressure, I just think Obama would be doomed.

Posted by: IanH | Jan 8, 2008 12:01:25 PM

At this point I am not sure who I will vote for (leaning towards Edwards)-- But one thing is for sure--The Clintons are about to implode and tell us how stupid we are for not voting them back in--- I now remember their hypocrisy, and them treating us like children telling us how stupid we are--
Maybe it is time for us to tell them we are through-- Move on Mr. and Mrs Clinton-- You do not have the experience Hillary anymore than Obama that is-- Edwards and McCain have real experience.
Implosion begins at 10 p.m. tonight---

Posted by: Jeff | Jan 8, 2008 11:58:41 AM

Hillary tougher than Jesus.

Posted by: Taylor | Jan 8, 2008 11:14:47 AM

It's really amusing watching the Clinton Team (aka Bill and Hillary) implode. They don't know what it means to lose like this. They're used to the media and the crowds adoring them and believing every ball-faced lie they've told... and they've told some whoppers. Now, they're trying to figure out how to turn this thing around and nothing is working. You can actually see the desperation in their eyes and hear it in their voices. Of course Bill would take Hillary on his "final mission," and now we just wish he would.

Good-bye Clintons. Your corruption will never be forgotten... just go... fade away quietly and live out your years somewhere in private, doing whatever it is that you do when not on a platform spewing out lies and anger and hate for the Republicans. Just go.

Posted by: Braintease | Jan 8, 2008 10:12:34 AM

Firstly,

Bill comparing his wife to Nelson Madela is as offensive as it is foolish.

@IanH:

We have someone in office that is "EXPERIENCED" now and he made JOKE out of this country. With that said people need to lay off the experience thing. OBAMA is the ONE!!!

I mean Senator Clinton was teh First Lady for 8 years and shes been Senator for a few years.. That isnt that much experience..

To me most importantly about OBAMA is that he was a COMMUNITY ORGANIZER which means he understands what is going on in the places that need the MOST CHANGE.. He is inspirational he is the man that will get people to participate in politics by calling Congress and things like that. He is the ANSWER to this Americas problems!!


Posted by: Tay | Jan 8, 2008 9:28:11 AM

Sen. Obama can be perfect for this job. He is young and he will change a corrumption system in United Nations. He will not support the presidents who caused genocide as Paul Kagame. He will stop supporting corrumption in International Criminal Court at Arusha in Tanzania. The justice will win. And he will encourage change and democracy everywhere. His light will not be swichted off.

Posted by: Tuyisenge | Jan 8, 2008 9:20:07 AM

its time for amerika to have a female leader.amerika should have a mother which have a heart for everyone.we all knew sen.hillary clinton.its time for amerikans to give the whithouse for a woman to run a government.

we all youth in phil.are supporting for that call,together wiht our relatives in amerika are already a residence.thank you

Posted by: nestor demate | Jan 8, 2008 8:03:25 AM

As a Brit watching from outside, I'd be wary of having Obama as Prime Minister simply because of lack of experience. Gordon Brown is having a nightmare over here having taken over from Blair, and there are NO more experienced or intelligent politicians than that guy anywhere in the world.

Posted by: IanH | Jan 8, 2008 5:53:37 AM

America needs a mother in Hillary. Let us vote for her!

Posted by: romulo rivera | Jan 8, 2008 1:25:01 AM

Correction:

Mr Edwards Haircuts were $400.00 each
and two were paid for with campaign funds
and apparently repaid to the funds.

The rest stands

Peace

Posted by: David | Jan 7, 2008 10:59:17 PM

It's easy for Mr.Edwards to parade this unfortunate family and portray the loss of
their precious child as something he could have changed.
remember John Edwards 400 haircuts 9I think he was caught on 2) and that he has
a standard of living that allows it yet he
was nothing but a prostitute for the insurance companies , at their beck and call. And God only knows why he has his Dear Wife who is terminally ill out on the campaign trail and makes fun of
Senator Clinton for shedding a tear
this morning, does he do that when his wife has pain, I think he should recuse
himself from the election process and spend his wife's final time with her
and their family, he only cares about
John Edwards The Lying Lawyer
The King of Pain, a Obnoxious Scab

Posted by: David | Jan 7, 2008 10:55:29 PM


There should be a sign for this forum "KNEEJERKED REPUBLICANS IN SESSIONS, PUNCHING BELOW THE BELTS ARE IN PROGRESS!"

Posted by: dick cheney | Jan 7, 2008 10:22:16 PM

Bill, in all honesty Mandela is in a league of his own and comparing Hillary to him is greatly insulting

Posted by: Susan | Jan 7, 2008 9:47:02 PM

High praise but hollow. While I'm sure she runs the Clinton household with an iron fist, to put her in Mandela or Rabin's league for toughness is at best insulting. If she spent 27 days in a supermax I might be able to buy the comparison but everytime she's been tested by someone, she's caved. She caved to Bill, in the whole Monicagate era. She caved to Bush repeatedly in the Senate. She is now caving to change. Yeah, I see Mandela in that comparison.

Posted by: Russell | Jan 7, 2008 7:57:39 PM

I hope Bernie is right, all these Gen Y and GenXers, up and coming so called independants voting in these primaries it is scarier that they all jump on a bandwagon of popularity rather than vote on substance. What is the world coming it disgust me.

I just hope the big 22, where most independents can't vote that people wake up and don't vote like it is some kind of popularity contest in middle school, but a national election.

And bronx boy has probably got it right in order for the Republicans to win, Obama needs to trump Hillary, of Obama is a democratic canidate definately then the west and south will go Republican.

As I have said before Obama is a "Republican in democrates clothing" a political ploy. Oprah is a millionare and millionares afford a lot to lose by having a truly democratic president. When big business will have to take a step back. So who is self serving if anything it is Oprah and her political ploy.

What exactly did Obama ever do for Illinois?

America is going to be in trouble if this is our choice, and then we most likely will have a Republican and office again, for as far as I see it I would rather vote for Romney, McCain or Huckabee over Obama who lacks substance.

All he has right now is Oprah's people wwriting his sooo inspirational speeches, that pathetically move this brianwashed public of ours. It is pretty scary that is what it comes down to a man with empty promises and no laid out plans of change.

America is in trouble and needs to wake up from the fantasy it seems to be living. Maybe to much so call reality TV has got us where we are today. But unfortunately this is not a reality game show, for all of the american public is at stake.

Posted by: DV | Jan 7, 2008 6:56:46 PM

Yeaaaahhhh, Hillary tougher than Mandela????? I'ld like to see her spend 27 years in a South African prison camp doing hard labor!! Where does Bill get his train of thought? Why doesn't he just go away? His legacy, presence and asinine comments only undermine any chance Hilary has.

Posted by: ROB | Jan 7, 2008 6:42:45 PM

Henry Shu was sent to 5 years in prison for illegal Democratic campaign lobbying; he is going to talk to reduce his sentence; he is going to admit to connections to the Hillary Clinton Campaign and that Hillary knew about "all" his going ons. That is why Hillary was crying, that is why Bill compared her to Mandela, because she is going to go to prison. Whre is the media on this?

Posted by: No to Dems in 2008 | Jan 7, 2008 4:48:30 PM

Hillary is no status quo, it is Bill's record and experience. I wish I could get my husband's salary because of my experience with "living" with him. However, with Obama: where is the beef?

Posted by: Jay White | Jan 7, 2008 4:44:53 PM

I think you mean he was in Pollsmoor till 1990, not 1980. Please correct this. Thanks.

Posted by: anon | Jan 7, 2008 4:44:47 PM

I think you mean 1990. Please correct this. Thanks.

Posted by: anon | Jan 7, 2008 4:43:57 PM

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