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The Bill Factor
January 10, 2008 11:26 AM
On CNN's Inside Edition Tuesday, former Bill Clinton/Al Gore senior strategist Donna Brazile expressed some disappointment at the comments the former President made about Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, at Dartmouth College the other day.
Read more about those comments HERE and read the whole CNN interview with Brazile HERE.
Back on Tuesday -- when everyone thought Clinton was about to lose New Hampshire (including, obviously, the Clintons) -- Brazile said that Bill Clinton "shouldn't take out all his pain on Barack Obama... It sounds like sour grapes coming from the former commander in chief, someone that many Democrats hold in high esteem. For him to go after Obama, using 'fairy tale', calling him a 'kid,' as he did last week, it's an insult. And I tell you, as an African- American, I find his words and his tone to be very depressing."
Appearing on CNN alongside conservative commentator Bill Bennett, Brazile said "If Bill Bennett had said some of the things Bill Clinton is saying about Barack Obama, I would have called Bill Bennett out of his name and said that Bill Bennett should shut his mouth, because he is -- is -- is not speaking in the right tone. I think his tone. I think calling Barack Obama a kid. He is a United States senator. He's experienced. The people of Illinois elected him. And, regardless of what kind of items are on his resume, this is a man who has worked all his life. He's proven -- he's been a college professor."
"I don't have to give Barack Obama's resume. I'm not for anyone at this point. But I think, for Bill Clinton to go out of his way to become a distraction to Hillary Clinton and to launch the kind of attacks on Obama, it's just out of character for Bill Clinton. I think it's time that he helps Hillary talk about her message and not go down this road."
Writes a reader to AndrewSullivan.com:
"I won't soon forget the sight of Bill Clinton - after all, still the titular head of the party - savagely attacking Obama's integrity at Dartmouth. Can anyone imagine, say, Harry Truman in 1960 traveling to West Virginia to deliver such a blast against John Kennedy? Or Lyndon Johnson in 1972 visiting New Hampshire to issue such a deeply personal, highly public condemnation of George McGovern? And yet virtually no one in the party suggested that he might have behaved inappropriately.
"I'm a lifelong Democrat who has never voted Republican for any office in my life. But in a McCain-Clinton contest, I'd vote for McCain. Though I disagree with him on many issues, at least he has integrity."
What do you think? Did you see racial overtones in what Clinton said? (For the record, I did not. But I am as white as the day is long.) Do you think the former president has damaged his credibility or behaved in a manner unbecoming a former president?
-- jpt
January 10, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (31)
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Unseemingly and history will judge Bill Clinton accordingly...
Posted by: Etam... | Jan 10, 2008 12:56:47 PM
Bill's comment about Obama's voting record was the 'fairy tale'. That's agreed, even by Jake. As to Bill's credibility--we all remember A, B, C, D, E, etc (to shorten this post, just fill in the Clinton scandals, lies, or embarrassments yourself). He is a viable force only to a few core Democratic groups these days--and Hillary already has that tired, old ensemble on her side. Yes, I was shocked that he called Obama a 'kid', and his campaign a 'fairy tale'. I'm even more shocked that anyone--anyone--under 50 listens to anything Bill says anymore.
Posted by: SteveW | Jan 10, 2008 12:47:46 PM
For bill Clinton this is personal and all he see is people attacking his wife, what would you do if some one was attacking your spouse unfairly and not being called out for it? The media never calls Obama or Edwards out when they critze Hillary and Bill is just sick of it, as a spouse I may have done the same thing to protect my love one.
Posted by: Kardasia_Prime | Jan 10, 2008 12:20:36 PM
Maybe not racial, but most definitely condescnding and patronizing. And as for your closing question about the ex-President damaging his own credibility, I thought that was settled long ago. Two words: Monica Lewinski.
Posted by: chuck | Jan 10, 2008 12:10:11 PM
Mr. Clinton's remarks appeared quite out of character and were perceived as distasteful. We all imagined this statesman to be somewhat above that but then again this is not the first time that Bill's integrity has been called into question. I can no longer support the Clinton's as much as I had in the past. Barrack Obama for President!
-CDR
Posted by: CDR | Jan 10, 2008 12:07:22 PM
It really doesn't matter what the Clintons
say, their going to loose anyway....
Posted by: Levi | Jan 10, 2008 11:57:07 AM
Bill Clinton is right. Donna Brazile should tell her fairy tales somewhere else. I suppose she has no problem with the attacks against Clinton in the debate or Kerry backing Obama? Let Kerry back him, it only shows that Obama is nothing but an insider.
Posted by: Geevill | Jan 10, 2008 11:47:03 AM
The Clintons need to apologize for their part in the war and their friendliness with the Bush family. America is sick of the Bushes!!!
Posted by: Mrs. Osipov | Jan 10, 2008 11:46:12 AM
As a former President and the nominal "head" of the Democratic Party B. Clinton said some things he probably shouldn't have said, but as a spouse to a candidate, his rhetoric was understandable, if not excusable.
Posted by: DKNY | Jan 10, 2008 11:44:25 AM
Sour grapes because Hillary beat the chosen one. You go Bill!
Posted by: Shuy | Jan 10, 2008 11:43:37 AM
He's in uncharted territory because he's a former pres and a wannabe first spouse. I don't think he has any sort of obligation to feign neutrality. Are any of the other candidate's spouses biting their tongues?
Posted by: cordelia525 | Jan 10, 2008 11:39:19 AM
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