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Bill Clinton Says Hillary Tried to Join the Army

April 02, 2008 4:49 PM

A big Indiana national security endorsement today for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

9/11 Commission Vice chair Lee Hamilton, a former member of Congress from the Hoosier state, announced that he's backing the lanky Illinoisan.

Possibly to avoid being one-upped on Indiana national security politics, former President Bill Clinton told a crowd in Columbus, Indiana, today that his wife had tried to join the Army.

Listen to an excerpt HERE.

"I remember when we were young, right out of law school, she went down and tried to join the Army and they said 'Your eyes are so bad, nobody will take you,'" he said, after heralding her record on issues of concern to the military, such as body armor and access to health care.

I assume this is a version of the "Hillary Clinton tried to join the Marines" anecdote that then-First Lady Clinton told in 1994 that we wondered about since it's a story she never seems to have told again.

The original story was that in Fayetteville, Arkansas, in 1975, Hillary walked into a local Marines recruiting office. The Marine recruiter looked at her, she recalled, and asked how old she was. Twenty-seven, she said.

"He looked at me, and in those days that was before I learned how to wear contact lenses," Sen. Clinton told a crowd of women veterans in 1994. "I had these really thick glasses on. He said, ‘How bad's your eyesight?' I said, ‘It's pretty bad.' …Finally said to me, he said, 'You're too old. You can't see. And you're a woman.…But maybe the dogs would take you.'"

("Dogs" being a reference to the Army.)

Perhaps she did so -- and hence Bill Clinton's Army story today?

Or maybe he's conflating the two stories?

(Add that Bosnian sniper fire, and you might have something there that Julia Roberts would want to option.)

-- jpt

April 2, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (211)

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i think all the candidates are screwwy and i'm not voting this year from what who the candidates are trying to make us believe who they are is what america will want to be their next presidente'

Posted by: marc | May 23, 2008 12:39:50 PM

hillary clinton needs to quit the race i mean seriously shes an awful person you may as well call her america's next top hitler!

Posted by: gator gal | May 23, 2008 12:30:36 PM

Compare Hillary Clinton on the issues to Obama and it's like rookie vs pro!Let's end the mandates on NCLB and get a gas holiday ! Go Clinton !

Posted by: Peace Out For Unity | May 18, 2008 10:39:17 PM

Hey so nice to see so many totally round the bend US idiots commenting in here. It's no wonder you're the by far most despised people on the earth.

Posted by: Kourian | May 17, 2008 5:01:35 PM


She didn't try. She is lying again and again. Right out of law school? She would have at least been in as a JAG officer.

Posted by: Dave | Apr 7, 2008 2:13:11 PM

I agree with Randy (posted April 4, 2008) I am a female, and retired disabled US Navy vet. HillBilly cares less about all the long duty hours, separation from family, missed birthdays of our children, marital strains, and even the ultimate sacrifices our brave men and women are giving for our country. She is a disgraceful doggish troll, who questions our intelligence, when it only shows her lack of. She's a liar and cannot not be trusted to furhter any cause that doesn't benefit her. She lied again about a preganant woman dying from lack of health care. Every day it's another one. Her rep is talking NAFTA in Columbia while she's saying how much against it she is. HillBilly is trifling, putrid, wretched, and vile. I wouldn't vote for her to replenish the toilet paper at greyhound bus stations.

Posted by: Debra Erics | Apr 7, 2008 4:37:15 AM

I spent 10 years in the army. Got out because of bill. The clintons are an embarassment to this country. Draft dodgers & compulsive liars have no place in office to run this country.

Posted by: Jason | Apr 6, 2008 12:15:24 PM

Hey Bill, the Salvation Army does not count as military experience! You were Commander and Chief once, right?

Posted by: Not Born Yesterday | Apr 4, 2008 11:53:03 PM

Anyone who believes that she tried to join the army,navy or marines believes in the tooth fairy!

Posted by: Jerry/Fountain Valley | Apr 4, 2008 5:23:11 PM

Hillary has shown nothing but contempt for the military her whole life. She only supports the troops when it is in her best interest.

Bill saying that Hillary wanted better armor for the troops.

Did she forget that it was BILL that starved the military for 8 years.

We went to war with the supplies HE got us.

At least Bush made an effort to correct that.

Posted by: Alex L | Apr 4, 2008 5:09:39 PM

the only thing hillarys eye sight would have prevented her from doing is flying a plane or helicopter...let the lies continue

Posted by: godisnotreal | Apr 4, 2008 4:21:35 PM

I am a combat Veteran with 16 years in the service. I am getting ready to return to Iraq soon for my third OIF/OEF deployment and my sixth deployment overall. I am disgusted by Senator Clinton's claims as they dishonor all those who have served in our military forces. If Senator Clinton is elected I will be unable to serve under her leadership as it is inconceivable that I or any other service member would, could, or should serve a Commander in Chief that does not share our Core Values. Although I have disagreed with many decisions of current and past presidents, like any good Soldier I have saluted the flag and carried out my mission with Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless-Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage! That said, I am simply unwilling to serve under the leadership (if we can call it that) of a person whos character is so morally deprived.

Posted by: Randy | Apr 4, 2008 12:40:57 PM

In 1994 she claimed she tried to join the Marines. In 2008 Bill Clinton claims she tried to join the Army. Look out Hawaii, by the time she gets to you, Hillary will have tried to join the Navy. As a Viet Nam Vet, I find this whole thing laughable.

Posted by: Terry | Apr 4, 2008 10:16:28 AM

Bill and Hillary Clinton have told so many stories, for so many years, they believe that grass roots folks are dumb enough to buy into their stories of greatness. When is a lie, no longer a lie? I have it - When the lie is a "Clinton". Right now, somewhere, someone is going over Hillary Clinton's past interviews, public records, phone logs, etc. and the lies are going to flow like water. We will then be told that Hillary must have been under the stress of the Campaign Trail. What would be the motive for a U.S. Senator and Past First Lady, to lie? Why would a Clinton Lie? Da!

Posted by: Inspector | Apr 4, 2008 10:10:43 AM

I don't believe a WORD out of anybody's mouth with the name Clinton. She was called the "campus Commie" back in college. Doesn't anyone remember when the Clintons had to move out of the White House and they tried to steal property in the White House? Almost $200k and they got caught and had to put it back!!! FACT!!!

Posted by: BuffyOne | Apr 3, 2008 10:11:11 PM

GO HILLARY !!!!
WAS OBAMA Ever in the Military ?????
DID he even try - what about his wife?
Obama will not be elected - his judgment & backgroaund are far too questionable to be President of the UNITED States.

Posted by: Molly | Apr 3, 2008 9:11:09 PM

I think Hillary belonged to the same super-secret military team that John Kerry was part of when he went on a "secret mission" to Cambodia for President Nixon at a time when Nixon was not even in office. If you believe that whopper you also believe Hillary grabbed an M16 and swept those snipers off the runway in Bosnia so all those cute little kids could give her flowers. What next? Obama will say he tried to join the army, but they refused him because the military that produced men like Colin Powell was too racist. Demos can't even lie well.

Posted by: James | Apr 3, 2008 5:52:32 PM

I think Hillary belonged to the same super-secret military team that John Kerry was part of when he went on a "secret mission" to Cambodia for President Nixon at a time when Nixon was not even in office. If you believe that whopper you also believe Hillary grabbed an M16 and swept those snipers off the runway in Bosnia so all those cute little kids could give her flowers. What next? Obama will say he tried to join the army, but they refused him because the military that produced men like Colin Powell was too racist. Demos can't even lie well.

Posted by: James | Apr 3, 2008 5:52:20 PM

Hey...what does it matter. Ludacris has now endorsed Obama....so he is a shoe-in:
What a joke

Posted by: richard | Apr 3, 2008 5:23:29 PM

Well, is anyone here surprised? The Clintons, lying. My vision was 20/600, and I was accepted into the Army as an M.P. And I had a heart value defect. Yes, it's true. I knew many people who were as blind as bats without their glasses or contacts, but their vision was correctable to an acceptable level and there we all were, in, what was called at that time, the most effective form of birth control, the military issued glasses. They were as ugly as sin, I'll never forget basic training in those things. But this kind of disproves her claim.

Thank God, though, that she did not get in. I am sure this was another ploy with an covert attempt to gain something for her future political career, not serve her country. She and the card-burner deserve one another, but this country does not deserve them. Save us all!

This woman will stop at nothing at this point, her tactics are well-known in most circles. This claim takes the cake though.

Not a praying person, I now pray nightly that this woman doesn't not get in office. God help us then. Mark my words.

Posted by: Lisa | Apr 3, 2008 5:20:38 PM

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