Political Punch

Power, pop, and probings from ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper

Political coverage and musings on pop culture from ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper and the ABC News White House team.

Subscribe to this blog's feed

Subscribe to Jake Tapper's "Political Punch" Podcast

Follow Jake Tapper on Twitter

MONTHLY ARCHIVES

November 2009
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30

« Previous | Main | Next »

The Bill Comes Due

April 26, 2008 12:57 PM

Lots of talk about former President Bill Clinton these days.

Perhaps, as Bono once said, too much talk.

He is a force out there on the trail, as ABC News' Sarah Amos reports.

And yet . . .

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., tells Fox News that “Many of the surrogates in the Clinton campaign of recent days have been saying things that have been angering African-American voters over again.

"I mean, who 'played the race card' on President Clinton?" Clyburn said, referring to comments made in an interview Clinton gave to WHYY-FM in Philadelphia and later denied making. "What does he mean by that unless he is trying to send some kind of signal on race?”

Clyburn, the highest-ranking African American in Congress, has remained neutral throughout this contest, but he has continually expressed concern about the tactics of the Clinton campaign.

"I am concerned … that the conduct of this campaign could very well make the nomination not worth having,” Clyburn told Fox. "“Our party is much bigger than Bill Clinton. It is much bigger than Sens. Clinton or Obama. It is a party that is here to serve the American people. … And I don’t want to see us conduct a campaign in such a way that it does irreparable harm to our being able to do that. When this campaign is over, if Hillary Clinton is the nominee, she cannot get elected president if 25 to 30 percent of black people vote for McCain. She is going to have … to have that same 92 percent of black people that Obama [has] now. And if [Obama] is the nominee, he is going to need her help and her husband’s help getting white voters that he is not now getting. And I don’t see how you can go back to these people and get them to vote for the nominee if you have done all these things and said all of these things about him during the campaign … because you are not going to be able to reverse field in the middle of general election."

The Wall Street Journal's Monica Langley today takes a look at what some "insiders" are calling the "Billification" of the campaign.

"Mr. Clinton has placed several of his own aides at headquarters, including his former lawyer and a bevy of strategists. Known as a bad loser, Mr. Clinton privately buttresses his wife's drive to push on, telling her, according to aides: 'We're not quitters.' On his own daily message calls, advisers say, he implores: 'We've got to take him on every time.' At the Clintons' Washington, D.C., home recently, these people say, he reviewed possible TV spots and told ad makers to be more hard-hitting, faster and harsher."

Langley says that Bill Clinton's "role has come at a cost -- to morale among some campaign staff, relations inside the Democratic Party and with African-American leaders, and in the view of some, his own legacy. He has lost considerable credibility with many party leaders, who, as 'superdelegates' to the party convention, will be crucial in determining who is the Democratic presidential nominee. ... 'Bill is blessed and cursed as a super-spouse," says one adviser. 'He can go off-message, but mostly he delivers big crowds and positive results. He's fully invested and involved every single day.'"

April 26, 2008 in Clinton, Hillary | Permalink | Share | User Comments (241)

User Comments

You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

There is a lot of talk about how Blacks should owe Bill Clinton our undivided loyalty and pay him homage for what he did for Blacks during his Presidency. Loyalty is something earned and something that has to be maintained. You can’t shake our hand one day and then slap us the next, and expect us to still be respect you. And even though, Bill has earned some of our loyalty, he did not maintain it, and insulted BOTH Blacks and WHITES, in South Carolina. It is a well known fact that the Clintons do NOT do anything unless it benefits them politically, so this may explain why Bill becomes so outraged when some of his pawns failed to play by his rules – but this is politics. So many of us refused to become pawns in this political game – this is our right.

Blacks are not so naïve that we will follow Bill Clinton blindly. If Bill Clinton was running for the presidency, then he would have our support, but Hillary isn’t Bill, and from her own admission they both have different policies and agendas (i.e. NAFTA). If Hillary is so much of a stronger candidate then there is absolutely no reason why her campaign should have gone negative, regardless or not if this is just old politics. In the beginning, I was originally a Hillary supporter only because of Bill, which was foolish, and naïve, but watching her campaign from the beginning, I started to realize that she isn’t Bill and started to question what makes her more qualified than Barack. Being privileged to Top Secret information doesn’t make you qualified to be president, which our current president has proven. And remember this; Hillary did NOT have any Security Clearance, when she was in the White House, so what information did Bill ILLEGALLY divulge to her. If her presidency is going to be a joint presidency that she will share with Bill, then is she really capable of running this country by herself. Hillary makes claims that she obtained all of this experience during Bill’s presidency but she fails to produce any concrete evidences (do your research).

So for the many of you who wonder why so many Blacks support Barack, the answer comes down to who we trust more. Barack and Hillary policies are extremely similar and both lack any tangible experience, like most presidential candidates. But Hillary had a chance to show us that she can make the right decision at the right time, but she failed to vote against the Iraq War Resolution or at least raise any issues about, and this wasn’t at 3am in the morning. So we question her judgment under pressure. So again it comes down to who we trust. I’ve done some research on both the Clintons and Obama and have found more troubling things about the Clintons than I found on Obama. So please, do your homework, and I promise you that you will start questioning her honesty much more than her experience or lack of.

The reality is that Whites have always had someone in the White House that represented them, so why shouldn’t we desire the same? And remember this last thing, it will not be Blacks that put Barack Obama, in the White House, because we see him as being black, but it will be Whites that put Barack in the White House because they do not see him as being that. This proves that there is HOPE and maybe, we as a country, will finally come together.

“There will probably always be racism, in this country (both Blacks and Whites), but that doesn’t mean that we cannot take a break from it, now and then.”

Posted by: Kevin | Apr 29, 2008 12:31:01 AM

To put your trust in a lier is like putting your hand in hot oil and expecting not to get burnt.

There is something wrong with anyone who would spend more on getting a job than it pays.

Change, Change, Change! Ya my pockets and the democrats speeches are full of the word. It would be real nice if maybe they said what they wanted to change and how they were going to do it.

Posted by: rdotx | Apr 28, 2008 7:33:51 PM

I ask, from the bottom of my heart, that every single person who reads this post -- no matter which candidate you support -- to please read the following article:

Please read it carefully because the "New Politics" have arrived and I don't know that anyone saw it coming. This article isn't for or against any candidate.

It outlines how this election has changed the face of American politics forever through databases on the Internet, containing personal information voluntarily given at the time of donation, which can now be sold to the highest bidder in furtherance of their political goals.

Power-brokering in Washington has reached a terrifying new height, with ramifications that will last for years to come. Our elections will no longer be "free" ... the voters will be systematically manipulated to serve the ends of whomever purchases their name from the list. This power exceeds any lobby, any coalition, any PAC ... it surpasses them all in its power.

We need to stand up and speak out against this before it's too late.

Posted by: SM White, Irvine, CA | Apr 28, 2008 7:08:46 PM

I think a lot of you have blinders on. Of course Hillary is winning the larger states, she has bill on her side. Without him, she is just "Hillary", a gold digger. Obama has stood toe to toe with the clinton dynasty and is not doing bad. The problem is that the people in North carolina and Indiana are getting doped. Obama is trying to tell the truth but no one wants to hear it. Well, just listen to lying Hillary, who will ly at all cost. She hasn't paid her bills to date. She changes people who don't agree with her. It is laughable that she calls Obama an elistist when the clintons are banking 120 million in profit. Take off the blinders people so you can see the real Clintons.

Posted by: Priscilla | Apr 28, 2008 6:59:06 PM

Being a White older man,I got a question?

If you'd take a 2 year old Black Boy and a 2 year old White Boy in a room of toys together, would they get along? I believe they'd play together....And if they grew up they'd proably be friends! Only way they would fight is if Hatred was taught to either before hand!Children of all nationalities don't have a natural hate attitude unless they were taught that!And unfortunately I think that is what a majority of the problems in this world is about!

Posted by: Ed | Apr 28, 2008 6:20:09 PM

James Clyburn needs to shut his mouth and quit making inane statements about race as a way to gain air time to campaign for Obama. He is so transparent. Only the Obama crazed media would fall for his ramblings and try to pass them off to the public as "news".

Posted by: barb | Apr 28, 2008 5:21:48 PM

Helen- Your aassertion that polls show that people perceive Hillary as more trustworthy than Obama is not true. Gallop poll showed that "Hillary Clinton is rated as "honest and trustworthy" by 44% of Americans, far fewer than say this about John McCain (67%) and Barack Obama (63%)". I don't know which poll you got your information from but the ones I saw said just the opposite. Who was your souces on that or was it your perception? I would like to know so I can check it out.

Posted by: Gretchenmom | Apr 28, 2008 5:09:05 PM

Clyburn needs to shut up as well as Wright. Thes people are a discrage to all Americans and uses racial against black as an Excuse. This recial thing has been abuse and misused for their own interest to get away from responsibility.

Wright gave a long speech (I mean church sermon) last Sunday to see how good their church is. But that is not the issue. The issue is that both of them LIED and trying to mislead again the American people by saying good things. You can not fool the Americans. He said that Black preacher shouts when they preach. There is nothing wrong with shouting when preaching. What is wrong is that he shouted and mocked the entire nation specifically after the 9/11 attack. He and Obama need to start taking responsibility for their bad actions. He also sad that Obama is just a politician. Wright is also politician by giving his speech (sermon I mean) to cover up the bad comments he made and actually just justifying his mistakes and used the racial card as an EXCUSE. Being racial to African Americans are being overused, misused and is an EXCUSE for their personal interest. Really bad!!!

You and Obama lied and does not take responsibility of what you said. Instead you both make reason to justify you irresponsible and very degrading comments. You both mocked the Americans. Being bias to African American has been overused, misused and used as an EXCUSE so that theyt can get away from their bad actions/behavior. You can not fool America this time.

Beware North Carolinians and Indianians….Obama lied and just a Politician.

Mr. Wright, CNN interview, said Obama condemned his comments about american because Obama is a Politician. Yeah right, Obama wants to get away with it condemning Wirght's comments to get oput of trouble and still fool the Americans and the younger voters. Good job lying Obama. You don't tale responsibility for your action. You are a disgrace for all North Carolinians and Indianians. What's new? Obama lied just like Wright, Rezco and Ayers and he will continue to lie and overspent the voter's money just to win but still the loser.

Richardson suddenly came out at CNN after Hillary won Pennsylvannia. Why are you afraid? Yes you are because f Hilalry wins your personal ambition and interest will disappear. Richardson cannot be trusted and a traitor. Don't vote for him when runs for a Senator. He belongs to Wright, Rezco and Ayer who join any group or fraternity where he will benefit and not the Americans.

Obama’s motto and theme should be Pay per Vote. Obama overspent in Pennsylvannia and still came out the loser.

Look at the facts as to how strong Hillary is:

Obama lost in Pennsylvannia in spite of endorsement by a Senator and overspending in ads, 5 to 1.

Obama lost in Texas and Ohio even overspending in ads and manipulating info in Ohio.

Obama lost in California even though Oprah, Maria Shriver, and Katherine Kennedy endorsed him.

Obama lost Massachusetts even though Kennedy and John Kerry endorsed him.

Hillary won the big states and has more electoral college votes to date than Obama that is crucial in November.

Obama lost the big states even though the media is most of the time unfair with Hillary and always positive to Obama.

Wake up superdelegates! You will make the right choice if you pick Hillary.

Obama mocked the Pennsylvannians and the entire nation, which is so irresponsible and very degrading to all Americans. He is just like Wright who mocked the Americans and like Rezco and Ayers who we can’t trust.

Before you can have CHANGE, we first need SOLUTIONS and that is HILLARY.

Wake up superdelegates!

Posted by: Alfredo | Apr 28, 2008 4:08:43 PM

I think Cheb was pointing out the focus Barack has given to ONLY his black heritage in the media coverage. For instance, his Kenya relatives were featured in the news, yet we are not seeing his white grandmother who raised him in the newscasts and media, although she lives in the US. He characterized her as 'ordinary white folk',and she contributed the max amount to his campaign. His book talks about his personal bio. It's not the family that's running for office, so I don't see an issue with this.

Posted by: Jilly | Apr 28, 2008 3:40:15 PM

Bill Clinton did alot for the US - peace, prosperity, plus fiscal responsibility with a balanced budget. Hillary will lead us to the next level. We can get there with Hillary 2008!

Posted by: Jilly | Apr 28, 2008 3:24:47 PM

No matter how media tries to twist, he still one of the best.

Posted by: He still one of the best | Apr 28, 2008 1:11:54 PM

To JKR; Good point! Well, it's coming up a contest in a state with a high African American population so time for the black politicians to make up some phoney race thing about Hillary Clinton. Trying to make Obama unelectable so she can run in 2012? Oh, yeah, go through this campaign hell just to keep Obama from winning so she can run in four years and then go through this hell again? If the African American community is dumb enough to swallow that whole, then I have no sympathy for them at all whatsoever! Fortunately, there have already been AA's saying that Clyburn is not authorized to speak for them. Clyburn, you can fool some of the people some of the time....but you can't fool the whole AA community all of the time. Bill Clinton has been working to restore housing destroyed by Katrina, getting cheap aids medications to underpreviliged countries and various other good works. I think he should be welcome anywhere in this country.

Posted by: jkr | Apr 27, 2008 6:10:13 PM

Posted by: irma | Apr 28, 2008 1:09:33 PM

Obama is the DIVIDER who kissed up to the Republican vote during the DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY for starters. When we voiced that we didn't like that, he had plenty of insults to fling at DEMOCRATS who supported Hillary. He isn't loyal to DEMOCRATS. He, like his kindred spirit; Wright, solely cares about his self promotion even if he has to demonize and divide us to do it. As long as there is a perceived "enemy" (people who support Hillary) against him, he apparently thinks that will get him into the Presidency.

Posted by: irma | Apr 28, 2008 12:53:22 PM

Hilliary can't win with him, and she certainly can't win without him, therfor, she CAN'T win! But if you want to divide the party and elect John McCain, just keep it up Bill and Hill. No wonder you were a "Goldwater girl", and Bill has always been more Republican than Democrat from the beginning. So I guess you really are working to elect John McCain. Strange bedfellows, indeed.

Posted by: Zdnet | Apr 28, 2008 12:41:37 PM

Look who's talking. He is the one playing the race card. He used the recial card again as an EXCUSE for his speech. There is nothing wrong witht eh Black church. What is wrong is you and Obama who keeps lying to the entire Americans.

Is this another Obama tactics. Latest Obama's tactic is to have give a long speech (of I mean church sermon) last Sunday to see how good their is. But that is not the issue. The issue is that both of them LIED adn trying to mislead again the American people saying good things. You can not fool the Americans. He said that Black preacher shouts when they preach. There is nothing wrong with shouting when preaching. What is wrong is that he shout and mocked the entire nation specifially after the 9/11 attack. He also saif that Obama is just a politician. He is just ot win the white house. He is also politician by giving his speech (sermon I mean) to cover up the bad comments he made.

You and Obama lied and does not take responsobility of what you said. Instead you both make reason to justify you irresponsible and very degrading comments. You can not fool America at this time.