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Bill Clinton: 'I'm Not Standing in Obama's Way'

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January 22, 2008 5:48 PM

ABC News' Kate Snow, Susan Kriskey and Sarah Amos Report: Former President Bill Clinton spent the day campaigning for his wife across South Carolina today, determined to talk policy more than politics.

And for most of the day it worked.  From the Lizard's Thicket diner in Columbia, to a stop in Aiken and a community development center in Greenville, President Clinton spoke about healthcare and the economy; immigration and education.  But that final stop in Greenville, voter Chris Busby had a couple of other questions on his mind-- regarding Senator Barack Obama.

"You know, you're often called the first Black president," Busby began. "And I wanted to ask, a lot of us believe that Senator Obama eventually will be the first black president. Are you gonna be okay with having stood in his way? And do you think that will affect your legacy amongst the blacks here in South Carolina?"

"Yes and no. I'm okay because I'm not standing in his way ," Clinton responded, " I think Hillary would be a better president."

Clinton went on to cite the economic and foreign challenges facing our nation as a reason that the country needs "someone who has the absolute competency and is ready to do the job on the first day."

"That’s not standing in his way," he said, "No one has a right to be president, including Hillary."

The former president, who has come under fire for calling components of Obama's Iraq War position a "fairy tale" said he has never given a talk where he hasn't expressed his "admiration" for Obama.

But, Clinton said, " I think it would be just as much a change, and some people think more, to have the first woman as the first African American president."

Clinton did not forget to answer Busby's question about his legacy either.

"My legacy, whatever it is, is done. I did whatever I did. By my measure it’s pretty good. People are better off at the end than when I started," said Clinton.

Busby's question was timely, considering the subdued turn Clinton took at events today. He tried to focus all his speeches and questions strictly on policy issues, staying away from the flare-ups voters have come to see in recent weeks. At a diner in Columbia this morning Clinton told reporters that while the media is interested in the politics of the race, the voters only cared about policy.

Clearly that was not the case here in Greenville as the audience seemed overly eager to hear Clinton's answer to the question. And in fact, it was not the only time personal politics were brought up at the speech. By the end of the rally Clinton had answered three questions related to Obama.

"I kinda like seeing Barack and Hillary fight," Clinton non-chalantly admitted to the crowd at one point.

January 22, 2008 in Bush, George W., Hunter, Duncan, Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (22)

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Watching the debates and listening to the exchange of plans, I could not help be think of how pre war Germans must have listened to the speaches of Hitler. Promises of a nation where government mandated everything to protect, employ and feed the economically devestated country. Does anyone wonder how these mandates erode our freedoms? Will there be concentration camps for those who do not agree with her plan? I fear this agenda will lead our nation back to the days when reservations and false treaties swept the Indians out of the path of Washington's greed. For every "mandate", there is a freedom lost. Our nation needs to be aware that it has happened before and it will repeat if we do not use due dilligence to protect our rights. If we do not heed the lessons of history, we are doomed to repeat it. Today Dubui lost points in the market. Could it be because Bill Clinton began to liquidate his "unholy" investments and partnerships in an attempt to reduce his corrupt ties with foreign powers. Billary has a history of lies and deception. Their half truths and misleading representation about Obama are offensive to the person who does not allow their Hollywood Marketing Manipulations to corrupt reality.

Posted by: cjvwise1 | Jan 22, 2008 6:22:21 PM

The legacy of NAFTA has not left the US in a "better place". It undermined employment, industry, manufacturing, incomes and investments. In addition it has left us open to harm from the lack of quality controls. How can anyone boast of success with this as his legacy?

Posted by: cjvwise1 | Jan 22, 2008 6:26:29 PM

Obama is such whiner, it shows his lack of readiness to be the President, his ego is way over his head and someone make him believe he is above criticism and question and that his empty slogans and oratory skills will take him all the way to the Presidency. He will be a very weak President whining and crying out loud to every criticism! We need a true leader there.

Posted by: Paul | Jan 22, 2008 6:57:25 PM

Does Bill Clinton's opinion matter at this point in time? Why not print everything Michelle Obama says and does, or showcase Elizabeth Edwards' every move on the campaign trail?
SlickWilly captivates MSM. He's yesterday's news already.

Posted by: Loyal Democrat | Jan 22, 2008 7:33:56 PM

For once Obama faught back, showing good spirit and spunk against the Clinton twinsand their dirty politics. It shows he has back bone! I want to first woman president to be someone I could be proud of and a good role model for my granddaughter. Hillary is not the role model I want her to have! Obama on the other hand is someone who all minoirites, blacks, Hispanics, Asians AND women can look up to as a good role model for all our children. And if this country can come togther, if our first black president is someone like Obama then the door is open for ANY hard working American to become. president! I am a caucasion, 58yr old, who is tired of seeing this country and all our children pittied agianst one another. That goes for the poor as well as the rich. We all need each other to survive!

Posted by: Mary Blu | Jan 22, 2008 7:35:42 PM

I was that voter who asked Clinton if he felt he was standing in the way of the first black president. It was me at whom he “snapped” today in Greenville. All I can say is that I didn’t just fly in on a plane from New York. I live in the Carolinas. And people here do feel that it is ironic that it is not some old vestige of southern bigotry, but the supposedly progressive democratic establishment, and the Clintons in particular, who stand between Sen. Obama and the white house.

I think the former presidents admission that he hoped to get a chance to vote for him (Obama) someday” goes to undermine all the dirty tactics that the Clinton campaign has engaged in to this point. You can’t pretend to think Sen. Obama shares Ronald Reagan’s political philosophy one day and the very next say that you would like to vote for him.

Posted by: chris | Jan 22, 2008 9:04:49 PM

The Obama "fans" seem as "testy" as their candidate here. Such anger and vitriol, simply because their choice can't think on his feet.

If Obama can't take the heat, he should leave the kitchen. Politics isn't a garden party, and if he can't handle Bill Clinton, he's not going to be able to handle Hu Jintao and Putin.

I am starting to look forward to the idea of a HR Clinton presidency. She clearly has the ability to hold her own in a debate, without losing her cool OR "whining" that the opposition is being unfair to her.

Experience DOES make a difference!

We don't need a babyfaced president who acts like a baby. These times are just too tough for temper tantrum throwers.

Posted by: Heya Ha | Jan 22, 2008 9:25:33 PM

cjvwise, you have to be an ass to compare the Clinton's to Hitler.

Loyal democrat- aparently you care, or you wouldn't waste your time bothering to ask if we care.

58 year old Mary Blue- you're daughter shouldn't look up to Hillary Clinton, after all, she has you to look up to- yeah right.

Jen- get over it. The sky is not falling.

Chris- you're just a dumbass who apparently oversimplifies things, and believes that African Americans can't succeed unless they are given a clear path. We have done so much, for so long, with so little, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.

Clinton 08! Obama 2016!

Posted by: casey | Jan 22, 2008 9:32:02 PM

Hillary repeated the lie last night, saying at the debate that she "read the transcript" and that Barack said that the GOP had "good ideas." She is too shrewd for this to have been an error-this repeating a known lie even after it had been disproved by the media!

Another lie is the claim that she has 35 years of relevant experience. The only related thing she did was act as First Lady -how is that relevant experience? She married the right guy? She claims to be a feminist but her entire resume is about riding on her husband's name and coattails. She is pathetic and the public would be pathetic if they buy this big lie.

Posted by: kevinmcd | Jan 22, 2008 10:27:49 PM

Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson is a huge Obama supporter. I can't image why he is all over Bill Clinton. What happened to a unbias press?

Posted by: C DEPP | Jan 22, 2008 10:51:34 PM

Martin Edwin Andersen
You think Obama is owed something because he is black. Shame on you. It should never matter what color you are. As Americas we are suppose to look past that. And to ask such a racist question to the former president of the United States shows your lack of respect.

Posted by: C DEPP | Jan 22, 2008 10:58:33 PM

I am female and in the demographic that thinks I should vote for Hillary so that I can see a woman president in my lifetime.

I hope we learn from history. Google "the Clinton Chronicles" and view the entire video through the credits which are especially credible.

Consider what we will be putting back in the whitehouse before you vote. If you don't, then you have no cause for complaint when history repeats itself.

BTW I recall the economy and the deficit in pretty good shape when Clinton got to the whitehouse.

Posted by: SharonAustinTX | Jan 22, 2008 11:33:02 PM

Chris, you're so right, Bill C can't be credible when he's answered from both sides of his mouth. Obama can't have praised Reagan on one hand and earned Bill C's vote someday when he's not running against his wife on the other. I wish you'd made that point, because the irony of just what you said, that when at long last one of the most far-off goals of the civil rights movement is within reach with Barack, it's a Democrat from the South, a DLC Democrat, who is standing in the way (well, two Southern DLC Democrats counting John Edwards). It scares the Clintons silly, I know, but it is a fact that "Reagan Democrats", from their 60s and 70s down to their 20s, both genders, all ethnicities, have returned to the Democratic fold for Barack Obama. I meet them all the time, canvassing and phone banking for O. So Chris, how invigorating and inspiring was Bill's policy talk? And how did the promises fit with the donations the Clintons get, directly to her campaign and indirectly to his foundations? and to her record?

Posted by: Inaru | Jan 23, 2008 12:52:29 AM

Sharon in Texas, what country were you living in 1992 anyhow? I remember "it's the economy, stupid". That is what propelled Bill Clinton into office. Please don't vote until you study up a bit more.

Posted by: democraticjack | Jan 23, 2008 11:02:32 AM

She will never be president so what's the point...Any gains we made over the pst few years with the American people will be lost upon her nomination...

Posted by: Big papa pump | Jan 23, 2008 12:52:17 PM

Bill Clinton doesn't want to talk about his legacy, it's done. People are better off??Let's ask Bill more questions about his legacy ABC!!!
NAFTA, this economy, the loss of jobs, THIS IS HIS LEGACY!
He LIED under oath! Does he lie on stage without an oath? I loved Bill in the White House, until he lied, again and again and again, to the American people. Do you think he will LIE to you now? Wake up people this is pay back time for HIllary! When husbands cheat, they buy their wives "forgive me" diamonds. This is the big diamond for Hillary, at the Democrats expense. He has said he doesn't care if the democrats approve, he will not stop the attacks! What a guy! He has lost the little bit of respect I had left for him for the "good" he did in office! I'm done with the Clintons, it's dirty politics as usual, and that has nothing to do with CHANGE!

Posted by: con | Jan 23, 2008 1:04:24 PM

This is a big part of the reason people hate the Clintons so much. They lie, and the quality of those lies is such that they know everyone knows its a lie, and it drives people crazy.

You're not standing in Obama's way? Huh? That's about as insulting a lie as I could imagine.

How could a former president who is still popular with his party, who also decides to weigh in on a nominating race with daily attacks - regardless of how fair or unfair they are - then turn around and say he isn't standing in this targeted candidate's way.

Its so stupid, it almost makes one feel stupid for commenting on it.

Posted by: Paul | Jan 23, 2008 1:13:46 PM

Come on people. Clinton said; "I am not standing in his way", because that's how the question was phrased. Then he answered, Hillary is the right candidate and turned the topic to issues. He is not lying, he did not bring up the phrase.

Posted by: irma | Jan 23, 2008 2:54:14 PM

this from a man who could not stay awake at a church where he was going to be honored.

Posted by: Louis | Jan 23, 2008 6:07:22 PM

I'm losing respect for the Clinton's day by day. Amazingly, the Clinton's are pushing me to consider McCain. I am hopeful that the Clinton's can rachet it down so that I will still consider them if they prevail...and you know if you get one Clinton you get the other

Posted by: doug | Jan 24, 2008 10:18:20 PM

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