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Bill Clinton Scolds Media ... Again
January 23, 2008 5:29 PM
ABC News' Sarah Amos Reports: While campaigning for his wife in South Carolina, Bill Clinton scolded a reporter Wednesday.
The former president was answering questions about the back-and-forth between himself and his wife's chief Democratic rival, Senator Barack Obama.
A CNN crawl said Clinton was "responding to allegations he's playing the race card in S.C."
"Are you saying the Obama camp is bringing up these racial issues?," asked CNN reporter Jessica Yellin.
"You want another story. I'm not gonna get in a fight with him, I'm just gonna answer what the facts are. … There are indisputable facts. You wanna make this about words and name calling. I hate it," Clinton said after a campaign event at Huger's Restaurant in Charleston.
For many reporters, it was hard to hear exactly what set the former president off, but it quickly became clear he wasn't happy. According to one reporter's transcript, the back-and-forth began like this:
"Dick Harpootlian has called some of the tactics used in the campaign reprehensible and reminiscent of Lee Atwater to try to appeal on the basis of race and gender and for suppressing the vote in Nevada," a reporter asked.
"I would ask Dick Harpootlian -- he wasn’t in Nevada," Clinton said, arguing he spoke to Hispanic women in Nevada who wanted to caucus for Hillary Clinton who were told by union officials they couldn't sign up for her.
Then Clinton appeared angry with the reporter for asking the question.
"You asked me about this. You sat through this whole meeting. Not one, single solitary soul asked me about this. And they never do," he said.
"They're feeding you this because they know this is what you want. This is what you live for. This hurts the people of South Carolina, because the people of South Carolina … ask questions about what they care about," he said. "And what they care about is not gonna be in the news coverage tonight, because you don't care about it. What you care about is this. And the Obama people know that. So they just spin you up on this, and you happily go along. The people don't care about this. They never ask about it. And you are determined to take this election away from them. That's not right. That is not right. This election oughta belong to those people who are out there asking questions about their lives."
As he left the restaurant surrounded by secret service, Clinton seemed to cool down. He smiled as he left and said to the reporter, "One more story. Shame on you. Shame on you!" Clinton said.
It's not the first time Clinton's temper has flared on the campaign trail. Last week Clinton ripped into a television reporter who had asked him about a Nevada lawsuit concerning participation in the state’s caucuses.
"When you ask me that question, your position is that you think that the culinary workers’ vote should be easier," than those of other Nevada workers, Clinton said to reporter Mark Matthews of KGO-TV in San Francisco. “If you want to take that position, get on the television and take it. Don’t be accusatory with me."
January 23, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (112)
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Bill Clinton at an event at an eating place called "Huger's?" Imagine the irony. Next it'll be Mrs. Clinton giving a televised appearance on "To Tell The Truth."
Posted by: Tomster | Jan 23, 2008 5:40:06 PM
I'm gonna gag typing this but it seems like Bill had a point - why'd the reporterette bring it up? She was baiting him into an outburst. It is fun to watch his purple hissy fits.
More importantly, though, the Clintons are managing this perfectly. Most people can't stand them but they are oh so great at achieving victim status.
Obama needs get back up above the fray. He should shake his head ruefully and say "There they go again" and then get back to his own message.
Posted by: Abdul PW Wolfe III | Jan 23, 2008 5:48:48 PM
If Bill Clinton "scolded" the media ... then they definitely deserved scolding. I have never seen the media be so biased and use so many "opinions" as news as I have in this election. ABC is the worst .. and CNN is right behind them. Thank God for real news services like NBC and CBS.
Posted by: Jackson | Jan 23, 2008 5:56:50 PM
Ok, now Obama is supposedly planting reporters against the Clintons? Also now instead of a single conversation he allegedly overheard at a casino regarding someone voting for hillary being told they would not be able to, he now spoke to someone who told him that union officials prevented them from voting, did you report this bill? I don't recall hearing about it at the time? What happened to no comment when you didn't want to answer a question? Bill brought the Obama comment into play, the reporter did not mention that candidates name at all. Don't think for a moment that the two of them are not calculated and coordinated. Hills will beat on him about the Rezko non-issue and Nill will play race.
Posted by: Louis | Jan 23, 2008 5:59:57 PM
While Mr. Clinton is certainly not one without fault, I do agree with him regarding media coverage of the campaign and its obvious tilt, at least to date, in favor of Senator Obama. ABC's recent story commencing with the "word," "Duh," is evident of bias, this time downplaying as "old news," the countless lies and distortions inflicted upon the American people by the Bush Administration in "selling" the Iraq invasion. Often times, in fact too often, we have to sift through one celebrity story after another to find news that is worthy of reading, whether biased or not. In my judgment, the media has long championed the candidacies of Senators McCain and Obama as its "darlings," almost without scrutiny, while concentrating on whatever "news" may dampen the aspirations of the other candidates, Senator Clinton in particular.
Posted by: mongo100 | Jan 23, 2008 6:04:15 PM
I find it odd that for all of these claims of voter intimidation, 4 thus far from the Clinton's that not ONE single complaint has been filed.
If it was true, then why not file a formal complaint in a court of law or some law governing agency? We know the Obama camp has filed a formal complaint. So, what about this camp? This is NOTHING BUT TOTAL LIES regarding the -yet again- mentioned voter fraud charges. And yes, they are playing the race card b/c if they weren't why get upset? Dummy told on himself.
Posted by: Donna | Jan 23, 2008 6:04:40 PM
Bill is absolutely wrong. People do care about how he is behaving. His rabid pursuit to get back into the White House is so blatant it seems he will say almost anything.
Posted by: Sloane | Jan 23, 2008 6:10:20 PM
Mongo100. Oh Man. You sound sane.
Posted by: irma | Jan 23, 2008 6:12:30 PM
The press try to spin this up so they can portrait Obama as the victim. They are trying to demonize Bill Clinton; but they will fail!
Posted by: pete | Jan 23, 2008 6:13:17 PM
This is what Bill does every time he gets caught engaging in disreputable conduct. He attacks.
You can only play that game so long Bill.
You were the one who charged that the union was strong arming members when it is clear from the Clinton campaign handbook that it was the Clinton campaign that was trying to suppress votes. Two examples 1) tell everyone to show up early and then tell the caucus chair to close the doors a half-hour early and 2) tell your organizers that you can do anything unless someeone specifically tells you it is illegal.
This is what Clinton does. He falsely attacks the other side of doing the exact thing he himself is doing. He then hopes it all becomes a muddle and that the press will be too afraid to sort it out. And, if the press, does start reporting the truth, he yells media bias.
Posted by: JT | Jan 23, 2008 6:18:33 PM
The Clinton's have lost all respect they once had in our house. This is no way for a former president to act. He'll do anything to get a 3rd term. And Hillary? Sending her husband to yell at the neighbors serves her feminity not well, and makes him look like a total buffoon. Shame on the Clinton's. DEM verson of Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandement "Thou shalt not speak ill of another Democrat".
Enough Clintons already!!!!!!
Posted by: Billy | Jan 23, 2008 6:20:30 PM
Bill is right, the Media needs to talk about the issues not the tabliod crap.
Posted by: russ | Jan 23, 2008 6:26:42 PM
Has anybody worked for a service industry? Like when you are at the bottom? You don't want to go against the people you are working with. It causes tension. These women took a stand against their "Union chosen candidate." That has cost pressure enough....Now you want them to file a complaint? Why? So that the media could be all over them, which will intice more public pressure for their decision? I think this is one we just need to let go.
Posted by: irma | Jan 23, 2008 6:26:57 PM
I have a hard time stomaching all of the misinformation the Clintons are coming up with. I was a big fan of the Hillary, but now I am simply becoming nauseated by them.
Posted by: reymomo | Jan 23, 2008 6:27:47 PM
I meant to say CAUSED, not cost.
Posted by: irma | Jan 23, 2008 6:27:58 PM
One thing I have learned about the Clinton's after 16 years is that when they are accusing you of something it is something they have done. The madder they get the closer to the truth about them you have gotten.
Posted by: Janet | Jan 23, 2008 6:28:12 PM
Clinton is beginning to look and sound like Nixon in his battles with the media.
He's a great campaigner because there is one thing he hates in life more than anything: losing. Unfortunately for him, he's so emotionally involved in recapturing the WH for his wife that he can't control himself. It's not hurting Hillary now very much because he's campaigning exclusively among Democrats, but in the general election, it will defeat her.
Posted by: theduke | Jan 23, 2008 6:30:07 PM
As if we didn't hear enough about Bill Clinton's immature antics in the '90s. Sure, his administration avoided the disasters of the Bush years, but I for one don't want a third Clinton term. Obama has my vote.
Posted by: Mitchel | Jan 23, 2008 6:31:18 PM
bill is right..
it the damm press..
looking for a story-
that causes most of this racial-gender
crap..because they make a living doing
this...people..and if obama can't fight
bill or hillery...how in world do you expect him to stand up
to world leaders who hate us?
there is no free pass in politics
because he is black or she is a woman
either fight back or step aside and let a stronger person show us the way..
Posted by: lylemidnight | Jan 23, 2008 6:34:11 PM
BILL HAS TO GET A LIFE!!!
Posted by: JACOBS | Jan 23, 2008 6:34:39 PM
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