« Previous | Main | Next »

Obama Aide Slams 'Outrageous' Bill Clinton Remark

Share

March 21, 2008 10:27 PM

ABC's Sunlen Miller and Sarah Amos report: Sen. Barack Obama's campaign co-chairman, Gen. Tony McPeak, reacted angrily to a comment by former President Bill Clinton today.

Campaigning in Charlotte, N.C., Clinton said, "I think it would be a great thing if we had an election year where you had two people who loved this country and were devoted to the interest of this country, and people could actually ask themselves who is right on these issues, instead of all this other stuff that always seems to intrude itself on our politics."

"Outrageous," McPeak said after an Obama rally in Salem, Ore. "I think it's horrible. ... I think Bill Clinton is, or ought to be, better than that."

McPeak likened the comment to McCarthyism.

"It sounds more like McCarthy," he said. "I was in college when Joe McCarthy was accusing good Americans of being traitors, so I've had enough of it."

He said that those who know Obama know that he loves America.

"Is this stupid or what?" McPeak asked. "It's a use of language as a disguised insult. We've seen this before. This real clever spin on stuff."

McPeak said he did not know if Clinton's comments were intentional or not.

A spokesman for Bill Clinton, Matt McKenna, had earlier elaborated on the former president's remarks.

"As is indicated by the quote itself, President Clinton was talking about the need to talk about issues, rather than falsely questioning any candidate's patriotism," McKenna said. "He was lamenting that these kind of distractions 'always seems to intrude' on political campaigns. This consistent with his criticism of the 'politics of personal destruction,' which dates back 16 years."

March 21, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (507)

User Comments

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

Sick of - I agree that was all stupid but blame the right people, that was the RNC, Republican Party, and Ken Starr making a private matter public.

Posted by: DCVoter | Mar 21, 2008 11:08:07 PM

Hear hear. Why does everyone always slam on Obama? He is a courageous man.He got endorsed today by one of the most important super deligates today. hillary and Bill need to setlle down and stop undermining the citizens against Obama. He is a phenominal and they cannot change that. The super delegate supported that today. The word will be in a lot oh hostile environment if Hillary make it to the white house. The lady has a terible attitude. She is always fighting obama for his stability. She cannot stand the fact that Obama has got the super delegate of Bill's freind who flew to watch the super bowl with him. Does that tell you something world. It really look like an insult when your long time friend does not endorse you to be president. It is a power that frienship is friendship and politics is politics. Bill want to get in the white house so he can do his tricks again with whoever. If you know what I mean.Bill is a nasty minded man political and his personal life. Hillary is right behind him. Dirty, dirty. My vote is for Obama and I am from North Carolina. I will be sure to vote for him. May May. i have great influence on my friends and will encourage them to vote for Obama.May God Bless obama and his campaign. Go Obama.

Posted by: Wanda | Mar 21, 2008 11:08:41 PM

This again is yet ANOTHER example of someone from the Obama campaign taking any angle POSSIBLE to take anything Bill Clinton says out of context. Its a joke, but nobody is laughing anymore. Obama is unelectable.

Posted by: tomdavie | Mar 21, 2008 11:09:44 PM

Sick of Clinton: Only because the media and the Clinton haters were obsessed with bringing a great President down. What about JFK and Marilyn Monroe, that was OK though, a little wink , wink, and JKF hung with Sinatra and mobsters, again wink, wink. We learned in the end, that Bill's indiscretions did not hurt his Presidency, or all the good that came out of it.

Posted by: Jay | Mar 21, 2008 11:10:16 PM

Well here is what ws posted earlier today on this very Blog. So Now I have to ask is ABC pulling our legs. Just Click on Campaigning in Carlotte NC in blue above. It fdose sasy that Bill Clinton was talking about A contest between McCain and Clinton in November.


March 21, 2008 3:28 PM

ABC News' Sarah Amos Reports: Former president Bill Clinton became the first Clinton of the Democratic primary election to visit North Carolina Friday, speaking to about 80 veterans and their families at a VFW hall in Charlotte, NC.

Clinton was nearly an hour late for the invite-only, stopping at a restaurant across the street to have a garden burger and talk with patrons. Seeming a bit more tired than usual, Clinton gave a short speech focused heavily on veteran's rights and the economy.

Clinton made the argument that come November, his wife is not only more electable, but that a general election race between soon-to-be Republican nominee Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., would not get caught up in the "other stuff" that takes over elections.

"I think it would be a great thing if we had an election year where you had two people who loved this country and were devoted to the interest of this country and people could actually asks themselves who is right on these issues, instead of all this other stuff that always seems to intrude itself on our politics," Clinton said.

Clinton also continued to play up Hillary's chance to win the popular vote come June.

"She would be the best for veterans, the best commander and chief the best for the economy and is the most electable. If North Carolina votes for her, she will end up this process with more popular votes and I believe she will be the nominee of the party and the next president. It is all up to you," said Clinton.

When asked about the "other stuff" Clinton was referring to, Bill Clinton spokesman Matt McKenna told ABC News: "President Clinton was talking about the need to talk about issues, rather than falsely questioning any candidate's patriotism." He was lamenting that these kind of distractions "always seems to intrude" on political campaigns. This, McKenna said, is consistent with his criticism of the "politics of personal destruction," which dates back 16 years.

Clinton made no mention today of New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's endorsement of Obama today, who said that despite his long friendship with the Clinton's he believed Obama's candidacy was historic, and touted his 2002 opposition to the Iraq war, and said it's time Democrats stop fighting amongst themselves and join together to fight McCain. Richardson served as Secretary of Energy in the Clinton administration.

Posted by: Thinking | Mar 21, 2008 11:11:29 PM

Obama has an endless deck of race cards to play.

Posted by: kmkmkm | Mar 21, 2008 11:12:01 PM

I agree with Mr Clinton when he says "I think it would be a great thing if we had an election year where you had two people who loved this country and were devoted to the interest of this country, and people could actually ask themselves who is right on these issues, instead of all this other stuff that always seems to intrude itself on our politics." The problem I have with this statement is that he and his wife can't seem to grasp that many people are asking themselves who are the people that are promoting "all this other stuff" and the answer to that question, at least for me, is in his statement. Your politics Mr Clinton will hopefully never have to be intruded on ever again.

Posted by: cali | Mar 21, 2008 11:13:03 PM

See, I can make up stuff and call them facts too..lol

Obama is desperately jealous of Bill Clinton, because Bill is something he will never become. A great 2 term President who gave our country a peaceful and prosperous 8 years. If Obama gets in Al-Queda will be ringing your door bell like the Jehovah Witnesses looking for converts and donations..lol

Posted by: Jay | Mar 21, 2008 11:21:27 PM

It seems really silly to have all of this acrimony with two candidates who basically agree on everything. I wish the superdelegates would all just declare and then let this thing play out in the states. By the way, there's no point to a Michigan revote because the required rules would only allow the same people who voted before to vote again. It's a waste of time and money as there is no reason to suspect people would change their votes.

Posted by: MIguy | Mar 21, 2008 11:26:02 PM

As of today, there are exactly 90 days until the last state convention for the voter's delegate allocation. There are 179 days until the democratic nominee is selected. Until then, unless a candidate steps out for whatever reason including a political meteor, the race is on! (I wonder if anyone is keeping track of the blogging stats.)

Posted by: DCVoter | Mar 21, 2008 11:26:37 PM

do you really think with all the recent revelations of Obamas character and judgement, lies, that he is truely electable? I'm not seeing it.

Posted by: D | Mar 21, 2008 11:29:05 PM

People are so thin skinned in this campaign including Air Force Generals who are supposed to demonstrate bold leadership. As the saying goes, you are judged by the company you keep. A self fulfilling profecy?

Posted by: Eric | Mar 21, 2008 11:29:13 PM

Bill Clinton has deeply damaged his legacy during this campaign.

Posted by: ElodieStClair | Mar 21, 2008 11:29:16 PM

MIguy - I hear ya, but Obama is the one who refused to accept a solution so now the courts will decide that one. I dont know if I agree with the SDs endorsing now for a couple of reasons: the trial is not over (there may be other things come out that could influence their vote) and their official votes are not cast per the rules until the convention. Anything can change as we have seen already with SDs moving between candidates. Nothing prevents the moving back and forth.

Posted by: DCVoter | Mar 21, 2008 11:30:34 PM

Again, stick to FACTS. I could say one candidate or another COULD win 100% of the remaining delegates. I COULD happen.

See? I can weakly and pitifully play that game too. I just choose to look at what has transpired and I just choose not to indulge in fantasy. I could say I will be the pitcher for the Cubs on Opening Day. I COULD say that. Now, reality dictates....

Posted by: Texas Voter | Mar 21, 2008 11:33:27 PM

Heck, Obama won't even wear a flag pin because it's a symbol... he's so patriotic, but we ask young men to serve and die for that symbol. What does that tell them. What kind of an example is that out of a man who wants to be Commander and Chief?

He should just be quite.

Posted by: John | Mar 21, 2008 11:36:01 PM

Actually this quote is even WORSE when placed in context. Clinton nammed Hillary and Mccain as his "two people" in the portions before this. ABC, how about updating the post?

Posted by: BP | Mar 21, 2008 11:36:17 PM

@DCVoter: Hate to revisit courts and elections - brings back too many memories of the craziness of 2000. I understand your point about the superdelegates, but how about an anonymous tally showing where they stand. They can change their vote at the convention if they like. If 80% are for either Clinton or Obama, it puts a lot of this to rest. If it's 50/50 then the states will decide things. If either of them does or says something completely unelectable (which McCain seems to be desperately trying lately) then it'll get hashed out at the convention, right?

Posted by: MIguy | Mar 21, 2008 11:36:42 PM

Texas Voter, I am a huge Cub fan, and you could probably make the team, but please, about those facts. They are the facts as you want us to believe them.

Posted by: Jay | Mar 21, 2008 11:37:21 PM

ALL of the numbers are projections not facts until the convention. Normally, the variations dont matter but this year the race is too close and it all matters. Pledged delegate allocations are not final until June 29. The SDs can change camps anytime they want to until that time. Both camps, all the media sites, and all the pundits are simply projecting.

Posted by: DCVoter | Mar 21, 2008 11:37:28 PM

Post a comment