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Bill Clinton Honored for Irish Peace Process; Says Hillary Helped Too
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ShareApril 09, 2008 8:00 PM
ABC News' Sarah Amos Reports: Bill Clinton was honored at an event commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the Good Friday Accord this evening at Gallagher's Steakhouse in midtown Manhattan. Clinton thanked the crowd for the honor, but added "I got a lot more out of this than I gave. It was a joy. Every single minute."
Clinton kept his remarks short, speaking mainly about the other people involved in the Irish peace process, both directly or indirectly. He spoke in detail about the role Yitzhak Rabin played in Clinton's decision to give Gerry Adams a visa, remembering a conversation he and Rabin had the day he shook hands with Yasser Arafat at the White House.
"I looked at him and I said 'tell me the truth, why did you do this, why did you do this?.' And he said 'because there is no other way but peace. Their children deserve a safe childhood too. We have to give it to each other.' and he said ' after all, you do not make peace with your friends.' …I thought about Rabin and how he gave his life for the simple proposition that you do not make peace with your friends. They only become your friends later," Clinton told the crowd.
There was very little talk of Presidential politics, but Clinton did start his speech by remember his visit back in 1990 to the Irish Presidential forum - the same one his wife spoke at today. "I was sitting here listening to Brian talk and I was thinking about, it has now been more than 16 years, since I came early in 1990 to a late night meeting, of the Irish, which occurred again today, and another Presidential candidate which I happen to know appeared before them," chuckled Clinton, to a thunderous round of applause. Clinton also joked about a recent trip to Geradville, PA saying "I was in Geradville and I was there hunting votes, and they knew it."
During the introductions much praise was given to Clinton for the role he played in the peace process in Northern Ireland. An ample amount of thanks and praise was also give to his wife Hillary, stressing that while some recent accounts may diminish her role, the people at the event tonight knew differently.
"I appreciate what you said about Hillary," said the former President during his speech, adding "it brings to mind other people that deserve credit. I talked to Bernie Ahern about this once, I don't think it is possible to give enough credit to the citizen's groups, especially the women's groups, in both communities, who worked for years and years and years to basically say, you know the people are tired of this. they want a different future, we have to take a different direction, and I am grateful to them."
Clinton also got in what some might take as a veiled mention of certain Irish politicians who didn't remember what both Bill and Hillary Clinton had done for the Irish, while recounting a conversation between himself and Congressman Richie Neal, D-Mass.
"Richie Neal, in a totally different context, said to me, aww you know we Irish have such long memories, it has cost us so many problems over the years. Now some of our Irish politicians seem to have overcome this default. But those of us who haven't will jog their memories. I say that only to make this point, now our children can build memories of peace. Now long memories will be turning dark nightmares into bright mornings and if I had anything to do with it, I am just grateful for the chance," said Clinton.
It was a short event seeing as Clinton is on a strict time schedule with the charity Elton John concert occurring tonight. As members of the organization came on stage to take pictures, one of the board members joking made an announcement that Clinton couldn't stay very long because as he had some sort of concert to attend, and he was sure Clinton wouldn't have as much fun as he was having at Gallagher's.
Clinton of course was kept as far away from the press as possible so there was no chance to ask questions.
April 9, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (42)
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Bill was HONORED...
Hillary???
I guess she "misspoke"
AGAIN
Posted by: Vanessa | Apr 9, 2008 8:06:21 PM
Hillary needs to be honored for evading sniper fire in Bosnia.
Posted by: Maritza | Apr 9, 2008 8:15:01 PM
Hillary needs to be honored for evading sniper fire in Bosnia.
Posted by: Maritza | Apr 9, 2008 8:15:10 PM
Maritza - Is Obama still running away from a decision on boycotting Olympic opening ceremonies? What a whimp!
Posted by: Dogsoldier | Apr 9, 2008 8:28:28 PM
Please PA, I'm begging, use the hook, make the Clintons go away...Please!
Posted by: CC | Apr 9, 2008 8:33:03 PM
Helped him what, get chicks?
Posted by: ha! | Apr 9, 2008 8:42:11 PM
HAVE YOU NOTICE THAT JILLARY WASNT AWARDED. SO MAYBE SHE WASNT SO INSTUMENTAL AS SHE WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO BELIEVE.
Bill Clinton was honored at an event commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the Good Friday Accord this evening at Gallagher's Steakhouse in midtown Manhattan. Clinton thanked the crowd for the honor, but added "I got a lot more out of this than I gave. It was a joy. Every single minute."
Posted by: LAUREN | Apr 9, 2008 8:47:33 PM
Boy she cant catch a break. sooner or later she will have to address this one again
Posted by: LAUREN | Apr 9, 2008 8:49:37 PM
LAUREN - This is Dr John Humes Statement:
“I am quite surprised that anyone would suggest that Hillary Clinton did not perform important foreign policy work as First Lady. I can state from firsthand experience that she played a positive role for over a decade in helping to bring peace to Northern Ireland.
She visited Northern Ireland, met with very many people and gave very decisive support to the peace process. There is no doubt that the people of Northern Ireland think very positively of Hillary Clinton’s support for our peace process, due to her visits to Northern Ireland and her meetings with so many people. In private she made countless calls and contacts, speaking to leaders and opinion makers on all sides, urging them to keep moving forward.
Anyone criticising her foreign policy involvement should look at her very active and positive approach to Northern Ireland and speak with the people of Northern Ireland who have the highest regard for her and are very grateful for her very active support for our peace process”.
John Hume, former MP MEP, founder of the SDLP and an architect of the Good Friday Agreement. He is the only person to win the Nobel Prize for Peace, the Ghandi Peace Award and the Martin Luther King Peace Prize.
Posted by: Dogsoldier | Apr 9, 2008 9:17:08 PM
Oh gosh...
So much hatred here,,,even to the best president ever.
Posted by: crisis08 | Apr 9, 2008 9:20:09 PM
Rev. Wright is also somebody who has made enormous contributions in his community and has turned a lot of lives around," Powell said, "And so, I have to put that in context with these very offensive comments that he made, which I reject out of hand."
Powell added that he does not know Wright, and praised Obama's response.
"I think that Sen. Obama handled the issue well . . . he didn't look the other way. He didn't wait for the, for the, you know, for the storm to go over. He went on television, and I thought, gave a very, very thoughtful, direct speech. And he didn't abandon the minister who brought him closer to his faith," Powell told Sawyer.
Powell, who has been mentioned as a possible vice presidential candidate in almost every election since he retired from military service and public life, expressed admiration for Obama.
"It was a good (speech)," Powell said. "I admired him for giving it. And I agreed with much of what he said."
Posted by: Thinking | Apr 9, 2008 9:20:46 PM
Thinking - Powell was the guy who sold me on the Iraq war. He was the only Bush guy I trusted and he sold me out. Let Powell come clean on HIS screw up on the Iraq war HE sold. People like you, Thinking, beat Hillary senseless over her Iraq war vote and you push this garbage without taking this guy to task over his MAJOR roles in this ugly war is pure madness on your part. For God's sake get a spine and stand for something consistently at least.
Posted by: Dogsoldier | Apr 9, 2008 9:27:43 PM
Can't improve on Dogsoldier's comments, but ha! and Vanessa couldn't overcome their bias long enough to read the article:
An ample amount of thanks and praise was also give to his wife Hillary, stressing that while some recent accounts may diminish her role, the people at the event tonight knew differently.
Posted by: Woody | Apr 9, 2008 9:34:42 PM
Fact is Powell was apposed to this war and was moved out to make room for Rice who would do Bush's Bidding.
Posted by: Thinking | Apr 9, 2008 9:44:15 PM
Thinking - POWELL at the UN: My purpose today is to provide you with additional information, to share with you what the United States knows about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction as well as Iraq's involvement in terrorism, which is also the subject of Resolution 1441 and other earlier resolutions.
So, where did Powell's weapons of mass destruction go? Who were the terrorists?
Posted by: Dogsoldier | Apr 9, 2008 9:48:03 PM
To engage the UN to increase sanctions, and continue political pressure on Iraq to allow weapons inspectors to return.
Posted by: Thinking | Apr 9, 2008 9:56:22 PM
Thinking - I think you're smart enough to know better when not writing here on this blog. I'll give you that much. But you do know Powell was there to sell the war. So use the name you have, Thinking, and that alone will guide you to the truth.
Posted by: Dogsoldier | Apr 9, 2008 10:05:07 PM
Obama 08'- Very nice return. Darn am I blushing?
Posted by: Dogsoldier | Apr 9, 2008 10:20:15 PM
Thinking - Just the facts lad. So who did I personally attack and what did I say to that individual? Regards to Powell, that guys is a Bush salesman who sold most uncommitted Americans on the war. I was one of those guys and I do hold HIM responsible. That was Powell at that United Nations. Not a Powell look a like, Powell. Nor has Powell stood up to this day on the Iraq war. Period!
Posted by: Dogsoldier | Apr 9, 2008 10:24:25 PM
She had a corner of a park to do as her part in tis peace deal.The money 2.5 mil John raised should be given away ,Can not take foreign money.Broke the rules again and thing for Hilly baby.
As for Obama having nothing to say on China great move on his part....
Posted by: h | Apr 9, 2008 10:25:01 PM
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