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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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Your candidates finally seem to agree that Senator McCain is the target and yet the usual bickering here in the late evening.
So the point seems to be whether Senator Clinton contributed to some meaningful policy during President Clinton's years. If yes, does this help her cause tremendously? Is she will to accept the bad as well as the good during those years?
If she didn't, then so what - neither did Senator Obama. If it's a question of honesty then most Americans have made up their minds on this and it is a nonissue.
What needs to happen is a clean sweep of the Bush/Cheney cronies out of Washington and start fresh (yes, with new cronies).
Posted by: MIguy | Apr 9, 2008 10:29:42 PM
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.
THEN WHERE IS HER AWARD?why didnt give her one too!
COME ON PEOPLE YOU THREW THE DOG A BONE
Posted by: Lauren | Apr 9, 2008 10:30:10 PM
William J. Clinton Awarded not Hill
she was so important in the peace process so important you forgot to recognize her SHAME ON YOU, SHAME ON YOU .
Posted by: Lauren | Apr 9, 2008 10:32:15 PM
No argument - he sold his credibility that day (some would say his soul). He convinced those that wanted to be convinced. He didn't convince the UN, though.
The hypocrisy of the war is that most Americans were for it. There are those who are still trying to justify it but most have moved on. If Senator Clinton had just said "I made a mistake" and moved on, it would be less of an issue. I surmise that she didn't want to be a John Kerry "flip flopper". Well, she loses points here because she shouldn't run her campaign by want polls the best. She has been doing a better job lately sticking to important issues and if she keeps it up, it will play well.
Posted by: MIguy | Apr 9, 2008 10:45:47 PM
And I blame Condi Rice more than Powell (look at some of her talk in 2002). And this is the woman being recommended as McCain's VP choice?
Posted by: MIguy | Apr 9, 2008 10:48:22 PM
The Bono part is a nice touch...
Posted by: MIguy | Apr 9, 2008 10:59:54 PM
Ya, I know Dog was not involved in the Irish peace process. It was just Hills. Typo on my part.
Posted by: The Commander Guy | Apr 9, 2008 11:06:42 PM
What exactly was Hillarys role in the
Irish peace process, Bill?
Did she serve Irish Coffee to the
participants?
Did she do an impression of "Paulette
Revere? Did she do her impression
of Rambo ducking sniper fire in Bosnia?
Did she mention that she was for
NAFTA before she was Against It?
Will you Two Comedians please leave
The Stage?
Posted by: reaganfan | Apr 9, 2008 11:56:41 PM
Ya can't blame him for trying since he's one of the biggest reasons she's losing LOL I mean let's get real...could you imagine having to see her after some of the stuff he's said? LOL
Posted by: Sam | Apr 10, 2008 12:26:06 AM
About time the media report something good about the Clinton...
Hillary 08!!!
Posted by: jt | Apr 10, 2008 2:05:56 AM
Madeline Albright was the secretary of state not Hillary Clinton.
Albright said it was the secretary of state's job not the first lady.
Hillary attended no meetings in Ireland where negotiations took place.
The Clintons are at it again.
Bill Clinton got paid in speeches in Dubai and helped lobby for them on the ports.
Bill Clinton got paid by columbia and helped lobby for them on the trade issue.
The voters must love dynasties.
Posted by: Jason | Apr 10, 2008 3:06:07 AM
Hillary Clinton was responsible for organizing and pulling together the women's groups that ultimately became one of the primary coalitions for Peace....
It is not hope or change to say..first .."What have you done for me lately? Then to completely deny and discount one's major accomplishmenst...
It does bother me that a man who uses a college trip to Pakistan and a few months as a community organizer as foreign policy and management experience...would rip apart the accomplishments of others because he has none of his own.
I am doubting more and more if he is electable.
Posted by: Jackie | Apr 10, 2008 6:30:40 AM
Jackie say "Hillary Clinton was responsible for organizing and pulling together the women's groups..."
Ya I know she gave some speeches. Big Deal, Right?
Posted by: The Commander Guy | Apr 10, 2008 8:29:59 AM
Foreign policy experience....or really lame Spring Break trip?
To counter opponents’ accusations that he lacks experience in foreign policy, Senator Barack Obama often cites his ties to relatives in poor villages in Kenya and the years he spent growing up in Indonesia. Now he has added a new personal detail to that thin résumé: a trip to Pakistan while a college student.
Dude, seriously?
Posted by: carl | Apr 10, 2008 8:39:30 AM
Ah, the Irish memories of their own peace negotiations must just not be as sharp as Clintons, if they don't remember the "pivotal" role Hillary played.
Posted by: Paul | Apr 10, 2008 8:41:38 AM
Can some one tell Americans how Obama claimed himself the most experienced guy in foriegn policies because he lived in foriegn countries more years...
Is that a JOKE??
Posted by: True Truth | Apr 10, 2008 12:31:07 PM
Who put on this event?
Nowhere in this article is it clear what person or organization hosted this event at Gallagher's Steak House.
"Bill was honored"? By whom?
"Bill thanked the crowd"? Who were they?
"During the introductions, much praise was given..." Who introduced him?
"As members of the organization came on stage to take pictures..." What organization? It was never identified.
This appears to be an artificially manufactured media event to provide the Clintons another controlled forum in which to subtly comment on Hillary's "role".
Kinda... sorta... felt like they were being honored by some valid Irish organization. No questions, no names, no organization.
But plenty of Guinness for a guillable crowd that adores celebrity regardless of their motive.
Posted by: Gorgon '08 | Apr 10, 2008 1:26:55 PM
Once again most of the comments prove the ignorance of the obama supporters particularly on this issue. Bot Hillary and Bill Clinton worked tirelessly to help bring about peace in Northern ireland and in pursuading the IRA to lay down their weapons. You have to once again denigrate her role since you all claim to be so intelligent do so research on Northern Ireland and the bombings on the UK mainland then maybe you will understand how important their contribution was.All of you haters what have you done to help other people.I for one am grateful that I no longer have to live in fear when i get on a train, visit london or go to a shopping center.
Posted by: angela | Apr 10, 2008 2:12:21 PM
Dogsoldier: Keep posting that quote of John Hume over and over again. I have noticed that when you counter the Obama fans outrageous posts with the truth, they tend to just go away.
Posted by: Grammy Barb | Apr 10, 2008 11:03:21 PM
LMAO, obama cult members got pwn trying to find something smart to say. A winner of the nobel peace prize finally shut them up.
What now Obama cult? You gonna say the words of a nobel peace prize winner is nothing compared to traveling for a month and living in indonesia as a child?
Posted by: Tor | Apr 11, 2008 1:06:25 AM
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