Home > Politics > Political Radar

« Previous | Main | Next »

Bill Clinton Has 'Never Seen a Candidate Treated So Disrespectfully Just for Running'

Share

May 25, 2008 2:25 PM

ABC News' Sarah Amos reports: Former President Bill Clinton in South Dakota today delivered a harsh critique of how his wife has been treated during her presidential bid, telling the crowd that he has "never seen a candidate treated so disrespectfully just for running," and that, "she will win the general election if you nominate her. They're just trying to make sure you don't."

Clinton spent more than six minutes calmly discussing what he called a "frantic effort to push her out" of this race, saying that no one asked Ted Kennedy, Jesse Jackson or Gary Hart to end their presidential campaigns early. 

Clinton also spoke against bullying superdelegates to make up their minds, saying, "I cant believe it. It is just frantic the way they are trying to push and pressure and bully all these superdelegates to come out. 'Oh, this is so terrible: The people they want her. Oh, this is so terrible: She is winning the general election, and he is not. Oh my goodness, we have to cover this up.'"

Speaking to a crowd of about 200 in Fort Thompson, S.D., Clinton seemed slightly subdued during his 30-minute speech, which largely focused on the issues important to the Native American community.  As he wrapped up his remarks, a woman in the audience asked him a question about voting for Hillary Clinton. 

"If you vote for her and she does well in Montana and she does well in Puerto Rico, when this is over she will be ahead in the popular vote," Clinton said. "And they're trying to get her to cry uncle before the Democratic Party has to decide what to do in Florida and Michigan because they are claiming that it only takes 2029 votes on the first ballot to win, and it takes a lot more than that if you put Florida and Michigan back in. Well, they will have to unless we want to lose the election. I mean, look, so there is that that is going on."

The former president was strong in his assertion that his wife has the best chance to win against Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, arguing that many electoral map predictions have his wife winning more electoral votes than Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., the Democratic frontrunner, in a general election.

"She is winning the general election today and he is not, according to all the evidence," Clinton said. "And I have never seen anything like it. I have never seen a candidate treated so disrespectfully just for running. Her only position was, "Look, if I lose I'll be a good team player. We will all try to win but let's let everybody vote and count every vote.'"

Clinton also strongly criticized the media, saying that ever since Iowa they have been against his wife, making him feel as though he was living in a "fun house."  As he concluded his thoughts on how this election has been handled, he again went back to the media's choice of coverage. 

"If you notice, there hasn't been a lot of publicity on these polls I just told you about," Clinton said. "It is the first time you've heard it? Why do you think that is? Why do you think?  Don't you think if the polls were the reverse and he was winning the electoral college against Sen. McCain and Hillary was losing it, it would be blasted on every television station? You would know it wouldn't you? It wouldn't be a little secret. And there is another Electoral College poll that I saw yesterday had her over 300 electoral votes, yeah. She will win the general election is you nominate her. They're just trying to make sure you don't."

May 25, 2008 in Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (1001)

User Comments

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

This is ridiculous. Why are Bill and Hillary Clinton trying to delegitimate the process? Hillary is loosing today not because she is a woman, not because the media is biased, but because she has run a terrible campaign and has been a flawed candidate. There go the Clinton's again trying to blame their own failures on everyone else.

Posted by: Dem | May 25, 2008 2:36:18 PM

The Clintons are slowly going crazy in their bid for power I see.

Posted by: Chris | May 25, 2008 2:36:33 PM

what?

i cant believe this, someone needs to put together a tape of how they ended up in this position...

while i do think that at times hte media was wrong for saying she was shrill, but how she is being treated now is a direct result of how she has PLAYED the game...

wow, i just cant believe they continue to play teh victim card...

why not embrace yourself as a champion instead of a victim..

just another wrong move in a long list of wrong moves from her campaign...

Posted by: bhrandon | May 25, 2008 2:39:48 PM

Both of the Clinton's are going to come out of this campaign damaged by their own words and deeds, yet somehow, it's going to be my fault.

Posted by: J_Pryor00 | May 25, 2008 2:41:45 PM

Bill clinton, you are my modern day hero but Hilary is not you. Nobody is pushing Hilary out and stop trying to create sentiments as that only serve to fuel hate and plant seeds of discord in the party who you revere and which still hold you in high esteem. Hilary has every right to go till the convention but we are almost in june and the party is still fighting. Eight years of George Bush has crippled the economy and no one wants another term for another Mcbush. Constructively looking at the remaining process, there is really no way Hilary can upturn that delegate count. Infact the reason why many delegates have not weighed in is because of the respect they have for you. We need time to heal and that healing process has to start soon. Look at the comments on most blogs, if we dont start now we can start welcoming President Mccain on board.

Posted by: vuzous | May 25, 2008 2:45:02 PM

i guess i dont understand what you are saying will429

Posted by: bhrandon | May 25, 2008 2:46:36 PM

Kerry go for it.
They want this so bad it hurts....When she first started she said,"Do NOT think of me as a woman" I am running for president.NOW the tide has turned and everyone is crying foul>>>Can't talk out of both sides of your mouth,can't change rules mid stream,can make promises that you can't keep.
My God who do they think they are get to he-- out ,yo have caused so many probles already.If she left when she was beaten none of this crap would be going around Billy.THe big thing is all your DIRTY deals ,you must owe so much that you need this position to re-pay tour debts...I hope they came after you .........AND you didn't have to go until June to get your name on the ballot....Misspoke again.You knew in March it was youes.

Posted by: older person | May 25, 2008 2:46:44 PM

well said vuzous

this is exactly right, super d;s are waiting out of respect to her candidacy and the voters to all get a chance to cast their votes

Posted by: bhrandon | May 25, 2008 2:48:01 PM

More rant I see. More lies. Nothing to loose Clintons.

I have never seen anything like it. The campaign is now talking about going through the summer into Aug. Oh well.

Obama08

Posted by: Thinking | May 25, 2008 2:49:05 PM

At least they're not calling her Sweetie. Hang in there Hillary!

Posted by: Ellie | May 25, 2008 2:50:30 PM

irma,

the people are pushing for obama, that is hwy he is ahead... i dont get where you get this conspiracy that the DNC or whoever else you say is pushing obama..

why is it a conspiracy and not that hillary has just ran a bad campaign? why isnt it her fault...

she was highly favored to win this, she knew it, everyone knew it, and then she blew it because she thought it was in the bag...

she has no one to blame except herself

Posted by: bhrandon | May 25, 2008 2:55:37 PM

Sorry if I mispelled, at least I didn't say a lie. Of course they make fools of themselves. Every day I feel more and more strongly against the Clintons. Who do they believe they are? This is no a monarchy. One single family running the country? That's so third world, and let me tell you: I know about that; I'm originally from a Latin country.

The other day I heard this horrible man, Bill Clinton, suggesting that maybe his daughter could run too. God forbids!!!! Their days are counted; they are on their way out for the good of this nation. Gob is blessing us!!!

Posted by: carl29 | May 25, 2008 2:55:56 PM

Why is Bill Clinton WHINING again?

It really is NOT becoming to an ex-president.

Posted by: Brandon | May 25, 2008 2:57:09 PM

Obama leads in the East, the West, and in the South, while the two are essentially tied in the central part of the country, including the Midwest and the Great Lakes region, the poll shows. He leads among all voters under age 65 ? including by huge percentages among those voters under age 30 - but trails McCain among those older voters by a 45% to 34% margin. Interestingly, Obama holds a 13-point edge among those voters age 50 to 64.
McCain and Democrat Hillary Clinton, who lags behind Obama in the race for the Democratic Party presidential nomination, are essentially tied in the latest Reuters/Zogby polling. Clinton won 41% support compared to 40% backing for McCain.
Clinton wins less support from her Democratic base than does Obama when paired against McCain ? 74% of Democrats said they would vote for her, while 8% would vote for McCain, 4% support Nader, and 13% of Dems were either undecided or favoring someone else. McCain wins 77% of the GOP base in this latest polling against Clinton, while she wins 8% of the Republican vote.

Posted by: tr | May 25, 2008 2:57:41 PM

anne what?

you need to get your facts straight if MEN wanted her out, why would she have gotten this far...

please

and to talk about driving hwere you want wasting energy... you sound like a republican and someone who is antiearth

you must be a republican..

Posted by: bhrandon | May 25, 2008 2:57:46 PM

One title says he "blows up" and then this story says he was "subdued." Which one is true?

Posted by: Tony | May 25, 2008 2:59:47 PM

I was strongly for HRC until the race card was played by WJC in SC. After HRC's comments on Friday about her staying in the race to see if something catastrophic happens to Obama, I'm over the edge.

The Clinton push to get themselves back into the WH, does not seem like wanting Democracy to play out. It's all about getting power for themselves.

Posted by: TrueDem | May 25, 2008 3:01:17 PM

RASMUSSEN IS STOPPING THEIR POLLS ON HER, SHE'S ONE

Posted by: RASMUSSEN | May 25, 2008 3:01:46 PM

Who is it this time! The media? The DNC? The far right? Bill, weren't you the one who said that politics is a tough business and if you can't take the heat, you shouldn't be running for office? Quit complaining and buck up.

Posted by: LongT | May 25, 2008 3:02:13 PM

Come on people! Someone knew that if Florida and Michigan voted early the rules would be broken and what the outcome will be.

You hear Obama has changed his stand and now says the votes should be counted? Why? Because when the DNC meets on May 31st they'll probably announce some slanted political deal to give him votes he didn't really get.

Nothing is an accident here, and the sexism in this race is appauling!

Hillary should stay in until the end of the race, just like all candidates have always done. If she were a man no one would be calling for her to quit.

Be patient, let each candidate have their chance.

Posted by: Lyn | May 25, 2008 3:02:40 PM

Next Comments »

Post a comment