- Daily Photo: Obama Jokes Around at G-20
- Blackwater gets replaced in Iraq
- Daily Photo: U.S. Marines Look Out for Taliban in Afghanistan
- Hillary Clinton the Tomboy and Her "Ah-Ha" Moment
- Obama Administration Sudan Envoy Headed to Region
- Daily Photo: Potential Flashpoint in Iraq
- Clinton Says New Afghanistan-Pakistan Plan Depends on Diplomacy
- Exclusive: Three Israeli Airstrikes Against Sudan
- Additional 4,000 Troops to Be Ordered to Afghanistan
- Daily Photo: Navy Submarine Trains in the Arctic
- Alarm Over North Korea Missile Prep
- Anti-Terror Stimulus? US Offers Rewards for Top Terrorists
- Daily Photo: Pakistani Women in Refugee Camp
- Condoleezza Rice Appears on "The Tonight Show"
- Diplomat and Aid Group Sound the Alarm on Darfur Camp Situation
- auto industry rescue
- Ballotwatch
- Biden, Joe
- Bush, George W.
- Clinton, Bill
- Clinton, Hillary
- Dodd, Chris
- Edwards, John
- Giuliani, Rudy
- Gravel, Mike
- Huckabee, Mike
- Hunter, Duncan
- Inauguration
- Iraq
- Kucinich, Dennis
- McCain, John
- Obama, Barack
- Palin, Sarah
- Paul, Ron
- Romney, Mitt
- Tancredo, Tom
- Thompson, Fred
- Veepstakes
- Vote 2008: Democrats
- Vote 2008: Republicans
- Washington
- White House
« Previous | Main | Next »
Article: Friends Feared New Clinton Bimbo Eruptions
June 01, 2008 5:18 PM
ABC News' Tahman Bradley Reports: Former President Bill Clinton's office moved swiftly to discredit a spicy profile story in the June edition of Vanity Fair written by Todd S. Purdum. Clinton's office distributed a memo to reporters Sunday calling Purdum's 9,600 word article "journalism of personal destruction at its worst."
Purdum, a former White House correspondent for the New York Times, cites anonymous Clinton aides, past and present, who paint a portrait of an undisciplined, sometimes reckless man trapped in a vacuum of self indulgence.
Read the story HERE.
Purdum writes that four former Clinton aides told him about 18 months ago that one of Clinton's former assistants grew very concerned about the number of tabloid reports concerning the former president and women. The former assistant said "he felt compelled to try to conduct what one of (the) aides called an "intervention," because he believed "Clinton was apparently seeing a lot of women on the road," according to the article.
Arguing the master has lost his groove -- his world famous political touch -- during the eight years he's been out of office, Purdum quotes another senior aide who he says is part of a group of friends who worry Clinton has never been the same since heart surgery in 2004.
"There seems to be an abiding anger in him, and not just the summer thunderstorms of old. He has been called into question repeatedly by top staff. The fact is, you can only weigh in so often on this stuff. It's just a huge force of nature," says the source, according to Purdum.
The choice of business associates and the close friends Clinton now keeps are perhaps the greatest concern of the aides, Purdum writes. "Butt boy" Doug Band, a counselor to Clinton, has been said to rub people the wrong way, according Purdum's sources.
Maggie Williams, former White House chief of staff to Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., who now serves as Mrs. Clinton's presidential campaign manager, left her job in the Clinton Foundation partly because of Band, writes Purdum.
Then there's Ron Burkle, a California billionaire and Clinton business partner, who has investors that include an entity connected to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, ruler of Dubai.
Clinton's office argues the article features "past attacks" and fails to mention the global humanitarian work done by the Clinton Foundation.
June 1, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (139)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
I don't much care who the Clintons sleep with, or don't, either of them, any of the three of them. Can't see it's relevant. Used to be the rule was: This sorta stuff got ignored as a private matter. unless somebody made a public spectacle of themselves.
That was a good rule.
Posted by: Lee C. ― U.S.A. | Jun 1, 2008 6:42:12 PM
"cites anonymous Clinton aides"...
Oh please. Total smear campaign. Can't the BO camp do better than this. Yup, a new kind of politics.......yawn.
Posted by: SadStateOfAffairs | Jun 1, 2008 6:42:37 PM
When this all started, I was glad to have two such powerhouse candidates on the Democratic side. Whoever wins the nomination, I said, that's who I'll vote for in November. And I will do so, happily.
The distance between Senator Clinton and Senator Obama is miniscule next to the chasm between the Democratic nominee and John McCain. Even if the Democrat who is nominated is my second choice, why would I vote for McCain just to spite that person. I'd just be hurting myself for the next four or eight years?
Haven't GWB et al. given us nightmares enough for a lifetime?
Posted by: Voice of Reason | Jun 1, 2008 6:45:46 PM
If you want a Sunday school teacher to lead this land, Jimmy Carter is eligible for another term. No leader in the last 100 years, except maybe Carter, has been squeaky clean. Some of you people making the most noise are probably the most ethically and morally compromised. Jesus said, "Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone."
Now one of you moral pygmies throw a damn rock.
Posted by: Rattlesnake Bob | Jun 1, 2008 6:48:04 PM
Bubba's bimbo eruptions are nothing compared to Obama's Reverend eruptions. If the democrats cannot win the White House this year they should pack it in once and for all.
Posted by: ChaseDPM | Jun 1, 2008 6:50:38 PM
Obama supporters do not need to tarnish Clinton's name at this time. Obama stayed clear of such politics when he could have replied in kind when Hillary went sfter him on Wright and Ayers.
Now, the republicans have vested interest to appear Obama's supporters just to anger Clinton's supporters to divide Democrats.
This is simple childish plot and I am sure Clinton supporters won't fall for it. If anything it shows how the Democrats did not pull all amunition against the Clintons.
Posted by: selam | Jun 1, 2008 6:52:35 PM
Clinton was the beneficiary of the Internet Biz boom and all the trickle down currency (real and political) that it contained. He has deep ties to some of America's and China's worst thugs. He basically tended the terrorist garden and then backed out of culpability when his harvest came callin' on Sept. 11. Too, he was the most indecent whore-monger to ever bed an intern in the White House. His lascivious lifestyle forever sullied our great institution.
Anything else?
Posted by: tradamerica | Jun 1, 2008 6:53:00 PM
It is a pity that many of those who post comments on the interet on this matter are unable, or will never read the Vanity Fair article. Those who would read it will be amazed by the deapth of reasearch and the broad stroke of revelations. I encourage bloggers to read it--seven internet pages long. Then you will be ploitically educated enough to make an informed (as opposed to emotional) comments.
The Vanity Fair expose is excellent, revealing and well-researched. THE CLINTONS, especially Bill, represent one of the worst cases of selfish individualism. They act ruthlessly and recklessly in private and public life—and, they now live in their self-created Dreamland USA. In the past, when backed to the corner, they cried "vast right wing controversy" and Democrats rallied for the sake of solidarity to save the Clinton Presidency. They got of easy, with no lesson learned. After running a poor (and very negative campaign) in which they experimented with every conceivable dirty trick of the old politics--kitchen sink, gender, race, media, sympathy, whining, red phone, Bosnia fire, working class vs. the rest, cards and more--now it is the vast "Democratic delegates conspiracy." Hillary and Bill are still shouting in our ears that without them the world cannot --never--be saved. We know better! Lacking any sense of personal responsibility, the Clintons never blame themselves--their reckless behavior, self-sabotage, lack of ethics and principle, selfish individuality, and more--all of which constrained many women feminists to conclude--"not this woman." Surely, in the future, a woman better qualified and with all the requisite positive qualities will emerge to claim the Presidency with all of our support!!! Not this woman! Once the Clintons got out of the way, the Democratic Party will begin to write a more hopeful, more positive history of its politics! –Dr. Sam
Posted by: Dr. Sam | Jun 1, 2008 6:55:41 PM
JRS - The difference is that Obama's pastor will not be privy to White House doings, nor will occupy the WH. Bill Clinton would be "first husband" (or whatever they would call him). He would, in essence, be the president in exile -- he would be running the show and HC would be a figurehead.
Posted by: catpurrson | Jun 1, 2008 7:02:23 PM
I am an Obama supporter and I HATE this kind of reporting where there is innuendos yet absolutely NO REAL EVIDENCE.
Shame on that writer!
Posted by: Stacey | Jun 1, 2008 7:03:05 PM
catpursson - but when Hilary claimed experience of being in the white house for 8 years you guys said that didn't count so why should it count if Bill is her husband, in other words, was she running the show while he was a figurehead? Again you logic doesn't work.
Posted by: d | Jun 1, 2008 7:06:35 PM
Drill in ANWR and off the coasts.
----------------------------------------
It is my understanding that this oil would go to Japan. We are a net importer of oil. We import and export, but do more importing than exporting.
Posted by: broombie | Jun 1, 2008 7:12:31 PM
This is hardly breaking news! his sexual appetitie is well known. He is doing his part to win over voters.
Posted by: scott jeffries | Jun 1, 2008 7:20:29 PM
Hey Folks, why is it that the Obama's DIRT does not stick to this slick Senator for Ill... What about all of the crap the media just turns a cheek to, but when it come to the Clintons every thing is some sort of controversy. Obama is not the answer to this Countries trouble, only a media driven fantasy that will put us in line with the socialism going on since the EU was born. If this slick Liar get in the Whitehouse, We haven’t seen anything like it in the 230 some odd years, of what is, but will be no longer be, our great Nation. God save us from the ignorance that has been played out from the far left wing MEDIA. Wake up America this is for real, not an episode of a prime time drama.
Posted by: James | Jun 1, 2008 7:21:01 PM
How out of character. While he and his wife are out on the campaign trail Bill is now stands accused of seeking the company of other women. I'm shocked. How could anyone suggest such a thing about this wonderful man. Appalling. Really.
Posted by: jggrimm | Jun 1, 2008 7:24:12 PM
If you folks think Clinton was bad, or that Bush was worse, stand by. Your next hero Obama is going to rock your little world.
"Give me ten years and you will not recognize America" (or was it Germany?).
Posted by: Karpy | Jun 1, 2008 7:25:05 PM
I have a strange opinion of past Presidents -- a free pass on any private and public behavior up to a felony.
Our Presidents have had unique on-the-job training that cannot be duplicated and is incredibly valuable if we do what is right and honor them. Instead, we toss them aside as a possible political rival instead of getting their opinion on how to deal with the same foreign leaders and domestic conditions they faced.
So leave Bill Clinton the heck alone. What he does with his private life is between him and a certain presidential candidate. Let's give him the same solid wall of respect that the honorable press corps gave FDR to hide his inability to walk. Press -- grow up and stop treating everything as if you worked for the National Enquirer. National Enquirer -- do your job.
Posted by: Tom Mariner | Jun 1, 2008 7:36:34 PM
Probably another smear campaign by the Obama campaign, tis the season afterall. Remember the big story the NY Times supposedly had on McCain a few months ago regarding the lady lobbyist? That story totally disappeared because it was just another smear tactic apparently. And don't forget Scott McClellan who just came out with his "tell all" book. I don't like what was done by the Bush Adm. either, but he just comes off as a disgruntled employee who cashed in on great timing and lots of free publicity through a Bush hating media. I wouldn't be surprised if the Obama campaign, or DNC, did some negotiating with Mr. McClellan on his book either. I am so sick of this whole thing, so much for new politics I guess.
Posted by: dwc | Jun 1, 2008 7:40:01 PM
Congratulations on another victory, Hillary! We'll be cheering and voting for you all the way to the White House!
Posted by: Chelsea S. | Jun 1, 2008 7:40:40 PM
As an independent who has kept up on everything as much as possible, it really does look like Clinton supporters are throwing a fit over their team not winning. Especially after their response to the DNC rules committee.
Posted by: GBMagnum | Jun 1, 2008 7:41:12 PM
Post a comment



