- 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 »
Bill Clinton: McCain 'A Great Man'; Praises Wife's, Not Obama's Economic Plan
Email
ShareSeptember 18, 2008 6:33 PM
ABC News' Jennifer Parker reports: Former President Bill Clinton has largely kept himself out of the public eye since his wife lost the Democratic primary to Barack Obama.
However in a rare television interview tonight, the former president called Republican presidential candidate John McCain "a great man" and praised GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin as an "instinctively effective candidate."
On a day when Obama sought to convince voters that he's best able to handle the economic crisis, the former president said it was his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., who gave today "the most detailed position" on what to do about the financial crisis.
In an interview with CNBC's Maria Bartiromo, Clinton, who has tried to put to rest rumors of tensions between himself and Obama said, "I've never concealed my admiration and affection for Sen. McCain. I think he's a great man.
"But, I think, on the issues that matter to our future, the Obama-Biden team is, is more right," Clinton said of the Democratic ticket. "And I believe they're gonna win. But, I think that it will be competitive until the end."
A ringing endorsement it wasn't.
The former president said Obama "has offered some very specific and sensible economic reforms and healthcare reforms."
Clinton, who said he agreed with the US Federal Reserve decision to bailout insurance giant AIG, said his wife who today gave, "the most detailed position I've seen on what she felt we ought to do on the finance crisis."
The two-term former Democratic president invited Obama to lunch in his New York office last week and has agreed to campaign for him in the coming weeks.
But if tonight's interview is any indication, Bill Clinton will not be lavishing praise on his wife's former primary rival.
Clinton predicted the Democrats will win back the White House in November because voters are ready for a change.
"I think what, what typically happens in these elections if you look throughout American history when the country's in a fix and you know where we're going is not sustainable, then there is typically a breakthrough," he said.
"I think that the, the people said, 'Well, they [Republicans] had the Congress and the White House for six of the last eight years. We're in trouble. We liked Senator McCain. We recognize he's a little bit of a different kind of Republican. But, we're gonna make a change.' And I think that's where they'll be and I think that you'll see a victory for Obama and Biden," Clinton said.
However, Clinton, said there could still be "some unforeseen development," perhaps in the debates, he said, that could threaten a Democratic win.
"Barring some unforeseen development like in-- something happens in the debates we don't know about. I-- I-- I-- it may not be apparent in the polls until last week or two of the election. But, I believe that it will be apparent on election day. I think that-- I think Senator Obama will win this election," Clinton said.
Asked if he was surprised by the bounce McCain received in the polls after choosing Palin as his vice presidential candidate, Clinton said he wasn't, and lavished praise on the Alaska governor.
"No, she's a-- she's an instinctively effective candidate," he said, "And with a compelling story. I think it was exciting to some, that, that she was a woman. It was exciting that she was from Alaska. It was exciting that she's sort of like the person she is. And she grew up in a, came up in a political culture and a religious culture that is probably well to the right of the American center. But, she didn't basically define herself in those terms," Clinton said.
"She handled herself very well," he said, "I get why she's done so well. She, she's, it's a mistake to underestimate her. She's got good intuitive skills. They're significant."
Asked whether his wife intends to run in 2012 if McCain wins, Clinton did not rule it out.
"I don't know," he said, "You know the one thing we've learned at, at our age is that, you know, I hope we're both active till we're 90 and healthy. But, I think that her focus will now be on what she can do in her present positions to try to help her deal with all these things that threw her into the presidential race in the first place," he said.
Clinton added, "I think that-- that what she will do is to continue to try to be a national voice as a result of her campaign on economic and healthcare and energy issues that got her into this presidential race in the first place."
The former president suggested he and his wife have put aside "personal politics" and are working hard to elect Obama.
"She's workin'," he said of the New York senator. "You see her. She's out there workin' hard for Senator Obama. She, like me, believe he's gonna win. And no matter who wins, we've got to put our, our own personal politics aside for the next couple of years and get after these problems," he said.
"We've got, we, we've got to shelf the politics for a while and work on the substance. And if we'll do that, the politics will take care of itself," the former president said.
September 18, 2008 in Clinton, Bill, Clinton, Hillary, McCain, John, Obama, Barack, Vote 2008: Democrats, Vote 2008: Republicans | Permalink | User Comments (737)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
McCain once was an honorable man. Palin was never an honorable politician.
As a vice presidential candidate, Palin has railed against federal earmarks, or congressional funding for pork-barrel projects. "In our state, we reformed the abuses of earmarks," Palin recently boasted to a rally in Lancaster, Pa. "We championed earmark reform up there," she said, "to stop Congress from wasting public money on things that didn't serve the public interest."
But musty records culled from the archives of the Wasilla, Alaska, city government reveal that Palin was directly involved in soliciting millions of dollars in earmarks for Wasilla when she was mayor. And she got help from a well-connected Washington lobbyist.
In a monthly status report to the city on March 7, 2000, newly hired "City Lobbyist" Steve Silver describes how the Palin administration had requested $6.6 million in federal earmarks for water and sewer improvements for Wasilla, and another $1 million for police equipment. Mayor Palin reviewed and signed the lobbyist's report, dated April 5, 2000.
Posted by: Billie | Sep 18, 2008 6:37:40 PM
AND WHY SHOULD WE FORFEIT "A GREAT MAN." MCCAIN AND VOTE FOR AN INEXPERIENCED, RACE-CARD FLASHING, RACIST MAN BECAUSE HE SAYS HE IS SANTA CLAUS AND HAS A GIFT FOR EVERYBODY..
MCCAIN IS A HERO FOR A REASON..
MCCAIN/PALIN 08
Posted by: TJ, THE CLINTONITE | Sep 18, 2008 6:42:36 PM
Traitor! After all of the support we have given to Bill Clinton! We stood by his side ever since he began running for President in 1991, and for him to now, in return, show luke warm support for our candidate is traitorous!
Shame on you Bill Clinton!
I used to say "I still love Bill Clinton" all the time. I think now I'll start watching my mouth!
What a traitor to democrats!
Posted by: Moonbat | Sep 18, 2008 6:42:42 PM
Bet BHO is regretting his race-baiting against the Clinton's now!
Posted by: dl | Sep 18, 2008 6:45:13 PM
If this is all about Hillary planning to run in 2012, she's going to have to start all over again, and she'll be on her own, without my support.
I will never forget, when it's time to vote for Hillary, I'll make sure I vote for the other guy.
Traitor!
Posted by: Moonbat | Sep 18, 2008 6:45:57 PM
I'm beginning to like Bill Clinton! Seems like he has no real problem seeing through the shallow one!
Posted by: dl | Sep 18, 2008 6:46:52 PM
I'd love to support Obama if he's not too far left. McCain is more to the center. He's a different kind of Republican. I don't agree on all Palin's viewpoints but, as a VP, she's fine. At this very tough moment, we can't afford Obama's socialism. Not an ideal solution for now.
Posted by: kay | Sep 18, 2008 6:48:31 PM
Billie,
EVERY STATE SOLICITED EARMARKS, AND OBAMA SOLICITED 1 BILLION DOLLARS IN EARMARKS. OBAMA GOT $200,000 FOR FLEGER, THE PRIEST THAT WAS CURSING OUT WHITES...AND HILLARY CLINTON?
DONT EVEN GO THERE--
PALIN IS A STAR!!
A GOV WHO HAS 80% APPROVAL RATING-
MCCCAIN IS A NATIONAL TREASURE AND WE DONT WANT TO LOSE THIS CHANCE TO DO RIGHT BY A NATIONAL HERO.
MCCAIN/PALIN 08
Posted by: TJ, THE CLINTONITE | Sep 18, 2008 6:49:04 PM
Speaking of political intuition, what's happened to Bill Clinton? He was a mess during the primaries and has not particularly redeemed himself since, one exceptional convention speech notwithstanding.
Posted by: TRBoston | Sep 18, 2008 6:50:13 PM
I agree with the previous poster. What a traitor! "Oh he beat my wife in the primaries, I'm gonna sulk". Then don't pretend to be supporting Obama. We don't need this kind of "endorsement". What a selfish, racist pig.
Posted by: Pablo P | Sep 18, 2008 6:55:45 PM
Sounds like Bill Clinton isn't too excited about Obama becoming President.
Well, Bill's an honest man and McCain-Palin will do a better job and he knows it.
Posted by: basil | Sep 18, 2008 6:58:25 PM
After all, the so-called Obama's economic plans are copied from Hillary's.
Posted by: george | Sep 18, 2008 6:59:22 PM
Why should Bill praise Obama after Obama inferred that Bill is racist? He's not racist and everyone knows that. Obama is a corrupt thug of a politician and I don't blame Bill for his lukewarm endorsement at all.
Posted by: Patrick | Sep 18, 2008 7:01:31 PM
Why should Bill praise Obama after Obama inferred that Bill is racist? He's not racist and everyone knows that. Obama is a corrupt thug of a politician and I don't blame Bill for his lukewarm endorsement at all.
Posted by: Patrick | Sep 18, 2008 7:01:32 PM
William Jefferson Clinton - one of our greatest presidents. (minus the hanky-panky) LOL
Bill is right. McCain is a good man; a real man. -An honest man.
Barack -grow up and try again. You are in way over your head.
HILLARY 2012 !
Posted by: Michael | Sep 18, 2008 7:01:33 PM
President Clinton,
I am a right-winger who thought you may have had something to do with Vince Foster's untimely demise.
I take it all back. You too are a great man, and I am counting on you to do all you can behind the scenes to ensure that this upstart who called you a racist for supporting your wife's campaign has his comeuppance.
Posted by: xaix | Sep 18, 2008 7:02:46 PM
That GD liar he said in another statement that Obama,a will win in a land slide
Posted by: me | Sep 18, 2008 7:04:03 PM
Posted by: Moonbat | Sep 18, 2008 6:42:42 PM
_________________________________
What do you expect? Barack and his press lovers accused the Clinton's of being racists. Talk about sleeze. Hill/Bill are not traitors. You are just a mute. a moron. duh
Posted by: Michael | Sep 18, 2008 7:04:17 PM
Obama is the traitor to the dem party. He has caused many to leave.
Posted by: tilly | Sep 18, 2008 7:05:27 PM
Someone told Bill her name was Monica Palin. Hillary will never get my vote.
One of the best females out there speaking for Obama and the Democratic party is Wasserman-Schultz.
Posted by: bc46 | Sep 18, 2008 7:07:32 PM
Post a comment
