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Presidents Bush, Clinton Team Up in Toronto; Clinton Says His View on Gay Marriage Is ‘Evolving’
May 29, 2009 8:31 PM
ABC News’ Rick Klein reports: This afternoon in Toronto, former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush shared a stage for a “conversation with presidents” at Toronto’s Convention Centre, in a ticketed event (with a hefty payday for both ex-presidents) that was open to the general public.
It was a fascinating discussion -- these two 62-year-old men with a combined 16 years in the presidency, talking about current and past events as probably no one else alive can, for the first time in a public forum.
While President Bush mostly kept to his promise not to criticize his successor, he bristled at the suggestion -- advanced by President Obama, among others -- that Iraq distracted the nation from the war in Afghanistan.
“I don't buy the premise that our attention was diverted” by Iraq, Bush said. “I think it's false. Matter of fact, I know it's false. I was there."
And while President Clinton mostly kept to his promise to “thwart” efforts to get 42 and 43 to tangle with each other, he offered an interesting insight into his thinking on gay rights.
On the issue of gay marriage -- which Clinton, like President Obama, personally opposes -- Clinton said of his position: "Frankly, it's evolving" as he sees more committed gay couples raising kids.
As ABC political director David Chalian has pointed out, Clinton isn’t the only Democrat whose position on gay marriage is moving.
Clinton also expressed optimism that the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell policy” -- which he helped enact -- will eventually come off the books, allowing gay members of the armed services to serve openly.
"I think that time will lead to a repeal of this ban,” Clinton said.
That’s one of many areas where the former presidents disagree. But mostly, this event was a lovefest.
Clinton heaped praise on Bush for his AIDS initiative and the diversity of his Cabinet. Bush urged Clinton not to be so hard on himself over Rwanda.
Bush welcomed the audience to “the Bill and George show.” Clinton teased that while the pair was facing expectations that they would “devour each other,” “we’ll do our best to thwart them.”
They bonded over life outside the presidential bubble. Clinton called it “disorienting” to walk into a room without a band playing “Hail to the Chief,” while Bush joked that when he walks Barney now, he gets to pick up “that which I had dodged for eight years.”
I’ll have more on the event -- and the emerging relationship between the two presidents -- on Saturday’s “Good Morning America.”
The event was organized by The Power Within, a private, Toronto-based company that typically runs motivational seminars. It was moderated by Frank McKenna, a prominent Canadian politician who served as ambassador to the United States in 2005 and 2006.
The 6,000-ticket event, held at the cavernous Metro Toronto Convention Centre, was not sold out as of Friday morning. Tickets were sold for as little as $229 and as much as $2,500 for a seating package that included a picture with Bush and Clinton.
Organizers didn’t allow recording devices into the room, but they did allow members of the media to purchase tickets, just like anybody else. That’s what ABC did to cover the event.
May 29, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (17)
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Now let's do Cheney against Clinton...
Posted by: matt | May 29, 2009 9:43:32 PM
"Bush urged Clinton not to be so hard on himself over Rwanda." - Don't be so hard on yourself being the most powerful man in the world (at that time) and not doing more to quell the violence and killing of 800,000 people? What an altered state of reality as "the mind is a terrible thing." Or was it "Denial is a terrible thing to waste?"
Posted by: mados123 | May 29, 2009 11:22:32 PM
"I don't buy the premise that our attention was diverted" by Iraq, Bush said. "I think it's false. Matter of fact, I know it's false. I was there."
2,811 days since WMD said he'd catch Usama bin Laden Dead or Alive??????
Posted by: PostAmerican | May 29, 2009 11:51:46 PM
Let's see, "Bring 'em on!"
"Mission Accomplished!"
"We'll get him, dead or alive."
Clinton is just indulging in his need for the limelight and more money, but I can't believe that people would actually pay to see the moronic George W. who was installed by the supremes and made a mess of our country that almost drove it beyond repair, indeed damaged the world. I'm sure he will go down in history as the most awful, destructive and horrible president in history. He is a genuine American tragedy.
Posted by: Woody McBreairty | May 30, 2009 12:18:42 AM
Barack Obama did vote against a Federal Marriage Amendment and opposed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996.
He said he would support civil unions between gay and lesbian couples, as well as letting individual states determine if marriage between gay and lesbian couples should be legalized.
Posted by: Joe | May 30, 2009 12:45:24 AM
Bill's view of gay marriage is "evolving"? Is anyone supposed to care? This is the man who saddled us with the odious Defense of Marriage Act - one of many Clintonian acts of unprincipled political calculation.
Posted by: skipper | May 30, 2009 12:47:00 AM
I'm so relieved that President Clinton's view of "gay" marriage is evolving. My view of his brand of "straight" marriage is evolving too - in the late '90s I thought, "So he got a blow job, so what!" Today, I've evolved to the point that I realize that Wild Bill is a sex addict who will compromise everything - his marriage vows on the alter before God, his wife, family and friends, his own dignity, the dignity and respect of his wife and daughter, the stability of the country, and the trust and respect of both his closest friends and the millions of citizens who believed the words that came out of his mouth.
And I"m supposed to be, what? Appreciative that his views about my equal rights are evolving?
Posted by: NewYorkJoe | May 30, 2009 1:26:45 AM
what fluff crap! two NWO members not answering the REAL questions of why the world is controlled and soldddd
Posted by: GMOfoodsarepoison | May 30, 2009 3:23:23 AM
GMO foods killing people left and right, water system that is polluted, consciousness of most America just mindless sheep going to sports events, bars, and wasting time in fear, controlled by mainstream news. the media and powers has the dumb mainstream worried what gay people do, while the planet burns and people continue to get sick. get rid of this system people wake up! love and peace will be here!
Posted by: GMOfoodsarepoison | May 30, 2009 3:25:43 AM
So a man who get's outside martial sexual favours from interns determines when he is okay, comfortable with gay marriage, when it's evolved.
these guys just need money.
Posted by: ritchie | May 30, 2009 8:20:21 AM
There is nothing "evolved" about either of those two troglodytes.
Posted by: Thomas Mc | May 30, 2009 11:34:18 AM
I watched an anti-gay marriage in NYC on msnbc last night. Frankly I was pissed.
Posted by: Michael | May 30, 2009 1:25:22 PM
That was supposed to be an anti-gay marriage commercial on msnbc in NYC. It is time to start fighting back in NY. Support marriage equality.
Posted by: m | May 30, 2009 1:27:47 PM
I trust it's a beautiful that marriage is between a man and a woman.
Posted by: Byne-NY | May 30, 2009 11:21:58 PM
So many people surround me have terribly missed George and Laura Bush. Sadly, America has now the President and the Administration of ABORTION in USA which is Christian nation of 84%. We should give up trying to hear prayers and dignity, but rhetorical lie from the White House. Indubitably, I believe that history will vindicate what George Bush had done for American safe life than Obama has worked for spreading of ABORTION. But I am not against gay couple.
Posted by: Sharon-NY | May 30, 2009 11:27:33 PM
Sharon-NY | May 30, 2009 11:27:33 PM
... "But I am not against gay couple." ...
____________________
So you're an "Advocate of States Rights?" Right? Are you aware, you're advocating that which is Against accepted LAW in most States, i.e., Gay Marriage. And you are Against accepted LAW Nationally, i.e., Abortion (Roe v Wade.)
Where YOU stand on the Big Questions confronting our society ISN'T NECESSARILY how The Law "IS" ... or "OUGHT TO BE WRITTEN!"
The concept is; "Our Laws are developed and written by our elected officials (legislators), and approved by The Elected Executive (The U.S. President) to satisfy the will of The People."
Posted by: bobj72 | Jun 1, 2009 12:14:53 PM
George Bush is one of the greatest presidents of our time. Too many people Just watch the 8:00 news and are magically an expert on politics... We haven't been attacked since 9/11 and that should be enough for anyone. We also had the wealthiest economy in our history under Bush until the arrival of Pelosi and the Liberals... Let's not forget our current failure of a president Obama has promised to capture Osama too... Economy hasent improved from the day he took office (not even close to showing for trillions of dollars worth...) I can not believe how many people buy his obvious lies and generalities on the 8:00 news. He has not helped anything out. Obama makes President Bush and Clinton look like saints! But it's OK, he is on the job training... While N. Korea make us look weaker and weaker with every missle launch. Or Iran with their deployment of war ships. I'm tired of the Bush jokes. Pull your head out and quick being a sissy. This Bush - Clinton thing was clearly to help build confidence in the failing US for Liberals and conservatives because of Obama's failures already...
Posted by: john | Jun 1, 2009 12:30:28 PM
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