WP: Clinton Accuses GOP of 'Power Grab'

[kskiska]

Former President Seeks to Mobilize California's Democratic Base on Recall

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 14 -- Former president Bill Clinton appeared at a black church and a Mexican restaurant today to rally voters against the removal of Gov. Gray Davis (D), arguing that the California recall is unjust, unfair, reckless -- and "a power grab" by Republicans.

Clinton's appearance marks the beginning of a salvo from national Democrats lining up behind Davis and against the Oct. 7 recall, which has begun to lose some steam in public polls. Up later this week are former vice president Al Gore, Jesse L. Jackson and two presidential contenders, Sens. John Kerry (Mass.) and Bob Graham (Fla.), who will all appear with Davis.

(snip)

With a swaying, purple-robed choir behind him and Davis at his side, Clinton stood at the pulpit of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles, the city's oldest black congregation, and cited Scripture, comparing the recall of the embattled Democratic governor to the mob that wanted to stone an adulteress during Jesus's time.

"Let he among you without sin, cast the first stone," Clinton said. Everyone in politics makes mistakes, the former president told the congregation, which interrupted his talk with repeated standing ovations. But he said the recall is misdirected anger. "Oh, the governor didn't make every single problem go away," Clinton said. "So let's throw a rock at him. It'll make us feel better."

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10478-2003Sep14.html

[Fenris]

1. Um, hi, remember 1998, Mr. President?

That whole "impeachment over unimpeachable" offenses thing? Remember? How about 2000? No? Don't be surprised the GOP plays dirty. They know that if you can't win legitimately, you can always win illegitimately.

This is nothing new.

[NWHarkness]

5. I suspect you are mistaken

if you figure he didn't already know that.

[diplomats]

6. FYI, Clinton and other Dems are on record

saying the recall is in the same category as impeachment, the 2000 "election" and the redistricting mess in Texas. The GOP wants to dispense with the two-party system.

[Cloud]

11. So true

The repukes could care less about women's reproductive rights, civil rights, and democracy in general.

[Nottingham]

2. Democrats are bringing out the Big Dog!

Alleluia! :bounce:

[PartyPooper]

3. I hope the Big Dog records some TV ads against this 'recall'!

Even Dianne Feinstein's commercials (as good as they are) couldn't compete with Bill Clinton's.

:dem:

[sonias]

4. Glad to see the big dog out

We need the big dog all over the country. We miss our President. We need to bring back sanity to this country. Don't let the repukes kick you while you are down CA.

Sonia

[Old and In the Way]

7. It would be great to see every candidate for Prez. get behind

Davis. This recall is a very bad precedent and it's application here is totally unwarrented. Time for all Dems to stand up and provide solidarity on this issue. It would be a real rallying point for the entire Party as we go into 2004.

[PartyPooper]

9. I truly believe we will see more Dem Solidarity in the next few weeks.

The top state and national Dems will be speaking out BIG time against this 'recall' as we get closer to 'election day'!

:dem:

[0007]

8. Ya can't help loving the big dog!

I think Davis will overcome this bullshit.

[Gloria]

10. Anxious to hear Gore...he strikes me as the Verizon guy--"Can you

hear me now?", popping up at just the right moment and delivering a fine salvo....

[AP]

12. Word choice: "accuses" vs "states the obvious"

Too bad the WP doesn't state the obvious. Hell, it would be nice if they just stated a fact every once in a while.

[Judi Lynn]

13. Outstanding remarks from the ELECTED former President Clinton

(snip) Asked whether he believed the recall attempt was a Republican conspiracy, as some Democrats have charged, Clinton said: "No, it's not a conspiracy, because a conspiracy is something that's secret."

"I got mad at — a little disappointed — when my wife, Sen. Clinton, said it was a vast right-wing conspiracy. I said: 'Hillary, you're right. It's vast, and it's right, but it's not a conspiracy. It's right there for everybody to see. It's not secret.'

"This is about getting power, and it's their first value," he said, referring to Republican backers of the recall.

Clinton was the first in a line of well-known Democrats coming to California as the party tries to emphasize the national stakes in the recall campaign. Davis will appear separately this week with the Rev. Jesse Jackson, former Vice President Al Gore and two Democratic presidential hopefuls — Sens. John Kerry of Massachusetts and Bob Graham of Florida. (snip/...)

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/recall/la-me-davis15sep15,1,392293.story?coll=la-home-headlines
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