Clinton Urges Candidates Not to Criticize

[ConservativeDemocrat]

WASHINGTON - Former President Clinton urges his party's presidential candidates not to question the Democratic credentials of their rivals and avoid tactics that divide the party.

"I don't believe that either side should be saying 'I'm a real Democrat and the other one's not,' or 'I'm a winning Democrat and the other one's not,'" Clinton said in an interview in the November issue of American Prospect, a liberal magazine.

"I think it is highly counterproductive to spend a great deal of time trying to identify the wings of the party and having each wing criticize each other."

<SNIP to end>

"We can't win if people think we're too liberal. But we can't get our own folks out if people think we have no convictions. So the trick is to get them both."

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Personally, I think it's a bit idealistic not to think a few high elbows aren't going to be thrown in a Presidential campaign. There always are, and when the dust settles, it's always forgiven. We have a fine crop of candidates, and any of the front runners will make a fine candidate against GWB.

- C.D.

[w13rd0]

1. It's instructive...

...to actually read the Prospect interview, which the WaPo so helpfully "summarizes" to those bits most inflammatory...

[diplomats]

4. Is that interview posted online anywhere?

I couldn't find it on TAP's Web site.

[Cha]

8. Here is one link, I don't know if it's the one you want!

http://www.prospect.org/webfeatures/2003/10/tomasky-m-10-23.html

<snip>"Uh, as the guy who was in the room, I'm here to tell you: That is not what Clinton said. It reflects about one-third of what he said. He also said, explicitly, that Democrats should defend government and that they should accuse Republicans of practicing "class warfare." Let me summarize it like this: As we were preparing the interview for print and I was wondering how the mainstream newspapers might play it, I figured the story would be something like, "Clinton, accusing GOP of 'class warfare,' says Democrats must stroke the base as well as the center." So how did the exact opposite come out? I have my theories, but first, more evidence."<snip>

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Yes but this is not

an average year, and this is playing into Rove actually

[demgrrrll]

3. That isn't how things are. Bradley set the tone for how Gore was

covered in some respects. His words haunted Gore throughout his campaign. If we had ethical media coverage this would not be a problem but the CeCe Connelly's of the world are looking for a story line to shoot down the Democratic contender and why give them the rope. I think that is a big part of the point he is making.

[Khephra]

5. Remember when Clinton didn't think the 16 words were a big deal?

I think it was something like "Every President makes mistakes."

I'm a Democrat but I'm not a Clinton lover. Remember what he's done that's fucked us over since Bush has been in charge too.

DLC, GOP, same thing.

[Cha]

6. clinton thought it was a great idea to go Invade

Iraq, too!

[Khephra]

7. Amen, zidzi

Amen

[Concerned American]

9. And how come that never gets remembered?

[arcane1]

11. it gets remembered plenty

Clinton is 1,000 times the president that Bush is, but he's no messiah, there was no shortage of legitimate complaints about him. He doesn't get nearly the adoration that the right thinks he does (but they just miss him, and thus make him into the Dem 'leader' even though he's not. Keeps the bashing alive)

[arcane1]

10. indeed... though I can agree with him on this point

why give Rove any rope to hang us with? Save the negatives for the source: Bush!

[Guaranteed]

15. Presidents really aren't supposed to criticize their

successors, though...that's HIGHLY frowned upon.

[wildwww2]

19. But Bu$h is a court appointed usurper of the constitution. That makes

him different than real Presidents we have had in the past. The blood shed on 9-11 did not stop the fact that we veterans had to vote on illeagal sloppy-ass butterfly ballots. And after the Florida Supreme Court ruled to handcount our votes. Like they had just handcounted votes in Texas. Which had the same law as us in Florida on recounts. "Intent of the Voter." But Boy Bu$h ran like a wussy to his conflict of intrest ridden buddies on the Supreme Court to keep my and other veterans votes from being counted. I know people personally who died for my vote to be counted. Bu$h was AWOL at that time. So Bill Clinton can criticize Barbra Bu$h`s spoiled brat anytime. Protocol should not apply to slime like *Bu$h!
Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President

[DrBB]

12. Re elbow throwing

One of the things that gives the incumbent a big advantage is the fact that the other party's candidate has spent a year having mud thrown at him by members of his own party before the race against the incumbent even starts. I don't think this kind of thing helps our side, though I hardly see how it can be avoided.

[FlemingsGhost]

13. With all due respect, Mr. President...

STFU.

You're not a candidate. Another guy from Arkansas is...

(excuse me, I need to put on my asbestos underwear.)

[Kat45]

14. I agree with this 100%.

It only hurts the eventual nominee, and therefore the Democratic party, in the general election. It also causes a lot of animosity among supporters of different candidates, sometimes enough that the supporter of one candidate refuses to support the nominee.

[sungkathak]

16. Clinton's words?

One should see US politics from another angle. That it is not a democratic country but a covert totalitarian country ruled by inside group.

The interest of that group right now is to have more war in Mid-east. Bush is a puppet fits their demand. To assure him have the 2nd term, they forced out possible trouble candidate Gore and Daschle. And made the rest a circus. These politicians like domesticated horses. Those out of track were "Wellstoned". If it runs too fast such like Dean, then they let out another one to block his track(W. Clark). That's why you see a chaotic Democratic Party. Clinton? Remember Luwinsky scandal? He himself is a horse too.

[sungkathak]

17. Clinton didn't start a war

The bombing of US Cole and embassy in Africa were provokation for a Mid-east war. Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz had lobbied Clinton for the war in Jan. 1998 but failed. Clinton ordered missil bombing in Sudan and Afghanistan but didn't start a war. He was punished by Lewinsky scandal and was almost impeached.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

18. As long as they all criticize Lieberman, I'm fine with it