I love Bill Clinton, but......

[monmouth]

I wish he would keep quiet and stop what I perceive as whining about "unfairness" to Hill. This from the Huffington Post:

The Hill | Sam Youngman | March 22, 2007 09:13 PM

Former President Bill Clinton yesterday complained that "it's just not fair" the way his wife, presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), is being depicted for her controversial Iraq war vote.

Speaking to hundreds of supporters on conference call, the former president said, "I don't have a problem with anything Barack Obama said on this," but "to characterize Hillary and Obama's positions on the war as polar opposites is ludicrous.


The perception that she is relying on him to fight her battles is a little disturbing. Republicans will pounce on the fact that he jumps in when they feel she is being unfairly treated by the media, etc., and perhaps rightly so. I want to see how she performs and reacts to obstacles that come her way. If she is elected, what exactly will his role be??? What is "ludicrous" is that Hillary has not denounced her vote or apologized for it. It was her vote, let her decide how it will be handled. Let the flaming begin...

[enough already]

1. There is nothing "controversial" about her war vote

She voted yes and continues to stand by that vote. She's 'all-in' on this war.

[MistressOverdone]

2. It would probably be a good idea

if he kept mum, but then again, I like to see a man support his wife. Not many of us in long-term relationships could stay quiet when our mate is attacked.

[mtnsnake]

3. Thank goodness he IS sticking up for her. Somebody has to

because if they don't,half the sheeple are liable to believe all the disingenous propaganda that's hurled Hillary's way.

What, because he's her husband and one of the most influential politicians in history he's supposed to STFU and let the wolves tear her apart. Gimme a break.

[rodeodance]

4. Nicely said. Thanks.

[monmouth]

6. Oh please, "tear her apart"???? I want her to stand on her own and

fight her own battles, I doubt Hillary would allow anyone to tear her apart. What would you think if Obama has a screw-up and Michelle runs to the rescue? If Senator Clinton is as tough as she wants us to think, let this be her battle..

[mtnsnake]

10. Try making a little sense

What would you think if Obama has a screw-up and Michelle runs to the rescue?

I'd think he married the right woman. WTF would YOU think? That she shouldn't stick up for him??

Jesus Christ, part of the reason why Hillary is considered such a strong person is because when the RW attack dogs were going at it with her husband, SHE was just about the only person to come to HIS defense and she did it with precision and she handled it nicely. What better time for him to return the favor than now. Try using a little common sense instead of looking for yet another reason to bash the Clintons. Un-fucking real. The beat goes on.

[monmouth]

13. Perhaps the wrong analogy...How about if you're going to swim

in the deep end, no one gets to wear a life preserver... My point is that Bill's only role right now is candidate for first husband. He can and does give her great support in many ways, but whining about unfair treatment in the media is for HER to address, not him. Make sense??

[Ethelk2044]

14. i Agree

However she knows if she complains she will be preceived as being weak. With that being said, since he is doing the complaining for her, she is weak. She can not stand on her own and she does not even have the job yet. What would she be like if she had the job. Would she have to run to him to ask him how to do this how to do that. She either needs to stand on her own feet or do not run for the office of the President!

[mtnsnake]

15. "She either needs to stand on her own feet or do not run for the office of President"

Wow, it's hard to believe that you would equate Bill sticking up for her in this instance as her not standing on her own two feet. Nobody stands on their own two feet as well as Hillary Clinton. She doesn't REQUIRE outside assistance, she just happened to get some.

There is nothing wrong with what Bill said, and there is nothing about this that would remotely suggest Hillary Clinton isn't capable on her own. Good grief.

[Ethelk2044]

16. Hillary - Selma

Instances where she did not stand on her own.

She found out that Barack was giving a speech in Selma. She feared African Americans were pulling away from her and moving towards Obama.

Bill gives a call to request an invite for Hillary.

Netroots does not like his wife's stances. He complains to the media.

This is just the beginning. As we get closer to election time. We will see more and more instances where can not stand on her own.

[BeyondGeography]

5. A Little Pooch moment for the Big Dog

He also isolated Obama's "I don't know how I would have voted" statement to support his lame-ass point, a comment that Obama made to protect the asses of his Senate elders (including Hillary's, by the way).

When Tim Russert asks you "what made you so much smarter than them," you don't take the bait and say "here's why," you try to support your colleagues by saying they might have been looking at a different set of facts. He also ended that particular statement with, "as far as I was concerned, the case for war had not been made." But here comes Little Pooch several months later, his wife struggling with the antiwar crowd, to try and punish Barack for the good deed.

Obama stuck up for Hillary and Bill stuck it to Obama. Don't think many haven't noticed.

[karynnj]

7. This is pathetic

The problem is not that Democrats are being unfair to Hillary. He also attacks a strawman - no one ever said the Hillary and Obama were polar opposites on Iraq - Even Bush and Kuchinich aren't.

The real problem is that the Clintons now see that the position they worked hard to put her in isn't a winner.

After Hillary's vote,
- The Clintons and their allies stayed silent in January - March, 2003 when it was clear that the WMD were unlikely and Bush signalled he was going to war.
- In 2005, Clinton had many interviews where he blamed Kerry for being "too weak" on national security, implying that Hillary and he were stronger. Stronger was defined as more militant.
- The Clintons/Reid etc wanted no discussion in 2006 on Iraq in the Senate - even though Iraq was in civil war and people were dying. To put the political calendar first was amoral.

Then in Hillary's NYT interview, she articulated a policy that really is different than the consensus Democratic position. That position does put her closer to Leiberman than to Feingold.

As to your comment, it does seem like he is fighting Hillary's battles here - what is not so clear is whether she wanted him to.

[monmouth]

8. I don't think he would ever make a statement without her go-ahead..n/t

[karynnj]

9. I'm less sure

The reason is that it would be very very tough to really take on the "spouse" or subordinant role when he has been the "executive" (Governor, President, ex-President) for his entire adult life. I also doubt the spouses of Obama and Edwards get prior approval on everything they say. I doubt the husbands would ask that. (They will explain their husband's positions)

I guess it matters how formal this was. It seems so weak and whiney - and it blames people who will be voters- that I can't imagine it was something both thought through and Bill Clinton then said. The only reason to think it is, is that Bill Clinton's earlier comment on Obama's 2004 comment was followed up by Mark Penn in greater detail. So, it's possible this is a co-ordinated effort.

[AtomicKitten]

11. This almost registers.

[blm]

12. Clinton had NOTHING to say to defend Kerry when we could've gotten rid of Bush in 2004.

Clintons won't defend any other Democrat when they are up against BushInc.

[mtnsnake]

17. Oh sure, so it's Clinton's fault that Kerry wasn't smart enough to beat a moron. lol

If Kerry had looked out for himself, instead of turning the other cheek like he did with the swift boat liars, maybe the imbecile wouldn't be in the WH right now. Too bad it wasn't Hillary against Bush, instead of Kerry. Win or lose, she wouldn't have looked the other way. She would've fought back. I feel sorry for poor Edwards who had to be so tongue tied by a totally inept Kerry campaign. If he gets the nod, you can bet your bottom dollar he'll fight back, just like Hillary or Obama will.

Anyway, it's a total crock what you said about the Clintons not defending other Democrats. You know it, I know, the entire world knows it, only you love saying otherwise and repeating it 5 thousand times with hopes that somebody naive enough will believe it if they hear it enough times.

[BeyondGeography]

18. Welcome to the world of Bitter Kerry Supporters...I guess they forget that massive rally in Philly

[blm]

19. That was the last days of the campaign and Kerry had been getting those crowds

in other states after the debates.

The point was that Clinton PUBLICALLY stuck close to Bush throughout 2003 and 2004 on Iraq and terrorism.

He did very little to support Kerry's positions those two years.

Are you HAPPY he wouldn't give back up to Kerry those two years on Tora Bora? Rumsfeld's firing? On fighting terrorism?

[BeyondGeography]

23. No fan of the Clintons here, anybody but HRC, but Kerry lost on his own in 2004

and down the stretch, when it counted the most, Clinton (who had open heart surgery in 9/2004) was out there campaigning for us.

[blm]

24. Kerry won - the RNC stole it FOR Bush. The DNC never secured the election process.

And Clinton PUBLICALLY supported Bush on terrorism and Iraq war THROUGHOUT 2003 and 2004.

VERY publically.

[blm]

20. Then prove it - Kerry defended Clinton when he was attacked as a draftdodger.

Prove that Clinton reciprocated when Kerry was attacked by swifts.

Hillary and Bill didn't defend him on those draftdodger charges - Kerry did.

Show me where Bill reciprocated in kind.

[mtnsnake]

22. Prove what? There's no need for me to prove something I never said

I never said anything about Clinton defending Kerry. I said "it's a total crock what you said about the Clintons not defending other Democrats."

Last I knew, John Kerry isn't the only other Democrat in the world. Maybe in your book he is, but not everyone elses. Besides, Big Dawg has more important things to do than babysit Kerry. He has enough on his mind getting ready to be First Man, unless Edwards or my man, Obama, has something to say about it. :smoke:

[Bucky]

21. O my God! A husband feeling protective of his wife! The scandal of it all!

I'm no fan of Mrs Clinton these days, but did anyone expect the Dog to stay quiet? He's no good at being a second fiddle.