Bill Clinton Says Obama’s Speech Was “Terrific” And Struck Right Tone Of Optimism

[babylonsister]

EXCLUSIVE: Bill Clinton Says Obama’s Speech Was “Terrific” And Struck Right Tone Of Optimism
Greg Sargent


Bill Clinton — who recently urged President Obama to show more optimism about the future — hailed Obama for getting the tone right in his speech last night, praising Obama’s effort as “terrific” and a “real success” that struck just “the right balance.”

In a phone interview with me just now, Clinton offered his first public comments on the speech, saying Obama succeeded in telling “the American people that we’re gonna get out of this and it’s gonna be alright in the end.”

In the interview, Clinton also threw a bit of support to embattled Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal, saying he’d done “the best job he could with a hard hand to play.” And Clinton also commented on Obama’s vow last night to tackle health care reform this year, saying he thought Obama had a “better than 50-50 chance of getting it done.”

Speaking of Obama’s speech, Clinton said: “I think he drew the right balance — he didn’t sugarcoat anything, he didn’t say it’s gonna get better tomorrow.”

“I think people appreciate the fact that he’s not jerking them around and {is} just telling them the way it is,” Clinton added. “But they do wanna know that we are gonna get out of this. And he said we were, and that our commitment to clean energy, and energy independence, and energy efficiency would lead the way, followed with health care and education reforms…It was a real success.”

more...

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/uncategorized/exclusive-bill-clinton-says-obamas-speech-was-terrific-and-struck-right-tone-of-optimism/

[Captain Hilts]

1. I agree completely.

And I LOVE the use of "jerking around!" That writes its own punchline.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

2. "i think people appreciate the fact that he’s not jerking them around"

indeed

[Clio the Leo]

3. Well I'm glad Bill's getting a better edit this time. ;-) NT

[Jennicut]

4. People want an adult to give it to them straight, not a Mr. Rogers type

who says all we have to do it cut taxes and we will be allright.

[Phx_Dem]

5. I'm glad Bill liked it, but we don't need his opinion or approval every time

Obama says or does something. He already offered more than enough unsolicited advice during his CNN interview. He should butt out now.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

6. yeah cos if someone interviewed him and he said "no comment" that would be

so MUCH better :eyes:

[Phx_Dem]

7. Oh please. If you can't think of something else to say besides

unsolicited advice and "no comment," then you shouldn't be talking to the media. It's bad form for former Presidents to publicly offer advise to current President, particularly when they've been in office less than 30 days.

His opinion on the speech would be fine if he hadn't already acted like he was Obama's presidential coach in the CNN interview. This is just typical Bill "I can't stand not to be the focus of attention" Clinton.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

11. what unsolicited advice? i doubt its so unsolicited. i clearly remember obama

meeting and having bill advise him when he won the nomination.

[Captain Hilts]

13. Some of the crap the R's are doing is looking like an ugly repeat. We have the majority...

thank goodness, so it shouldn't be so rough and tumble.

The R's numbers in Congress went UP the year Clinton was elected and continued in '94.

[Captain Hilts]

8. Democrats presenting a united front is always good. nt

[Phx_Dem]

9. And former Presidents publicly offering unsolicited advice is not good.

[Captain Hilts]

12. Expressing support is good. nt

[Phx_Dem]

16. Unfortunately, he doesn't stop there. n/t

[Captain Hilts]

18. Don't read it. nt

[Cha]

10. Yeah, jindal did the best

he could and that's saying nothing.

[getthefacts]

14. I love the guy...

but someone is gotta tell him the world does not revolve around him.

[karynnj]

15. This strikes me as funny

Bill Clinton publicly advises Obama to exude more hope and confidence that we can succeed - though Obama always included that note. Then here, speaking of a major agenda item, he says "“better than 50-50 chance of getting it done.” Maybe Obama has to publicly say Bill that he needs to show more confidence in our ability to succeed. Saying it is equally likely to fail may be his private opinion - but he needs to show optimism. (I actually think this is a bad idea - just as I thought the parallel situation was.)

Nice comments - but that was ironic.

[ClarkUSA]

17. No shit, Sherlock. 44 always has been optimistic, Bill... you just didn't listen well before now.

[Lilith Velkor]

19. Poutrage in 3...2...1...

:popcorn: