Bill Clinton Has Regrets on Campaign for Wife

Bill Clinton Has Regrets on Campaign for Wife
Insists, 'I Am Not a Racist,' Despite Anger Over His S.C. Comments
By KATE SNOW
MONROVIA, Liberia Aug. 4, 2008


In his first broadcast interview since his wife dropped out of the Democratic presidential race, former President Bill Clinton said he still has regrets, and insisted he's "not a racist," despite controversies surrounding his comments about Sen. Barack Obama's win in the South Carolina Democratic primary.

Clinton reflected on his wife's campaign, his future and the work his foundation is doing across Africa in an exclusive wide-ranging interview with ABC News in Monrovia, Liberia. He and daughter Chelsea spent time in four African nations over the past six days. On Monday, the former President will address the World AIDS Conference in Mexico.

At times, he appeared to grow testy as he discussed his wife's failed bid for the nomination and was asked if he deserves at least some of the blame for his wife's losses.

Clinton at first said he did not want to rehash events of the past year because it "interferes with the issue which is who should be elected in November." But then he offered a lengthy defense of his own role and chastized the media for its coverage.

When asked, "Do you personally have any regrets about what you did, campaigning for your wife?" Clinton, at first, answered, "Yes, but not the ones you think. And it would be counterproductive for me to talk about."

But then he added, "There are things that I wish I'd urged her to do. Things I wish I'd said. Things I wish I hadn't said.

snip//

Bill Clinton suggested he is still mad at one politician, South Carolina's Rep. Jim Clyburn, who abandoned his neutrality to back Obama after claiming that the former president had injected race into the campaign.

When Clyburn's name was brought up as a supporter who criticized the former president, Clinton interrupted to say Clyburn was never a supporter of the Clintons.

When Clyburn's description was changed to "longtime friend," Clinton replied, "Used to be."

Pressed on whether Clinton "severely damaged" his standing with African-Americans as Clyburn has claimed, Clinton snapped, "Yeah, that may be. By the time he got through working on it, that was probably true."

more...

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=5506458

Video at link~

Bill couldn't refuse.

:eyes:

Good President and Democrat, but MY GOD the ego that man has! Save it until after November, Bill!

yet loved by the rest of the world

That's being overly dramatic.

You must have missed the primary posts. Every other post was I hate Bill or I hate Hillary. It was the most amusing thing.

It was not every other post. You are calling criticism hate. There is a difference. Even if it was "every other" post then that would mean the remaining posts were hate for Obama. There were many negative posts for all of the candidates.

I was accused to posting vile hateful things and near as I can tell that accusation came only from the fact that I was an Obama supporter and it was a Clinton supporter who was reading my posts. Perhaps you're just a tad over-sensitive.

Sometimes even the best of men deserve a bit of criticism.

And the reporter appears to have only been reporting what Bill said. Was he supposed to treat the former president with kid gloves? I don't believe that. If a person is going to campaign, they are pretty much fair game for whatever comes their ways, be them spouses or even adult children. I never bought into the "how dare you go after their child!" reaction to Chelsea working on the campaign. She's an adult. Bill, by entering the muck of the campaign, got a bit dirty. It comes with the territory doesn't it?

No, but they should give the same treatment to the current president, also. The media has helped keep the Clinton hating alive and current.

sowed.

I do love it though when he and Hillary are abroad and they draw such adoring crowds.

And you are not living in the reality-based universe, I see. Believe what you want; you're in the minority.

does NOT mean one does not respect Senator Obama. It is not the same thing at all, and I didn't see the poster come even close to saying that.

lost it with this interview today, smashing Clyburn and continuing to think it's all about him. Sorry, it's not. Thank God!

flying fuck WHEN President Clinton lost your respect.

Your post to which I was responding intimated that the poster to which YOU had responded was not properly respecting Senator Obama.

People who are living in the real world understand that respecting one does not equal disrespecting the other.

Your avatar explains a whole lot. Don't let that bitterness eat you up, hear?

And FTR, I didn't insinuate anything about Obama being disrespected, but enjoy your bubble.

at my posts here, it is not I who has the chip on my shoulder, or bitteness. I have repeatedly stated that I am fully on board with support of Senator Obama. I will, however, continue to defend the Clintons against unfair and hateful attacks.

your post most certainly does insinuate that the poster to whom you were responding did not have the proper respect for Senator Obama. It is not I who is in a bubble.

Oh, and I am a woman, and certainly NOT your "bud".

for cynical poilitical gain. But in the long-run the facts always outlast the spin. Bill Clinton is the greatest president of the last 40 years, and I have never been more proud of him then I am right now.

Steve

Scarbourough,Buchanan,Mike Barnicle,Chris Matthews and Fox news not Obama..

earned some of the backlash he has gotten over the years. He's a brilliant man who just can't help himself sometimes. He steps in it sometimes and sometimes it is to the detriment of our party and the nation.

FDR & Eleanor, JFK & Jackie and Bill & Hillary.

Pity that the Clintons get routinely bashed here by the left as much as by the right. We should be so lucky if we still had Bill as president, what a different situation for the nation and the world these last 8 years would have been!!!!!!

:-(

the nation and the world would have been under the last 8 years...it is something that IS unknown...Clinton made some decisions...that have/were NOT especially good for this country...NAFTA for one...deregulating the media for another...welfare reform for another...no one knows what another 8 years of Bill Clinton would have brought, would he have realized that some of those policies needed changes, would he have been able to bring necessary changes to them about...WITH A REPUBLICAN CONGRESS??..

There is ONE thing I think would have been different...I don't believe we would ever have had a 9/11...and that may have made all the difference...but still...WE WILL NEVER KNOW...wb

and soon (hopefully) you will be able to add Barack and Michelle to that wonderful list.

Good Lord, Bill, can't you please just shut the fuck up about how you're not racist?! It's not about YOU!! It's about the people, the party, your wife, and Obama. If you would just shut your big fucking mouth about your hurt feelings, we'd all be a lot better off.

I am so sick of Bill's neverending Drama Queen act.

The media often like to stir things up by asking provocative questions and then present the answers to those questions as if someone just volunteered the information.

I watched it. He didn't have to throw that out there. It was largely a non sequitur. He went out of his way to piss and moan about that.

I'm sick of him. He's sold out to the worst of interests. He's pathetic.

he never has been, never will.

She follows me around, making annoying personal attacks.

If you want to discuss the topic further, please feel free to do so.

What does FAIR have to do with anything? This is another chance to bash President Clinton......FAIR??? C'mon!

This is GDP v2.012.

Spread Clinton hate or you will be assimilated.

Bill was being interviewed and answered the reporter's questions. Should he have ignored the query?

Please, the man is a very popular two term president who was traveling on behalf of his foundation, he IS newsworthy. If some don't like it, then too bad.

is he bringing that race thing up again.

essentially he's saying, yah, that Barack - he accused Me of being a racist too, just like what McCain is going through now'

gawd!

He was picking up their current meme and running with it.

That's what he did several months ago. Bill Clinton doesn't accidently go off script and chime in with the current GOP themes. He does so because he chose to do so, wanted to do so, was looking for a chance to do so.

I've cut him all the slack I'm going to. He's right up there with other well known Democratic turncoats.

his die-hard excusers.

I think he's ill though. Something seems off with his health and/or mental status. :(

Something is off about Bill Clinton. I don't know what to make of it but I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who has noticed the changes in him.

The fact that something may be going on has nothing to do with his education, something is off about his behavior. :shrug:

http://heartdisease.about.com/cs/bypasssurgery/a/pumphead.htm

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/05/geezer059.html

Sad, but probably true. :(

and you're an exhausting human being. Now take a break and go back to pretending you care more about saving the world than your own reputation.

Unbelievable!!!! Clinton established his foundation in 2005. Not everything is about electing our presumptive nominee, there are bigger issues out there in the real world.

Geez.......

The sooner you figure that out, the clearer your thinking will be.

:eyes:

The negativity around her is vomit-inducing.


Bill Clinton discussing primary = BAD. AND RACIST. AND BADDER!!11!!!

DUers discussing primary and saying filthy things about the Clintons = Productive and meaninful and thought-provoking dialogue.

paying any attention at all while this was going down in SC? I lost any respect I had for Bill, and this current snit doesn't help at all.

And surrogates on both sides said things that were not very nice.

simmer down. Clyburn was most circumspect at the time but that doesn't stop Bill. I guess he has to be pissed off at someone, hmm?

Geez..I can't imagine why he didn't jump on that.

comply, and didn't help his wife at all. Maybe he should have listened to some good advice. His 'legacy' suffered judging from this thread. I'm sure DUers aren't the only ones affected; seems like voters in SC weren't so impressed either.

The Clintons can be bashed. Their supporters are all labeled "PUMA'S".

I think I'm getting off of the "Unity Train" at the next stop. I'd rather eat glass than listen to this fucking shit.

in Burundi.

I can't believe it. This is a critical election and one we could win. With Bill Clinton' skills, we could have a much better shot at it. Imagine if Clinton took his time now to put McCain's negativity in context, with some good ole boy putdown, simultaneously taking the bad press away from Obama and dragging McCain in the mud. But no, instead he says Obama was personally "working on" damaging his standing with African-Americans.

Since we know Bill is smart about politics, if I didn't know better, I'd think he wants to drive "hard-working white voters" away from Obama so that he'll lose this election.

What a way to destroy his own legacy.

He was talking about Clyburn, not Obama

Why do we keep letting facts get in the way of a good Clinton bash?

I misread the article, got the facts wrong and so my argument is wrong.

Still stand by saying that Bill has the skills and standing to a great job kicking McCain around.

he has stated he will do whatever the Obama campaign ASKS him to do. He will not, and should not, go off on his own and interfere with the campaign.

:D

They don't run the Democratic party any more...they were ousted.

Still, he'd have to be supportive if Hill was the VP.

And Obama may still need her.

You have just said "They don't run the Democratic party any more". So shouldn't they both defer to what the Obama campaign WANTS them to do?

about Chelsea's conception in his jealousy of Obama.

At one time I would have voted for this dork for a third term. But the last eight years have revealed a side of him that is not very attractive.

He's a social climber for one thing. He appears to anger management problems. And he has a very fragile ego and skin as thin as an onion.

I'm tired of his self pity.

did that come? :shrug:

Can't the guy just shut up about this? He's at it AGAIN?!!!

those leading questions in that manner before.

Not my Bill.

Something is not well with him and the sooner the excuses are removed, the more he will be able to get help.

Let's face it, Bill has "issues" that are talking away his ability to stay on a positive mode and point Democrats to victory in November.

:cry:

accused of being a fucking racist BY HIS OWN SIDE in an effort to BEAT HIS WIFE. Don't you think that's a big fucking deal?

I do not blame him for any lasting anger AT ALL, those were not just idle insults, they were made to inflict permanent damage - despicable.

Well said, HopeLives! :thumbsup:

If that's what you're suggesting, it's a despicable LIE. And sorry, but Bill absolutely did go over the line in SC. That is not accusing him of being a racist, simply pointing out that Bill had no qualms about using race negatively in his quest to see his wife as the nominee.

the fact that a Clinton will not be in the Whitehouse. the fact that their inevitability to continue the dynasty of bush/clinton is now burnt, gone .

it does not sit well with him that Obama may just have the keys to the file cabinets - bill would rather have a repug there than an Obama. Bill is Poppy's friend and together they are going to save the world, Hillary is McCains good friend, McCain is a much better candidate for president than obama, she said.

whats not well with bill is that he is reeling in the repercussions of the loss they have suffered - besides the nom - the loss of gatekeeping .

coincidence and uncalculated, my ass.

FUCK YOU, BILL!

ITA. I'm done with this, really, really done with it.

He was talking about Clyburn, they are not the same person!!!

that was a dogwhistle call if I ever heard one.

why now of all timing is he calling that one up again, and dont' tell me the reporter 'forced' him to, that's bullshit.

bill has been hibernating from the news for weeks now and Suddenly , out of the Blue, he makes it back in the news about Rascism and Obama's campaign just at the peak of McCain's claims of that?.

this is orchestrated, this is how the clinton's operate.

I hope he's not foolish enough to think he can rely on my vote in 2012.

mccain denying he's a racist, oops I mean bill.

not saying he is, bill, that is. But he sure USES things that he can benefit from - or try to benefit from.
or take pot shots with because his enormous ego is still smarting.

yes, timing is ALL a coincidence, sure.

I'm done with him!

...how is it **Clyburn's** fault that President Clinton's standing with the black community has been damaged?

I don't get it.

that on Rep. Clyburn despite the fact that Bill's actions caused Clyburn's comments. I don't think he's very good at acknowledging that man in the mirror.

for being able to make up their minds on their own at that.

Personally, I've been disgusted with Clinton since '96 when he passed that welfare deform bill when he didn't have to just to gain a few more votes in the election. However, I was extremely disgusted with his behavior during the primaries. I didn't need Rep. Clyburn or any other elected official to help me become disgusted with the former President.

The idea that Rep. Clyburn turned the entire black community against him is asinine and insulting.

Regards

Clyburn is right. Bill is angry because Clyburn publicly told the truth.

that said, I think that most of this country adores Bill Clinton; I know I do despite some DUers continued diminuition of his value. The primary is over; you do not help Obama by the constant disparagement of the Clintons. In fact quite the opposite.

of the limelight regarding the GE. He can do great things in this world and he should do them. But he's not at the top of his game in politics anymore and that was quite obvious through the beginning of June.

and looking for a trophy wife?




















Oh, wait.











I misunderstood the heading.






:blush:

and this quote: Clinton at first said he did not want to rehash events of the past year because it "interferes with the issue which is who should be elected in November."

He can't even say Obama's name. WTF is wrong with him?

Very sad. :-(

Frankly, it reminds me why I sometimes can't stand this place, and it takes me back to the primaries when the Obama cultists proclaimed Bill Clinton (the "first black President," by the way) a racist. And it reminds me why I supported Sen. Clinton in the primaries and why I loathed so many of the Obamaniacs. You'll never convince me that Bill Clinton is a racist or that he ever has been. Save that label for the Limbaughs, O'Reillys, and Hannitys of the world.

Nevertheless, I put all that behind me after the primaries were over and we had a presumptive nominee. Just like I was supposed to do, according to the rules of the Democratic Underground.

Bashing the Big Dog the way it has been done in this thread, calling him sophomoric names ("dork" was a good one, how mature) - that's not "criticism." It's something much more visceral and less rational. You hate Bill? We get it.

I'll still vote for your candidate. But he feels a little less like "my" candidate now. Thanks a lot.

Bake

It's hard to share HOPE when you are spreading HATE.

Rather than amplify him, they always want to crucify him.

Mindless Clinton-hating -- It's not for wingnuts only.

but HE is dissappointing in his actions and beghavior. With that said, the fact that you think Senator Obama is "our" candidate tells me too much about you, he is the democratic candidate, who else should we have as "our" candidate?

You obviously missed the subtlety of "our," "your," and "my." After the primaries, those of us who supported another candidate swallowed hard and "got over it" (after being told to do so repeatedly), and Obama became OUR candidate.

The hatred expressed for Clinton by so many of the original Obama supporters sounds very much like what we heard during the primaries (which we were supposed to "get over"). Ergo, that kind of crap makes OUR candidate feel a little less like MY candidate and a little more like YOUR candidate. Why? Because it's the same old divisiveness that we heard day in and day out during the primaries.

So I guess that makes me a racist? That's all I can conclude from your "tells me too much about you" comment.

Understand now? Because if you don't, well, that "tells me a lot about you," too.

Bake

Racism never crossed my mind. :rofl: I think you may be taking yourself far too seriously. What it tells me about you is that our candidate isn't your candidate. Who is your candidate?

It just won't feel as good as I thought it would.

Bake

Many thanks.

to back up THAT statement.

the "unity"............

:eyes:

Could show up at the OP's home and make an impassioned plea to stop with the hate.

The response might be something like "GTFO, I know what I am doing!"

till you get on board quit fucking whining about it.

on a regular basis here. I actually really liked him and hillary for most part during their tenure in the whitehouse.

I have THREE MAJOR problems with the clintons.

1st one being; They should have mounted a coalition of UN troops to go into Rwanda. We had the good will of the entire world in what would have amounted to a cake walk and would have saved the lives of at least one half to three quarters of a million victims of one of the world world's worst, most recent genocides.

2. When monica threw her mini skirt up over her head and flashed her thong to bill, he should have picked up the phone and said "Hey, Betty, I've got an intern here with her skirt flung over her head, call the bowels of the UN and see if they have an opening." in other words, get her the hell out of here.

3. The way they handled the '08 election against Obama. The incredulous way they treated long time associates who decided this election cycle was not gonna be the clinton's day in the democratic sun after all and these longtime friends, loyalists and associates were then publicly rebuked and chastised and called "Judas" or worse. Then the subsequent lines that were drawn by both the clintons that they knew would divide the party even further and have a terrible rippling effect throughout the process.

I really don't want to hate bill but he makes it harder and harder with every interview.

Yours, that is.

Bake

Just when I thought Obama might do a surprise, BIG, game-changing pick of Hillary for VP, Bill opens his mouth again.

Hillary obviously knows that it is in her interest to help Obama and the Democratic Party to win big in the fall, and she is acting accordingly. Why doesn't she tell Bill to get with the program? Or, why doesn't Bill do as she asks?

No way can Hillary be the VP if she can't persuade Bill to act in the Democrats and her own interests.

Obama = Jesse Jackson. Hmmmmm minimize a victory due to someone's race, much Mr. Clinton....... :puke:

But knowing Bill, they're likely misplaced regrets. Someone else is always to blame for his troubles. Cry me a river. :cry:

They did things in the primaries that were questionable and regretful.

But so did Obama. And Edwards. I remember when Edwards said Obama was all just happy rhetoric, and I strongly disagreed with him despite the fact I was a supporter of his. It was a heated primary, and Hillary fought a tough fight. And Bill defended and stood beside his wife. It's so sad that Democrats, not Republicans, are now attacking the Clintons with such falsehoods and Karl Rove-like attacks.

This OP, like most about Clinton, has turned into a hit and run on Clinton. I doubt that's what the OPer wanted, but hey...if it's about the Clintons...bash and bruise them with no mercy. Fuck the eight years of peace and prosperity Bill Clinton gave us, forget that he's the only two term Democrat in a long time. Fuck that Hillary Clinton has fought for progressive causes for decades.

Attack, attack, attack. Doesn't matter if you lie, just say they're the liars--not you.

This shit gets old. You people should be ashamed.

Did Obama say anything about either Clinton that could have been used by Republiscum during the General?

It was a heated primary, no?

Discussing assassination attempts while issuing leaflets like this



Or this

abcnews.go.com/images/Politics/1.12.08%20HRC%20Social%20Security%20Back%20NV.JPG

or however many gutter level leaflets and messages issued by HRC?

Don't go there. The leaflets and attacks on Hillary were just as bad.

I do now - the Republiscum are using it (and it was another Clinton mis-speak about her opposition to NAFTA)

on things he wasn't going to talk about. With no goading, he stuck his foot in his mouth yet again. You should be ashamed of him.

And I'm tired of the apologists and Clinton enablers. So we're even.

It's amusing as hell. I'm supposed to respect their handicapping on other matters when they trash Bill and Hillary Clinton? :rofl:

No, Hillary fought a dirty fight, and her tactics were encouraged by Bill. Good deeds done in the past don't excuse wicked deeds done in the present.

you need to step away from the computer.

The primaries are over people!! OF course President Clinton is still a bit sore over things and supporters from both sides are as well. No good to be had refighting the primaries now. And I believe, as one who didn't participate in primary battles, I am in a position to urge all to walk away and let this topic die.

Move on.

Julie

last week he shown in Canada holding hands with a cutie 27-30 with a huge smile on his face. The dude is definitely slick
and we really must give credit where it's due.
(honey, I'll be doing some work on the aid's problem in Africa,- you try that one out)