Now that Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama have held their unity rally and a joint fundraiser, the focus turns to Bill Clinton. Will he join his wife in graciously supporting Obama for president? Though the former president has written a check for Obama, he hasn't done much more.
Thomas Edsall puts it best: "Bill is more complex. He wants respect, absolution and love."
As The Swamp notes, before this year, the former president "was moving
comfortably into a perch as an elder statesman, even if the old whiff
of controversy never quite went away. But Bill Clinton received
decidely mixed reviews this year as he careened across the political
stage during his wife's recent campaign, and it's not clear where its
end leaves him, especially since much of the commentary suggests he is
sulking."
Like it or not, at some point Obama will need help lift the former president out of his funk and back into place as Democratic party hero.
He took a first step praising Clinton as a "brilliant politician" and "outstanding president." But it's time to pick up the phone and call him.
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Comments
Bill is the kiss of death for Obama, as he was for Hillary Soprano.
VJ Machiavelli
http://www.vjmachiavelli.blogspot.com
Posted by: VJ Machiavelli
| June 29, 2008 12:41 AM
Bill Clinton's feelings so far are unknown because he hasn't expressed them. All we've heard are rumors and anonymous statements. Terry McAuliffe on Morning Joe Thursday was asked about this and he said he'd just spent the day with Bill and he's fine and will be supporting Obama. He said everybody wants to win and they had all been disappointed, but they were all committed to seeing that Barack Obama gets elected. He said the issues were profoundly important to all of them and they all agreed on the important issues. I think I'll go with that until I hear differently from Bill.
Posted by: karela
| June 29, 2008 3:31 AM
I am shocked by the treatment our best two-term president endured during this campaign. First of all Bill Clinton faced impeachment over having sex with an intern and George Bush has gotten away with murder.
Second, Bill was absolutely right in stating what the rest of felt at the time. Obama didn't have a chance in hell to be the president of the United States. Obama's campaign was a fantasy at the time Bill said that.
Third, the fact that African Americans turned on him after being called racist over one comment, forgetting all he had done for blacks in his two-term presidency. I want to know who is racist when the vote is 92% to 8% for Obama.
Fourth, the treatment of the First Lady just because she was a women really brought out the treatment of women in general.
Fifth, what they both had to endure when Barack Obama claimed victory and acting like the nominee before he was declared the nominee.
Sixth, every time I said "gotcha" when shocking stories came out. It turned out he was the chosen one and the media did everything in their power to say we will report only the bad about the Clintons and ignore anything about Obama except for Fox News.
Seventh, to have Hillary lose the nomination over half votes and giving delegates to someone who wasn't on the ballot has made many of us feel like this is a repeat of the 2000 and 2004 elections.
Eight, People who wouldn't be where they are if it weren't for the Clintons putting them in their administration turning on them the way they did in endorsing someone with no experience at all.
No wonder women are furious. We had to endure the constant misogyny of Hillary. We also were angry at women pundits who think attacking women make them one of the boys was unbelievable.
The way the media picked the nominee has got us all furious. Feeling like our votes were just an exercise and nothing more is not a good feeling in a Democracy.
Being from Arizona, I know that McCain is a crook. Our own governor was impeached for the very same acts. This man is the worst choice for many reasons. McCain does not deserve to be the president of this United States. McCain does not deserve an "ancient history".
Many women and men who voted for Hillary in the primaries are planning on demanding that Hillary be on the first ballot at the convention. If that does not happen things could get very ugly in Denver. It won't be a repeat of '68 but what happens after the convention is going to be history making in the way Hillary voters cast their votes.
Many Hillary Clinton voters really feel that she is being forced to back Obama but secretly want us to carry on to Denver. With the "Million Voter March" being planned in all 50 states our voices will be heard.
Man
Posted by: stenowrite
| June 29, 2008 12:43 PM
For someone who supported the Clintons during their two terms at the White House, I cannot believe given their recent behavior on the Stump, that I can say I have had enough.
Please could someone send them on a long vacation. They have made the Democratic party more fractious than ever. I cant see how helfpul he can be-- already too much!!
Posted by: Rebecca
| June 29, 2008 11:18 PM
Senator Obama properly communicates with his opponent, Senator Clinton, not her spouse. He began praising her publicly weeks ago. Senator Obama called Senator Clinton and has appeared with her, publicly recognizing her as an American first and an inspiration to his daughters. His focus is on the candidate, Senator Clinton, and not the candidate's spouse. There is no expectation that Senator Clinton and Mrs. Obama call one another.
Senator Clinton has earned her place in history as a role model for men and women. I have always believed that women can handle their own business, independently from their spouses. Senator Obama respects Senator Clinton and women by doing business directly with her, the candidate who earned 17 million votes. Senator Clinton can and should continue to handle her own politics. You either believe in women, or you don't. I do. Senator Obama's focus is properly on Senator Hillary Clinton, not citizen Bill Clinton.
Posted by: twotimes
| June 30, 2008 1:51 PM
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