Obama: Let Bill talk pick his topic

[Hope And Change]

August 25, 2008
Categories: Barack Obama

Obama: Let Bill talk pick his topic

At an avail just now, Obama downplayed Bill Clinton's displeasure at being assigned a speech on national security, Carrie Budoff Brown reports.

"I have said as much to him three or four days ago," Obama said. "I said Mr. President, you can say whatever you like. Bill Clinton is a unique figure" in Democratic politics."

Although Wednesday is focused on foreign policy, "It wouldn't make much sense for me to edit his remarks" if he wants to make a case on the economy, as someone who presided over good economic times, he said.


By Ben Smith 03:49 PM


http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0808/Obama_Let_Bill_talk_pick_his_topic.html#comments

[d_b]

1. yea I didn't get that either.

If Bill wants to talk economics then by all means let him.

[question everything]

2. Thank you for posting (nt)

[VolcanoJen]

3. And there it is... another sideshow squashed.

:thumbsup: Barack Obama! :thumbsup:

[KittyWampus]

18. yes, thanks to Obama for once again showing class where the Clintons are just assholes

[jillan]

4. Thank god that Obama is a grownup.

Once I thought Bill was too.

[highplainsdem]

10. Stop the Clinton-bashing divisiveness. If Bill feels he can give his strongest speech on the

economy, then for God's sake let him give it and help motivate Democrats to vote for Obama that way!

Trying to order him to give a speech on a topic that he wouldn't be as enthusiastic about would be a little like asking Springsteen to sing at Invesco and telling him you'd like him to do a selection of Broadway hits.

[AspenRose]

22. If you knew Pirhana

you would know she was a very fervent supporter of HRC during the primaries after Biden dropped out and is not a divisive person.

I wouldn't say she was bashing so much as she was lamenting what has become of the Clinton's attitude. A LOT of us here are doing that, with good reason.

[walldude]

24. Actually, it would be like asking Springsteen to sing

at a tribute to B.B. KIng and having Springsteen demand he be allowed to sing a Howlin Wolf song. Better analogy, same prima donna crap.

[goldcanyonaz]

12. Uh huh...

[highplainsdem]

5. Thanks! This is great news -- and should help shut up some in the media and

online who are trying to divide the party.

[bidenista]

he shouldn't even have to comment on this ridiculous non-story

Seriously, the MSM is determined to turn this convention into a disaster. I'm in London at the moment, and even the BBC - in its MAIN NIGHTLY BULLETIN - managed to turn a report on the convention into a discussion of

a) Hillary Clinton's supporters
b) Republican attacks (they showed the Dem-delegate-voting-McCain ad)

I'm guessing the BBC is just following the domestic MSM line, but this is insane.

[Captain Hilts]

8. CORRECT: A non-story based on rumor. nt

[Shakespeare]

6. And again, he shows immense class when Bill doesn't.

Obama continues to impress me, but at this point it feels more like an ill-advised case of indulging a toddler's tantrum.

Oh, well. Just get us through to Thursday, please.

[MarjorieG]

13. He's a good father...

[Captain Hilts]

7. Bubba is the only Dem prez re-elected since FDR...

FDR: Let the boy talk about whatever he wants to talk about!
ER: Actually, I'd like to hear him talk about the economy....
FDR: That would be grand, now hop it and let's hit the road for Denver!

[Not the Only One]

9. It was suggested

When they talked about this brouhaha on the cable news shows today, it was that Clinton wanted to talk about how great his two terms in office were because he didn't think that Obama appreciated how awesome his two terms were. He especially wanted to talk about his economic record. I like Bill Clinton, but there should only be two things talked about here: how awesome Obama is and will be and how bad McCain and Bush are. Everything else is a distraction.

[beac]

16. I hope Bill realizes that the speech he gives will define him going forward.

If he makes it all about himself and what an awesome prez he WAS, then he will rightfully go down in history as a selfish prick.

If he talks about how disastrous the Bush years have been and why the ONLY candidate that makes sense is Barack Obama-- and makes the case FORCEFULLY-- then he will regain much of the respect that he has lost through his petulance during and after the primaries.

[Not the Only One]

17. agreed.

It's in his court.

[Erin Elizabeth]

20. Yep.

[yellowcanine]

11. Obama has so much class it should shame those who don't. Come on Bill, you had your dang moment.

It's Obama's time. Deal with it.

[Phx_Dem]

14. Obama made a point to say he told Bill

3 or 4 days ago that he could pick his topic. Yet, we have reports from Wolfson saying that Bill is angry that he is forced to speak about foreign policy. Just more negative bullshit from a Clinton-surrogate and/or Bill Clinton whining just to whine.

[BeyondGeography]

15. "I have said as much to him three or four days ago."

And we get these whiny stories from the Clinton camp anyway. Fuck 'em.

[TexasObserver]

19. Let's hope Good Bill shows up and Pissy Bill is nowhere near the convention.

[Cha]

27. It's a win win situation...

Bill can show up and he can "fall in line" or he can be pissy and fall further down the slope.

[Vinca]

21. Bill isn't taking the changing of the guard very well.

Disappointing.

[Hieronymus]

23. How far will Obama go in kowtowing to the Clintons?

[bigwillq]

26. It really is up to Obama

he's the one in charge. Let's see what he does.

[BlueIdaho]

25. This is a non-story for one simple reason

I'm not sure that even Bill Clinton can keep Bill Clinton on-topic. He's like a Jazz musician - as long as its in the key of "B" its cool...

It is more important that Bill shows his passion for the Democratic party and his unflinching support for Barack Obama.