About former President Clinton

[LibertyorDeath]

After 8 years of The Bush Crime Gang trashing America

I don't want to hear from Bill Clinton about how much he personally likes the Republican candidate for

President.

I want him out there Fighting Tooth and Nail for Obama/Biden.

[FightingIrish]

1. When Clinton's ass was on the line, John McCain voted "Guilty"

Not all Republicans did.

[VeraAgnes]

9. Bill Clinton knows that as well.

Bill Clinton is at the top of the tier and needs to behave Presidential as he has done so well of late. Jimmy Carter does the exact same thing.

Bill Clinton stepped outside the Presidential role as political spouse during the Primaries....a historical first as well. Now, he is back wearing his Presidential tie pin. Too bad many folks here can't process or separate the difference....it's either their way or fuck-em attitude. Too bad, that turns off posting democrats here and elsewhere.

[jobycom]

2. I want Bill Clinton so say whatever he is thinking.

I'll make up my own mind on whether I agree with him after that. Obama's a grown up, he's got this under control.

[LisaM]

3. Excellent comment.

I agree with you.

One of the more mystifying things about the Senate has always been its collegiality. It's good, it's bad, but for better or worse, it's there.

[question everything]

7. Listen to what he said yesterday on Larry King

http://radiolarryking.com/

There he explained how he is campaigning also his proposal to the economic rescue.

[jobycom]

10. Like anyone could have missed that around here. Let me repeat--

Obama doesn't need his help. Bill Clinton is a former president, and is supposed to be diplomatic and statesmanlike, not rabidly partisan. He's supposed to give his honest opinion. He's just playing his role. It is a role that Obama will play in a decade or two, and he'll do it the same way Clinton is. And if you ask him now whether Clinton should be tossing out his role as elder statesman to coddle Obama, or should be saying what he believes, what do you think Obama would say?

What bothers me here is the way people seem to think Obama needs to be coddled. It's like no one here believes he's good enough to do this on his own. I don't understand that. This man beat some of the most powerful forces in politics to get this far--including the Clintons. He can do this, he doesn't need Clinton to hold his hands or treat him with kid gloves. Maybe it takes someone who didn't vote for him to see it, but this guy is good. Someone here's got a sig pic of Obama with the caption "Relax. I've got this." That should be on the top of every DU page, just to remind people.

[question everything]

13. I completely agree, and I am sorry I missed what you meant

However, it is not a point of "coddling."

Just as the absence of Bush and Cheney in the RNC sent a clear message, if Bill Clinton (and Jimmy Carter) are not out front promoting Obama, the message could be interpreted in different ways.

Bill understands it and, as you correctly state, understands his role and acts accordingly.

This is also true for Hillary. As Bill recently pointed out, no other primary candidate has worked so hard for the winner, the way she is (except, of course, when they are on the ticket) but it appears that no matter what either of them says, or not, someone will always be unhappy. There are some, like the Daily Kos dude, who still want Hillary, to grovel, to fall on the floor, to pound her chest and ask for forgiveness for... whatever. Will never happen, should not happen.

[azmouse]

4. Bill should sit down and shut up.

Obama doesn't need the kind of 'help' Bill is giving.

[TexasObserver]

6. Amen.

Bill knows exactly what he's doing. I will never forgive his lying, scheming butt for this.

[question everything]

5. In contrast to the rest of the Democrats, Bill knows how to win elections

and you don't win them by trashing your opponent personally. Certainly not if you want to go beyond your base to attract Independents and Republicans.

So he acknowledges McCain's (and Palin's) strength in how they attract their supporters. He acknowledges the work that he and McCain did together - otherwise he would appear a hypocrite - and he attacks them on their programs as not serving the American people.

This may not be what attack dogs do, but this is what a former president, an internationally admired statesman does.

And if you are having problem with this, then you don't understand the first thing about winning an election.

Oh, and by the way, Obama does not go after McCain or Palin on a personal level, just as he did not after Hillary.

[Arkansas Granny]

8. Thanks for your insight. I totally agree.

[LibertyorDeath]

11. I said he should be fighting for Obama/Biden tooth and nail

how that equates in your mind to "trashing your opponent personally"

is for you to explain.

" Bill knows how to win elections and you don't win them by trashing your opponent personally"

"and he attacks them on their programs" good that's what he should do

and if he would stay focused on that instead of waxing on about what a great guy McCain is

then he'd be doing a good job.

[question everything]

14. There are many here on DU, and perhaps on other blogs

that are upset that Bill says how McCain is his friend, that he praises him, just as Hillary did during the primaries. Many here hated it but they did work together. Same thing with Biden.

I did not catch him on Letterman, but he was on Jon Stewart and on Larry King and in both he was put in a position to explain these attacks on him. But he did attack McCain's plans, unfortunately he had to spend time defending himself.

[jobycom]

12. Ed Zachary! nt

[Lord Helmet]

15. sorry he only fights tooth and nail for Clintons, now it's all about 2012