The guy POTUS called first

[babylonsister]

http://tv.msnbc.com/2012/11/07/the-guy-potus-called-first/

The guy POTUS called first
MSNBC staff
10:05 am on 11/07/2012


President Barack Obama embraces former President Bill Clinton onstage after Clinton nominated Obama for re-election during the second session of Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., September 5. (Photo: Reuters/Larry Downing)


After winning a second term, President Obama placed a call to one of his biggest supporters and most high-profile surrogates this election cycle: former President Bill Clinton.

Clinton was the first person the president called after he received a concession call from Republican challenger Mitt Romney, a campaign official told NBC News.

Clinton, whose wife Hillary Clinton ran against Obama in 2008, stumped aggressively and frequently for the president in 2012. He delivered a speech at the Democratic National Convention in August that many said provided a jolt to the Obama campaign as a whole.

[flakey_foont]

1. Awesome!

Bill worked his butt off for Obama.

[Jackpine Radical]

2. I guess the Monica crap has finally been laid to rest in the public mind.

About time.

And thanks to Bill for this latest great service to his country.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

3. +1000

Thank you Bill!

[WeekendWarrior]

11. Except you just brought it up

Why would you do that? I haven't thought about that shit storm for a long, long time.

[HangOnKids]

28. Maybe to let the shit now rest in peace

It appears Jack has been here from the get....why are you so upset about this?

[Jackpine Radical]

36. I'm not particularly upset about Monica.

However, remember that Al Gore distanced himself from Bill largely because of the scandal, and, no matter how far it has receded in your mind, it lives on in the fevered brains of the RW. Wingnuts were still rehashing Chappaquiddick after Teddy died.


FWIW, if I have any grudges against Bill, they would derive from NAFTA & welfare "reform," both of which I believe harmed a lot of people, but my only concern about Monica has to do with the way he set himself up to be politically neutralized by the whole impeachment business.

My point was that I was pleased to see that the nation seems to have gained some perspective on Bill & his years in the White House.

[HangOnKids]

46. Jack I was defending you and talking to WeekendWarrior

[Jackpine Radical]

61. I figured that out after posting.

Thanks.

[WeekendWarrior]

38. Because it was ALREADY resting in peace

Anytime WE bring it up, that only gives the other side a reason to talk about it.

[GoCubsGo]

32. IIRC...

Most of the public supported the President during his impeachment. They thought it was all a huge waste of time and tax payer dollars. Only the extremists have kept trying to make an issue of it.

[Jackpine Radical]

37. Yes, clearly you're right.

But that never stopped the nutcases from splattering it all over the place. Al Gore thought Bill was still toxic in 2000, remember.

[Beacool]

53. The "Monica crap" was laid to rest before he left the WH.

Clinton left office with high approval ratings.

[demhottie]

68. "Laid" tee hee

[Beacool]

80. Oh no, you didn't.

[jeff47]

65. The "Monica Crap" was laid to rest in 1998

The only people who gave a damn were on Capitol Hill and TV studios.

The country didn't give a damn.

[Warren DeMontague]

79. Most of the public never really cared what the man did with his dick.

[sellitman]

4. Thank you President Clinton

You rock!

[ruffburr]

5. Thanks MR.Bill

The Angel on our shoulder

[EmeraldCityGrl]

6. There were strategic reasons for Obama

not giving special thanks to Clinton last night. We need to trust in that calculated
decision and understand 2016 will be ours if we do.

[irisblue]

7. I'm grinning thinking about those two

stumping for the next Democratic candidate...makes me feel even warmer.

[lastlib]

8. I'm sure Mittens placed a similar call to GWB....

...to thank him for staying out of sight, thus preventing a catastrophic landslide.

[kath]

20. heh. Good one!

[skeewee08]

21. LOL you made me spit my water out at the monitor...

[montana_hazeleyes]

44. LOL !

[rhett o rick]

57. No his first call was to Karl Rove: "BUT YOU PROMISED" (in a whiney voice) nm

[BainsBane]

9. Thank you President Clinton

for helping us win this election. We appreciate your heroic efforts

[glinda]

10. The Big Dog rules. Thank you Bill!

[amborin]

12. So glad to hear this....hope this gets more publicity!

[NCGardenGirl]

13. Huge thanks!

[Pisces]

14. Thank you President Clinton!!!!

[RosedaleGuy]

15. I Wish there was a place for Billl....

...in the WH. They would make a great team.

[MgtPA]

24. I hear that Secretary of Explainin' Stuff slot is still open.

[BReisen]

35. A new cabinet position!

I love it!

[Blue_Tires]

40. I think Bill Clinton would prefer the "unofficial-freelance-consultant" -type of role he's

been playing already...Once you give someone a "title", you limit their job roles, and I think Clinton prefers the 'jack of all trades' freedom

[Auggie]

16. Very generous of President Clinton to work so hard on behalf of the man

who defeated his wife.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

72. No kidding - regardless of the '08 nomination between Obama and Hillary - this was incredible

For a past president to step up and actively work for a candidate in a real way? Well, Clinton took that to a whole new level.

And, damn, can that man work a crowd and campaign (I think he may have enjoyed this ... just a bit).

Both he and Carter have done wonderful things since leaving the WH. Americans are lucky to have them.

[Auggie]

75. Agree

[ffr]

17. The Big Dawg did it again!

And America will be better for it.

[juajen]

18. God bless our heros. Thank you Bill. Thank you Obama, and a special thanks to

the next President of the United States, Hillary Rodham Clinton. Of course, that depends on whether or not she still wants to run. OMG, also should thank the wonderful Michelle Obama. She was fantastic throughout. This campaign was a class act and will go down in History, IMHO.

[hanzi88]

19. Thank you sir!

[budkin]

22. And Tweety was still bitching about Obama not mentioning him in his speech

Clinton knows he was a huge part of this victory.

[catbyte]

23. I don't think Tweety knew this when he went off on Obama for not singling Clinton

out for thanks in his victory speech. I thought he was going to pop an artery in his outrage.

[GoCubsGo]

33. I don't think Tweety was listening to the speech.

I believe that he DID single out Clinton. He said that the Big Dog was the first person he called to thank after Willard called him.

[Cha]

41. Really, PBO said that? 'Cause there were some people on that Tweety

Thread last night saying..yeah, Obama should have thanked Bill. I already don't go by what Tweety says the Prez should do.



http://theobamadiary.com/

Thanks babylonsistah

[GoCubsGo]

54. Upon perusal of the speech transcript...

...apparently, he did not. I guess I must be remembering Tweety's complaint. He DID thank the campaign team and all the volunteers. Should he have singled out Clinton as somehow being more important than all the people spent hours on the phone, or going door to door? Were their efforts any less important than his speeches? He was part of the team, and I have the feeling that he's fine with it. I'm sure he'd agree that all those "boots on the ground" played just as big a role in this win as he did.

[skeewee08]

25. Thank you President Clinton AKA (Big Dawg)....

Thank you for all your hard work.

[samnewby]

26. The guy POTUS called first

thank you bill clinton

[Democat]

27. Thank you Bill Clinton

Glad to see him so active this year.

[BREMPRO]

29. the big dawg really came through for OBama.. huge asset to the campaign.

[ailsagirl]

30. Ecstatic that we won-- fair and square!!

A huge thank you to Clinton.

[BlueMTexpat]

31. A well-deserved call, IMO!

Bill really stepped up to the plate and fought for ALL of us!

One only has to compare our living Dem ex-Prezzes to the living GOP ex-Prezzes to see that ours are simply head and shoulders above in every positive way. Heck, even our "failed" candidates are more genuinely admirable.

And that is even without considering those of the 20th century who are no longer with us ... where the comparison works out the same way!

[bemildred]

34. "Crush your enemies. Watch them flee before you. Listen to the lamentations of the women." nt

[mountain grammy]

39. We are forever grateful

[Liberalynn]

42. I love our Presidents

[Cha]

43. Thank you, Bill Clinton, from the bottom of my heart!

[George II]

45. Love them both, and what a classy gesture. Wondered why Clinton wasn't mentioned in his speech

[stubtoe]

47. Thank you, President Clinton.

Round here we sure do love us some Bill.

[tweeternik]

48. Thank you Bill Clinton!! n/t

[outsideworld]

49. thank you president clinton

[heaven05]

50. thanks

to all who drummed Mitt the twit out of politics. We saved Big Bird.

[Skittles]

51. THANK YOU BILL CLINTON

WONDERFUL job, and I could tell it wasn't just a chore - he believes in Obama

[Beacool]

52. Well, it was the least he could do.

After basically ignoring him for the first 1 1/2 years, he needed Bill in 2010 and most definitely in 2012. Clinton went above and beyond what other former presidents did for their successors.

[demhottie]

67. Why are people so resolutely negative?

[Schema Thing]

70. ^

[CakeGrrl]

73. You have to know what was going on here in 2008.

Then it comes clear.

[Blue Idaho]

55. I am THRILLED!

President Clinton became an election warrior for President Obama. Watching him campaign was a joy - and he seemed to get younger each day he traveled the campaign trail. Seeing these two great men standing side by side brought tears to my eyes. What a legacy for Democrats! In stark contrast, look at the republican presidents and candidate - Bush Sr., W, & Rmoney... What a rogues gallery.

[Kingofalldems]

56. Repubs cringe when they hear Bill Clinton is coming to town

[tokenlib]

58. I don't know what got into Bill Clinton..but both Obama and Clinton are better for it...

Just watching those two feed off the energy from each other during and since the convention brought tears to my eyes a number of times. Damn what power of words and ideas between the two of them--and then you have Hillary too. We are blessed with the Clintons and Obamas and all I can say is WOW!!

[libdem4life]

59. Who ever heard of a presidential acceptance speech thanking a campaign worker?

And yes, that includes, Bill Clinton. He was awesome and stood for his party in good times and bad as his party has done for him. That's why he's now a global ,political star and an Elder Statesman.

But Obama won the election.

[MADem]

60. He owes Bill in a big way. Arithmetic. That lit it off, I think nt

[inamatteroftime]

62. The two together = massive brain energy...

together they can do great things - they overcame for our sake, working together for the greater good of the whole. Both men are Mighty.

[ThomThom]

63. two of the best campaigners there has ever been

Sec of State would be interesting

[cheezmaka]

64. Simply the Best!

Thank you President Clinton! Thank you also David Axlerod and Stephanie Cutter! God bless all of you!!!

[Auntie Bush]

66. The best Big Dawg in all the world...THANK YOU PRESIDENT CLINTON!

We owe you everything!

[GetTheRightVote]

69. Thank you President Clinton..

your help has been very much appreciated,

[Tarheel_Dem]

71. Rec #200!

[DFW]

74. Who're ya gonna call?

Although the man I think he should have called second probably never heard a peep and probably never will: Howard Dean.

Without Howard's tireless efforts, Obama would never have had such an easy coast into the White House with majorities in both the Senate and the House. Howard would have seen the Teabaggers coming a mile away, while Tim Kaine didn't know what it him.

And what's Howard up to? This month, he's participating in a 200 mile foot trek from Bangkok to the Burmese border to bring awareness to human trafficking. I'll bet the U.S. Government doesn't even know it's happening.

[dellcophill]

76. too slick willie

BIG PROPS"

[denvine]

77. Thank you Former President Clinton

Thanks you for working soooo hard for the reelection of President Obama. Thanks you for being his Explainer in Chief, as President Obama said. Thank you for making so many issues clearer to the electorate, like your use of arithmetic. That has and will be with us for a long time. There is a reason they call you the "Big Dawg", and you deserve it. We will be eternally grateful.

[Warren DeMontague]

78. I gotta say, yeah. I've always liked Clinton but he went into overdrive this time.

And as always, it was a beautiful thing to watch. The guy is, truly, the Michael Jordan of Politics.

And, he loves it. I mean, he's in his fucking element. Which is part of what makes it so fun to observe.

I was talking with my wife and it didn't occur to me until that exact moment; but if (big IF) Hillary decides to go for it in 2016, he's got some major chips to cash in.

We ALL owe the Big Dog some serious thanks.