Bill Clinton: We like Obama because he has never made a mistake

[BeyondGeography]

Mr. Clinton Questions Obama's Experience

==ABC News' Teddy Davis and Nancy Flores Report: Bill Clinton called Barack Obama's experience into question during a Friday interview with Charlie Rose. Drawing an analogy to his own life, the former President said that in 1988 he knew that he had enough talent to be elected president but that he knew that he was not ready for the job.

"When I was a governor and young and thought I was the best politician in the Democratic Party, I didn't run the first time. I could have," said Clinton referring to 1988. "I knew in my bones I shouldn't run." His wife locked in a tight battle in Iowa and New Hampshire but continuing to hold a 2-1 advantage nationwide, Mr. Clinton added, "I was a good enough politician to win, but I didn't think I was ready to be president."

Clinton warned that Obama's supporters like him because he has never made a mistake. "If you listen to the people who are most strongly for him," Clinton said, "they say basically we have to throw away all these experienced people because they have been through the wars of the '90s, and they made enough decisions and enough calls that they made a few mistakes."

While Clinton calls Obama a symbol of change, he doesn't think he is ready to be an effective agent of change. Asked if a vote for Obama is a roll of the dice, Clinton retorts, "It's less predictable, isn't it? I mean when is the last time we elected a president based on one year of service in the Senate before he started."==

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/12/mr-clinton-ques.html

Comment: Shows you how lame this campaign is. They spend the whole week floating the "Obama as druggie" meme and here's Bill saying we like him because he has never made a mistake. If that's too narrow for you, Bill, Obama has written in detail about his disastrous run for Congress against Bobby Rush and any number of other hardships he has endured and mistakes he has made. You're not going to win any friends by painting us or him as naive, asshole.

Also, Obama, as was pointed out in the debate yesterday, has plenty of ex-Clinton people in his camp. He isn't saying "throw away all these experienced people," Bill, he's just saying you and your wife aren't what's needed back in the White House.

[sandnsea]

1. And the hits keep on comin'

They just do not get it. The country gets it, finally. They aren't buying these swift boat tactics anymore.

[journalist3072]

3. Please....that's not a hit. It's the truth.

[Joe the Revelator]

15. Lets use the english language correctly....it's not the "truth", its his opinion. nt

[Karmadillo]

8. Isn't calling a reasonable criticism a swift boat tactic a swift boat tactic?

nt

[annie1]

43. you are highly sensitive if you see that as a hit.

[journalist3072]

2. I think President Clinton is absolutely correct on this. He's dead on.

[ElizabethDC]

4. He echoes my sentiments exactly. n/t

[Sarah Ibarruri]

10. But Senator Clinton has no experience nt

[ElizabethDC]

25. None?

lol.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

26. Only that which she got when she became Senator so she could run for president. nt

[AX10]

13. Yes he is.

[emilyg]

37. Yes.

[JackORoses]

5. Penn has failed, now it's the Big Dog's turn to flail away

too little too late, Bill
but keep it up

[countmyvote4real]

6. I don't know about these Clintons anymore.

I used to be a supporter of both Clintons, but I am really turned off by their growing arrogance. I guess you could say it was always there, but it seemed like it was for the good of the country. Now it's like they've gone to the dark side and it's all about them.

I'm an Edwards supporter.

[BeyondGeography]

11. How strange is it that these people were in the White House for eight years

and will do ANYTHING to get back? It's unprecedented. Get a life, already.

[Cha]

23. Yeah, go play

golf with pappy and the carlyle gang.

[annie1]

47. What are you talking about? She's campaigning to be president....

as are 8 other democrats and 7 republicans. ?

[Nedsdag]

30. Bill, oh, Bill.

STFU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Whisp]

44. yep. put a sock in it already Bill.

I saw that Rose interview and some things that stood out for me:

yes, he is a good speaker, but doesn't really say anything. He's good at making the fantasy lists of what has to change but that's easy to do - to pretend that's a real objective when it goes totally against actual policies and reality.

My husband was especially 'impressed' with his talk, but I reminded him: remember, he's a mass murderer (iraq, East Timor, Kosovo, etc.). I guess it's easy to get played by a smooth talker rather than the Idiot in Chief now, but come on, the game is the same with different orators.

another thing I noticed. His comment on 'universal health care'. He used those very words and lumped most of the dem candidates in with Kucinich's - which is the Only One with a true universal health care program. I thought that was really slimey to suggest Hilary's health program is the same as Dennis'.

bleh.

[madrchsod]

7. obama and lincoln

had about the same amount of experience and made similar mistakes......:hide:

[Franc_Lee]

9. Bill wasn't ready, prepared to be president. Obama IS...!

[journalist3072]

16. What a stupid statement. President Clinton had executive experience...he was a Governor

And he was more than prepared, which is more than I can say for Obama.

[Evergreen Emerald]

12. I agree with him.

Obama has no experience. I think he has made a ton of mistakes, but unfortunately, the media is keeping those quiet for now...apparently awaiting the general.

[AX10]

27. Yes, the media is doing just that.

[Nedsdag]

31. What's Hillary's experience?

I don't want to hear about the Children's Defense League or the Legal Services Organization.

Bill's just jealous that there's a younger, blacker, monongamous version of himself in the race.

[MadBadger]

14. I'm not claiming that Obama has experience, but Clinton said Obama would have 1 year of service.

What the hell is he talking about?

[BeyondGeography]

18. When he started the run...the point is to make Obama appear as small as possible

Funny part is, the little midget is turning their whole world upside down.

[MadBadger]

19. He still would have had at least two years.

[zulchzulu]

53. Rule #432: Whenever a Clinton is under pressure, expect them to lie

Obama has 8 years of service as State Senator and 2 as Senator. Bill has to take the low road (which he historically does) and lie about Obama.

It will be a great day when the Democratic Party doesn't have to keep apologizing and defending this ass.

[Joe the Revelator]

17. Using Clinton's logic, we should let the most experienced person be President. Seniority trumps all.

Which is fine with me, I welcome a President Biden.

[jillan]

20. Obama people - you should love this - you should be celebrating this.

All they are doing is pissing everyone off and moving Obama higher in the polls.
;)

[Franc_Lee]

21. Like I'm going to accept Bill's suggesting Obama isn't experienced enough, fu*k-off Bill...

[Cha]

22. Whereas hillary has had

7 years to wow us and instead decided to play it safe which turned out to be.. play it wrong. hillary shows no signs of letting up on her ever budding, tone deaf, dumbass moves.

[proudmoddemo]

24. It Is Less Predictable, Which is Why Millions of Democrats Will Vote for Obama

Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton-Bush???

We've already had twenty years of this. We've had twenty years of the same people being in our government. And look at what has happened: two (three, currently?) recessions, the appointment of right wingers to the Supreme Court, NAFTA; the shipping of millions of jobs overseas; a health care debacle that contributed to the giant mess--where doctors have to fight with bean counters to get life saving treatments approved; and where it isn't unheard of for a surgeon to be interrupted by the hospital's CFO informing them that the HMO denied benefits on a BS reason; the Contract on America; failure to ratify Koyoto; failure to do anything to develop alternative fuels; tax cuts for the richest Americans; tax hikes--through the AMT--on middle class Americans; Terry Schaivo's case where the Senate Majority Leader diagnosed her from the well of the Senate; Monica Lewinsky affair; impeachment; a president that was unable to respond to Al Qaeda because a movie in theaters at the time had an eerily similar plot; Clinton telling us, "The era of big government is over;" only to be followed by one of the most pro-government administrations ever; wiretapping; torture; government in our bedrooms, on our phones, and monitoring our e-mails; Jack Abarhamoff; Duke Cunningham; Tom DeLay; all scandals that had bi-partisan implications, and at least touched the orbit of the Clintons; Iraq; Valarie Plame; a Democratic Congress that is afraid to act because of the backlash against impeachment in the 1990s.

Bill Clinton is right, Obama may not be the change he says he is. Obama may not be much of a change at all. But it's worth taking a chance now. Frankly, things can't get any worse than they already are--unless we elect the status quo candidate that decided to run as an "incumbent," despite all of the stuff mentioned above. It's time for a clean sweep in Washington. It's time for a new regime. It's time to see if it can be done any better; surely it can't be done any worse...

[Mother Of Four]

36. Wow...you nailed it.

:applause: I'm an Edwards supporter, but that was a fantastic layout of what we're facing.

[proudmoddemo]

41. Edwards would be a change too

I am not Edwards' biggest fan, but he would be a change too. Should he get the nomination, I could enthusiastically support him. Both Obama or Edwards would be a big change. Obama/Edwards Or Edwards/Obama would make great tickets...though another great ticket would be Obama/Sebelius or Edwards/Sebelius. Good luck, I hope Edwards finishes second, Richardson finishes third, Biden finishes fourth, Dodd finishes fifth, and Clinton finishes 6th--and then drops out of the primary.

[jefferson_dem]

28. When did The Big Doggie turn into such a politically inept buffoon?

Please...Bill...try to preserve any shred of dignity you have left and just shut it.

[MzShellG]

32. What little dignity he still has..

HRC is dragging him down with this mean-spirited campaign.

[karynnj]

29. What an egotist!

Saying that you were the most talented politician in the party - even if true is arrogant. It is much more convincing when others say it.

Bill Clinton still had no foreign policy experience in 1992. He already had a fair amount of experience as governor in 1988. There were other reasons given as to why he didn't run in 1988 when it was covered in 1992.

[JTFrog]

56. But but but he had a vision....

And surely he's the only one who's ever had a vision. :eyes:

[PATRICK]

33. A not uncommon point

that they tried to use against junior as bing not ready and inexperienced. Well that wisdom worked great. Do they ever see the train coming down the tracks and why what this wisdom disapproves of can simply happen anyway? People want change, advantage the person with the least history in the mess, the youngest and the "freshest".

Even if it were not a purely political talking point it's a bit lame. The inexperienced thing will always be there and Obama has held his own against the experienced Clinton team, with any mistakes made perhaps coming from ex-Clinton people in his camp. One can wisely speculate on things like that as well.

It is disingenuous, condescending and thankfully, unlike the common experience in the other party, it doesn't work very well. Other people have experience and have seen their campaigns hurt by surface political performance(Richardson). Experience in reigning may not get you the throne either.

Clinton as president had his virtues. Outside of that I have more reservations about his future role than that of his wife.

[ellisonz]

34. See there's a difference between a mistake and a BIG MISTAKE.

SUPPORTING OUR INVASION OF IRAQ WAS A BIG MISTAKE.

[Renew Deal]

35. Lincoln had 2 years in the house and went back to law

Coincidentally, they're both from Illinois.

[readmoreoften]

38. I actually agree with Clinton 100% here. He is an agent of change, but won't be effective.

[Diane R]

39. Clinton didn't run in '88 because Betsy Wright gave him a list of women he had affairs with.

[Beacool]

40. Like some pundit said tonight:

Republicans vote for experience, Democrats vote for change.

Well, that explains why in half a century we only had twice a two term Democratic president!!! Oh, and BTW, one of these two presidents was Bill Clinton. Yeah, the same guy you now disparage. Keep voting for the least knowledgeable person and see how well we do next year.

[annie1]

42. I think it's a good point. And i also think it's why Obama would make a good president....

b/c he doesn't have so many burned bridges. he has very few conflicts with people because he's so new. republicans can get on board with him easier than they would with hil or edwards because they don't have to worry about siding with someone who's an enemy of a friend, etc. It's like being in a new relationship, the baggage isn't there and it makes things a lot easier. It's one of the big pluses in my opinion, and why I keep thinking about him for pres.

[babylonsister]

45. Went out to lunch today and Faux was on-

(I know, hangs head in shame, but I didn't choose the channel)

Bill said something else in that interview about knowing Hillary never had much of a shot in Iowa, and that's the money quote they had plastered on their coverage for all to see, for awhile. Of course, no context was provided, and thankfully the volume was off, but that's the danger of Bill mouthing off and Faux running with it.

[ClarkUSA]

46. Obama hasn't made the mistakes Bill has made: serial adultery and lying about opposing the Iraq war.

Obama's mistakes have been well documented, as BG points out. Has Bill grown whisker? Because he sounds like a lying, catty Heather these days.

[Little Star]

48. And U sound like U got the RNC talking points memo.

:wtf:

[ClarkUSA]

49. I deal in FACTS. Are you a supporter of the campaign that sends RNC swiftboating "madrassa" emails?

No need to answer... you're just another Hillaryworld Hypocrite attacking the messenger.

[Little Star]

51. Sorry but I'm a JRE person. You Obama people sure are nasty.

[zulchzulu]

55. I would think it's OK to defend your candidate against COMPULSIVE LIARS...

Surely we could make up shit about Hillary and you'd be all coolio about it, huh...

[ClarkUSA]

57. I mirror what comes at me... and for a JRE person, you sure spend a lot of time on Obama threads...

Hmmm... how very interesting...

Warning: Dissing Obama and his supporters is not going to win you any pleasantries with me. Just the opposite.

[Little Star]

60. And you spend a lot of time on Clinton threads!

Pot meet Kettle.

[zulchzulu]

54. That's a RNC talking point to not allow facts to get in the way of "the official marching orders"

Did Bill commit adultery in the White House? Is the sky blue? Did he lie about always being against the Iraq War? Is the Pope Catholic?

These are FACTS. Sometimes even Repugs can be correct.

[ClarkUSA]

59. Damn straight.

And we know whose campaign has been making the Swift Boat Vets look like choirboys...:mad:

[forsberg]

50. Bill is right

And he's still as brutal and smooth a political animal as always, I love this guy. Wish he was still president.

[zulchzulu]

52. Having Hillary on Bimbo Patrol on Bill isn't exactly experience in my book

Bill knows his legacy is on the line, and like the careless guy he is, he's showing us just how trashy he really is.

Hillary probably got all her experience as Uber First Lady because she wanted to check to see who Bill was biting his lip and winking at. I hope they've redecorated their Punjab mansion for the spring time off.

[ClarkUSA]

58. rofl

Don't forget she made nice ceremonial speeches like Laura Bush in foreign countries extolling freedom and democracy and condemning
those who would trod on woman's/human rights -- that's the sum of her foreign policy "experience" besides voting for every war Bush
has wanted to wage.

Everything that comes out of Bill's and Hillary's mouths (and that of their surrogates) about Obama is pure tripe these days. I would be
very very surprised if she won Iowa or NH.