The Clinton Factor (Updated)
[Guest post by DRJ]
Bill Clinton is comparing McCain and Obama in ways that make McCain come out ahead:
“Former president Clinton continued his complicated embrace of Sen. Barack Obama today when asked if he would call the Democratic nominee a “great man” — a phrase he recently used to describe Sen. John McCain.
“Well, I don’t — look, I had my first conversation with him in my entire life in Harlem,” Clinton told “Meet the Press” host Tom Brokaw this morning, referring to a meeting earlier this month with Obama.
Clinton elaborated on why he would use the word “great” for McCain: “What I mean by saying that about McCain is, you know, most people would’ve been broken by what he went through. Oh, we would’ve been happy just to give him an atta boy and a medal and let him wander through life.
“I think his greatness is that he keeps trying to come back to service without ever asking people to cut him any slack or feel sorry for him or any of that stuff because he was a POW.
“But I, I genuinely, you know, I am developing a really good relationship with Senator Obama and I certainly admire him.”
Politicians rarely say what they mean in today’s world and, depending on your perspective, that makes for a more civil society or a more passive-aggressive society. However, Bill Clinton still manages to get his point across and, in this case, he supports Obama with faint praise.
I’ve no doubt that if the Obama campaign could speak bluntly, it would tell Bill Clinton to shut up.
UPDATE: SNL has the virtual Bill Clinton.
— DRJ
Let’s face facts: our 42nd president wants Senator Obama to lose, so that his darling bride, the junior senator from New York, can run for president in 2012.
The realistic Dana (3e4784) — 9/29/2008 @ 10:49 amGranted he wants obama to lose so that hillary has another shot in 2012.
But just maybe he recogizes that the carter administration was a disaster and genuinely doesnt want a repeat of the carter administration. A second carter administration should finally prove that a socialist and appeasement society never improved the social economic level of the populace.
Joe - Dallas (d7c430) — 9/29/2008 @ 10:53 amI really, really don’t want 20% mortgage rates.
Al (b624ac) — 9/29/2008 @ 10:57 amOH NOES!!! What side is Clinton on???????
O!
daleyrocks (d9ec17) — 9/29/2008 @ 11:10 amI think it is am combination of real admiration for McCain, and maybe even Palin, and ambition for Hillary.
Mike K (51c18e) — 9/29/2008 @ 11:15 amof course they would tell him to shut up: that’s their MO.
(pun intended %-)
redc1c4 (27fd3e) — 9/29/2008 @ 11:35 amI assume you’ve seen this SNL bit.
sierra (a7420c) — 9/29/2008 @ 11:46 am*sighs* What’s with all these surrogates anyway? Are they helping or hurting their candidates or what? This reminds me of comments like this and this.
love2008 (1b037c) — 9/29/2008 @ 11:50 amEven when they think they are telling the truth, must they say it openly? It’s just wrong!
love2008. Regarding your links.. everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. Except in Obamaland, where the Truth Squad will visit your front lawn and burn an eternal Vero Possamus O! in the grass.
Besides, you should dump Fiorina’s opinion in the trash. She’s a woman. We’ve seen how the party of fairness treats women. From Ferraro and Hillary to Sarah and Cindy. Your party is really embracing corruption big time with the Obama–Rezko ticket.
Vermont Neighbor (a066ed) — 9/29/2008 @ 12:04 pm#9
love2008 (1b037c) — 9/29/2008 @ 12:46 pmlove2008, Blah blah blah……blah blah blah…….Rezco………Ayers…….santa claus…..blah blah blah….!!!
And so we see the continued descent of the infantilizing of Lovey – judging by her recent posts, she’s regressed to the level of an six year – old. Should we ask her if she’d like some graham crackers and apple juice at this point?
Dmac (e639cc) — 9/29/2008 @ 1:06 pmDoes apple juice count as fresh fruit?
Old Coot (2f3a50) — 9/29/2008 @ 2:00 pmIs she even an eligible voter? Is she even a she or maybe more like that androgynous dipwad on SNL?
Follow the money. Look who have made out like bandits sucking up money from fannie and freddie. And yet Bush is cool with assclowns Dodd and Frank running their mouths, not to mention Schumer? No one asks Obama what he gave for his no. 2 ranking in contributions from those two institutions.
madmax333 (0c6cfc) — 9/29/2008 @ 2:20 pmAnd here we have an example of a future graduate of the Barack Insane Obama reprogramming camp. Nuts! Or, happy to live on a dollar a month like his 17 brothers. poor lovey…
VOTE NO to Obama–Rezko ’08
Vermont Neighbor (a066ed) — 9/29/2008 @ 2:26 pmVOTE NO to Obama – Rezko ‘08
S E R I O U S L Y (a066ed) — 9/29/2008 @ 2:28 pmHey I forgive you guys. No point bullying on a handicap. Your party is losing. Obama is winning. I understand the hurt and frustration. Here is a little tonic for your pains.
love2008 (0c8c2c) — 9/29/2008 @ 3:21 pmYeah I know. Thank me later.
You are going to be SO MUCH FUN to talk to on Nov. 5th
Icy Truth (1afea2) — 9/29/2008 @ 3:29 pmClinton’s opinion of McCain is likely the result of many factors. In addition to those mentioned:
1. Clinton is the Vietnam draft dodger, McCain is the POW; probably some residual guilt there.
2. Clinton likely really believes in the Third Way, which Obama denigrated on the campaign trail. In any event, said criticism dumps on Clinton’s legacy.
3. Clinton was probably never stabbed in the back politically by McCain, which probably led Clinton to appreciate McCain’s sense of honor in such matters.
Karl (1b4668) — 9/29/2008 @ 3:30 pmYou are going to be SO MUCH FUN to talk to on Nov. 5th
I wouldn’t count on her being around that long – she’s just begging for a banning, pronto.
Dmac (e639cc) — 9/29/2008 @ 3:37 pmIt’s either Clinton is a closet Republican or McCain is a Democrat. Your pick.
love2008 (0c8c2c) — 9/29/2008 @ 3:38 pm#19
love2008 (0c8c2c) — 9/29/2008 @ 3:50 pmWhen you start your blog, you can ban me. But judging from your shallow sense of reasoning, I wouldn’t bother to even visit. But then again, I understand how some of you are so angry and sad. I will be humane now and not utter another word that might exacerbate your pain.
So tell me. How do you want me to help? No more talk about polls and how the economy is changing the game? Tell me. 🙁
it’s a little something i like to call schadenfreude.
bill is sinking obama’s chances and if obama loses the rabid foaming at the mouth moonbats will remember and bill’s legacy will have what little support left kicked out from under as their way of getting revenge.
chas (e36377) — 9/29/2008 @ 8:51 pmI’ve updated the post to link Saturday Night Live’s Bill Clinton impression.
H/T sierra.
DRJ (c953ab) — 9/29/2008 @ 9:00 pm