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Bill Clinton On The View: Defends Economic Record

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 07:43:07 AM EST
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VastLeft at Corrente has two You Tube videos of Bill Clinton on The View. The video below includes an interesting discussion of the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act, which I discussed here. I think Clinton gets it right. An interesting discussion and kudos to Bill for not patronizing the audience of The View. He treated them like adults.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

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    Bill Clinton On The View: Defends Economic Record | 29 comments (29 topical)

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    The interview got hisses and boos (5.00 / 2) (#1)
    by andgarden on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 07:47:48 AM EST
    from the Obamabot crowd (I happen to agree that Bill shouldn't have been so positive toward McCain), but I thought Bill gave a superb. . .view. . .on how the economy and why people vote the way they do.

    The person I want in the White House right now is Bill Clinton. Shame that's not possible.

    Heh (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 07:49:42 AM EST
    Of course Bill Clinton is the person 60% of the country would want right now.

    Parent
    Which is why, imo (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 07:50:11 AM EST
    Obama would do well to campaign with Clinton after the debates.

    Parent
    Hillary's off to Ohio, supposedly (none / 0) (#5)
    by andgarden on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 07:54:15 AM EST
    Personally, I think Ohio is a lost cause. Obama needs to defend Pennsylvania and New Hampshire, and win Colorado and Virginia. That's our map this year.

    Parent
    It's not hard to imagine him (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by andgarden on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 07:52:31 AM EST
    cruising to a 5th term. If anyone could sustain professional popularity like that, it would be Bill Clinton. Stupid term limits.

    Parent
    A masterful job on David Letterman. (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by KeysDan on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 10:36:23 AM EST
    A combination of effective teaching, bolstering spirits and statesmanship.  I, too, at first bounce, thought that President Clinton could have been more direct in his support of Senator Obama.   However, it soon became clear that his tactic was to address that sector of the electorate still uncertain, wavering or favorable (for some reason) to McCain  But, the respectful comments about McCain were, in fact, politically devastating. Essentailly, a good man, a prisoner of war--but everything is so bad that we need change, and that change is the Democratic ticket.  Chris Rock, who followed President Clinton in the Letterman guest lineup, is a funny guy but his enthusiasm missed the larger point.  He should reserve his ire for McCain/Palin aught eight.

    Parent
    Clinton: You don't have to demonize McCain/P (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by Exeter on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 02:25:58 PM EST
    That was the message I got from what he was saying.

    Parent
    Yeah (none / 0) (#6)
    by Steve M on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 08:11:52 AM EST
    It's like they don't realize he wouldn't be helping Obama very much with transparent shilling.

    Parent
    The Obamabots (none / 0) (#9)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 08:22:18 AM EST
    really don't want to win the election imo or they are clueless about winning elections.

    Parent
    The latter (none / 0) (#10)
    by andgarden on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 08:26:21 AM EST
    I think Obama will win this election despite them.

    Parent
    I agree (none / 0) (#27)
    by 1040su on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 02:31:07 PM EST
    Many are clueless about what it takes to win.  Hero worship isn't going to do it.  The people the Clintons need to reach and are trying to reach on Obama's behalf need to be convinced to vote for the Democrat vs the Republican.  If they make it Obama vs. McCain - McCain wins easily.  There is that segment of Obama followers (including the supposed smart guys in the media)who will never be happy no matter what the Clintons do.  This bailout is happening now - not after the election & Hillary is still the Senator from NY - where is Wall St again? NY is suffering a huge loss in revenue - 20% of our revenue came from wall street bonuses.  She has an obligation to her constituents too - not just Obama.

    Parent
    I'm categorically... (none / 0) (#11)
    by prose on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 08:32:25 AM EST
    an "obamabot" and I thought Bill's interview was great.  When people clearly understand the issue that is at the center of the current crisis, it favors Obama politically, and it gives people confidence.  Just watching that interview made me feel generally more positive about my economic future.

    Parent
    "not just obamabots" (none / 0) (#20)
    by indiependy on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 12:19:38 PM EST
    Many observers in the press have been commenting how Bill seems much more comfortable talking about what he or Hillary have done/would do, how great a guy McCain is, and very little emphatic support of Obama. Clearly this is all how one interprets his words. But this has now been the response by many to both his "View" and "Letterman" appearances. As smart a politician as WJC is he's well aware of how powerful the press perception and narrative are, it will be interesting to see if his level of Obama support (or at the very least the mentioning of his name) rises in future appearances.

    Parent
    Maybe Bill Clinton (none / 0) (#21)
    by tootired on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 12:35:00 PM EST
    only "tepidly supports" Obama. Maybe he's out there campaigning for the "Democratic candidate". One could hardly blame Bill Clinton for not being 100% enthusiastic about Senator Obama. Maybe what we are seeing is all Bill Clinton is willing to do. His appearances this week were to promote his foundation work. Maybe he's annoyed that he really hasn't been interviewed about that much. Maybe Obama's asking Bill Clinton to campaign for him wasn't the best idea. Clinton could be up on the stage doing a major cheerleading spiel, but Bill doesn't lie very well.

    Parent
    Heh (none / 0) (#22)
    by CST on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 12:48:00 PM EST
    I agree with a lot of this but...

    "Bill doesn't lie very well"

    I didn't inhale... I never had sexual relations...

    Now, I will grant you that no one believed him when he lied if that's what you mean.

    I like Bill Clinton as a former president, but the man is no saint.

    Parent

    In order to lie well, (none / 0) (#23)
    by tootired on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 12:54:39 PM EST
    one must be believed.

    Parent
    Fair enough... (none / 0) (#24)
    by CST on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 12:59:55 PM EST
    And honestly, that's why I think it's a good thing he's not going over-the-top for Obama.  No one would believe him.  But I think people do realize that he thinks Obama is a better choice than McCain, because he says so in a very cold, analytical, and honest way.

    Parent
    Glass-Steagall (none / 0) (#7)
    by Dadler on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 08:19:33 AM EST
    The only problem I have with this discussion is now we've come to a point where the repeal of Glass-Steagallact is being treated as almost a non-event -- meaning no one wants to admit it did ANYTHING, that it got repealed, ho-hum, but it didn't really have an effect on anything that could have been bad.  In other words, most of the explanations for our crisis come down, once again, to finger pointing, with no one, NO ONE, wanting to take any responsibility.  And that means, to me, another crisis will happen again, and soon, and will be worse.

    Explain how it caused negative effects (none / 0) (#8)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 08:21:47 AM EST
    if you think you can. I say you can't.

    Parent
    hm (none / 0) (#18)
    by connecticut yankee on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 11:19:16 AM EST
    Didnt that lead to consolidation in the financial sector?  So you suddenly have an insurance giant like AIG getting itself into a position where it was both making risky investments and was too large to fail.

    Parent
    Now the reason behind your vociferous defense (none / 0) (#19)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 11:39:00 AM EST
    of any suggestion that the repeal of G-S contributed to the situation today is clear. You're a Big Dog Fanboy, you use your terms. Not an attack, btw, merely forehead slap "I get it now."

    Parent
    Bill Clinton for Treasury Secretary (none / 0) (#12)
    by gtesta on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 08:33:46 AM EST
    I wonder if Obama would swallow his pride enough to ask...wonder if the big dawg feels strongly enough about his economic legacy to accept.
    This announcement, should it come over the next week or so, would be the single best thing that Obama could do to nail down the election.
     

    Although I would like to see Bill Clinton (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by tootired on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 08:44:50 AM EST
    in Obama's cabinet in any position he'd like to have, President Clinton made it very clear that for him his foundation is where he wants to be. "If I never had to step into the White House again, that would be fine with me." President Emeritus seems to suit him.

    Parent
    It's really sinking in now. (none / 0) (#14)
    by gtesta on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 08:59:35 AM EST
    just how completely the Bush II admin. has wrecked our country.
    Our ability to tackle any large-scale government-funded initiative, e.g. renewable energy, national health care, infrastructure; has been severely compromised.

    Parent
    Damn! The Days of a President that... (none / 0) (#15)
    by pluege on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 10:27:51 AM EST
    can speak intelligently. Man, those were the days.

    One of the most sickening things about republicans since reagan, certainly perfectly embodied in bush and now proudly carrying the mantle with Big Liar John and porkbarrel palin is how they deride intelligence and knowledge. That alone (although there is truly so very much) may be republicans' biggest contribution to the ruination of the US - how they wear with pride their ignorance.

    Great President still! IMO (none / 0) (#16)
    by Lil on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 10:31:02 AM EST
    Good for America to have this guy talking. I hope he keeps it up.

    He is on Larry King (none / 0) (#25)
    by Amiss on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 01:53:46 PM EST
    tonite as well, for those that are interested.

    I think Chris Rock was being childish. I admire Bill for coming out at all for Obama after the campaign tried to paint him to be such a racist, I am sure it can not be easy for him, yet he and Hillary are both supporting Obama as much as they can.

    I can't believe (none / 0) (#28)
    by CST on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 02:50:18 PM EST
    The title to this post.

    That Clinton would have to defend his economic record.  What a bunch of bull.

    8 years after he was president the economy crashes.  In the mean time we have had 6 years of complete republican control and 2 years of the parties working together to get nothing done.  How anyone could think this is Clinton's fault is beyond me.

    I would love to see George Bush, or for that matter John McCain on tv trying to defend their economic records.  You know, the part where all those tax cuts for the wealthy and de-regulation were supposed to help the economy...

    I love Bill (none / 0) (#29)
    by nell on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 06:19:38 PM EST
    and wish he was President all over again.

    I also wish Hillary could be President.

    Having the two of them in the White House would alleviate my concerns, almost completely. Not that they are magical, but I would no the country will be in good hands. Amazing how he can be so reassuring and break things down for even those of us who feel flustered by the economy with a few television appearances...

    Bill Clinton On The View: Defends Economic Record | 29 comments (29 topical)

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