Bill Clinton: McCain acted in "Good Faith" on Debate Delay

ABCNews ^ | 09-25-08 | Nitya Venkataraman

[Federalist Society]

Former President Bill Clinton defended Sen. John McCain's request to delay the first presidential debate, saying McCain did it in "good faith" and pushed organizers to reserve time for economy talk during the debate if the Friday plans move forward.

Appearing on Good Morning America Thursday, Clinton told ABC News' Chris Cuomo that McCain's push to postpone the debate would only be a good political move if both candidates agreed. McCain announced on Wednesday that he would "suspend" his presidential campaign to come to Washington to help negotiate a financial bailout bill "We know he didn't do it because he's afraid because Sen. McCain wanted more debates," Clinton said, adding that he was "encouraged" by the joint statement from McCain and Sen. Barack Obama.

[TruthWillWin]

....saying McCain did it in "good faith",.....

Meaning.....Quit picking on McCain, he needs to win this so Hillary can run again in 2012.

[ChocChipCookie]

I wouldn’t be surprised to see a McCain/Palin lapel pin next time Bill is interviewed.

[MBB1984]

Bill Clinton is the unbelievably ego maniacal. I wish he would go away for good.

[r9etb]

This is really quite interesting. Bill Clinton can't come right out and campaign against Obama, but he's clearly damning him with faint praise.

What's remarkable to me is that Bill Clinton, of all people, is a more even-handed commentator on this election than the MSM.

[Pistolshot]

I think the Clintonistas are smelling an Obama election loss and are starting their 2012 run now.

The Clintons are doing everything possible to make that happen.

[steveyp]

Slick doesn’t want to be too tied to this catastrophe as his fingers and the Dems are all over it.

[JPII Be Not Afraid]

My exact thoughts.

[webschooner]

Bill Klingtong is pimping to try to get Palin’s phone number from Big John, LOL.

[beckysueb]

Maybe Ambassador to the Pantsuit Brigade.

[MattMa]

This was Obama’s first 3am call, and he missed it completely.

[angcat]

LOL

I don’t think so because you have to pay for them. I can’t find a free one anywhere.

[r9etb]

The only question left is, does Bill Clinton’s support of McCain help or hurt McCain?

It's not so much "support" for McCain, as it is lack of support for Obama ... though the net effect is about the same.

At any rate, yes ... it does help. A lot.

There are a lot of folks who like Bill Clinton, and are uncomfortable about Obama, and will see this as validation of their unease. The fact that Clinton is not unfriendly toward McCain -- and seems even to be burnishing McCain's leadership credentials -- will persuade some folks to vote for him.

[willgolfforfood]

Exactly. McCain needs to step back and wonder about this. If Billy Jeff is praising you for being a great statesman, you might start to look for the knife in your back. Or in your campaign.

[Above My Pay Grade]

>>>I’m beginning to wonder if Maverick McCain has a position waiting for Hillary.<<<

I’ve wondered the same thing, AG, maybe? It would look very bi-partisan and Hillary could go after all the Obamacrats who stabbed her in the back. Clyburn, Richardson and Olbermann would seek asylum in Iran.

Or alternatively, might he offer Bubba Secretary of State?

[The Hound Passer]

I’m beginning to wonder if Maverick McCain has a position waiting for Hillary.

If he did it would be a shrewd Machiavellian political play. But realistically Hillary would NEVER accept a position. Why would she want to be part of an administration she plans on running against in 4 years?

No, Bill is being "nice" to McCain b/c he knows if Obama wins Hill has zero chance of ever being prez. Either Obama screws up the country Jimmy Carter style that no D gets elected prez for two decades or he floats along and manages to get reelected to a 2nd term.

[MrB]

that mental picture I could have [done] without,

ditto

[r9etb]

I’m beginning to wonder if Maverick McCain has a position waiting for Hillary.

No.... I think Clinton views McCain as a one-term president (which is probably correct). Which leaves the field open for Hillary in '12,

Obama would be either a two-term president, which would make Hillary too old to run in '16; or a disastrous one-termer who would either run for re-election (and thus crowd out Hillary), or he will have so polluted the Democrat name that no Democrat could win under it.

[shiva]

From Josh Levs
CNN

(CNN) — Promising a “very bipartisan approach” to how he’ll run his administration, Sen. John McCain said in an interview broadcast Sunday that he would appoint Democrats to his Cabinet.

[NRA2BFree]

Ouch! That should leave teeth marks. It seems like Billy is trying to help McCain win so Hillary can run for President after McCain’s first term.

[KarlInOhio]

The Clintons threw Obama under the bus as soon as it became clear that Hillary lost the nomination this year. The two reasons are that they want her to be president in 2012 and the gravy train of XXX-42's "consulting" income will dry to a trickle if Obama wins and it becomes clear that Hillary will never be president.