Posted on 06/17/2006 9:58:01 PM PDT by Libloather
Bill Clinton speaks against 'demonizing' political leaders
6/17/2006, 7:26 p.m. ET
By PEGGY HARRIS
The Associated Press
LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton said Saturday that, if he returns to the White House in 2008 because his wife becomes president, his role would be to "do whatever she wants" because that's what a good citizen would do.
Clinton said he didn't know if U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, a Democrat from New York seeking re-election this year, would run for president in two years as some have speculated, but he predicted a woman could win the most powerful office in the world.
Asked at an Association of Alternative Newsweeklies convention what his role would be if his wife were elected, the former two-term president said, "I'll do whatever she wants, and I have no idea what that is. I honestly don't know whether she's going to run."
Clinton said he believes his wife would make a good president and has been a better senator than he expected she would be, becoming knowledgeable about national security, commerce, political relationships, and other issues.
"The idea of her being polarizing is a lot of baloney," he said, referring to a popular image that also was tagged onto his presidency.
He told his left-leaning audience of about 500 journalists to consider opposing views and appreciate the value of working with people who differ with them. He urged them not to turn public figures into "two-dimensional cartoons."
While he doesn't agree with much of the Bush administration policies, Clinton said, he has come to understand President Bush better. Clinton said Bush has "an intuitive intelligence," provoking laughter from the audience. But Clinton said he meant that seriously.
What concerns him more, he said, is a particular strain of the Republican Party that he said has gotten control in Washington. Reminding his audience that he grew up in the South as a native of Arkansas, Clinton said right-wing ideologues and "ultra-conservative, white Southerners" have "demonized" those who think differently from them.
Their "divisive" approach has made it more difficult to make substantive change, he said.
"My problem is I don't think this way of doing politics and making policy is good for America," he said. "We've got to find ways to get back to evidence-based politics."
Government has become more secretive while the level of discourse over such issues as gay marriage, immigration, and the war in Iraq has become more heated.
He said global interdependence, the Internet, and the proliferation of nongovernmental organizations means ordinary citizens feel the effects of and have more impact on developments worldwide.
After the tsunami, for example, Americans donated $1.2 billion for relief efforts, much of that by Internet, he said. And estimates that oil supplies will run dry in 35 to 50 years underscore this interdependence and the need to find other ways besides war to meet the country's needs, he added.
"You have to make a world with more partners and fewer terrorists," he said. "And we know how to do that."
*He doesn't know her very well - does *he?
How would he? It's not like he's part of her inner circle or anything.
The Clintons are playing this horribly, like it's a fait accompli. Often in primaries they talk about it being "not an election but a coronation," and this kind of piece only adds to the annoyance of some dems. Good!
Her boobs and her bank account are huge, so Bill's got two reasons to like her.
OK, OK, OK, if you're counting, techincally that's three reasons.
Let me give him a clue. It has to do with staying away from interns.
I dunno, I think he gets a pass--I know I usually only count them in the singular even though they (mostly) come in pairs :)
So what does Clinton think about the demonization of Gingrich?
Bloated former babe-magnet for the intellectually challenged.
Not buying that scare tactic garbage.
Slick Willie said he wants to get back to "evidence based politics" The blue stained dress was enough for most of us.
Sorry! I should have said the intellectually challenged Demo-chicks.
What the F#CK????
Didn't Hillary say something about "..a vast right wing conspiracy"? Talk about demonizing!
Of course the media is going to tow this line since it looks like there will be another Clinton run for the White House....
Clinton said right-wing ideologues and "ultra-conservative, white Southerners" have "demonized" those who think differently from them.
Their "divisive" approach has made it more difficult to make substantive change, he said.
LOL, you beat me to that comment.
We've got to get back to a more innocent time when we pondered what the definition of 'is' was - as it were!!
This piece of **** impeached president is going to be a defendant in L.A. superior court on March 27, 2007. Other than murderers, rapists, and child molestors, he is the most despicable person in the world. Oh, wait. I should have said other than murderers and child molestors.
If Bill Clinton's husband is elected president, Bill damn well better do whatever she wants.
What the hay?!? It looks as if he has a bra on in that photo, you can even see the straps!
Does she know that Bill saved the World by ejaculating numerous times on a chubby Jewish girl?
The entire Cigar World was nearly destroyed but Serbia and Somolia somehow still survive.
PS
If I wasn't married, I'd do her(she is cute), if Lazmataz didn't lasso her for himself... or if I had 50 million dollars...
TT
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