Posted on 09/24/2006 5:22:39 PM PDT by MikeA
Clinton to Chris Wallace: 'You Got That Little Smirk on Your Face and You Think You're So Clever'
WASHINGTON (Sept. 24) - In a combative interview on "Fox News Sunday," former President Clinton defended his handling of the threat posed by Osama bin Laden, saying he tried to have bin Laden killed and was attacked for his efforts by the same people who now criticize him for not doing enough.
"That's the difference in me and some, including all of the right-wingers who are attacking me now," Clinton said in the interview. "They ridiculed me for trying. They had eight months to try, they did not try."
Clinton accused host Chris Wallace of a "conservative hit job" and asked: "I want to know how many people in the Bush administration you asked, 'Why didn't you do anything about the Cole?' I want to know how many people you asked, 'Why did you fire Dick Clarke?"'
He was referring to the USS Cole, attacked by terrorists in Yemen in 2000, and former White House anti-terrorism chief Richard A. Clarke.
Wallace said Sunday he was surprised by Clinton's "conspiratorial view" of "a very non-confrontational question, 'Did you do enough to connect the dots and go after Al Qaida?"'
"All I did was ask him a question, and I think it was a legitimate news question. I was surprised that he would conjure up that this was a hit job," Wallace said in a telephone interview.
Clinton said he "worked hard" to try to kill bin Laden.
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"We contracted with people to kill him. I got closer to killing him than anybody's gotten since," he said.
He told Wallace, "And you got that little smirk on your face and you think you're so clever, but I had responsibility for trying to protect this country. I tried and I failed to get bin Laden. I regret it, but I did try and I did everything I thought I responsibly could."
The interview was taped Friday during Clinton's three-day Global Initiative conference.
On NBC's "Meet the Press," also taped Friday and aired Sunday, Clinton told interviewer Tim Russert that the biggest problem confronting the world today is "the illusion that our differences matter more than our common humanity."
"That's what's driving the terrorism," he said. "It's not just that there's an unresolved Arab-Israeli conflict. Osama Bin Laden and Dr. al-Zawahiri can convince young Sunni Arab men, who have - and some women - who have despairing conditions in their lives, that they get a one-way ticket to heaven in a hurry if they kill a lot of innocent people who don't share their reality."
09-24-06 18:35 EDT
again - which ones? they are all already in the bag for the clintons - how many years have gone by since 9/11, have you ever seen anyone ask him anything like this in a one-on-one? Hillary ran for US senate in NY - didn't get a single tough question from the vaunted "NY press corps".
It's more important for the Clintons to intimidate interviewers than to intimidate, say, Bin Laden.
Wish Wallace would have kicked Clinton in the crotch and be done with it.
What a jerk Clinton continues to be.
What happened to #52. It just mentioned all the old Wag the Dog stuff. The Clinton defenders brought THAT up today all over the news shows.
Kick Clintoon in the crotch? Now I would pay GOOD MONEY to see THAT!
HA HA HA, what a picture that would make
When a Clinton's lips move, they're lying.
good point. This is part of a larger democrat strategy this fall to be on the offense big time and not let any potential swiftboat event from going unchallenged.
I imagine there wouldn't be much there to hit ~
Also add, when Clinton was reflecting on his life, That is, I have had a wonderful life. I got to be president. I got to live the life of my dreams. I dodged a bullet with that heart problem. And I really think I should — I think I owe it to my fellow countrymen and people throughout the world to spend time saving lives, solving problems, helping people see the future. But as it happens, I love it. I mean, I feel it's a great gift. So, it's a rewarding way to spend my life
Notice the obvious lack of mention of a wonderful family, loving wife, or ambitious daughter? It is all about him! He could not even give credit to the Monica's in his life for certain pleasures granted?
It was all about HIM and anyone who gets in the way is a part of the VRWC?????
Ha ha ha!
CLINTON: Well, when you are president, you can operate on a much broader scope. So, for example, you can simultaneously be trying to stop a genocide in Kosovo and, you know, make peace in the Middle East, pass a budget that gives millions of kids a chance to have afterschool programs and has a huge increase in college aid at home. In other words, you’ve got a lot of different moving parts, and you can move them all at once. But you’re also more at the mercy of events. That is, President Bush did not run for president to deal with 9/11, but once it happened it wasn’t as if he had an option.One minor clarification on his last line reveals the truth:
That is, President Bush did not run for president to deal with 9/11 the World Trade Center attack, but once it happened it wasn’t as if he had an option.
President Clinton found an option.
For Bubba Clintoon it is all about...
ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME
The truth hurts, doesnt it, Bill? I pray to see GOP commercials prior to November elections that say "Do you want this kind of protection from terrorists (Clinton red faced, unable to admit his own failures) or this (Bush signing The Patriot Act into law, followed by Reid smiling while he says "We killed The Patriot Act") America - make your choice
EXCELLENT! Send that suggestion to the GOP heads!
Fox will rebroadcast the interview tonight at 10 Eastern
Yea, I don't think he's going to have a legacy worth mentioning; no matter how hard the libs try to spin it. Really, everything about his presidency was "unpresidential" and really unprecedented. I'm no fan of JFK, but even he made half an effort to keep his skeletons in the closet and off of prime time television.
What struck me the most watching Slick Willie come unhinged today in front of Chris Wallace, was how he addressed issues, speaking for the Democratic Party, using words like we, ours, me, mine, I, etc. It was clear to me that the fabled Clintonian narcissism is alive and well, and that our ex Boy President thinks he is still in charge.
I cannot believe that his handlers let him off of the leash like that. Rush, Hannity, and many others will be dissection this interview for months! This kind of political ammunition simply cannot be bought. I take back every nasty thing I have ever said or thought about Chris Wallace. All he did was ask a question, and sit back for the Marantz speaker treatment our of Our Billy.
Karl Rove promised an October Surprize. Well, it ain't Octover yet, but...
SURPRIZE!!!
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