Posted on 10/14/2006 10:15:06 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
DES MOINES, Iowa (Reuters) - Former President Bill Clinton told Iowa's Democratic Party faithful on Saturday that the actions of "an extreme sliver" of the Republican Party have backfired and "profoundly divided" the country.
"We've got a big responsibility. Forget about 2008. Forget about the politics. Just go out and find somebody and look them dead in the eye and say 'You know, this is not right'...This is America," Clinton said. "We can do better and this year, it's a job that Democrats have to do alone."
More than 3,500 Iowa Democrats paid $100 each to attend the fund-raising banquet that kicked off with Clinton's speech. About 50 people paid $10,000 per couple to attend a private reception with Clinton beforehand.
Republicans, who control the White House and Congress, Clinton charged "paint themselves as pure and the rest of us who don't agree with them as stained" in order to divide the country and stay in power.
"People know things are out of whack, that fundamentally the order of, the rhythm of public life and our common life as Americans has been severely disturbed," he said.
Clinton criticized the tax cuts President George W. Bush pushed through Congress and urged Democrats running for office this year to promise to correct the imbalance -- and promise not to raise taxes in the process.
"You cannot blame the entire Republican party for this reason. The entire government of the United States, the Congress, the White House and increasingly the courts for the last six years has been in the total control not of the Republican party but of the most ideological, the most right wing, the most extreme sliver of the Republican Party."
Clinton did not talk about his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's potential White House bid, but 'Clinton for President -- votehillary.org" placards were on display in the streets surrounding the banquet hall and volunteers handed out blue stickers bearing the name "Hillary."
"I've always liked her and admired her," said Marilyn Chido, a longtime party activist from Des Moines who put her "Hillary" sticker on her purse. "I think she'd be a great president."
If Sen. Clinton, who did not attend the fund-raiser, does seek the White House in 2008 and actively campaigns in Iowa she will be departing from her husband's path who as Arkansas governor made just one appearance in the state before the 1992 Iowa Democratic Caucuses.
"The interesting question is exactly how Senator Clinton is going to approach Iowa," said Peverill Squire, a University of Iowa political science professor.
"Other candidates have put a lot more time and energy into the state and there's some evidence from polls ... that people have some reservations about whether Senator Clinton's electable. I think she has to begin to think seriously about how she can reassure people that if she does run, she can win."
Dick Meyers, a retired Iowa City businessman, who was once the Democratic leader in the Iowa House, said most Democrats are focused on the November 6 congressional election, not the presidential election in 2008.
Former President Bill Clinton told Iowa's Democratic Party faithful on Saturday that the actions of 'an extreme sliver' of the Republican Party have backfired and 'profoundly divided' the country. In this photo Clinton is pictured during a seminar entitled 'Leadership for the Future' at the Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara, California October 13, 2006. (Phil Klein/Reuters)
The democrats got truly NASTY when they lost the House in '94 after a 40 plus year reign.
If you want to talk extreme, witness the most partisan Delay prosecution in Texas.. and how it has been used to achieve political ends.
Houston City Councilwoman Shelley Sekula-Gibbs walks past supporters of Sugarland Mayor David Wallace outside a meeting of Republican precinct chairs chosing a write-in replacement for Rep. Tom Delay, R-Texas, in Pearland, Texas in this Aug. 17, 2006 file photo. With DeLay out of the race and the GOP unable by law to substitute a name on the ballot, voters must write in the Republican candidate, Sekula-Gibbs. (AP Photo/Michael Stravato, File)
Where is the BARF ALERT ?
"... in the total control not of the Republican party but of the most ideological, the most right wing, the most extreme sliver of the Republican Party."
Looks like the VRWC is not so vast after all. I'm hurt, lol.
A well-balanced journalistic tour de force - NOT!
Another piece of shiite Lib propagandist giving a virtual BJ to the Sink Emperor.
Disgusting!
Will SOMEBODY tell this degenerate and reprobate to just SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP?
This is who came out when the Dems dragged a sack full of money through an Arkansas trailer park back in 1989.
GEEZ!!!!
Come on BJ. Be a man and name names. Exactly who is this "sliver" of the Republican Party? Is it the "religious right" that your guys so detest?
We deliver!..................FRegards
OMG. Did that guy have any fluids left in him? Aak!
FReep on, Brother ...... :)
McCain will make them sorry anbd I suspect he's the only one who can.
Haven't you heard? JimRob supposedly sent out 30,000 letters to FReepers ordering us to boycott the Dixie Chicks! I didn't get my letter and apparently nobody else did either ... and I'm mad as heck about this.
I WANT MY LETTER, DAMMIT !!!
/chuckle off
if anyone questions why this guy is an asshole, this should answer it.
I didn't get mine either. I suspect a giant nefarious PLOT by the evil extremist/fundamentalist/rightwing Neo-cons! I'm suing someone.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.