I think that is the real story and I also think that Bill Clinton actually does like Senator McCain. Bill Clinton always was to the right of his wife and way to the right of Obama. As a sidenote, Clinton did sign the legislation but was not happy with it -- his veto would have been overridden.
Blame Lott and others for not standing up. Don Nichols fought against it but got thrown under the bus by Lott. Lott wouldn't take him for budget negotiations with Clinton -- Lott went along and undermined Nichols as Majority Leader which gave us Frist. Speaker Hastert was a bad joke as Speaker. This never would have passed if Newt had remained Speaker IMHO!
I realized that after watching Clinton on The View. Clinton had nothing be good things to say about McCain. I thought the hens would go crazy when Clinton said that Only McCain can win. One of the hens quickly spoke up and said, you mean the only republican. LOL!