Clinton Assails Bush at Commencement Talk

AP ^ | 5/19/03 | BARBARA POWELL

[shhrubbery!]

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -

Former President Bill Clinton accused President Bush of spending more time fighting the war on terrorism than on domestic issues during a commencement speech at Tougaloo College.

"I supported the president when he asked for authority to stand up against weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, but we can't be forever strong abroad if we don't keep getting better at home," Clinton said Sunday to a crowd of about 8,000.

Clinton also criticized Bush's position on affirmative action and tax cuts just two days after the President formally kicked off his re-election campaign.

Clinton stayed for the entire three-hour ceremony and shook hands with each of the 144 graduates at the relatively obscure historically black college. But this private school of 800 students will also be the site of the Aug. 13 Democratic presidential debate.

Judging from the warm reception to his every blast of the Bush administration, Clinton had a lot of supporters in the crowd - which included former Democratic governors of Mississippi, Ray Mabus and William Winter.

On the stage with Clinton were Governor Ronnie Musgrove, and U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., a Tougaloo graduate and a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

"We Democrats in Congress miss you," Thompson said, referring to the Republican majority in both houses of Congress and the Democrats' inability to derail Bush's tax cut plan.

Clinton, who commands as much as $350,000 a speech, was speaking at Tougaloo for free.

Clinton's attack on the president comes as Bush - who in the latest Washington Post/ABC News poll had an approval rating of 71 percent, down from 77 percent during the war in Iraq - is drawing criticism from Democrats for his tax cut proposals and support for "race neutral alternatives" to affirmative action.

Clinton laughed long and heartily when student government president C.J. Lawrence assured the crowd that selecting Clinton was not an example of affirmative action. "Yes, Oprah Winfrey and Bill Cosby were also considered, but I assure you Bill Clinton was selected solely on his merit," Lawrence said, drawing a big round of applause.

Despite the laughter, Clinton spoke seriously about what he said is the need to show that America takes care of its citizens of all races and all income levels through affirmative action and after-school care programs.

Clinton suggested that Bush's priorities are fighting terrorism, not domestic issues.

The Bush administration, Clinton said, "is still focused on defeating terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, and that's good, but not good enough. The power of our example is just as important as our military might."

Clinton also took aim at the growing budget deficit and Bush's tax cut proposals - all issues that are being raised by the nine Democrats who are running for president in 2004. Sunday's crowd at Tougaloo made it plain who many of them would like to see in the White House.

"I think if you were to take a vote here, they'd vote for Bill Clinton if he was running again," said Jerry Keahey, class of '61.

Clinton, who sang along with the choir to "Lift Every Voice and Sing" and chatted at length with many of those around him on the podium, also took time to take a jab at Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss.

Lott lost his Senate Majority Leader position after his comment in December that the nation would have been better served if retiring Sen. Strom Thurmond had been elected president in 1948 when he ran on a segregationist platform.

Referring to the 134-year-old college's need to raise money to renovate its old buildings, Clinton suggested that Lott might want to help them raise money to make up for his remarks.

"Reach out, don't give up on anybody," Clinton said. "This is Sunday. Ask Lott to give you the money for the buildings. He said he was going to spend the rest of his life making up for the little trouble he had."

[Miss Marple]

I do not want her to run at all, at any time, not even for dogcatcher.

I am mistrustful of the media, big city democrat machines, and rich democrats, all of which would conspire to aid her campaign. GWB can defeat her, but she will polarize the country again, and we do not need that.

[buffyt]

Yeah, as if no other college kid ever went to a party where there were alcohol and drugs!

Recalling my wild and raunchy days in college in the late 1960s and early 1970s....... Can't think of anyone who didn't drink beer, or wine, or smoke grass .......

[Arpege92]

144 students huh? Geez, I sure hope his black make up didn't come off!

[Arpege92]

LOL....I can't even bring myself to watch that horrible 80's movie!

[Feiny]

"What I don't understand is why the press doesn't call him on it."

Because he is a Democrat! If Clinton had been Republican....they would be writing all sorts of stories about his horrible behavior.

[aristeides]

It's just like a leftist to be generous with somebody else's money. I take it Clinton didn't offer any of his onw (or this article would have been sure to mention it.)

[WKB]

I take it Clinton didn't offer any of his own (or this article would have been sure to mention it.)

I believe you are right.

[NYC Republican]

First of all, apologies for the profanities in the post...

I just watched the first 45 seconds of his speech. What a lying scumbag SOB piece of SH1T!!! What a disgusting speciman! He just doesn't go away. I have to say, I honestly can't think of a person I've EVER hated more (in public life) than this assh()le, with the possible exception of his despicable wife.

No other ex-president attacks the sitting president. This opportunistic bastard thinks he's above it all. Lies, lies, lies, misrepresentations, and more lies!

What a disgrace!

[NYC Republican]

"Because he is a Democrat! If Clinton had been Republican....they would be writing all sorts of stories about his horrible behavior."

Exactly! Does anyone know if Hannity will call him out on it tonight? Did he bring it up on his radio show?

[HighWheeler]

Of course Bush spends a lot of time on foreign work.

In his 8 years in office, Bush will have had to do 16 years worth of cleanup following XXX42's debacle, debauchery, disbarment and impeachment legacy.

BTW, the "Clinton economy" that he claims actually didn't start until January 1995 when the Republican Congress started the ball rolling by cutting governmental spending and cutting taxes. The economy was stalled dead the second half of 1993 (after his retroactive tax increase) and all of 1994.

Clinton is such an ass.

[Mia T]

thanks so much. ;)

[sport]

Don't these people care that Clinton is a RAPIST!

No

[solo gringo]

Where the hell is the double puke alert.

[The Wizard]

I will be making no more comments on this asshole until they write his obit......he's not worth it, he offers nothing, and anytime he gets our attention is a waste of good space.....so...Everytime there is something posted about this scumbag, until the Arlington ceremony, just assume my comments are: another comment from a man who should be ignored....a true definition of lowlife, trailer park trash.

My final comment on this maroon forever.

It's over.

[WKB]

Seris question: Would Clinton bash Bush as much if Hilary did not want to be President

[WKB]

I'll take that as a yes. Great points!!

[des]

In the last election, Bush surprised us all in the debates. Honestly, as bright as she is, Hillary cannot think on her feet (I sympathize and identify with the loose circuitry(sp)) This could be extremely entertaining or way fugly.

[faithincowboys]

What about Ricky Ray Rector-- where does Clinton go to pay for executing a black retarded man?

[wardaddy]

We bought booze as kids underage at the black juke joint across the street that served the college..

ah..the good ol days....I wouldn't go into that part of Jackson at night now and stop at a juke joint as a white boy period.....unless I was with Bill Clinton...lol...highly improbable.