Clinton says he was wrong on healthcare bill's popularity

The Hill ^ | 9/19/2010 | Roxana Tiron & Bridget Johnson

[Qbert]

Former president Bill Clinton, a champion of healthcare reform, admitted on Sunday that he made the wrong prediction about the popularity of President Obama’s healthcare bill.

Initially, Clinton had predicted that the polls in favor of Democrats would be boosted as soon as the legislation was signed into law. Instead, Clinton said on NBC’s "Meet the Press," his prediction was wrong for two reasons.

"First of all, the benefits of the bill are spread out of three or four years. It takes a long time to implement. And secondly, there has been an enormous and highly effective attack on it,” he said.

Several leading Republicans have vowed to repeal the healthcare reform bill next year.

On CBS' "Face the Nation," Clinton said Republicans deserve "their fair share of credit" for Obama's stumbles, including a sinking approval rating.

"I think he was shocked at the intensity of the Republican opposition," Clinton said. "But they learned from my first two years that, if you just say no, even though people hate it, you get rewarded for it because it discourages the Democrats and it inflames your base. So they're doing just what they did in '93 and '94. And so far it appears that they're being rewarded for it."

The former president said he thought the current commander in chief got "disoriented" for a while, but "I think he is getting his groove back now."

[Parmy]

And, he fails to recognize the corruption that purchased the votes that allowed the albatross to be passed.

[yldstrk]

clintoon you are a true meathead
shut up and turn off and slink away

[blackbart.223]

Slick and his”wife” are setting their sights on The White House. Count on it.

[ExTexasRedhead]

These Marxist will not be digging themselves out of the hole they’re in. Clintoon can go whistle Dixie.

[Doulos1]

Every poll during the debate showed 8 out of 10 people were against Obamacare, yet they went ahead a forced this marxist program on us. Now they will see the wrath of the American people this November. Ignoring the public in a republic is playing with fire. Dims are going to get burnt. Bad ideas are bad ideas no matter how they try to frame them.

[FlingWingFlyer]

I think the majority of ‘RAT candidates feel the same way that Slick Willie does. I’ve yet to see one ‘RAT trumpeting that they voted for ObamaCare. ObamaCarephobia?

[TribalPrincess2U]

Did he just wake up from a coma or just to busy playing with himself?

[Presbyterian Reporter]

Clinton, a champion of healthcare reform, admitted on Sunday that he made the wrong prediction about the popularity of President Obama’s healthcare bill.

---

Why do I feel slimed whenever Clinton speaks?

Healthcare was as unpopular before it passed as it is today.

So Clinton is now trying to blame you and me for its unpopularity since we are saying it is a bunch of garbage.

Sorry Bill, you and your Democrats own this piece of garbage that you created.

Now let’s hope the American voters remove all of you scoundrels in Nov.

[Lawgvr1955]

I wish the Democrat presidents followed the noble example of the Republican ones and leave the stage. We have had to suffer from Carter and Clinton for too long. How can we ever miss you if you never go away?

[blackbart.223]

"These Marxist will not be digging themselves out of the hole they’re in. Clintoon can go whistle Dixie."

Bill and Hilly want to go back to The White House as residents again. The next two years should prove interesting.

[nhwingut]

Wink wink.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

These fools listen to people in NYC and Chicago and forget about everyone else and their opinions.

The nation could survive without the big cities, the big cities could not survive without the nation.

[righttackle44]

" . . . there has been an enormous and highly effective
attack on it, . . . "

We kicked it's butt. Ask customer about enormous and highly effective attacks.

[Iron Munro]

Once again a democrat tells us that it's not the content of the Healthcare bill or the fact that people just do not want the government controlling the entire healthcare industry that is affecting acceptance of Obama-Kare.

The problem, according to Bill, is twofold:

1. We are just too stupid to realize that all the really good provisions of the program, the stuff we will really like, will start down the road, several years from now.

2. The evil republicans are getting the stupid people inflamed because....
   Well, just because. After all, they are the party of NO and always are against all the good things the socialists Progressives are trying to do for us.

[blackbart.223]

" How can we ever miss you if you never go away?"

I would not miss Jimmy or Bill no matter what the situation.

[Froggie]

This may be heretical, but I think I’d rather deal with Obama for 6 more years (provided we get control of one of the houses of Congress) than risk getting HillandBillaries from Arkansas back in the White House!

[Froggie]

This may be heretical, but I think I’d rather deal with Obama for 6 more years (provided we get control of one of the houses of Congress) than risk getting HillandBillaries from Arkansas back in the White House!

[PISANO]

X42 still thinks we are a bunch of bozos. How in the hell is Republican opposition to the HC Bill & BHO's socialist agenda be in anyway responsible for the bills 70% UNPOPULARITY and BHO's sinking approval ratings?

The slick one is still hoping to be the 'First' First Man like he was the First Black POTUS!!

[FlingWingFlyer]

Can you imagine what it’s going to be like when we have Barry, Slick Willie and Jimmah out there as former “presidents”? Yikes!