White House Regrets Blaming Clinton on Mideast

Reuters ^ | 2/28/02 | By Arshad Mohammed

[BigTime]

Didn't see Ari's retraction posted so apologies if this is already on FR.

This sure smells like a coordinated effort to get Clinton's name planted in the middle of this Middle East mess then to quickly step back and act like they didn't mean it. Ari is too accurate to make this kind of mistake so it had to be an intentional play. Probably baiting Clinton to step out front on the issue.

[Dog Gone]

Well, the fact that his earlier statement is demonstrably true shouldn't be lost on anyone.

[johniegrad]

What the hell is this all about?

[cgk]

Good point. It's not often someone who already knows what they are going to discuss/say will then go back and immediately "regret" saying it.

Clinton is absolutely at fault for much more than Israel vs Palestine IMHO.

Mrs Kus

[MeekOneGOP]

He probably made that original statement for Helen Thomas' benefit. She was clintoon's biggest fan!

[Aric2000]

Something is afoot here, Ari was right on the nose when he said what he said, so what's up with this then. The Bush team doesn't do anything for no reason. This should be interesting.

[MeekOneGOP]

fyi

[anniegetyourgun]

He meant what he said and said what he meant - but the press took it as an attack on their guy. The presslibs thought he was drawing a straight line from Clinton to the violence. That's not at all what he said.

I don't think he needs to apologize, he only needed to clarify for the press idiots - as he has done here.

[ironman]

This was a big time warning shot to the RATS and to Puff Dashole for recent criticisms of the war effort and it's costs.

[ppaul]

"Well, I tried to get bin-Laden,
I really did......"

[anniegetyourgun]

CLICK HERE.

[Argus]

``It is unfortunate that the spokesman for the president, in dealing with the Middle East, is trying to pass blame,'' Clinton spokeswoman Julia Payne said. ``They would be better off using their energies to facilitate the peace process.''

Why does an ex-President have a "spokeswoman", like he's still an official operation? Are we paying Julia Payne's salary, too? Does any other ex-prez have a spokesperson - Carter, Ford, Bush I? They always seem to do their own talking to the media. Why do we continue to cut this corrupt, freeloading sleazebucket any more slack?

Just asking. BTW, Ari was right the first time.

[sinkspur]

Ari is too accurate to make this kind of mistake so it had to be an intentional play. Probably baiting Clinton to step out front on the issue.

Didn't some Dem take a shot at Bush over the Mid-East peace process earlier this week?

This is Bush's way of responding, through one of his spokesmen.

Don't mess with Texas!

[Balata]

LOL! Which is it. Blaming Clinton on the Mideast or Blaming the Mideast on Clinton?

[ValerieUSA]

White House Regrets Blaming Clinton on Mideast
or
White House Regrets Blaming Mideast on Clinton

[flamefront]

wimps

[ArcLight]

Nonsense. Ari's remarks were stupid. But we all say stupid things from time to time, and he had the good sense to do a quick climbdown. One hopes the whole thing blows over. Wasting time blaming Clinton for the bloodlust of the Palestinians makes no sense to me, anyhow.

[financeprof]

In Washington GAFFE=TELLING THE TRUTH. Ari committed a gaffe.

[GussiedUp]

WHY OH WHY don't the republicans STOP that weak-a$$ed constant apologizing?!?!