Bill Clinton Says Critics Distorted Remarks About Obama

[MannyGoldstein]

Source: The NY Times

Former President Bill Clinton struck back on Monday at critics who have suggested that his remarks in South Carolina in January on behalf of his wife’s campaign were racially insensitive.

In an interview shown Monday on CNN, Mr. Clinton said the widespread interpretation of his remarks — comparing Senator Barack Obama to the Rev. Jesse Jackson — was “a total myth and a mugging.” Mr. Clinton added, “I think that’s been pretty well established.”

...

According to an NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll released last week, 45 percent of respondents viewed him negatively, while 42 percent viewed him positively. One year ago, the poll said, Mr. Clinton had a 48 percent positive rating and a 35 percent negative rating.

...

“They made up a race story out of that,” Mr. Clinton said. “There was no disrespect to Senator Obama in that. So I think that our side got a bum rap about what was said about South Carolina. But the point is, that’s political tactics. They thought they could hurt me with that, and so they put a bizarre spin on it, and it worked for a while.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/18/us/politics/18bill.html

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Poor Bill!

Interesting that he picked Jackson's SC wins to attack Obama, instead of Edwards' 2004 win that was much, much similar to Obama's situation in many ways. Must have been a teeny, tiney oversight - perhaps a little brain fart. Totally a coincidence. Let's face it, Bill's not known for his good memory...

[jlake]

1. The Probama media has done nothing but vilify Bill.... it sickens me.

They have targeted him and distorted his comments at every turn..... sickening and blatant bias against the Clintons continues..... and gets a pass - or even praise on DU.

[Fredda Weinberg]

3. It's silly season ... no reason to take ill ... even Bill had a wry grin

It's not like he hasn't seen this all before - and give DU a break, we're a big community w/lots of sense ... good and bad.

[polpilot]

9. Pro-NAFTA Bill's wry smile: 'I did not have race with that man.'

[zbdent]

14. Don't worry ... the "Probama" media will become "ProMcCain"

before long ... likely after the Dem nominee is decided ...

[MethuenProgressive]

2. "They thought they could hurt me with that, and so they put a bizarre spin on it, and it worked"

His Swiftboating of the Clintons on Race disqualifies Obama as a Democrat.

[niceypoo]

4. Obama supporters feel they must destroy the Clinton family

Apparently they believe it is the only way they can 'support' Obama

Apparently 'unity' is reserved for Republicans

[onehandle]

5. At least at DU.

Classless.

[xultar]

7. True, I don't think many are really voting for Obama as much as they are voting against Clinton.

Simple.

They'd vote for just about anyone as long as it isn't Clinton.

[polpilot]

10. Many will vote for 'the person behind door #3' as long as it isn't Clinton or McCain.

...and no excuses are acceptable.

[spotbird]

12. She has made it hard

Bill's reviving the issue to portray Hillary as a victim merely anchors the base, and alienates those who expected more from him.

[spotbird]

24. Poor Hillary.

She is a victim. If she is the nominee McCain will be much nicer to her, so it's important to support her.

[BlueManDude]

6. I never thought I'd get sick of Bill Clinton - but I am.

[saltpoint]

8. One notes the extraordinarily short leash she's kept the Big Dog on since

South Carolina, then one re-reads his above comments, and one says, "Hmm. Wheelbarrow loaded to the brim with bullshit."

[Gman]

11. This is when I turned permanently against Obama

to take Clinton's remarks and try to make, of all people, him a racist absolutely disgusted me. It showed how low and to what dirty, slimy levels the Obama campaign would descend in order to force their mediocre candidate down everyone's throats.

If Obama is the nominee, he will get my vote only through the benefit of my voting straight party Democrat. There's a couple of local judges and my state representative who is a self-aggrandizing asshole that I have no use for that will also benefit as will Obama. But that's the way it goes.

[spotbird]

13. Funny, when Clinton minimized Obama's

campaign in that way, I was finished with the two of them.

[chimpymustgo]

17. That was lowdown dirty race card playing by Obama to destroy Bill Clinton.

The fact that so many Dems refused to see that for what it was is frightening.

[spotbird]

20. Clinton raised the issue, but it's Obama's fault.

Are the Clinton's ever responsible for their words and actions?

[MadAndy]

19. Why are you so sure he's not racist? What did he ever do to help black people? He used us

when he needed us, thats all. Why did he send troops to stop the genocide in serbia but not Rwanda?

[EFerrari]

15. Please keep talking, Bill. n/t

[MadAndy]

16. So now Mrs Klinton's husband is saying she got mugged by a black guy?? At least this is a

change from telling BO he should "get to the back of the bus" and be Hillary's VP.

[nodehopper]

21. your use of "back of the bus" in quotation marks implies that Clinton said that?

[MadAndy]

22. I meant it figuratively not literally so should not have used quotes. I apologize for the error

[jn2375]

18. a mugging? WTF here we go again

[closeupready]

23. Oh, please.

:eyes: He perjured himself under oath, and argued about what the definition of "is" is. Give me a break if I don't believe this spin. With all due respect, please just let it go, Bill.