How does Matt Damon admire Bill CLinton, but is upset with President Obama?

[LeftyAndProud60]

I'm not calling racism, but Clinton was probably worse than Obama when it came to caving in to the right.

[DJ13]

1. Like many of his age (he was early 20's when Clinton won in 92)

He probably wasnt politically aware until after Clinton was out of office.

Clinton's economy tends to cloud over the many Republican lite policies enacted during his terms.

[qazplm]

2. Obama was kind of a vessel

which people could pour their own image of what he should be into. When he didn't live up to their wishes, then disappointment sets in.

Certainly, we all would like him to be more liberal than he is. But part of it is a lack of realism.

[madfloridian]

3. What is happening to teachers is quite realistic.

They are being openly attacked by both parties with no one standing up for them but them.

[The Second Stone]

4. Clinton fought the Republicans over the budget and won

Obama just surrenders.

[TacticalPeek]

6. There it is.

It helps when you believe in something and fight for it.

[TheWraith]

9. Right, because Obama didn't fight for anything, like healthcare, or Wall Street reform.

Oh, wait... :eyes:

[JDPriestly]

14. Obama's healthcare plan and Wall Street reform leave much to be desired.

[The Second Stone]

19. Both are gifts to Wall Street

Health care just happens to contain some benefits for the poor and sick, but the primary benefit is for insurance companies: making felons of people who refuse to be customers.

[karynnj]

23. You can tell the future?

There are massive differences. Clinton had a healthy economy - and he gambled that the republicans, talking about shutting down government would pay and there would be little economic side effects. Obama has a much weaker economy, a more hostile media (thanks 1996 telecommunications bill) and far more people believing the Republicans that the deficit is a major problem.

BUT, what ALL the Democrats need to do is mention that increasing the taxes on the wealthy would have LESS negative impact on the economy than cutting programs that benefit the poor. It is amazing that in trying to lower the deficit - one of the two ways to do it seems to be completely off the table - and it shouldn't be.

[devils chaplain]

5. Because...

I think those of us on the left had a lot more hopes for change with Obama. Obama won by a wider than margin than Clinton ever did, the Republicans were trounced in the congressional elections, and for the first time in forever there seemed to be a progressive mandate. Clinton won with slightly over 40% of the vote, lost congress 2 years later due to a recession he inherited, and had to battle with a Republican congress for the next 6 years. I think it's just felt that Clinton played the hand he'd been dealt better than Obama has played his. Clinton did more with less. Of course, there's a lot more of President Obama to be had. We'll see.

[WilliamPitt]

7. Why do I give a wet fuck about what a movie star has to say?

[EFerrari]

21. Because in addition to being a movie star, he is also an activist

who knows his shit? He had the good fortune to grow up next door to the Zinns. lol

[Bluebear]

8. 'I'm not calling racism' - well, you sort of are by introducing it like that.

[OHdem10]

10. Clinton has political mastery. He was on TV or somewhere in

country doing a meeting explaining every step he took and why.
He fought the Republicans. Clinton did have a line in the
sand. He reached a point where he was not to give another
inch and stood by it. His line might have been at a different
point than I might have liked but he was willing and the
Republicans knew--to go before the American People and explain
why he could go not one inch.

Clinton understood the need to have the people with him
so he would explain not just why a policy was good but
how this would effect the American People.

[JDPriestly]

15. Clinton spoke to poor people, not just the rich.

Obama goes to factories, and he gets his picture taken volunteering at a homeless shelter, but I haven't seen him face a crowd of people who lost their homes to banks. Clinton would have waded right into that crowd.

[BlueCheese]

11. What exactly did Damon say about Clinton?

Also, I imagine a lot has to do with the reason most people like Clinton (certainly a big reason I like him): Times were good--very good--when Clinton was president, and not just for the rich and the elite. And of course, making things better for the middle classes and the poor is what the Democratic Party is about--or at least should be about.

[still_one]

12. There is really very little difference between Clinton and Obama /nt

[JDPriestly]

13. Matt Damon likes the good ol' boy way that Bill Clinton talks.

That is my guess.

Personally, I like the way Obama speaks better, but that is my opinion. Bill Clinton is very folksy.

Obama speaks more elegantly. In my opinion, of course.

[Raine]

16. Clinton never pretended to be a liberal

he was DLC and never claimed otherwise. With Clinton what you saw was what you got, he didn't build up expectations only to pull them out from under you.

[rucky]

17. the economy was good under Clinton

people are feeling nostalgic, I guess.

[Very_Boring_Name]

18. Clinton caved because he had to. Obama caves when he doesn't have to

DADT is a perfect example. Clinton haters on the left use DADT as an example of Clinton caving, but they (deliberately?) ignore the context. Both Republicans and Democrats in congress, as well as the population in general, were OVERWHELMINGLY were against gays serving in the military. Clinton wanted gays to be able to serve openly, but it waas clear that congress would not allow that. The choice was between DADT, or the status quo (illegal for gays to serve even if they are not out). Of course we know that DADT was a disaster because it was applied falsely, but there was simply no alternative.

Obama caves when he doesn't have to. Even when he has the overwhelming support of democrats in congress and popular opinion on his side, he gives in (public option anyone?). Clinton was willing to let the government shut down rather than cave in to republican demands. Obama would never have the guts to do this, he would fold like a cheap suit.

[cherokeeprogressive]

20. I guess I don't understand why anyone would care enough to post about it... n/t

[EFerrari]

22. Do you have a link to something I can read about his admiration

for Clinton?

[Bluebear]

24. Good luck with that.

[EFerrari]

25. It's probably something like this:

http://blog.tonic.com/matt-damons-commitment-to-bill-clinton/