"Leading Democrats (Kennedy) To Bill Clinton: Pipe Down (on Obama)"

[debatepro]

http://www.newsweek.com/id/96385


Prominent Democrats are upset with the aggressive role that Bill Clinton is playing in the 2008 campaign, a role they believe is inappropriate for a former president and the titular head of the Democratic Party. In recent weeks, Sen. Edward Kennedy and Rep. Rahm Emanuel, both currently neutral in the Democratic contest, have told their old friend heatedly on the phone that he needs to change his tone and stop attacking Sen. Barack Obama, according to two sources familiar with the conversations who asked for anonymity because of their sensitive nature. Clinton, Kennedy and Emanuel all declined to comment.
...
When the former president called Kennedy, the Massachusetts Democrat gave Clinton an earful, telling him that he bore some blame for the injection of race into the contest. In any event, both Hillary and Obama made peace on the race issue at the Las Vegas debate. The Clinton camp now fears that Kennedy is leaning toward Obama, according to the Clinton source, though Kennedy's office says he is making no endorsement "at this time."

Clinton aides admit the boss sometimes goes off script. Obama officials say this itself should be a campaign issue. Greg Craig, who coordinated Clinton's impeachment defense in 1998 and is now a senior Obama adviser, argues that "recent events raise the question: if Hillary's campaign can't control Bill, whether Hillary's White House could."

[Tarc]

1. so let's get this straight

Obama rails against "the establishment" night and day, yet feels perfectly fine with "the establishment" when they are in his corner? Is this guy for real?

[papau]

12. LOL - a peace treaty that tones Bill down and removes Oprah?

[awaysidetraveler]

28. No, you're way off.

Obama rails against lobbying interests corrupting our government. Edwards also rails against this.
I rail about lobbying interests corrupting our government.

Kennedy is aware that Clinton's lies are damaging our party's credibility. If that leads him to endorse
Obama, that only means he's sensible.

[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[OKNancy]

2. I can see this point of view, but this is historic

and she is his wife. It's never happened before and we know he just can't sit back and do nothing.
He wants to support her just as any spouse does. LOL - but of course he is SuperSpouse.

[yardwork]

6. Hi OKNancy!

SuperSpouse - I love it.

Did anyone ask Poppy Bush not to "campaign aggressively" for his son? This is tabloid crap planted by Republicans.

[cali]

25. bush sr didn't campaign agressively for bushieboy

he stayed largely in the background.

[Auntie Bush]

42. Not that I noticed.

[yardwork]

3. This sounds like a tabloid story. "Anonymous sources." Crap.

I don't believe it. Ted Kennedy calling up Bill Clinton to ask him not to campaign aggressively? Snort.

I don't believe this story.

[dmkinsey]

22. The story says that Bill Clinton called Kennedy

"When the former president called Kennedy, the Massachusetts Democrat gave Clinton an earful,"

[yardwork]

23. I don't believe it. I think it's made up.

[awaysidetraveler]

33. The source is Newsweek. Kennedy apparently gave Bill Clinton an earful.

It's appropriate. He lied about Obama's statements on the Iraq war.

[yardwork]

57. LOL! "The source is Newsweek." Oh, that makes it true fer sure!!!

ROTFL. Newsweek - the unimpeachable source for truth, always.

[book_worm]

4. I wonder if Kennedy will join Kerry in endorsing Obama?

[MannyGoldstein]

8. Of Course He Will

He's a Democrat.

[David Zephyr]

5. Bill Clinton has left a serious wedge within the Democratic Party.

I don't know if the wounds can be healed.

[durrrty libby]

9. Liar. 89% of dems like the guy. The other idiotic 11% losers post here

[yardwork]

11. and their sock puppets post on free republic.

I've never seen crap like this from supposed Democrats in my entire life. People should be ashamed.

[durrrty libby]

20. Classless fools indeed

[yardwork]

7. Did "leading Republicans" tell Poppy Bush not to campaign for his son?

This is crap. I don't believe this story.

[MannyGoldstein]

10. Speaking Of Poppy

[yardwork]

16. God forbid that two former presidents would be polite to one another.

Maybe Bill is keeping an eye on the old coot to prevent him from helping his idiot son start WWIII.

Look, I'm not happy with our capitalist corporatist country either, but I don't stoop to calling Bill Clinton a sociopath because he's campaigning for his wife.

[JI7]

19. they did far more than just be polite to each other

[Yavapai]

26. Don't ask, Don't tell ???

[Kittycat]

13. Whether this occured or not is irrelevant. What is relevant is that I agree that he's out of bounds

as a former president. And I agree with the last sentence shared above. Who's running for president?

[annie1]

14. I agree. I worry about his influence in the WH, b/c he seems like he...

cannot simmer down. i know it's to hil's advantage that she let him go off sometimes, but i wonder if she actually can get out from underneath him. he needs to take a very long vacation. i like bill, but i can't watch anymore.

i know that it's mostly the media's doing, b/c obviously Michelle and Elizabeth are very actively involved, only it's a bigger story when bill does someting, but knowing some of the things that he's done in the past, i still can't get over Dick Morris hiding in the whitehouse, i would just like to seem him take a bit of a hike for now, and let hillary be hillary.

[Captain Hilts]

15. The press has given Obama a free ride...once BO called JE a 'trial lawyer, gloves came off...

on all sides.

[Tulkas]

18. Free Ride?

They helped the Clintons use an essay written in Kindergarten against him!!!!


An Essay Written In KINDERGARTEN!!!!!!!!


I don't know what my own nephews wrote in kindergarten.

I don't know what I wrote in kindergarten!!!

Sen. Obama is the only person in the entire world who I know what he wrote in kindergarten.

Free ride my sweet ass.


Giving Hillary a pass on all here so called "experience" when she was first lady is a free F#@*ing ride. Bill won't release the paperwork from his library that we need to confirm these claims.

This allows her to distance herself from all the bad stuff (like pardons that her own brother was involved with) while taking credit for everything that went well.

[awaysidetraveler]

31. Yeah!!! How does 16 years of Hillary's taking lobbying money=experience and not corruption?

[jackson_dem]

43. Hillary has been taking it for 8 years. Obama took lobbyist money for just as long

[BenDavid]

17. Both guys should listen to what John Lewis said about Obama,

and this is something the mediawhores did not want to show because this man is the most qualified person alive to give an opinion about this dark charge from the Obama camp that Senator Clinton was diminishing the role of Martin Luther King, when she said it took LBJ working with him and the movement to make its ideals into the law of the land.

"It is unfortunate that people have tried to distort what Mrs. Clinton had to say about Dr. King," "I think there has been a deliberate and systematic attempt by some people in the Obama campaign to really fan the flames about race and to really distort what Senator Clinton said. I understood and I think most right thinking people understood what she said.
"President and Senator Clinton have a record, a history, a very long history of bringing people together. No right thinking American would ever think that Senator or President Clinton would ever do anything that would use the race card"
"I must tell you...I'm trying to set the record straight...the Obama camp is doing something else, theyr'e sending out memos to the media trying to suggest that the Clintons are playing the race card."


-Rep. John Lewis on News Hour 1/14
The transcript is not available, I got those quotes off the audio, this is must listening


By the way, the expected and disgusting attacks on Rep. Lewis have already begun, in Sunday's Washington Post, William Jelani Cobblets, a Obama supporter whose greatest contribution to our culture seems to be as the author of a book called, "The Devil and Dave Chappelle", wrote in a Op-Ed that; "John Lewis is of the group that had "parlayed its dated activist credentials into cash and jobs". "To the extent that the term "leader" is applicable...Lewis is essentially representative-for-life of the 5th Congressional District in Georgia" who "opts to support a white machine politician."


Can you imagine that the man who wrote these words is a Asst. Professor of History at Spellman College?

[jaysunb]

21. Yes I can

and he represents the feelings of a large portion of the AA community, including me.

[awaysidetraveler]

34. Why are you voting for Hillary? And why doesn't lobbying money=corruption to you?

[Tarc]

38. Because unlike you, some of us have an adult view of this all

Not all lobbying is evil or corrupt. This dogmatic simplicity that emanates from the Obama camp is frightening.

[OHdem10]

24. Bill helped Hilary win all those Caucus Sites Culinary Union

Tell Senator Kennedy Barak is a big boy. This business of
Barak has to be teated with kid gloves is a turn off.

For months Hilary was told "you cannot attack Obama".

Obamas supporters can go on Television and literally
call the Clintons racists. When is some Senator going
to call them out.

Fairness is all we ask.

[TeamJordan23]

27. Bill is destroying his own legacy once again. nm

[awaysidetraveler]

29. If Kennedy endorses Obama, it's an excellent sign that Obama will win.

Ted Kennedy made some terrible mistakes, but he's been fighting the good fight for a long time.

[stravu9]

30. Kennedy has always been an also ran to me . he

should mind his own business. I got no problem with a man defending his wife.

[Barack_America]

32. His behavior is driving high-profile democratic endorsements to Obama.

If that keeps happening and Obama keeps getting the delegate wins, I say, "Keep it up Bill!".

Not only do those endorsements give the Obama campaign free press and influence...they're superdelegates too!

[MrSlayer]

35. I'm not for Hillary but this is horseshit.

President Clinton is not going to "pipe down" nor should he. I see no reason why he should stay out of it, his wife is running and he's one of the best liked politicians in the country. It would be political idiocy for Senator Clinton not to use him. If she wasn't in the race any candidate would want Bill to speak on their behalf. The Clintons are a team, always have been and expecting him to stay out of the fray is ridiculous.

[sandnsea]

44. Stop the lies and slander

It doesn't say he should stay out of it, more that he should participate in an honorable manner and stop with all these daily smear campaigns and temper tantrums.

[robbedvoter]

47. Who appointed Ted as schoolmarm with the ruler ? Again, hoping it's RW BS

[sandnsea]

48. The Clintons want him silent, believe me

He can deliver Massachusetts and make much of the northeast a real fight. If she loses that, she's in big trouble. WE, the rank and file of the Democratic Party, appointed Ted the King of our party a long time ago. Bill Clinton has been more than an embarrassment. I don't know how any person with a speck of ethics can support them after what they've done in just this campaign alone. It's disgusting.

[robbedvoter]

49. The party has a king? The DEMOCRATIC party that is? Who'd have thunk it!

By the time Massachusets votes, the nomination is all sewn. Sorry I missed the coronation. I don't want to dwell in the ancient history and compare ethics lapses between Ted - - let's just say, a BJ is better in every way than....
As for dirty tricks in this campaign

[sandnsea]

50. Yes Ted Kennedy is KING

And those fliers were made by the precinct captain, not the campaign which has already been posted to YOU so you are now spreading lies and slander.

[robbedvoter]

56. It's good to be the king! And a candidate is responsible for his campaign - or else

you do let Bush off the hook on the Swift Boat liars? :shrug: I didn't think so.

[karynnj]

61. They vote February 5th with many other states

The significance of a Kennedy endorsement goes beyond MA. It seems there may be a realignment going on within the Democratic party. What is interesting is that it appears on lines that differ from the past.

In the last week, Obama has received the endorsementy of the group of red state Democrats (Conrad, Nelson(NE), McCasskil, and the governor of Arizona). He also has some of the solid liberals (Leahy, Durbin and Kerry). Adding Kennedy would be a HUGE thing here, as no one is more an icon on that side.

If you look at how Kerry framed Obama's potential, these endorsements match the idea of an inclusive party. Connecting the red states, who need and receive the most help from the government with the liberals could be a base that supports government doing what is need to make the cahnges needed.

[yardwork]

59. I just don't see TK in that role....

For one thing, the thought of Teddy Kennedy lecturing anyone about morals is beyond ironic. For another thing, it's not his style. Third, Newsweek was no help at all in the run-up to the Iraq invasion and occupation. They're bought and paid for by the corporatists.

[yardwork]

58. Thank you for the words of reason.

[Evergreen Emerald]

36. Obama is NOT OFF LIMITS. He cannot just say anything he wants

and not expect repercussions. BS.

[OzarkDem]

39. Kennedy has no credibility on this issue

He's as guilty as the rest of the Senate Dems who have done nothing to fight for a Dem agenda or do anything to help African Americans.

[karynnj]

62. OMG - Ted Kennedy has fought EVERY battle the left has had for over 40 years

Ted Kennedy has helped the AAs. He was involved in the civil rights legislation in the 60s, as a very junior Senator. He also was key on medicaid and S-Chip, both of which helped AAs. He led the sussessful recent effort to raise minimum wage for the first time in a couple of decades.

Are you seriously suggesting that he did nothing? I won't even try to compare the liberal lion with Edwards because it would be an absolute waste of time - because I doubt there is anyone here who things Edwards comes close.

[dailykoff]

40. GIVE 'EM HELL TEDDY

Sounds like billy phoned up looking for a hilly endorsement and Teddy blew him off. I had a feeling both Kerry and Kennedy would endorse Obama and I'm hoping Kennedy will soon!

[MercerForPrez]

51. Kennedy is holding out

for Lee Mercer, Jr.

[Cha]

41. Oh, keep up your lies

bill..that's all ya know how to do anyway.

[robbedvoter]

45. What a crock of shit! For Ted's sake I hope it's a fabrication, or I'll lose any respect

for him.

[dailykoff]

46. I don't imagine that it will be missed.

nt

[gdaerin]

52. Hahaha, lol! I'd give you a rec. if I could nt

[ShadowLiberal]

53. The fact is Bill's behavior is a real issue, and republicans WILL use it against us if he continues

As much as I can understand him campaigning for his wife (as long as he's not outright lying about his opponents, like I think he's been doing with Obama) Bill's behavior in campaigning for his wife is DEFINITELY going to be a general election issue if Hillary is the nominee.

What if Bill Clinton was standing up in the general election crying conspiracy and the media not being fair to Hillary? The republicans would have a field day with it, firing back claims of just the opposite, that the media is favoring Hillary too much.

They could also turn any of Bill's attacks similar to the ones he's been doing lately as him being difficult for Hillary to control and how he would be causing trouble in the white house if Hillary was elected. Or if he continues to attack the republicans in ways he's attacking Obama they could say something like "Bill has too big of a stake in this election with how he's acting" and create attacks and conspiracy theories about a Hillary presidency really being a shadow Bill Clinton presidency, and then reminding voters of all of the bad things about the Clinton years of white house rule.

[wisteria]

54. if Hillary's campaign can't control Bill, whether Hillary's White House could."

Good point.

[question everything]

55. "Hillary's White House controlling Bill?"

What a horrible remark. Usually we hear it in the opposite side: men are expected to "control" their wives.

I can accept all the criticism of Bill, except the last comment.

[jonnywishbone07]

60. Kennedy and Emmanuel can STFU

until someone censors the fat tv pig Oprah Bill can talk all he wants.