Clinton praises Kerry while professing neutrality on contest

[joeunderdog]

WASHINGTON -- Bill Clinton said yesterday he did not think Senator John F. Kerry was too far to the left politically to get elected to the White House, but stopped short of endorsing him for the Democratic presidential nomination.

snip

The former president, speaking to reporters after meeting Democratic senators on Capitol Hill, praised Kerry's record on national security, social, and fiscal issues in the Senate, while insisting he was not taking sides in the Democratic contest.

snip

"All I know is when I was trying to reverse 12 years of what we've had for the last four, where we were taxing less and spending more . . . and we were running this huge deficit, he was there to help," Clinton said of Kerry.

"I think he was good on security, good on fiscal responsibility, good on welfare," Clinton added.

more...
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/articles/2004/01/30/clinton_praises_kerry_while_professing_neutrality_on_contest/

[xultar]

1. That is Praise? n/t

[Gman]

2. So much for the "Clark is the DLC candidate argument"

here at DU.

[xultar]

3. Puhleezzzzzzzzzzzzz, I'm sure now they will say that Clark

put Clinton up to it. IT is a DCL conspiracy blah blah blah,
DLC world domination blah blah blah, DLC is the Reghulgian left wing, blah blah blah,

[jobycom]

5. LOL! It's still "Frontrunner X is the DLC candidate."

That will be Kerry now. If Dean regains the lead, it will be Dean, who will have "sold out." If you ask some people their favorite band of all times, they will be heartbroken and change their answer immediately if you've ever heard of their first choice, who will also have "sold out" by virtue of being known outside of their own garage.

[Terwilliger]

9. No, this is a re-invigoration of that conclusion

READ IT!

Clinton said that Kerry wasn't too far left but didn't endorse him.

Clark is still his boy.

[surfermaw]

4. Article fails to mention that Clinton also said he like Edwards

At the very last he said he liked Edward for his campaign style and fire in his bellie, although that wasn't quiet his words, but the meaning of his words.

[jobycom]

6. That's more a defense than praise

He's right, Kerry stuck with Clinton in the early stages when "Democrats" like Sam Nunn and Bill Bradley were turning on him. I love the way Clinton ties the Reagan Error to what's happening now, thus tying Kerry to the Clinton Legacy.

But Clinton's praise here was no stronger than it is for most of the candidates, including Edwards and Clark. He's just analyzing, and probably defending Kerry against various attacks he's heard. It will still help Kerry, but it isn't an endorsement.

[JI7]

7. Clinton rules

clinton and kerry both do.

[Terwilliger]

8. thats not praise

that's saying "He's not DLC enough, but he's not fringe"

[patricia92243]

10. If that's not an endorsement, I'll eat this computer. If it is not

and endorsement, then he needs to give "praise" like that to each candidate in order to be fair.

[Whoa_Nelly]

11. IMO it seems important

for Clinton to at least to make a statement supporting the currently most possible Dem candidate for 2004 to get at the main thrust that the current administration must go.

Go Dems 2004!
Anyone, but Bush!
No More Republican Small Government!
:kick:

[Terwilliger]

12. good on welfare?

Kerry voted for welfare reform?

[Catherine Vincent]

13. Clinton supports all the Dems that are running even though

he may favor Clark more but that doesn't mean he can't support the others.

[delete_bush]

14. I saw this on TV

This was not a speech or question and answer session. Clinton was walking in a group which included a reporter who asked whether Kerry was "a little too liberal" to win the general election in November should he be the Democratic nominee.

Clinton merely answered the question in a diplomatic fashion.