Reich takes aim at Bill Clinton

[babylonsister]

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/01/24/reich-takes-aim-at-bill-clinton/#more-4713

Reich takes aim at Bill Clinton
Posted: 03:00 PM ET


(CNN) — Bill Clinton’s former Labor Secretary – who had harsh words for presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton last month – is now criticizing his former boss for recent rhetoric on the trail, saying that the former president’s attacks on Barack Obama are “patently untrue,” and that he is injecting race into the campaign.

The comments came as the Obama campaign directed a new wave of attacks at former President Clinton Thursday.

“I write this more out of sadness than anger,” said Robert Reich in a Thursday post on his blog. “Bill Clinton’s ill-tempered and ill-founded attacks on Barack Obama are doing no credit to the former president, his legacy, or his wife’s campaign. Nor are they helping the Democratic Party.

“While it may be that all is fair in love, war, and politics, it’s not fair – indeed, it’s demeaning – for a former president to say things that are patently untrue… or to insinuate that Obama is injecting race into the race when the former president is himself doing it,” he added. “Now, sadly, we’re witnessing a smear campaign against Obama that employs some of the worst aspects of the old politics.”

Clinton campaign spokesman Phil Singer responded: “Robert Reich has a long history of false and negative attacks on Bill and Hillary Clinton. This is nothing new.”

Reich, who has not endorsed a candidate but has written admiringly about Obama in recent months, ripped Hillary Clinton in another blog post last month for "not telling the truth" on Social Security and taking marching orders from her top pollster.

The Obama campaign also took direct aim at the former president Thursday, sending the Reich blog item to reporters and arranging a conference call with Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill and Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano in which the senator said former President Clinton has “shaded things and has tried to manipulate the facts in a way that is patently unfair, I think that is, frankly, flat wrong and I think it’s demeaning.”

They also sent supporters a fundraising e-mail from Michelle Obama, the Illinois’ senator’s wife, in which she focused on the president’s recent attacks on her husband, saying "Barack Obama isn't relying on a former President of the United States to campaign for him."

[SaveElmer]

1. After getting punked by Krugman...Bobby comes back for more...

eom

[hfojvt]

10. When was he punked by Krugman?

I vaguely remember reading something long ago where Reich and Kuttner sorta tore Krugman apart, but I might be misremembering that. It was probably five years ago.

[avaistheone1]

2. The problem with Reich is he embraces free trade like Obama and the Clintons do

[sandnsea]

5. Reich is a champion of labor

One of the best there is. We are always going to trade with foreign countries, that will never stop. Reich was one of the first to see the backlash against globalization and advocate stronger labor protections.

http://www.ontheissues.org/Governor/Robert_Reich_Free_Trade.htm

http://robertreich.blogspot.com/2007/02/labor-standard-for-future-trade-deals.html

[Unsane]

3. ohh fuuuuck, Clinton's SC operation is crumbling

[AtomicKitten]

4. At some point, probably too late, the Clintons will realize they went too far.

The clue for them should be all the Democrats coming out condemning their trash & burn strategy.

[BootinUp]

6. That will be after Obama learns that lesson. nt

[AtomicKitten]

7. that deflection is seriously lame but I suspect you already know that (nt)

[goodhue]

8. Reich speaks the truth

as usual

[hfojvt]

9. I like and respect Reich

In fact it was his book "Locked in the cabinet" which gave me the modicum of respect that I have for the Clinton administration.

Still, I am looking for the source of Bill making race an issue and not finding it yet. The Seattle Times accuses him of doing it in this article, but they don't back up their assertion with examples

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2004141629_apclintonrace23.html

I don't see anything wrong with this:

"But it was Clinton himself who dished on the topic when he told an audience in Charleston that he was proud of the Democratic Party for having a woman and a black candidate. In response to a question from a crowd member who asked about "race-baiting" by the media, Clinton said he understands why Obama is drawing support among blacks, who are expected to comprise at least half the primary turnout.

"As far as I can tell, neither Senator Obama nor Hillary have lost votes because of their race or gender. They are getting votes, to be sure, because of their race or gender _ that's why people tell me Hillary doesn't have a chance of winning here," the former president said. "But that's understandable because people are proud when someone who they identify with emerges for the first time.""

[rox63]

11. Reich is one of the good guys

I'm glad he recognizes character assassination when he sees it.