Former Clinton Official: Bill is Wrong about Barack

[ariesgem]

Robert Reich's Blog

Robert Reich is the nation's 22nd Secretary of Labor and a professor at the University of California at Berkeley. This is his personal journal.


Bill Clinton and Barack Obama

Bill Clinton was 46 when he was elected president in 1992 – the same age as Barack Obama is now. But Clinton has questioned Barack Obama’s readiness to become president – arguing that by the time he himself ran in 1992 he had far more experience than Obama. He also states that when he decided not to run in 1988 (when he was “closer to Senator Obama” in experience) he didn’t think he “knew enough and had served enough and done enough to run” at that point in his own career. While I can understand Bill Clinton’s eagerness to undermine his wife’s most significant primary opponent, he is not, I believe, completely ingenuous. I happened to talk with him in 1988 before he decided not to run, and also in 1991 before he decided to run the following year. His calculation at both times was decidedly rational and entirely political, based on whether he could win.

But more to the point, it strikes me as unfair to claim that Obama lacks relevant experience for the presidency. When he ran in 1992, Bill Clinton had been the governor of a small, rural southern state; as such, he had only limited experience with national issues and no foreign policy experience to speak of. Incidentally, at this point in the 2008 presidential election, Hillary Clinton has served as an elected official in the U.S. Senate for not quite eight years, and before that a First Lady in the White House. Obama has so far held elective office for almost twelve years, at both levels of government – first as an Illinois state senator and then as a U.S. Senator. Before that he was a community organizer among Chicago’s poor, and then a civil rights lawyer – two experiences that in my view are critically relevant to anyone seeking to become president of all Americans. Obama’s international experience comes first hand – his father was a goat-herder in Kenya, and Obama spent a portion of his childhood in Indonesia. And as an African-American, with all the personal experience that implies, Obama seems particularly well qualified to understand the issues that need to be addressed in order to unify America and renew the nation’s moral authority around the world.

http://robertreich.blogspot.com/2007/09/qualifications-setting-record-straight.html

[Ethelk2044]

1. It is about time someone gets it. Clinton is trying to help Hillary. Obama has more experience

At least someone is willing to tell the truth.

[blm]

2. Everyone knows Bill wouldn't run because he didn't think he could win in 88.

Just as Clintons saw 2004 as impossible for a Dem and targeted 2008 - then did everything they could to stay publicly supportive of Bush on the biggest issues of the day, terrorism and Iraq war, throughout that entire election cycle.

Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton is the outcome of the corporate media setting this nation up to view governance from the two parties as sport and turned citizen participation into only rooting for one of two teams - Bush or Clinton.

[MADem]

3. I love RR, but come ON.

Clinton isn't "wrong about Obama"--he's just supporting his preferred candidate, who happens to be his wife. It's not "unfair," it's politics. That's the way it goes.

If RR had been a bit better at that "politics" thing, he might have won the governorship of MA, and we wouldn't have had to suffer that asswipe Mitt the Shitt.

He had a great message, he just didn't have that killer instinct. And maybe that's a good thing, in the big scheme.

I still tip my hat to the guy--he's the one who gave us the Family and Medical Leave Act when he was Labor under WJC.

[w13rd0]

5. Historically..

...it's fairly unprecedented. Does anyone recall if GHWB did a lot of campaigning for GWB? Bill campaigning for Hillary is a bit unusual, not in the sense that it's unexpected, but here we have a 2 term president who left office pretty damn popular, and became more so under the disaster that has been Bush, campaigning for his wife, who also happens to be the "annointed" candidate of the Democratic establishment and the DLC...

[MADem]

7. GHWB did a shitload of fundraising for Sonny. They used Ma's Xmas card list.

Look at who ran Monkey's campaign--Cheney. 41's SECDEF.

I just can't imagine why RR would EXPECT Bill Clinton to be "fair" when it comes to family.

It's just silliness, really.

And I like RR, and worked for him in the primary.

[Colobo]

4. Good stuff, thanks.

[goclark]

8. I found this exciting !

GOBAMA has enough experience to be President!

Let's repeat,Obama has enough experience to be President!

I love the article! :bounce:

[durrrty libby]

6. Shocking News Flash Bill thinks Hillary would be a better president than Obama.

[Ethelk2044]

18. No Shock he would get his ASS kicked if he didn't

[jenmito]

9. I think the only reason Bill is even mentioning Obama is so Obama will go against HIM...

a much more popular figure than his wife. Obama should say he'll let Michelle deal with Bill-spouse to spouse. The Clintons are using a smart strategy but I think it's going to backfire with articles like RR's.

[Silence Dogood]

23. Michelle said, if Obama doesn't win Iowa, it's over-

I don't think Obama can win Iowa. Will he really give up? Or will he go on?

[jenmito]

26. He'll definitely go on. That was just to show a sense of urgency.

n/t

[FlaxieB]

10. Former staffers don't lie As I said before. Old dirty politics.

Hillary Clinton: 3d tier candidate. Bill is well aware of Obama's presence and he know that his connection amd message of change with the american people is growing everyday. Steady as she goes Obama! He is really worried about Obama because he knows that Obama has the ability to lead this country and initiate change more so than his wife. He sees Obama as a reflection of himself, a strong connection, a motivator and influence with the american people. But I'll give him credit, he's doing the best that he can in his efforts to make a stud out a donkey. It's admirable. Bill wishes that Hillary had the "it" factor. He knows that Obama has.:thumbsup:

[Silence Dogood]

25. One of the Mayor's staffers, whom he fired-

called his wife and told her she was having an affair with him. They eventually got a divorce. After the divorce and a ruined political career, the staffer admitted she lied.

[flpoljunkie]

11. Thank you, Robert Reich for calling out the Big Dog on his disingenuousness on Obama's experience!

[laugle]

12. The big difference is, when Bill Clinton ran, we were not

at war!! If we had been, I don't think Clinton would have won back then. We would be looking for someone more seasoned and with much more foreign policy experience.

Times are very different now.....unfortunately, the stakes are much higher, and another rethug is UNTHINKABLE!!!!!!!

[Nedsdag]

14. Excuse me?

What's Hillary's foreign policy experience?

::crickets::

That's right! She doesn't HAVE any!

[laugle]

15. She's brilliant and she will win!

Besides...she has the best foreign policy advisor, who's diplomacy skills are unmatched--her husband!

In addition....a lifetime involved in politics, 7 years state senator, 8 years first lady,i.e., familiar with heads of state....but I assume you know all of this.

Hill and Bill, the "DYNAMIC DUO" because we need 2 president's to clean-up the Bush mess!!!!!!!!!!

The bottom line is--you should vote for the person whom you have the most confidence in, that can do the job--for me that's Hillary.

[Ethelk2044]

16. Yes, she was good as First Lady not President

[durrrty libby]

19. You are correct . She is brilliant. I can't wait."Clean-up aisle everywhere"

[laugle]

20. Hi libby....things are going to get much better, I have to believe that!!

Enjoy reading your posts....best to you and yours.

[durrrty libby]

21. ..

:toast:

[illinoisprogressive]

13. I'd like to email this to every msm site around. Obama is prefectly capable of being president.

[saltpoint]

17. Very persuasive passage by Reich.

I agree.

[zulchzulu]

22. THANK YOU! Robert Reich is such a cool person

I met him in 2004 and he's such an intelligent, self-deprecating person. He is someone everyone should admire. And of course, he is absolutely correct about Slick trying to diss Obama.

K&R!

[illinoisprogressive]

24. I went to his website and thanked him for his honesty