Another Bill Clinton Moment On The Campaign Trail

***UPDATE***

Tony McPeak, a retired Air Force general and current co-chair of Obama's presidential campaign, compared former President Bill Clinton to Joseph McCarthy Friday in response to comments Clinton made earlier in the day that appeared to question Obama's patriotism.

"It sounds more like McCarthy," McPeak said. "I grew up, I was going to college when Joe McCarthy was accusing good Americans of being traitors, so I've had enough of it."

Read more about McPeak's response from the AP

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Adding a bit of fuel to the political fire, Bill Clinton made a bizarre comment on Friday, leaving the impression that he believed Barack Obama's patriotism would be a general election issue.

MSNBC is reporting that on the campaign trail today in Charlotte, North Carolina, the former president said a general election matchup between his wife, Sen. Clinton, and Sen. John McCain would be between "two people who love this country" without "all this other stuff that always seems to intrude itself on our politics."

It's difficult to determine exactly what Clinton meant by this. Howard Wolfson, a spokesman for the Clinton campaign, said the former president was not implying that Obama didn't love America. As for "this other stuff," that Clinton referred to? He was talking about "the politics of personal destruction," said Wolfson. "He was lamenting that these kind of distractions 'always seems to intrude' on our politics."

Not everyone had the same interpretation. MSNBC, for example, was quick to suggest that the former president was implying there were doubts about Obama's patriotism, and that those doubts would play a role in the general election. Which seems, on its face, hardly a stretch.

However, President Clinton also seems to be suggesting that his wife would be immune to swift-boat like attacks; a supposition that does not seem terribly likely.

Recently on the campaign, the former president has made remarks that have been a bit unpredictable. Days ago, he complimented McCain as bipartisan, a war hero, and a tough general election foe. No "but"s included. Days before that, he was touting a Sen. Hillary Clinton-Obama pairing as an electoral "dream ticket," even though his wife's own campaign was making the case that Obama was not ready to serve as commander-in-chief.

Watch:

Here is the full quote: "I think it would be a great thing if we had an election between two people who loved this country and were devoted to the interests of the country and people could actually ask themselves who is right on the issues, instead of all this other stuff that always seems to intrude itself on our politics."

Comments

[jrterrier]

Did any of you comparing Bill Clinton to McCarthy even listen or read Bill Clinton's speech that day? Talk about taking things out of context.

If this is the change and unity that Obama promises, spare me. I'll vote republican for the first time more than 30 years.

[ajax2]

Loyalty tests on the road to Fascism.

[WakeUpBill]

When Hillary wins, All we'll hear about is who Bill has been "Spitzering" the last 8 years.

[pbr90]

Poor guy; it must be awfully difficult for him to have his wife running for his old job.

But, the only fun in the whole campaign is waking up to see what kind of foot in mouth disease he happens to have that day which all the pundits, and political strategists are discussing.

Without these delights, the campaign would be pretty boring, and unduly stressful for after all, what sane party puts a black man against a white woman with the history of the American South where blacks were routinely lynched for insulting white women? The designer of this campaign must be a sadistic comic to come up with this pairing., or really wanted to start the civil war over again.

[mediahack]

Right on! And there's more! Bill Clinton is back at it again .. Today ,on Easter Sunday, Clinton said he loves his wife and daughter. And get this .. He makes no reference to Barrack.
What a sleaze bag. He's obviously is suggesting that Obama is not to be loved on a such a Christian religious day as Easter.
Why can't they just keep that guy off the campaign trail .. He's an embarassment to the country.

[NewsMorpheus]

How many of you have agreed with everything your spiritual leader has ever uttered? If not, did you tell him (most likely a him, right?!) that you disagreed with the sermon or speech or utterance? If you are the exception and did at every negative utterance, please pat yourself on the back, you have transcended the homo sapiens around you!

If you did not "talk back to your Reverend/imam/rabbi/archbishop/or...", maybe you should take a nap and wake up refreshed and informed that human are after all very endeared to their spirtual leaders!

By the way, if you have not taken it upon yourself to watch the enitre Rev. Wright sermons on YouTube, you are looking to just be mad! Plain and SImple!

[realwoman]

My pastor has never damned my country, my pastor has never imitated oral sex on the pulpit while discussing Bill Clinton, my pastor has never accused America of trying to kill off a race of people.
And, if he had, I would have gotten up and left and never came back. How about you?

[Whinger]

The truth is, both he and his wife are elephants with donkey's ears.
His words are yet another endorsment of republican John McCain.
How any true democrat can condone his divisive words and tactics is beyond understanding.

[BluMoonRising]

Maybe he simply meant that no matter who the two people left running in the end, they could just keep with the issues and not the muck. This last few weeks has been all about the muck....and not about the issues for everybody. When he said two people......in the General Election that is all there is. Two people.

Our country is in a big fat mess. We have just spent the last 8 years with a president that you can't disagree with because he is Bully. This next presidency is so important. If this is what is going to look like for the next 4 years NO THANK YOU OBAMA. If you can't disagree with a man without riots in the streets and being called a racist we don't need him. It's sad too because he is a good man. We have a lot of damage control to do from The Bully leaving and no time to waste with the sideshow. I am not saying race relations is in any way not important, but I think our kids that are in Iraq deserve first attention, our infrastructure, etc...This other stuff....since it has bubbled up, has exhausted everyone...distracted everyone, angered everyone, divided everyone, and has proven exactly what the next 4 years will look like.

[SirHenryClinton]

First, let me say that we did not lose the war of 1775. Those unpatriotic colonists cheated by using "truth" and "facts" to bamboozle the rabble thus denying the aristocracy our birthright to rule. They have no respect for HRM Hillary. They appear to be at it again. As my distant cousin William has pointed out, this Obama chap has no love his country. I know this to be true as William has never lied about anything, ever!

Sincerely, Sir Henry Clinton, expired.

[obamavet]

Patriotism is more than a lapel pin or waving the flag. It’s more than a platitude or proclamation. Patriotism is a word to describe the idea but is not the idea. To say Barak Obama is not a patriot when he is a fellow American serving his country in the halls of congress as a senator is in fact an unpatriotic attitude. Obama is demonstrating the idea and not just talking about it. Taking his wife’s comments completely out of context is not patriotic but rather an act of personal attack that is unjustified.

Michelle Obama said while talking about the political aspects of America, “For the first time in my adult life, I’m proud of my country”. That statement does not imply a lack of patriotism but rather a reaffirmation of patriotism.

Much has been made of Rev. Wright’s comments and his church. Reverend Wright’s church did not in fact bestow an award upon Louis Farrakhan but rather a magazine that is a separate entity from the church bestowed the award. Patriotism involves the responsibility to protect the right of any citizen to express a dissenting opinion. Reverend Wright’s sermons may be distasteful and he may struggle with the facts or take things out of context, but they are guaranteed as his right under the constitution. Freedom of expression and freedom of religion are bedrock of our nation’s strength. His sermons may seem to reflect dissent but was not this country founded on dissent? It could be argued that Reverend Write is living the idea of patriotism by publically and forcefully exercising his rights for the intended good of his community.

Does it really matter what Obama knew or didn’t know in regards to Reverend Wright’s sermons? Has Obama’s professional accomplishments reflected any of the negative views of Reverend Wright? Has Obama introduced any bills in the State Senate or the US Senate that could be construed as unpatriotic or racist or hateful? Has he ever spoken words that reflected the values of Reverend Wright that might be considered in poor taste or unpatriotic? The answer my friend is simply “no”.

As to Obama’s awkward explanation of his grandmother’s struggle with racism, he inadvertently spoke a truth that every white American knows. We are all typically white in our racial insecurities. Think about how you make sure the locks on your car doors are locked when driving in a black community. Think about how you might avoid social or political events in black communities. Just look at your blind of acceptance of poverty and drugs in the black community because you think it normal somehow. Think of all of the stereotypes you blindly accept about black Americans. Yes, friends we are from the perspective of a black American, typical white Americans.

I have remained an American despite knowing my country’s sordid history of enslavement of blacks, genocide against the Native American peoples, suppression of women’s rights, internment of Japanese Americans, enforcement of Jim Crow, and now suppression of our civil rights through Presidential decree. Does my 57 year association signify a total acceptance of all that is wrong with this country and history? Am I less of a patriot? Hell no! I remained with my country because of its being “an imperfect union” and Obama has remained with his church in the same way. Although Reverend Wright, like George Bush, does not serve as the best leader, Obama chose to remain with the church which is a key to empowering the community with hope, love and salvation. No more a crime than remaining an American even though Bush has made that an embarrassment in the eyes of the world.

If you should doubt my credentials for critiquing your comments regarding patriotism, I should inform you that I served my country in uniform for twenty years. I am an old “typical white person” who has bothered to understand my fears and prejudice. As for you, what have you done for you country in your lifetime or lately?

[sandiaview]

If you would have asked me 15,10,8,6,5,3 or 2 years ago if Bill Clinton was petty, slick, untrustworthy, slimmy and downright dishonest you would have earned my disgust. Now Bill and Hillary, to me, are just who the Republicans have painted them as all these many years.. power hungry narcisists. It's sort of funny because the Republicans didn't have a thing to do with their downfall in my eyes. Thanks guys, I'll never have blind loyalty again. And, thats a good thing.

[KARE]

There was nothing negative about this comment , he was talking about McCain and Clinton. Does Obama have to come into every comment?? There is no story here, just a slow news day and tons of people on this post chomping for another hateful moment. Read on, you'll see

[PortiaElizabeth]

Let me see if I understand this: Bill Clinton is Joe McCarthy because he DID NOT mention Barack Obama?
Obama would do well to remember that this kind of whining only reminds everyone of why it's an issue in the first place. Wright?

[DazedandConfussedbyUS]

Jesus Hussein Christ people. This is now beyond ridiculous. Obama is scum! Clinton is a shrew! One or the other of them is destroying the party! I love the passion but get over yourselves. This is a primary and neither is willing to concede to the other no matter what gets said on the blogs of the world. From my perspective both candidates carry deep personal and political flaws. Both are corporatists, both are tied to the DLC and no matter what they say – change is not just around the corner. And yet, both would be better than “my friend” John McSame.

The sharp elbows being thrown here are on their way to becoming knives in the back. All of you who so self righteously proclaim that they will never vote for one or the other of these candidates because of what their surrogate/supporters say are inviting the continued occupation of Iraq, privatization of social security, more tax breaks for the 1%, jobs outsourcing, corporate greed, health care as we know it, a collapsing economy, massive debt, warrantless wiretaps, the end of choice, no child’s behind left and the cherry on top – war with Iran.. But hey, you get to cast a grudge vote. What could be better than that?

Me, I’m voting democrat even if I have to put a bag over my head to do it.

[kozmik]

Wow. The Clintons are sounding more like Dixiecrats than a Democrats.

How do they imagine we'll continue leading the world in science and technology and high quality of life when they pander to that sort of lowbrow mentality? Do Clinton supporters really imagine they'll restore American jobs like auto manufacturing with that sort of red-neck mentality? Lowbrow Nationalism is anathema to a 21st century economy.

America's openness has always attracted the best scientists and engineers from around the world. We won WWII in part becasue the best minds left nationalistic countries to come to liberal USA for freedom of thought and speech, a better place to work and raise their children. To this day our top universities and labs draw the best minds from around the world, who create the technologies that make the industries that create the jobs. Without those people designing the technologies: no R&D, no intellectual property, no factories, no labor, no services, no middle class.

[klondiker]

Considering that Bill Clinton himself was the target of a right-wing witch hunt, it is rather ironic that someone would compare him to Joe McCarthy.

Look at the quote again. He never said that Obama doesn't love his country. You can't excoriate someone based on what your interpretation of the quote is. And, by the way, how about a little outrage over Claire McCaskill's comments?? Or do all of Obama's supporters automatically get free passes?