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

[Gmoney1]

Bill Clinton knew exactly what he was saying and why - here again, some voters are not stupid - he said this, as he did when he and Hillary threw that silliness out there about Hillary putting Obama on her ticket, in order to again support from voters who are easily fooled with nonsense - do they both have post traumatic stress syndrome from Monicagate and Ken Starr - does she want to be president to get back at him for all of his extra marital affairs - does he want to get back at the republicans for outting him on his extra marital affairs - is improving our country the goal or is revenge Hillary and Bill's goal -

[jakie]

BILLARYS YOU NEED TO SHUT YOUR MOUTH AND GO HOME. WE ARE TIRED OF YOU SINKING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. SO GO HOME

[shano]

Was this before or after Richardson gave his speech in favor of Obama?

It all is sounding like sour grapes and Richardson was spot on, the Dems must stop fighting each other and go after McCain. Bill does not seem to understand that this hurts him more than Hillarys opponent.

[Meggie]

Take a look at that picture! I'd cross the street to get away from this pasty old sex addict!

[beebop]

OK: Hands up where we can do a real count -- you know, what isn't happening for Michigan and Florida voters who will count in the general election -- how many of you know who the heck Joe McCarthy is? LMFAO .... If Camp Obama could focus on the economy, jobs, foreclosure, education, healthcare and quit talking about social issues, he wouldn't have to worry about what anyone is saying about him ... hissy fits about a passport breach that he tried to tie to the Clintons which were in fact tied to his own advisors diminishes his credibility by the hour. Crying wolf wolf wolf only works with Blitzer.

[LaFeminazi]

Well they compared Obama to JFK.

Now there is a slight problem with this comparison.

JFK was a long term friend of McCarthy, and I mean friend and not one of those terrorised by Joe.

So please stop with the comparisons with another time and social attitude, we are in 2008 and not 1958. Thanx.

For gawds sake catch up.

[eazyguy]

Let's see, was it Bill Clinton who said that he has never been proud of his country? Nope. Was it Bill Clinton who followed a preacher around that wanted to damn America? Nope. Was it Bill Clinton who put a surrogate known as Donnie McClurkin to preach anti-gay rhetoric at one of his fund raisers? Nope. Was it Bill Clinton who had progressive blogs he was coordinating with say the reason Obama lost New Hampshire was because of racism? Nope. Was it Bill Clinton talking about typical whitey? Nope.

So who is really more like McCarthy?

[Mcbombisanutjob]

you know, its hard to take seriously a criticism about patriotism from a disbarred, impeached, draft dodger.

[AbbieXHoffman]

I am SOOOO Sick of the Media Bias against the Clintons for being politicians. Get OVER IT--They are all politicians including Obama. Frankly, I am thrilled the Clintons are in it to win. When Obama fever dies down you'll be glad they're still around.

[Fair]

Thank you to The Huff Po for exposing the Clinton's on going lies and garbage, Thank God for Arianna for providing us the links to the truth.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/03/from-the-fact-c.html

[justShareandbeNice]

He not only implied that Obama doesn't love this country, he also implied Obama doesn't have our countries best interest at heart. Wow.

I personally think his "all the other stuff" means: "if we could just stick to having the race between Hillary and McCain it would be so much easier... none of the real issues would have to be focused on, since they both agree with each other so much...we could just focus on expanding the war and making more money... Obama is interupting our plans... Hillary should have won the nomination by now... this is such a headache!"

[IntelligentDesign]

The Clintons need to denounce and reject themselves - they are playing with the psyche of a nation so wearied and traumatized by the Bush administration that just making it to the finish line will be a victory in and of itself, never mind the shock we face at having to survey the damage and the muster we'll need to garner to begin the long and difficult job of recovery - let's dispense with a few disturbing notions right here and now: this is not about an individuals right to ascend to the presidency, this not a game show where only winning matters - this is about the very survival of a nation, our nation, we the people - if the Clintons are willing to play straight up and drop all GOP-like tactics, then by all means stay and compete, if not then get out.

[njm50]

I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO READ THE ARTICLE ABOUT AMBASSADOR PECK. AND UNDERSTAND THE REAL REASONS BEHIND WRIGHT'S SPEECH. FOX AND CNN ARE NOT GOING TO MENTION THIS. AND PAT BUCHANAN WOULD NEVER ADMIT THIS. ITS NOT ABOUT VOTING FOR OBAMA ITS ABOUT UNDERSTANDING HOW THE MEDIA ONLY GIVES US HALF OF THE STORY. PLEASE AMERICA READ ABOUT PECK AND THEN LISTEN TO WRIGHT'S SPEECH AGAIN.

[Nostraboris]

I am a rabid Obama man..Clinton nauseates me across the board, from her false concern for disenfranchised voters, the whyning about media bias to the overstated experience.

But his seems far fetched to me, I think that Bubba was trying to say:"can't we just talk issues?", if he meant in the primary or national I don't know.

this campaign is getting very annoying

[LBM]

So it's ok for the Obama campaign to go cheap and negative against one of the most successful democratic presidents of our generation, but somehow the Clintons are the ones who are attacked as the negative campaigners? Attack a man who you've said is not allowed to defend himself or his wife. Sure, that is a fair fight. The idea that Clinton's name should be put in the same sentence as McCarthy is absurd. Let's get back to some issues and leave this nonsense behind.