"He Doesn't Like Obama"

The New Yorker:

The New Yorker profiles the role of Bill Clinton and his rivalry with Barack Obama:

When Hillary Clinton's Presidential campaign was launched, in January, 2007, her supporters feared that Bill would overshadow her, as he had when they both spoke at the funeral of Coretta Scott King, a year earlier. Now the constant fear is that he will embarrass her. When he makes news, it is rarely a good day for his spouse. Whether he was publicly comparing Barack Obama's primary victory in South Carolina to Jesse Jackson's campaigns in the eighties or privately, and apoplectically, complaining that Bill Richardson broke his word by endorsing Obama, every story has seemed to reinforce an image of Clinton as a sort of ill-tempered coot driven a little mad by Obama's success. "I think this campaign has enraged him," the adviser told me. "He doesn't like Obama." In private conversations, he has been dismissive of his wife's rival. James Clyburn, an African-American congressman from South Carolina, told me that Clinton called him in the middle of the night after Obama won that state's primary and raged at him for fifty minutes. "It's pretty widespread now that African-Americans have lost a whole lot of respect for Bill Clinton," Clyburn said.

Read the whole article.

Read the whole story: The New Yorker

Comments

[missjabez]

Bill Clinton is always angry these days. What happened to the fun-loving good ole boy? He's become a pissed off bad ole boy.

[Independent voter]

What happened is that somebody named Obama stole his future in the White House.

With hillary being roadkill, dollar bill has a whole lot less influence to try and peddle.


I can't wait until these miserable clintons disappear into the sunset - or wherever

[RThM]

Correction: Hundred-Dollar Bill. Did you miss the tax returns?

[OliviaRee]

"I can't wait until these miserable clintons disappear into the sunset - or wherever"

It can't come soon enough. I hope they move to Dubai after Hillary's senate term is up. The Clinton's seem to have many 'friends' over there. Good riddance.

[SamThornton]

Ex-President Clinton's perceived personality changes may be in the eyes of the beholders, or it may be a side effect of his 2006 quadruple heart bypass surgery, as many have speculated. Bypass recipients are often noticed to undergo striking personality changes, usually for the worse. Google "bypass surgery personality change" for links to information about this phenomenon. http://tinyurl.com/5jgnygg)

[Syco]

Hillary won't let him buy hookers until the race is over

[BillyT]

SOLAR REFLECTORS??....tin foil on your head looks great, Bill....

[BigSid]

SO BILL CLINTON DOESN'T LIKE OBAMA...BFD!

Why should he like Obama? Just as many accuse Clinton of dissing Obama, there is plenty of negativity coming from Obama aimed squarely at President Clinton.

[messstower]

REALLY LIKE WHAT?

[Azjhutch]

Like Obama supporters accusing Bill of being a racist when all he is doing is trying to get his wife elected. Or don't you listen to criticism of Obambi?

[EvoMan]

Specifics please.

[RThM]

We're waiting....

[BigSid]

"I think that Ronald Reagan changed the trajectory of America in a way that Richard Nixon did not, and in a way that Bill Clinton did not." -- Barrack Obama, Januray 14th, 2008

Obama not only put Bill Clinton in the same camp as Nixon, but also put Reagan above Clinton. The knee jerk reaction of many Obama supporters is going to be "well, Obama is right". Not only do I not agree with the comment, but I also think it was a pretty low blow to comment on Bill Clinton in that way.

Kinda rude for a Democratic candidate to categorize the last two-term Democratic President and the current head of the party for all intents and purposes, in such a negative manner.

I notice how he took no shot at Jimmy Carter, as Carter is a supporter of his. I also see how he took no shot at George W. Bush as he probably didn't wanna be fighting on two fronts at that point in the race (remember this is the point in the race when he thought he was still going to win over some Republicans -- Rev. Wright took care of that for Obama).

Dismiss it if you want, but that's only one example of many -- too many to list here.

[missjabez]

Bill has a right not to like Obama. But keep in mind, Billy-boy, there are plenty who don't like you either.

[bodhiman]

Bill, go away. Please.

[THEDEVILCOMES]

I guess Bill Clinton not the Black President anymore.

[realitycheck2008]

I makes me laugh to see Democrats who probably supported and undoubtedly flourished during the Clinton years suddenly turn on him. Do you Obamatrons not understand that the you are the ones guilty of hate mongering in this election. You have turned your support for Obama into hatred for the Clintons and those who support Hillary's candidacy. Take a long hard look in the mirror. We have seen the enemy and he is YOU!

[BigTuna]

Pot?
Kettle?

Black.

[Syco]

Don't do that he will scram reserves racism

WHICH DOESN'T EXIST

[abby4ever]

I am so weary of hearing about 'hate for the Clintons'. Any criticism of them is translated by people like you, into hate, and that is sad. It's also very convenient, and quite like Hillary: anyone who doesn't vote for her, is a misogynist or a sexist or both. It's easy to talk about hate, then you can play victim---which is right in line with what Hillary does.

[S1m0n]

Attempting to hang on past their welcome happens to very successful politicians just as much as it happens to aging star athletes. Some know when to hang 'em up, some don't.

When either a politician or athlete doesn't know when to quit, it gets ugly for a bit. Later, they might be hailed as one of the greats and voted into the hall of fame, but at the time if they fail to get the hint, the team's fans and management will be turn on them in a most embarrassing fashion.

[jrterrier]

have you counted the millions of people who have voted for Hillary Clinton -- with or without including FL and Michigan.

the difference between the two is several thousand people. and we are still voting. so, please at least be real.

[Azjhutch]

Have you noticed all the former Republicans, like Ariana and Andrew Sullivan, hate the Clintons? It's left over from when they were Republicans. They sound like Karl Rove when they light into Hillary and Bill, don't they?

[Syco]

So you say Obamatrons as you put it spread hate while calling them a term meant to insult

[messstower]

Remember Lee Iacocca, he wrote a book here are some excerpts.

Lee Iacocca Says:

I have news for the gang in Congress. We didn't elect you to sit on your asses and do nothing and remain silent while our democracy is being hijacked and our greatness is being replaced with mediocrity.
What is everybody so afraid of? That some bonehead on Fox News will call them a name? Give me a break.
Why don't you guys show some spine for a change?

[atp2007]

The old Fart's jealous that he can't get the attention of women under 60 anymore. No longer the Golden Boy, no longer the Young Stud who specialized in bad looking chicks. Obama gets the attention now and Bill is seething. Bill was looking forward to getting to be the Presidential spouse so he could get to go to the G8 conferences and get close to Mrs. Sarkozy.

[ohnonotagain]

Yes, he is very, very jealous. Senator Obama has run a better campaign then even him when he did win. Many White males are jealous of him, Pat Buchanan, Bill Bennett, you can look in their face and it reads like a book. Bill Clinton you were never the First Black President, Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. was, we just let you think that because it made you happy.

Please get over yourself, I as a Black Woman will never, ever vote for you, or her for anything not even dog catcher.

[Azjhutch]

Good, cause Hillary is going to be president, not dog catcher.

[the964kid]

That's because Bill Clinton is about to be in the political wilderness. Since 1992 Bill has been the leader of the Dem party - and in the last years he's gotten paid well because of his connections. The new Dem leader is certainly going to be Barack Obama, who's going to be around for a long long time. On the campaign trail Bill Clinton has been more of liability then asset and he's shown he's lost a lot of his political skills. Obama has come along and taken a lot of wind out of Bill's sails, and that wind is never ever coming back. Get used to it Bill, when Hillary finally withdraws you will matter a lot less.

[RussnCA]

Bill Clinton will be around for some time to come - and the world will continue to take an interest in this man. Democrats are wallowing in the demographic wilderness because the race issue has been purposely elevated.

Many Democrats respect the 90:10 support that Barack is receiving from African Americans. However, Party leaders James Clyburn and Donna Brazile are doing Democrats a disservice by calling Bill Clinton out with timely and misleading assertions about his comments.

[Troubledgoodangel]

I see no future for Sen. Obama. If Hilary is elected, he will serve as Vice-President and this means that he will loose all his personalty under her boot ... and Bill's.

[soundfury]

Clinton: I'm just a jealous guy.

Clinton is mad as hell and he's not gonna take it anymore.

Obama wake up call to Clinton: Your legacy's not perfect. You made some mistakes and they are doozies that cost hundreds of thousands of jobs (NAFTA), and a mortgage crisis due to your banking and mortgage lending deregulation.

The Clinton glory days are gone.

Clinton: blah...blah...rant....rant!

Lincoln to Clinton: Better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it up and remove all doubt.

Finally we put the Clinton era in a realistic light. Now let's move on, and stop wishing for a past that got us into the present mess!

[BatMasterson]

Wasn't that Mark Twain?

[lenoirlady]

Nah - Mark stole it from Abe.

[whatsmyname]

EXCELLENT SOUNDFURY....AND CLINTON WILL ALWAYS BE A JEALOUS PERSON BECAUSE HE IS SO INADEQUATE. MONICA, FOUND THAT OUT...... AND NOW HE HAS HIS WIFE GO AFTER OBAMA, LIKE HE IS THEIR "BOY." WASH THE CAR, BOY. GET OUR LUGGAGE, BOY. DEBATE ME WHEN I TELL YOU TO, BOY...... OH, ARE YOU AFRAID, BOY? YEA, THAT'S GOT BONNIE AND CLYDE CLINTON, WRITTEN ALL OVER IT.

[SlappHappy]

"But, as Clinton campaigned in Pennsylvania, he was rarely the cartoon politician portrayed in the press. He still connects better with voters than his wife or Obama. "

Funny how this part of the article wasn't highlighted by HuffPo.

[messstower]

Bill connects with voters??????

WHAT VOTERS ARE YOU SPEAKING OF?

THE RACIST VOTER who bought into his BUBBA style of campaigning.

[jrterrier]

Says who? Not the voters of Pennsylvania. Part of the reason obama didn't win pennsylvania is that the suburban vote around Philadelphia didn't go his way. Guess who campaigned for Hillary there? You got it -- Bill Clinton.

Any day Obama wants to make this a contest between Bill and himself, Obama loses.

Honestly, what has Obama done for the American people? Nothing. He may have great potential but that is all it is right now. And Obama has not been the great uniter that he claims to be. If he cannot even unite the democratic faithful, what makes him think he'll be able to unite the country?

[RThM]

It's not the voters of Pennsylvania It's the only the Democratic voters. Who voted in a party primary. Against the default candidate. Who had the support of most of the party regulars. Won't mean anything against the Republicans is the fall. In fact, the Clintons are a MAJOR disadvantage to the Democrats, in spite of Bush's incompetence, because they will reunite a fractured, demoralized party into a virtual crusade.

And you're trotting out that old canard "Obama wants to..." to distract from the faults of the Clintons...

What HAS Hillary done except for following Schumer around on the end of a leash in a Senate seat bought and paid for her by her husband? She may have a padded resume but that's all it is right now. And Clinton has not been the great uniter she claims to be in spite of the fact that she said it all be over on February 5. If she cannot even unite the Democratic faithful using the powers of an ex-president and his almost complete lock on the party machine, what makes her think she'll be able to unite the country and even make Republicans vote for her?

[whiteboyblues]

Bill Clinton should join a comedy troupe

[RThM]

Personally, I think tragedy suits him better. Look what's become of him!

[missjabez]

His comedy is dark. You laugh at him because he makes such an ass of himself.

[DoubleAbsolut]

Bill Clinton:

"I once gave a speech to a million people in Ghana"
But then I let millions get slaughtered in Rwanda
And more on the streets of Somalia

[likeicare]

Of course Bill doesn't like Obama -- Barack's not sticking to the script Bill & HIllary wrote -- the one that says she's supposed to follow Bush 43 into the WH so Bill can take revenge on all the mean and nasty people who done him wrong.

And stole Bill's "Change!" slogan, which he alone has sole rights to use.

And Obama appeals to the younger generation -- also Bill's exclusive purview.

And he attracts bigger crowds than either one of the Clintons -- that's really got to piss him off!

News Flash for Bill: You're Old! Your 15 minutes is up! Get off the fucking stage!

[Puntarenus]

Come on, we don't need this kind of language, do we? Don't use that type of format on here anymore. You are just lowering yourself to the Obama standards. Thanks