Bill Clinton: "I'll Do Whatever They Want"

The New York Observer reports:

Bill Clinton said he'd do "whatever they want" with respect to the vetting process and information he'd have to disclose to the Obama administration to help Hillary Clinton become Obama's secretary of state.

Standing on stage and signing autographs after a ceremony to rename the Triborough Bridge after the late Robert F. Kennedy, Clinton was asked about the vetting process.

"Whatever they want. This is a deal between Senator--" he corrected himself, "President-elect [Obama] and Hillary," Clinton said. "You should talk to them. I'll do whatever they want."

That jibes with reports this morning that the former President had offered "several concessions" as part of the vetting process.

Comments

[brooksidebeast]

BIll....if Hillary asks you to dress in women's clothes and sing show tunes on the floor of the Senate, you'd better say "Yes, dear" and do it while remembering how lucky you are that she is still married to you.

[moveover]

That's assuming that either of them are actually "lucky" to be married to each other.

[brooksidebeast]

She is way to good for him. He is the lucky one.

[agpaul]

I THINK HE OWES HER THAT MUCH

[serecovery]

You're 100% right on that one. She would be very powerful and also make Secretary Rice look like the lap dog she actually is.

[HerbTee]

Excuse me...Obama owes her NOTHING! You're probably one of the same people who demanded or even threatened that Obama "owed" her the VP slot too. Enough Clintonian drama already!

[Yermammy]

Ha Ha? Where were you during the primaries, sparky? Methinks he owes her nothing.

[Newman9]

If Obama is planning to deliver on his promise of CHANGE, why is he stacking his cabinate with Clinton folks? They were anything but innovative and they never supported the working people in this country. They gave the banking industry, the war industry, and the communication industry everything they wanted, shifting billions of dollars in public assets into the hands of greedy corporations. The Clinton folks are "Neo-Liberals and there is little difference between Neo-Liberal and Neocon.

[NotMcCain]

Don't you think most DC Democrats with "experience" IN government are going to be familiar from the Clinton days?

Holder isn't exactly a "Clinton-folk" (especially since he "betrayed" them, a la Richardson, in the primaries).

Neither is Daschle. But, sure, some of the resumes will include "Clinton adminstration".

So?

[brooksidebeast]

Perhaps you are forgetting that he wouldn't be in office without us Clinton supporters that had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the Obama camp. You all are acting a bit ungrateful after the Clintons went above and beyond to campaign for Obama.

The Pumas are looking for a little pay back here......we stuck it out and helped put him in office...and are all ready to support him moving forward...but all of this Clinton bashing is starting to tick me off. You want that garbage, join the republican party.

[dct1999]

A puma telling someone else to join the republican party? LMAO! The Clintons are not above criticism, neither is the president-elect.

[StillAmused]

You probably haven't noticed, but -- unless you favor recruiting from college poli-sci classes -- ALL the competent, experienced talent on the Dem side of the aisle either worked in, or was aligned with, the last (and two-term) Democratic President.

"They gave the banking industry, the war industry, and the communication industry everything they wanted, shifting billions of dollars in public assets into the hands of greedy corporations."

In the wake of the leaky, corrupt, warmaking garbage scow that is the Bush administration, your assertion is laughable... and juvenile. Been away from the planet for the last eight years?

[texasaggie]

Um, have you read the history of the Clinton years? It's not very amusing. Newman9 is exactly right. How many Iraqis were killed in the Clinton years? Remember NAFTA? Haiti? Serbia? Banking deregulation? The ludicrous brokered offer to the Palestinians?

As for Bush, didn't Clinton (Bill and Hillary) rush to legitimize his invasion of Iraq?

The only thing laughable and juvenile is your ignorant ad hominem. You may like the Clintons (and they are better than Bush), but that does not change the ugly truth.

[Yermammy]

Thank you. Shows you what CFR membership has to offer, as far as perks. I'm sure this isn't entirely Obama's decision. Unless it's a total fake out. We'll see.

[benne]

The Clintons have been treated more shabbily than Lieberman -- Lieberman, the traitor. Everyone better remember how the Republicans win by standing together. They even stood up until the end for Nixon, and their canonizing Reagan now. Why do we have to eat our own? Bill has been terrific for the Democratic party, and he can be a terrific force for a number of things, if the Democrats decide that "change" doesn't require having to trash him and his administration.

[wagthedog1001]

ABSOLUTELY!

[klondiker]

Republicans fall in line, Democrats fall in love.

Frankly, I prefer our model better.

[wagthedog1001]

Have fun in the soup line.

[Yermammy]

Which is it? Too scared to say?

[Areyoume2]

HuffPost's Pick

These people act like Bill Clinton is the enemy. His Global Initiative has been changing the world for these many years. It was a brilliant concept and it's why he's so revered worldwide. But instead, the nay-sayers want to retain him as their villain. He had a cheating heart. But it would have been hard for him to keep it down for 8 years. (He hadn't recovered - he had it merely covered (until he didn't) .

What does all that biterness translate to in the new millenium. I continue to think he was an excellent president (and if my husband was cheating on me, and was pressed to fess up before the entire world - I'd like him to say, as Bill did: I never had sex with that woman). We ALL knew the truth, but it was a purient faction of the American public that needed him to SAY it. Shame on them then and now (as much as shame on him). So holier are THEY ..give me a break.

[strandwolf]

That's hardly the bone many of us have to pick with Bill. He's a chiseler. Money, money, money. Back room deals with the like of that guy he pardoned, for instance.

[wagthedog1001]

I agree. History will see Clinton as the great president with the "problem" that wouldn't go down. To say that his policies and accomplishments have caused the current economic meltdown is just a bunch of cowflop cooked up by right wing historical (hysterical) revisionists.

[rigormrtis]

"going down" WAS the problem.

[kylennblack]

I agree, he was a great president. He and Hillary were great co-presidents as far as I'm concerned.

However I'm concerned that there is still a certain chill between the Clintons and the Obamas and, while I would love to see her have some important role in his administration, the SoS should go to someone who really has his ear and would be a loyal confidant. I'm afraid that person isn't Hillary.

[inluvwkeitholbermann]

that was then--this is now....bubba helped the world when it was beneficial to HIM......he and his wife showed their true colors with their wonderful contributions to a divisive primary (bringin up billayers/ "he's not a muslim, as far as i know"/ Fl & MI don't count----wait-a-minute-i'm-losing??? okay FL and MI SHOULD count!! (CHANT: "count all the votes") caucuses don't count!/ "hardworking wh!te americans"/ "obama played the race-card on me") along with countless PERSONAL attacks against a fellow democrat that were unprecedented and UNCALLED FOR!!!!!

even after the primary, their weak, golf-clapping fake support of obama was obvious.....they wanted him to lose this thing......

then when they saw the inevitable and now that it behooves them, bill is ready to play ball and cooperate in this most self-serving act of unity.

i could give a hoot about his philandering ways.....the clinton's TRUE character was revealed and many of us don't like what we saw behind the curtain

[inluvwkeitholbermann]

that was then--this is now....bubba helped the world when it was beneficial to HIM......he and his wife showed their true colors with their wonderful contributions to a divisive primary (bringing up billayers/ "he's not a musl!m, as far as i know"/ Fl & MI don't count----wait-a-minute-i'm-losing??? okay FL and MI SHOULD count!! (CHANT: "count all the votes") caucuses don't count!/ "hardworking wh!te americans"/ "obama played the r@ce-card on me") along with countless PERSONAL att@cks against a fellow democrat that were unprecedented and UNCALLED FOR!!!!!

even after the primary, their weak, golf-clapping fake support of obama was obvious.....they wanted him to lose this thing......

then when they saw the inevitable and now that it behooves them, bill is ready to play ball and cooperate in this most self-serving act of unity.

i could give a hoot about his ph!landering ways.....the clinton's TRUE character was revealed and many of us don't like what we saw behind the curtain

[Mdazes]

Sen. Clinton will make a great Secretary of State, but not for No Drama Obama. I am trying my best to give Obama a chance but right now I dont see him headed in the direction of change.

[ILikeH00ters]

Bill, if you ain't doing this, you ain't gonna get anything. Hillary will divorce you.

Speaking of Hillary, I think Bill and Michelle should be worried. Obama and Hillary have some chemistry going on.

[roshni]

Nonsense! As much as I appreciate that Hillary has campaigned for Obama, she is no Michelle!

[rucognizant]

For a change of pace in DC.I think they are both too intelligent to succumb to that sort if idiocy.

[hotseat]

Enough Missy Hooters.

[wagthedog1001]

Your brain is where Bill's brain was in the 90's.

[Yermammy]

You DO know that you have to register when you move into town? It's required by law that the neighbors know you live in that house...

[M1]

SET HILLARY FREE!!! YOU CAN'T PICK YOUR FAMILY!! FOR GOODNESS SAKE HASN'T

SHE PAID ENOUGH POLITICALLY FOR BEING MARRIED TO BILL.

[dct1999]

The only reason she is NY's junior senator is BECAUSE she is married to Bill.

[slaxx]

nah...she put her political career aside for the sake of bill's. she probably would've done better had she kept to her first response and not married bill.

[roshni]

She's choosing to remain tied to him to her detriment.

[Ric NYC]

Clintonian circle.
AIPAC...
Where's the "change"?

[Yermammy]

Nada.

[Ric NYC]

Obama's Clintonian circle

The abundance of Clinton veterans recruited by Obama may not be the change voters had in mind.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_pl156

[crewzinny]

This ad was produced months b/4 BO announced his candidacy and sums it all up...He will do the right thing...wait and see.

[crewzinny]

Sorry here is the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h3G-lMZxjo

[FreedomAgain]

Slick Willy is still a smooth talker. It would be good to have his support. Its hillary that I worry about. President Obama probably knows her better though, so I trust whatever he wants. There are so many variables, I have to defer judgement to Obama. He made it this far because he is brilliant.

[Newman9]

Why would anyone believe Bill Clinton after his behavior during Hillary's run for president? How would he be stopped if he chose to ignore the agreement? And why is the Obama team going through so much effort for such a poor candidate?

And one should NEVER hire anyone they can't fire. Hillary will never give up her Senate seat without assurance that she will not be fired for any reason.

In addition, Hillary Clinton would be a disaster as Secretary of State. There is no way
that anyone will take her seriously after she lied on television, several
times, about her harrowing trip in Bosnia, ducking her head as bullets whizzed by.

Above all, the Secretary of State must be TRUSTED to be viable. I can just hear the sly snickers in the back of the room as she is making a statement and someone whispers "Is this another 'tarmac' story?”

[wagthedog1001]

Isn't there a FOX blog you belong on about now?

[ReportThis]

Memo to Bill: Go Away.

[BonoX]

and who the f*&$(%K are you?

[Yermammy]

Why, that there's "ReportThis". Guess who I am! ha ha! :)

[Angelic11]

has anyone else heard that Al Sharpton wants, is being considered or will take Hillary's place if she were selected?

[notconfindtweenhatnboots]

Bobby Jr wants that seat too.

[dct1999]

He is not being considered for it, but he probably wants it badly. Frontrunners are reported to be Andrew Cuomo, RFK Jr., and Nydia Velasquez.

[roshni]

Al who?

[blueskybigstar]

Stop trying to negotiate, Bill. Just open up the books and let everybody see. Prove me wrong about you. Do it.

[wagthedog1001]

He said, "I'll do whatever they want." What more do you want from the man?

WTF?

[blueskybigstar]

He already knows what they want. So, why make such a big deal about saying I'll do whatever they want? Why not just do it?

[Yermammy]

Don't hold your breath.