Bill Clinton: Obama Administration Role Possible

WASHINGTON — Former President Bill Clinton says it was hard for his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, to decide to give up her Senate seat to become secretary of state in the Obama administration.

The former president told CNN in an interview aired Wednesday from Hong Kong his wife was "shocked" when she learned by reading newspaper articles that she was President-elect Barack Obama's likely choice for the nation's top diplomatic post. She's been a New York senator since 2001.

Deciding to give up her Senate seat "was hard," Bill Clinton said. "She adored being in the Senate."

Clinton says he'll probably be "a helpful sounding board" to his wife, but wasn't expecting any more involvement unless Obama "asks me to do something specific, which I'm neither looking for nor opposed to."

Comments

[ensure]

British ‘Tortured and Jailed Barack Obama’s Grandfather’ - http://www.sefermpost.com/sefermpost/2008/12/british-tortured-and-jailed-obamas-grandfather.html

[Sabreen60]

E N O U G H !!!!

[wagthedog1001]

A G R E E D !!!!

[Archivist1000]

Clinton has a lot to offer. If he has to scale down on the work of his foundation because of Hillary's SoS job, why SHOULDN'T he contribute in any way that Obama sees fit? The country is in a DEEP MESS and it should be all hands on deck right now ... why would anyone want him to 'go away' if he can play a valuable role??

You'd think that after 8 yrs of appointments guided by the 'buddy system' everyone would be happy to see a new 'quality system' implemented when choosing people for jobs in the new Administration.

SangZe and WarriorLemming, running this country OUT OF TROUBLE requires all the best minds available, why would you want one of the finest to 'go away' ???

[hardybear]

Hear, hear!

Can we afford to blithely discard real, desperately-needed talent in favor of
dubious qualms/speculations about the Clinton motivations?

[mrkdds]

we have a bad habit in the US of ignoring our former Presidents and their collective experience, let Bill help sometimes, hell, ask Bush Sr. advice too....W? well, we gotta have a limit

[blueskybigstar]

Bush Sr. and Clinton are lucky not to be in jail.

http://makesusdumb.wordpress.com/2008/07/17/cia-cocaine-connection-evidence/

[roshni]

I think W has helped enough. He can help us all by putting himself out to pasture and taking his brother Jeb with him.

[anney]

Bill Clinton: I'd Consider Role In Obama Administration

=====

No, no, no, no, no, no, NO!

Your time has passed, and why on earth would you WANT to step down from being one of America's ex-presidents to submitting yourself to the new president's agenda?

Keep your hand out of Obama's pie. Hillary's enough.

[Archivist1000]

grow up anney. Clinton has a lot to offer, and if Obama is smart enough to use his skills and talents, you should be grateful that Bill is willing to contribute.

[reliant1]

Perhaps Bill is the only reason he chose Hillary in the 1st place....her FP creds are more than thin but she does come attached to an ex Pres with all the cred needed.

Bill might be what is needed to jump start the ME peace process...

[anney]

Excuse me? Don't try to teach your grandmother to suck eggs. I've been voting since the late 50s and don't need patronizing comments.

Bill Clinton's time in the limelight is past, and he can take the same route that other ex-presidents have taken -- a dignified retirement into statesman.

[savertime]

Bill advised Hillary to vote for the invasion of Iraq. Big mistake.

[crossoverwriter]

No Bill anywhere near the White House.

[roshni]

He didn't actually say that if you read the interview. The headline is misleading.

[LibbySole]

Perhaps because his current career is going to be severely disrupted and he wants to contribute to the society and his choices are now limited? Or he should go play golf. Like the current Prez did during most of his 'presidency"---that's Shrub, not Cheney.

[WarriorLemming]

I voted for both Clintons twice but this is a bit much it's time for them to let a new era come in and they leave gracefully. They are stealing the show and it's starting to feel very uncomfortable, omg

[hardybear]

For myself, this is Not a Broadway play with actors tripping over themselves for the
limelight or a Tony award.

It is a world offering a barrage of so many real challenges, of a nature so complex,
that employing every human resource ... every willing pair of experienced hands
available, is critical.

Perhaps part of supporting PE Obama's 'new era' is also a realization that he
would not discard brilliant talent in order to heave out the old - Or worse, merely
to enable him, or us, to avoid feeling 'very uncomfortable'?

[Hekerui]

Remarks shortened and misconstrued, as usual.
For the real remarks by Bill, check http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1208/16156.html

[anney]

I read the entire piece. Anything other than good-will work that other ex-presidents do would be a travesty. There's also no need for a "statement of intent", as Bill has announced. Traditionally, ex-presidents have served in many capacities as statesmen, though I doubt if anyone will want GW Bush for that function. Bill will already have plenty, maybe too much, influence on Obama's presidency through Hillary. He needs to stay away from it.

[PallinAround]

You sound way too obsessed with what Bill Clinton should and shouldn't be doing. Maybe let President-elect Obama decide how to best use the former President's experience, wisdom and intelligence? I'd like to see how that works before we just summarily "throw the baby out with the bath water."

[CaptainStormfield]

They wouldnt do that would they?? >:)

[SangZe]

Come on, Bill, it's time to let it go.