Bill Clinton On The Daily Show: Negotiating With North Korea, Lunch With Obama, And How Health Care Is "Bankrupting" America

Bill Clinton returned for his fifth appearance on The Daily Show on Thursday night. During the 20 minute, wide ranging discussion, Clinton dished on his foundation, his negotiations with Kim Jong-il ("Along with obviously the Global Initiatives there's also your role as Batman."), lunch with Barack Obama, and, of course, the fight for health care reform.

"What's that type of meeting like now?" Stewert asked about Clinton's lunch with the President. "What's the expression that you have to to put on your face for that meeting?"

"Well, you know, we only have one President at a time, so I put on whatever expression he thinks I should," Clinton smiled.

During the last segment, the conversation turned to health care. "This is bankrupting America," Clinton said emphatically.

"Last year... I went to 300 towns... I didn't go to a single town that somebody didn't have a health care horror story. Not one." Clinton continued, "now I see these town hall meetings and people saying you're gonna have death panels... I have to tell you, the only people I met, when there were no cameras, no action, no lights, just real America out there, were people that were already losing their health care and were desperate. And their families were despondent."

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Exclusive - Bill Clinton Extended Interview Pt. 1
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Healthcare Protests

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Exclusive - Bill Clinton Extended Interview Pt. 2
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Healthcare Protests

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Exclusive - Bill Clinton Extended Interview Pt. 3
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Healthcare Protests

Comments

[johnnymo87]

Clinton's stand on alleviating poverty in Haiti smacks of hypocrisy. He jammed neo-liberal reforms down Haiti's throat in exchange for returning Aristide to power.

Take a read: http://www.thenation.com/doc/20050801/klein

[2Bfair]

Isn't it a HUGE conflict of interest for he spouse of the US Secretary of State to be taking a job with the UN and dictating policy to Hati.

Did Hillary ever get her Harvard professor and Hati expert Paul Farmer in to head USAID so he can send multi-millions to Hati and help Bill Clinton look good?

[wreckdiver]

That DOES sound like a HUGE conflict of interest! What was Obama thinking when he appointed her? You should let him know right away ..... I'm sure he'll take care of it, just as soon as he's finished with fixing the economy and health care reform ...

(snicker)

[joybe2006]

This is why i heart Bill Clinton :D

[Okieborn]

I wonder if Bill still carries "the cigar" ?????

[wellingtonian]

This was a good interveiw, he makes a lot of sense! I hope he works with Aunty Helen a lot more in the future, those two together will do a lot of good for the world.

[CindySanFrancisco]

Obama, Carter and both Clintons are captivating speakers, i.e., intelligent, articulate, well-informed, etc. Can ANYONE name 3 current republicans that are captivating speakers?

[whodoyouvoodoo]

We don't do comedy...

[Max01]

and you sure know how to bankrupt the middle class and wage wars. Yup, that's about it.

[reggieb]

you send your womenfolk. mrs. cheney, ms. taitz...
oh wait... you Do indeed do comedy

[grata2ude]

You betcha! Oh never mind.

[platano86]

I can name one! RON PAUL, 2012!! Look him up.

[2Bfair]

I have never heard anyone say Hillary Clinton was a captivating speaker before.

[wreckdiver]

You've "never heard" a LOT of things, ....

.... besides those funny, little voices that tell you what the Clintons are thinking.

[whodoyouvoodoo]

Bankrupting America... LOL - We're already there:
http://www.usdebtclock.org/

[mikep]

Of all the people in the country, Bill Clinton is the very last one who should be chiming in on health care. He and Hillary very skillfully and deliberately scuttled all efforts to reform health care when they were in office. And in return, they received tens if not hundreds of millions from the health insurance companies. It was absolutely scandalous.

[samjer]

Youre joking right? I do believe youre talking about the repubs scuttling the HC reform and taking millions from the industry. Remember the Bill And Louise(?) commercials. Oh and BTW they(the repubs) are doing it again.

[2Bfair]

But in the Clinton administration, the health care industry got exactly what it wanted, NO REFORM. The Clitnons arrogant, bungled "our way or no way" approach took healthcare off the policy table for 15 years.

[2Bfair]

mikep, good point

[wreckdiver]

Really? "Purposely scuttled health care reform in return for contributions in return for tens if not hundreds of millions"? Any evidence to go with that serious accusation, or can we just assume ....

..... it's another fairytale?

[ilse]

President Obama and Bill Clinton, now that's a team I really admire.

[So Calif Ind]

BARF!!!!!!!!!!!!

[samjer]

Right back at you for Bush/Chenney.

[reggieb]

does your health insurance plan cover your hyperemesis?

[LetsGetToWork]

An excellent interview!! I really appreciated the unedited version on Comedy Central website.

[Barbara Schuckers]

Obama is REALLY bad. Bill was a LITTLE bad.

[MooseShady]

Depending on your definition what REALLY bad Obama is

[Niet]

Really Bad A$$! Both of em.

Rethugs are just plain awful.

[LetsGetToWork]

Guess you don't really understand the meaning of the word.

[gentlewomanfarmer]

Surely you jest.

[dc2nm]

And why is Obama really bad? What is your definition? There has been no president in recent history that walked into office with so many disasters on his plate.

[land2341]

Before ya'll go jumping on the "wasn't ole Bill wonderful" bandwagon - remember that a good bit of today's financial crisis lies at his doorstep. It was Bill that removed Glass-Stegall, it was Bill that allowed for major media mergers.

I agree with everything he said here, but let's not kid ourselves. If we fail to remember we will fail to see what is going on now.

[AZBunny]

you forgot we got NAFTA under Bill too.
Which makes me wonder WHY the Republicans hate Bill. He was the best Republican ever.

[grata2ude]

You better check you facts. NAFTA was Daddy's Bush's.

In the U.S., Bush, who had worked to "fast track" the signing prior to the end of his term, ran out of time and had to pass the required ratification and signing into law to incoming president Bill Clinton.

[LetsGetToWork]

But.... But..... But.... Clinton!!!

That was sooooooooo LAST CENTURY.

[2Bfair]

land2341, very well said.

In my own view, Bill Clinton is never objective on any topic. Every word he speaks is calculated to bolster the reputation, "legacy" or private fortune of Bill Clinton. And if it backfires, he denies he ever said it, although 21st century technology catches the Clintons in their ....hmmm.... "forgetfulness. There is one VERY large, needy ego there. HIllary threatened it, and Bill undermined that challenge. Obama threatens it big time, and Bill "supports" him in sound bites and then undermines him at every opportunity.

This nation needs to move beyond the deep, divisive, dishonest, mean-spirtied, bitterly partisan politics of the Bush-Clinton era. Bill should be quiet for a while (maybe like until 2016) and please let the nation move forward. The divisions only serve the corporate serving status quo. He and Hillary divide more than they persuade on any issue, any topic. Clintons, please be very quiet.

[samjer]

Ann Coulter heaping great praise on to Rush. Wow, two great minds merging as one. How much more neocon jelousy can we take?

[wreckdiver]

In YOUR own view?

No kidding.

Do you ALWAYS agree with the rightwing nutz (Limbaugh, C0ulter, S@vage, etc.), or just when it comes to the Clintons?

[Longbaugh]

It was Reagan that created the current corporate climate back in the 80's. Reagan was the one that laid the initial groundwork for this economic mess by instilling a sense of independen­ce-from-go­vernment attitude on Wall Street. The idea that corporations should be above the government is an idea that Reagan created.

[Trogenhorse]

And Regan who introduced DRGs into the current system of biling. So if you want to talk about healthcare and the gov't let's please visit that. Oh and the shortage of nurses? Let's visit the cuts Regan made for nursing student loans.

At least President Clinton had the guts to bring the subject up

[MartyJo]

Just how bad is gov't run healthcare? At 7 a.m. while showering, I found a lump in my breast. At 9 a.m. I am parked at the drs office. Dr examines me... I was so scared... he held my hand across the aisle to the radiologists office. Had a mammogram, then ultrasound. Under ultrasound the chief radiologist did 2 needle biopsies as well as aspirated and colapsed 3 lumps in my breast. All this between 9 am and 1 pm.... resulting in no cancer found. And I didn't pay a dime.

All these bogus claims of gov't run healthcare rationing and socialized healthcare is exactly that.... BOGUS maximus. If the excellent healthcare makes me a socialist, I gladly accept.

I'd like to ask those GOPer's if they like our socialist soldiers not to mention our socialist resources like the 1/6th power supply from Canada?

[SanTang]

From a Canadian to a Canadian : I am glad everything turned out well for you and I hope it will stay that way. I am also very happy if my contribution helped to reassure you.

[denicci1977]

Wow same day appointment ? It usually takes a month or two to get in here. We sit in the waiting room for 30 min after signing in and filling out the same stupid paperwork, then wait another 30 min in the cold examination room for the doctor to come in. The entire exam lasts about 5 minutes for a charge of around $200.00 .

[Trogenhorse]

Then you should ask that we reform health care in a meaningful way. Healthcare providers, I can tell you it's never anyone's intention to run late. But people make an appointment for a sore throat and then take 20 minutes to get around to what the real issue is. When you have to see 3o patients per day, there is scarce time for that. Also it means when the patient leaves you always wonder was there anything else going on that you missed.

[grata2ude]

As opposed to our great health insurance here when I was hemorrhaging and precancer cells found on my cervix, I had to fight tooth and nail to get my insurance company to approve the hysterectomy my Doctor said was absolutely necessary.

[PhillyQuaker]

That's diabolical! So sorry you had to go through that.

[Hawaii4Obama]

I love Bubba...shows how to live your life in service to others post-presidency. BTW, where's Dubya and what's he up to these days? Amazing contrast, isn't it?

[skullman]

Dubya is clearing brush.

[2Bfair]

What? He amassaged a over $100 million Fortune in five years after leaving office by SELLING his influence as a former president. Sorry, that isn't service. Bill is already coaching George W on how to cash in. Did you see that shameful recent joint appearence in Canada. Bush is a war criminal. Why would Clinton be on the same stage and buddy buddy with him. The answer is hard cold Ca$h. Admire, adore, praise Bill Clinton as much as you want. But please don't hold him up as a role model for virtue. please

[wreckdiver]

Same old fairytale, with ZERO evidence.

Companies and roups are willing to pay big speaking fees to Bill Clinton because he is tremendously popular, here and oversees, and he's a celebrity. Even relatively minor celebrities get $50,000 or more to speak (i.e. david Spade, Areetha Franklin). Donald trump gets $200,000 or more per event.

If you think Clinton is doing something illegal or unethical by getting paid to give speeches, where's the evidence?

(crickets, crickets).

[2Bfair]

oops amassaged* = amassed

[Tyrione]

Without the Public Option the large conglomerates will continue to consolidate down till one exists.

Break up the Insurance conglomerates and force them into feast or famine.

[2Bfair]

sorry... what does "force them into feast or famine" mean? The healthcare industry has been for years, is currently, and evidently always will be feasting beyond belief.

[TheWestLA-Banned]

I have to admit I like the Big Dog more than ever these days.

[AZBunny]

I have to admit in retrospect I don't like the Big Dog much: Nafta, Glass-Stegall, Media Mergers... seems he did A LOT of harm to working folks under the guise of being a Democrat.

[2Bfair]

applause. The veneer of the Cliton legacy? is very thin. The real effect of Bill's opportunism is becoming increasingly clear. I don't think history will be vert impressed with the very self-serving Clintons. Only time will tell.