Bill Clinton: Dick Cheney 'Sowing Discord' With Suggestion That Hillary Run Against Obama In 2012

On Sunday, former President Bill Clinton laughed off former Vice President Dick Cheney's suggestion that Hillary Clinton should challenge President Barack Obama in 2012.

"Well, you know, I'm very proud of her, so I'm always gratified whenever anyone says anything nice about her. And I very much agree that she's done a good job," Clinton told Bob Schieffer on CBS's "Face the Nation."

"But I also have a high regard for Vice President Cheney's political skills, and I think one of those great skills is sowing discord among the opposition. So I think he's right that she's done a heck of a job. But she is a member of this administration, and committed to doing it. And I think he, by saying something nice about her in the way that he did, knew that it might cause a little trouble," Clinton continued.

"I don't want to help him succeed in his political strategy. But I admire that he's still out there hitting the ball."

During recent interviews promoting his new book "In My Time," Cheney has suggested that Hillary Clinton should run for president in 2012 against Obama.

"Hillary Clinton is a pretty formidable individual," Cheney told ABC's Jonathan Karl earlier this month. "I think she’s probably the most competent person they’ve got in their cabinet. And, frankly, I thought she was gonna win the nomination last time around."

"Maybe if the Obama record is bad enough -- and these days it's not very good, given the shape of the economy -- maybe there will be enough foment in the Democratic Party so that there will be a primary on their side," he continued.

A Democratic primary "might even help the Republicans a little bit," Cheney told Karl.

Cheney also appeared on “Face The Nation” after Bill Clinton on Sunday and insisted that he wasn't playing politics.

"I just thought, Bob, that Democrats ought to have as much fun on their side as we are on our side," Cheney said.

Comments

[jakel95020]

09:01 PM on 10/03/2011

To bad his heart pump hasen't malfuctioned. Truly the whole world would be better off if only the pump would just quit!

[LovelyGirl]

04:56 PM on 09/23/2011

Bill Clinton is a master politician, but he knows these are the very people who undermined him at every turn, sent Monica Lewinski his way and impeached him in 1998. They gave the Clintons hell and they would give them hell again. The GOP hates the Clintons and the only thing they are mad about is that they don't have them to kick around anymore after spending millions and years building up a campaign against a Hillary Clinton. I heard they had campaign ads, photos, quotes ready to launch an assault. Democrats would be dang fools to listen to anything Emperor Dick Cheney says who is probably trying to find someone to replace Bush Vader so that he can regain his control of our government.

[Hutz]

11:24 AM on 09/22/2011

Dick Cheney...
Draft dodger
War monger
War criminal
War profiteer

[unconvinced3]

02:18 AM on 09/22/2011

Actually, I'd hate to stick Hillary with both Bush, Jr.'s and Obama's problems.

[firfytr]

09:48 PM on 09/21/2011

Thank goodness libs are NOT gonna take cheney's advice and give themselves a chance in 2012. I'm no HIllary fan, but she and Bill are skilled politicians, and have a proven record working with a dvided govt.

But don't worry conservatives! The Clinton boogeyman is gone! Libs are bound and determined to ride with Obama off the cliff, at least the ones on huffpo are.

Hillary would be a much more formidalbe opponent in 2012 then the empty seat we now have in the WH.

But hey, what does cheney know, I say keep Obama at the head of the ticket.

[ucantry]

03:39 PM on 09/21/2011

I just love Bill Clinton's quick wit and good response. Cheney go back to you crypt and charge your battery so you can speak without gasping for air in between words. He reminds me of Dr. Evil.

[JudgeCCrater]

11:54 AM on 09/21/2011

Wait'll Sarah throws her paid-for-using-campaign-funds $700 designer hat into the ring, Dick. Then the fun will REALLY begin.

[Walk the walk]

11:44 AM on 09/21/2011

Pres. Clinton is being too nice... the rest of us hope that Dick Cheney will soon shuffle off the mortal coil, or get arrested for the war crimes he is responsible for. Hopefully, Cheney's artificial heart will quit soon, and he can go meet his maker: Satan.

[firfytr]

09:44 PM on 09/21/2011

Now here's a guy wishing someone dead. Libs never cease to amaze me to which depths they will stoop too. I feel sorry for ya.

[unconvinced3]

02:15 AM on 09/22/2011

Every time that pump threatens to quit, Medicare gets stuck with another huge bill.

[VetKor51]

11:33 AM on 09/21/2011

Bill handled the suggestion by considering the source.
Cheney is simply being his devious self.

[PirateGrl8]

11:25 AM on 09/21/2011

Well said, Bill! Cheney is sinister.

[firfytr]

09:49 PM on 09/21/2011

yeah but he's also right. So YOU rather have Obama then Hillary??

[PirateGrl8]

12:17 AM on 09/22/2011

I do think Hilary would make a great president, but she has made it clear she does not intend to run. I took the main point of this article to be that Cheney's compliment was not so much sincere or true as it was a thinly-veiled attempt to cause friction within the current administration and/or the Democratic party. I applaud Bill for being astute enough to recognize Cheney's underlying motivations and calling him out on them in such a polite and diplomatic manner.

[velvetcookie]

11:25 AM on 09/21/2011

Dick, you'll need more that. That one is way too obvious.

[Pradip Shah]

12:12 AM on 09/21/2011

After reading about the goings on in the republican camp I believe there to be more than a semblance of truth in the conspiracy theory regarding 9/11.

[vbookish7]

07:46 PM on 09/20/2011

Clinton probably knows well that Dick Cheney is a monster sociopath so you ignore them and move on. They thrive on telling their lies to whoever will listen to them.

[nemcgrew]

05:55 PM on 09/20/2011

I would vote for Hillary in a New York minute!

[scificarolinaguy]

09:31 PM on 09/20/2011

While I voted for Hillary in the primary, I support our president. Mr. Obama has had his plate full trying to repair the damage done by Bush, Cheney and other republicans. A primary challenge would put the Party of Sanity into disarray, and Cheney knows it.

[DWSouthern]

05:15 PM on 09/20/2011

Bill Clinton is right about Cheney. If you believe Cheney, you would believe that bullfrogs can fly.