Click below to listen to audio of Bill Clinton on a ropeline discussing "The Comeback Id," Todd Purdum's controversial Vanity Fair article.
MILBANK, S.D. -- Former President Bill Clinton today unleashed a salty stream of epithets to describe former New York Times reporter and current Vanity Fair writer Todd Purdum, calling him "sleazy," "dishonest," "slimy" and a "scumbag."
The former president made the comment at a local campaign event after I asked him if Purdum's much-commented upon Vanity Fair story was weighing on his mind.
Tightly gripping this reporter's hand and refusing to let go, Clinton heatedly denounced the writer, who is currently married to former Clinton White House Press Secretary, Dee Dee Myers.
"[He's] sleazy," he said referring to Purdum. "He's a really dishonest reporter. And one of our guys talked to him . . . And I haven't read [the article]. But he told me there's five or six just blatant lies in there. But he's a real slimy guy," the former president said.
When I reminded him that Purdum was married to his former press spokesperson Myers, Clinton was undeterred.
"That's all right-- he's still a scumbag," Clinton said. " Let me tell ya-- he's one of the guys -- he's one of the guys that propagated all those lies about Whitewater to Kenneth Starr. He's just a dishonest guy-- can't help it."
Purdum's piece, featured in this month's edition of Vanity Fair, included former advisers criticizing former President Clinton for bringing negative attention to Hillary Clinton's candidacy and for surrounding himself with friends who might discredit her campaign.
The former president's tirade continued:
"The editor of Esquire-- he sent us an email yesterday and said it was the single sleaziest piece of journalism he'd seen in decades. He said it made him want to go take a shower and he was embarrassed to be a journalist when he read it."
"You know he didn't use a single name, cite a single source in all those things he said. It's just slimy. It's part of the national media's attempt to nail Hillary for Obama. It's just the most biased press coverage in history. It's another way of helping Obama. They had all these people standing up in this church cheering, calling Hillary a white racist, and he didn't do anything about it. The first day he said 'Ah, ah, ah well.' Because that's what they do-- he gets other people to slime her. So then they saw the movie they thought this is a great ad for John McCain-- maybe I better quit the church. It's all politics. It's all about the bias of the media for Obama. Don't think anything about it."
"But I'm telling ya, all it's doing is driving her supporters further and further away-- because they know exactly what it is-- this has been the most rigged press coverage in modern history-- and the guy ought to be ashamed of himself. But he has no shame. It isn't the first dishonest piece he's written about me or her."
"Anytime you read a story that slimes a public figure with anonymous quotes, it oughta make the bells go off in your head. Because anytime somebody uses those things-- he wrote the story in his head in advance, and he just goes around and tries to find some coward to say whatever they want to say, hoping to get some benefit out of it. It didn't bother me. It shouldn't bother you."
"Thank you, Mr. President," I said attempting to end the conversation.
But Clinton continued. "He can't help it," he said. "He still hasn't apologized to me for Whitewater."
Update: President Clinton's spokesman Jay Carson issued a statement in response to this article: "President Clinton was understandably upset about an outrageously unfair article, but the language today was inappropriate and he wishes he had not used it."
Update: Esquire spokesperson sent the following statement. "David Granger did not send an e-mail to Bill Clinton about the Vanity Fair article. One of the editors on staff sent a personal note about the piece to Doug Band, who was written about in the article. That was a private e-mail, and Band has since apologized to Esquire that it became public."
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He just can't understand why the people of this country are tired of the same old s--- for the last 20 years and want a change that Hillary can't even begin to give the country.
Bye, bye Bill make more money on the speaking tour and write a book about a certain blue dress.
Mr. I did not have sex with that woman and his wife who lied to the grand jury.
At least he doesn't let reality interfere with his life.
I would like to have the Bushes, Cheneys and Clintons all tried for their treasonous lies..
If only the people were ready for a real revolution ...
Gee, really?! Such an incisive, brilliant refutation didn't impress him?! Wow. Astounding
"...So then they saw the movie they thought this is a great ad for John McCain-- maybe I better quit the church. It's all politics. "
Anyone who doubts the obvious fact that Obama's show of quitting the church was pure political expediency stands in serious need of a brain transplant
(*) I reckon it's necessary to specifical
Hey Bill, you didn't say Purdum wasn't telling the truth, did you??
The argument in favor of these tactics is that they reveal public figures as they "really are."
The argument against them is that they increase the likelihood that public figures will always follow "the script" and not give insight into their personalit
In the past, candidates felt safe letting their hair down because there was a clear set of rules. Reporters identified themselves and there were demarcatio
God preserve the Republic.
PLEASE remain silent!
I agree with what you said, I have the Ken Starr's book, I watched what the did to you ywo everyday, even predicted alot of it. It's amazing how much you got done in spite the The far Right Conspiracy that stalked you day & night. Amazing they could only get you on non sex sex story. I lived in DC & I know what went on there. I know few innocent politician
If Starr went after everyone like he went after you, we'd have very few left in government
McCain is a womanizer & Obama is also known for his sexual antics. Obamamites best be ready for that , they seem to think he's different. He's not.. Will that change your opinion of him ?
Bingo!
... unless those bells don't work in the first place -- in which case, swallow it whole and join the herd.
She's a rank amateur, not a profession
While Fowler's “Bitter” and “scumbag” stories were national breaking news, they failed to pass the test of integrity and conduct expected from most profession
Ms. Fowler is simply a paparazzi with a tape recorder instead of a camera.
to poison people's minds about Bill. He's not perfect but neither is Barack. I don't really unnndersta
Bill needs to stop blaming the Obama campaign and the media for his wife's failure to secure the nomination
Just because the Clintons feel entitled does not mean they are. Obama is the better candidate, period.
Last I checked, this was still a democracy. The people have spoken, so shut up already!