Transcript: Bill Clinton's remarks at the DNC

(LAUGHTER)

In Tampa, the Republican argument against the president's re- election was actually pretty simple, pretty snappy. It went something like this: "We left him a total mess. He hasn't cleaned it up fast enough, so fire him and put us back in."

(LAUGHTER)

(APPLAUSE)

Now -- but -- but they did it well. They looked good, they sounded good. They convinced me...

(LAUGHTER)

... that they all love their families and their children, and we're grateful they've been born in America, and all -- really, I'm not being -- they did.

(LAUGHTER)

And this is important. They convinced me they were honorable people who believe what they've said and they're going to keep every commitment they've made. We've just got to make sure the American people know what those commitments are.

(APPLAUSE)

Because -- because in order to look like an acceptable, reasonable, moderate alternative to President Obama, they just didn't say very much about the ideas they've offered over the last two years. They couldn't, because they want to go back to the same, old policies that got us in trouble in the first place.

They want to cut taxes for high-income Americans even more than President Bush did. They want to get rid of those pesky financial regulations designed to prevent another crash and prohibit federal bailouts. They want to actually increase defense spending over a decade $2 trillion more than the Pentagon has requested, without saying what they'll spend it on. And they want to make enormous cuts in the rest of budget, especially programs that help the middle class and poor children.

As another president once said, there they go again.

(APPLAUSE)

Now, I like...

(APPLAUSE)

I -- I like the argument for President Obama's re-election a lot better. Here it is. He inherited a deeply damaged economy. He put a floor under the crash. He began the long, hard road to recovery and laid the foundation for a modern, more well-balanced economy that will produce millions of good, new jobs, vibrant new businesses, and lots of new wealth for innovators.

(APPLAUSE)

Now, are we where we want to be today? No. Is the president satisfied? Of course not. But are we better off than we were when he took office? (APPLAUSE)

Listen to this. Listen to this. Everybody (inaudible)

(APPLAUSE)

Everybody (inaudible) when President Barack Obama took office, the economy was in freefall. It had just shrunk 9 full percent of GDP. We were losing 750,000 jobs a month. Are we doing better than that today?

AUDIENCE: Yes!

CLINTON: The answer is yes. Now, look. Here's the challenge he faces and the challenge all of you who support him face. I get it. I know it. I've been there. A lot of Americans are still angry and frustrated about this economy. If you look at the numbers, you know employment is growing, banks are beginning to lend again, and in a lot of places, housing prices have even began to pick up.

But too many people do not feel it yet. I had this same thing happen in 1994 and early '95. We could see that the policies were working, that the economy was growing, but most people didn't feel it yet. Thankfully, by 1996, the economy was roaring, everybody felt it, and we were halfway through the longest peacetime expansion in the history of the United States. But...

(APPLAUSE)

... the difference this time is purely in the circumstances. President Obama started with a much weaker economy than I did. Listen to me now. No president, no president -- not me, not any of my predecessors -- no one could have fully repaired all the damage that he found in just four years.

(APPLAUSE) (APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: Now -- but he has -- he has laid the foundations for a new, modern, successful economy of shared prosperity. And if you will renew the president's contract, you will feel it. You will feel it.

(APPLAUSE)

Folks, whether the American people believe what I just said or not may be the whole election. I just want you to know that I believe it. With all my heart, I believe it.

(APPLAUSE)

Now, why do I believe it? I'm fixing to tell you why. I believe it because President Obama's approach embodies the values, the ideas, and the direction America has to take to build a 21st-century version of the American dream, a nation of shared opportunities, shared responsibilities, shared prosperity, a shared sense of community.

So let's get back to the story. In 2010, as the president's recovery program kicked in, the job losses stopped and things began to turn around. The Recovery Act saved or created millions of jobs and cut taxes -- let me say this again -- cut taxes for 95 percent of the American people.

(APPLAUSE)

And in the last 29 months, our economy has produced about 4.5 million private-sector jobs.

(APPLAUSE)

We could have done better, but last year the Republicans blocked the president's job plan, costing the economy more than a million new jobs. So here's another job score. President Obama: plus 4.5 million. Congressional Republicans: zero.

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3/7

[sloan5]

Great speech and great endoresement for Pres Obama. The Republicans main job is not for the people but to give Pres Obama a one term President. So guys- this is the GOPs main goal.How can they lead the United States with a goal like this?

Bill Clinton said it all! Another 4 years for Pres Obama!

[TimeToEvolve]

Bill made it quite clear there is absolutely no reason to vote for any Republicon, either this election or ever again.

[tryingtodogoodwork]

Entirely, absolutely, completely agree with you, Evolve.

[reelsurfer]

Our users made a reel of the best clips from Clinton's speech, enjoy: http://reelsurfer.com/watch/clip/entry_id/6498

[TimeToEvolve]

Bill Clinton gave more truth in his first sentence than what was said at the entire RepubliCON CONvention.

[Phaerisee]

I do like Romney's business experience, but his Gordon Gecko-esque tenure at Bain Capital concerns me. I also have a problem with him calling himself pro-life. In fact, Romneycare provided for taxpayer funded abortifacients (Pharmaceuticals that cause spontaneous abortion) How many evangelicals and catholics know this? He also is continually calling himself a christian to gain votes, when most of us learned in Sunday school that this is not the case.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGFAph3lWqw

[TimeToEvolve]

Robbed Me's business experience is closing factories, off-shoring good jobs and opening race-to-the-bottom businesses like Staples and Outback Steakhouse. You LIKE that experience? Wow!

[BoJet]

I've just realised, Ex President Clinton is a preacher not a politician.

[alphabet77-2009]

Republicans praise Clinton in their ads now, but they seem to have forgotten that both houses of the GOP dominated Congress voted against Clinton's budget, that's right, the same one that generated a surplus and an economic boom that they speak so nostalgically about.

[factchecker9]

To all you fact checkers: would be very helpful if you check the facts, report to us your findings and educate us on the truth...surprise, surprise, pretty close to the truth ah?

[nycalien]

Where's your fact checking on RNC Ryan and Mitt talk? GOPers are scared after Bill's speech. Wet dream is over for GOPers. Did you see the jobs report today?

[sjc_1]

Bill Clinton is the Great Communicator, not Reagan. He puts things simply and in a way people can understand. I would say President Obama has the same skills, but he is more detailed about HOW we are going to get there, tonight everyone will see that.

[greenpete58]

This was the best speech I've ever heard by Clinton. If I had to sum it up - and sum up this election - it's what he said about the Republican argument: "We left you with a total mess. You didn't clean it up fast enough. So put us back in office."

No thanks.

[kabulate]

I'm not sure if there is another American with as much pragmatic personal appeal to more people than Bill Clinton. By bringing the wight of his full endorsement to the Obama-Biden ticket the Dems pulled off something that the Republican Convention could not. Bush was quite conspicuous in his absence from the RNC. Not so with Clinton and the DNC. People will organize and they will come out for this president because, as Clinton pointed out, the alternative is just too extreme.