Bill Clinton Criticizes Bachmann's "Gangster Government" Line

AP

Rep. Michele Bachmann, a Republican from Minnesota, railed against the "gangster government" before thousands of Tea Party protesters on Thursday, but that kind of rhetoric can have serious consequences, former President Bill Clinton said Thursday.

"They are not gangsters," Mr. Clinton said in an interview with the New York Times. "They were elected. They are not doing anything they were not elected to do."

The former president, who was in his first term in office when Timothy McVeigh bombed an Oklahoma City federal building, drew parallels between the anti-government rhetoric being used now and what was being said then. He will speak about the Oklahoma City terrorist attack and its current relevance at a symposium today.

He called McVeigh and his supporters "profoundly alienated, disconnected people who bought into this militant antigovernment line." Furthermore, Mr. Clinton said the Internet has allowed political messages to reach both the "serious and seriously disturbed."

Conservative anger over health care reform did coincide with a rash of threats against members of Congress, and a few people have been arrested for threats against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and GOP House Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.). The Tea Party movement has said negative stereotypes of the group are not true.

Mr. Clinton said that lawmakers should try harder to distinguish between acceptable dialogue and rhetoric that crosses the line, the Times reports.

"Have at it," he said. "You can attack the politics. Criticize their policies. Don't demonize them, and don't say things that will encourage violent opposition."

At least one Republican is seeking to lower the partisan rancor -- Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) recently attracted attention for calling Pelosi a "nice lady" and telling constituents to rely on more than Fox News for their information.

[jalzy4]

Is this the same Bill Clinton who during the 2008 presidential campaign said, "Barack Obama is a Chicago street thug, and he always will be"?

[1sunfish]

Michele Bachmann is a Christian Dominionist zealot, an alumnus of Oral Roberts University, now Pat Robertson's Regent University. She has a history of bizarre, inflammatory statements, like during the healthcare reform debate she said: "This cannot pass. What we have to do today is make a covenant, to slit our wrists, be blood brothers on this thing. This will not pass. We will do whatever it takes to make sure this doesn't pass."

She is also a hypocrite (surprise, surprise)in that she rails against government, but in the period from 1995 through 2006, the Bachmann family farm as a whole received $251,973 in federal subsidies, chiefly for dairy and corn price supports. And if she believes this is a "gangster government" why the he11 is she a congress-critter?!

Minnesota needs to flush this glassy-eyed little flake and elect someone with good solid midwestern values and common sense.

[Sumballo]

Come on... Clinton?

Would one mob boss speak out against the other?

Would Gambino give a PR release on the practices of the Gotti family?

[mickrussom]

If you support Obama and his Regime, you support an Statist authoritarian who is an empty suit who speaks in platitudes who is beholden to the oligarchical collectivists and banking cabals. You are against freedom, liberty and our constitutional republic and the notion that all of our rights are inborn and are given by our creator. Some autocrat in Washington does not grant rights - the constitution simply enumerates them for added protection. The constitution also limits the Powers of the Federal Government yet an expansionist authoritarian view is used in modern times contrary to what Madison had intended. If you support Obama you support the biggest threat to our free will in our history, and when the last bastion of freedom in the USA falls, there is nowhere else to go.

[pasmalltown]

by mickrussom April 17, 2010 2:57 AM EDT
"..contrary to what Madison had intended.."???
--------------------
Are you trying to suggest that Madison would have said throw out the results of an election because he didn't personally agree with the one that won? No I believe Madison would have taken it to the legislature or Supreme Court or waited til the next election. So "just do it" and instead of telling us all your personal feelings about what's wrong with the current adminstration. If you're clear of mind and certain of your assessment of the current state of our Nation's affairs, instead of railing on about it - DO SOMETHING, besides wasting your time insulting people that do not share your views and calling them names. You are a perfect example of what Bill Clinton was speaking of. O.K. you're angry, try something a little more positive than " Sorry traitor Marxist rat vermin". Sure you and Michelle Bachmann have the right to say whatever comes to mind, but try to think before you spew..... Whipping other people into a frenzy to gather or garnish support has the potential for unexpected results, which hopefully it not what you're "professing" here.
"Mr. Clinton said that lawmakers should try harder to distinguish between acceptable dialogue and rhetoric that crosses the line.." The keyword in this sentence is "lawmakers" and last time I looked Bachmann is a lawmaker................
Equal condemnation of such should be made of liberal lawmakers, but it should not be used as example for defending the further use of incendiary rehethoric. There is a fine line between "cheerleading" and "defaming" however the "he said, she said, so I can say it" defense is destructive, no matter how you define it.

[thebob-bob]

According to The Constitution, we have a National Election every four years for POTUS. Usually the candidate that gets the most votes also wins the electoral college, except in 2000 when the candidate with the most votes lost the election on a technical call by the SCOTUS. We just had an election in 2008 and Obama won. If you don't like it, try to vote him out in 2012. In the mean time, attempts to de-legitimize the duly elected POTUS by force, violence or by inciting rebellion is Un-American, Un-Patriotic and possibly criminal. Love the Constitution? Use the freedom it gives you and vote. The indisputable majority of voters and the electoral college made it so. If you don't like it, go cry in your beer.

[mickrussom]

Sorry traitor Marxist rat vermin. You cant break laws to make new law. The POTUS is in violation of the constitution and if this keeps up he will be removed. I think after November we will defund this trash legislation and remove this scum from office. Then in 2012 repeal all the damage this Cloward Piven traitor has done.

[Buckrol]

Wow, if Clinton is right then there are going to be a lot of terrorist acts from the 58% of the population that is anti-Obamacare. Can 58% be considered extreme?

Check out this hilarious parody using actual tax day Tea Party footage. Did they actually catch the n-word?: http://www.funnyconservatives.com/?p=842

[proudmilvet]

Gangster Government? It's one thing to disagree with policy, but why does she & Palin have to verbally insult the President every time they open their mouths? He was elected President of the United States ! He is not a Criminal or Terrorist for God's sake!! If anyone does'nt like him, that's what the Ballot Box is for! I am getting so Sick of this Right-Wing BullS**t!

[ronaldr5-2009]

What would you call obfuscating the limits of Government, obscuring the People's business behind closed doors? What would you call enforcing unpopular legislation that will follow your grandchildren to their end? I call it gangster government!

[ronaldr5-2009]

To jxknowles April 16, 2010 8:28 PM EDT :
Bachman's district in Minnesota has the highest level of unemployment and highest number of home foreclosures. She failed miserably when it came to helping her own consituents. It's obvious why someone like this would run away from her own record and try to divert attention elsewhere with lies and fabrications. She's a loser. Her constituents elected a loser. Now they are losing together/

HA!!

Try whining to your Democratic Governor and the majority Democratic-Farmer-Labor members in the State House. You can't fool anyone with your myopic and politically- biased assessment of Bachmann. She is the best thing that has happened to Minnesota. Until the Democratic state leadership is dismembered, continue to enjoy your condition as a third-rate state.

[pasmalltown]

by ronaldr5-2009 April 16, 2010 9:17 PM EDT -
"...assessment of Bachmann. She is the best thing that has happened to Minnesota."
-----------
If Bachmann is the "best thing" Mn has to offer, then MN can have her...............

[Bisk1]

ronaldr5 ...... I knew there was a screw loose but Pawlenty is now a Democrat ??? You have to be the Dumbest Repug yet. Cheers !

[jxknowles]

by bcc243 April 16, 2010 4:44 PM EDT
those complaing about taxes are the ones paying the taxes. YOu don't hear the liberals out complaining, because they don't work or contribute to the economy.

Sorry bcc243 (I guess that's 243 b.c. thinking). Most teabaggers are elderly, low-income, racially-intolerant white people. A lot of them (including the two main organizers in my state) are on social security, unemployment, disability or medicare. They are also surprisingly the least informed, disorganized voting block out there. As GOP defectors, they are a non-issue to Democrats and a big threat to Republicans.

[jxknowles]

Bachman's district in Minnesota has the highest level of unemployment and highest number of home foreclosures. She failed miserably when it came to helping her own consituents. It's obvious why someone like this would run away from her own record and try to divert attention elsewhere with lies and fabrications. She's a loser. Her constituents elected a loser. Now they are losing together.

[ronaldr5-2009]

Try looking to the Governor's office, why don't you?

[retm-w]

jxknowles

Sounds like an Obama problem, not a Bachman problem. Obama hasn't bothered to address unemployment or forclosures, other then to say there is a problem. He spent over a year on a healh insurance reform plan, that the wheels are starting to fall off already. Instead of addressing the unemployment problem and passing it off that the stimulas would take care of it, which it hasen't.