Bill Clinton Gives Obama An "A" With Caveats

By: Brent Lang
Topics: Bill Clinton

(AP Photo/Danny Johnston)

Former President Bill Clinton thinks that President Obama is off to a great start, but he just wishes he sounded more optimistic. In a wide-ranging interview this morning on ABC's "Good Morning America," the former president said he thinks that the new Oval Office resident deserves an "A" for getting his massive stimulus bill passed into law, but needs to be more optimistic.

"I just would like him to end by saying that he is hopeful and completely convinced that we're gonna come through this," Mr. Clinton told "Good Morning America" anchor Chris Cuomo. "It's worth reminding the American people that for more than 230 years everyone who bet against America lost money. It's a mistake to bet against this country over the long run."

Yet Mr. Clinton stressed that he believed that Mr. Obama's sobering talk about the state of the economy was a responsible move.

"The last thing you want to do when you take office in a time like this is give people lot of inane happy talk and false promises about how quickly we can get out of this," Mr. Clinton said.

Mr. Clinton also endorsed the rationale behind Mr. Obama's economic stimulus package and swatted off Republican charges that it amounted to wasteful spending.

"I view the stimulus plan as a bridge over troubled waters," said Mr. Clinton.

"I might have even proposed more money," he added later.

While pointing the finger of blame for the current crisis squarely at former President George W. Bush, Mr. Clinton admitted that his administration should have done more to regulate derivatives.

"I think we should have moved a little more aggressively on these derivatives," Mr. Clinton said. "Alan Greenspan and others thought we shouldn't regulate, didn't need to regulate derivatives, because they would only be bought by very large, very wealthy, very sophisticated institutional buyers."

Yet he said that the root of the problem had to do with subprime mortgages that were given out from 2004 to 2007.

"I personally believe, based on my experience over the years with the economy, that if we moved aggressively on this home problem a year and a half ago, even a year ago, as much as 90 percent of the current crisis could have been avoided," Mr. Clinton said.

One decision that Mr. Clinton had no quibble with was Mr. Obama's selection of his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, as secretary of state.

"That's an A-plus-plus," Mr. Clinton said.

Mr. Clinton has been making the rounds lately. He also appeared recently on CNN's "Larry King Live" and was interviewed last night on Fox News' "On The Record with Greta Van Susteren."

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by lightnin001 February 20, 2009 10:44 PM EST: Wonderful Clinton
Isn't this the same Clinton who tried to kill Bin Ladin with a missile and failed (killing one of his sons)? Didn't Bin Ladin then put suicide terrorists in this country, 2-3 years before Bush was elected, who took pilot training, etc. here, studied the airlines' practices, etc., and struck very soon after President Bush was elected (9-11, remember?) Don't you think it's just possible that revenge was Bin Ladin's motive for the attack? Bush hadn't done anything to him! If that's true, CLINTON bears the responsibility for 9-11!; Reply to this comment


by lightnin001 February 20, 2009 10:13 PM EST: Yep, Clinton hasn't changed, still likes lipstick on the pig!; Reply to this comment


by tincup356 February 20, 2009 9:37 PM EST: As long as brainwashed party supporters "Stay the course" of believing all the BS BOTH parties spew out daily.....''''We the people " will NEVER be represented by EITHER party,,,,,do you FOOLS not see this?....BOTH parties are the DEATH of the middle class,,,people better wake up soon and see this ..or you will find yourself in the middle of a revolution.; Reply to this comment


by dave_p5 February 20, 2009 9:28 PM EST: I'll concede that Clinton deserved to get bonked on the head (in the form of the impeachment)for the Monica Lewinsky thing.

Having said that, he was vastly more competent as a president than Bush, and it's very reassuring to hear him endorse Obama's performance so far.; Reply to this comment


by verycold February 20, 2009 7:52 PM EST: Why didn't Bill warn us this tsunami was coming? Why didn't Obama warn us? The reason folks is that NOBODY saw this coming because putting all the pieces together was just too complicated. Bill is being his usual cocky self that can't prove what would have happened if he had been president. He always refuses to take any blame, or just a tiny piece of it, because he likes to find others to blame. Lots of bad people took advantage of the system. Lots of Bill's friends chose to look the other way. Bush apparently didn't see any warning signs either. The sad fact is that 6 of the 8 years were financial good for most Americans. Sadly all that got wiped out because oil prices that were manipulated by Wall Street goons, put the final touches on an economy that was probably headed for a recession. We should remember that an economy includes recessions and yes depressions. Nothing stay up and rolling along forever.; Reply to this comment


by jankebenz February 20, 2009 7:10 PM EST: Posted by antoniof123 at 03:07 PM : Feb 20, 2009
---------------------------------
you obviously suffer from democratic dementia,here,s a tidbit of memory refresher from a very lenghty list of Clintons lying legacy.

Bill Clinton, President of the United States was impeached by the House of Representatives on December 19, 1998, and acquitted by the Senate on February 12, 1999. The charges, perjury, obstruction of justice, and abuse of power; Reply to this comment


by antoniof123 February 20, 2009 6:13 PM EST: I Miss Bill!

Posted by Labourboss at 03:02 PM : Feb 20, 2009

So do I glad to see he is back in the public light to help us out. Notice the Demcorats try to help the Republicans just complain.; Reply to this comment


by antoniof123 February 20, 2009 6:07 PM EST: In order to be able to grade somebody else''s performance or worth,one must have the highest of credentials, integrity, and honor.Clinton has proven himself a dismal failure in all these areas.

Posted by jankebenz at 02:51 PM : Feb 20, 2009

More neocon dribble and most of us have had enough except for neocons.

Here you go read it and learn something this site is a government site and has been vetted by all parties.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/williamjclinton/

42. WILLIAM J. CLINTON 1993-2001
During the administration of William Jefferson Clinton, the U.S. enjoyed more peace and economic well being than at any time in its history. He was the first Democratic president since Franklin D. Roosevelt to win a second term. He could point to the lowest unemployment rate in modern times, the lowest inflation in 30 years, the highest home ownership in the country's history, dropping crime rates in many places, and reduced welfare rolls. He proposed the first balanced budget in decades and achieved a budget surplus. As part of a plan to celebrate the millennium in 2000, Clinton called for a great national initiative to end racial discrimination.

Now stop being a moron!; Reply to this comment


by smt451d February 20, 2009 6:04 PM EST: Both of the Clintons are money-grubbing frauds. Neither has a shred of moral character.; Reply to this comment