Bill Clinton Gives Obama An "A" With Caveats

(AP Photo/Danny Johnston)
"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."
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
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See all 32 CommentsIsn'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!
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.
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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
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.
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!
Posted by Inketolstoy
WE? Speak for yourtself, but thanks for being humble. Do you really want the blame when he fails? Be careful what you wish for.
Can we call on the President in the same manner if he ruins our country?? Fair transparency should be the order of business, and if he cannot take responsiblity for any failure then impeach him. WIll he accept his fate?
WE can't seem to get rid of Clinton, perhaps not.
Posted by two-cats1 at 12:44 PM : Feb 20, 2009
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Their voters won't throw them out. The GOP has systematically destroyed education in the states they run: Cutting funding, little science education (but lots of creationism), lowering standards, tolerating high dropout rates, marginalizing minority schools, etc.
WHY? Because the GOP knows that an educated public will not support them. If the GOP can continue to brainwash their constituents with Rush, Hannity, and Fake New Network, then they can lie their way into power every time. Their uneducated constituents won't know just how lied to they are.
Posted by sheila2u at 12:38 PM : Feb 20, 2009
Well, as the saying goes -- which didn't you like, the PEACE or the PROSPERITY ? LOL
LOOK THE UNITED KINGDOM has just classified 2 bailed out banks as public sector entities, moving up to $2.136 TRILLION of liabilities to its balance sheet with more coming! (Wall Street Journal 2-20-09 page 1)
Time for "Intervention"!
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