Letterman Gets Serious With Clinton

Some Light Moments, But Emphasis In "Late Show" Interview On Iraq And Campaign 2008

(CBS) 
"I find it so exciting as I travel around the country, a lot of people bring their children, particularly their daughters, to meet me. And that's very touching," said Clinton. "I cannot tell you how many women in their 90s come out to see me. And they all say something along the lines of 'You know, I was born before women could vote and I want to live long enough to see women as our president.'"

Being the person who might do that is a big responsibility, said Clinton, stressing that her qualifications to do the job - and not her gender - are at the heart of her campaign.

Letterman asked what it's like campaigning with a former president. Does Bill Clinton ever slip and forget that he's not the candidate?

"If the constitution had not been amended to make it two terms, he might be running," said the former First Lady. "He's been extremely supportive. But he loves being out there with people, and hearing the stories, as I do. He gets into it and gets excited about it. It's fun! You should come with us some time."

Zeroing in Iraq, Letterman asked Clinton whether she believes there will be a permanent U.S. military presence in Iraq.

"I hope not. That sure is not what I believe we should do," said Clinton. "There are no good options. That's one of the problems we have to just accept. But I think we need to begin to withdraw our troops now - bring them home, make it clear they're not going to continue to referee a civil war."

"We've got to put much more pressure on the Iraqi government, which has not lived up to its responsibilities. There is no military solution, and the political side of the equation has been neglected by the government in Iraq and, to some extent, by our government here," she added. "And then we've got to have intensive regional and international diplomacy."

"We will have some continuing problems that we're going to have to deal with. We've got to withdraw our troops carefully and safely," said Clinton. "We have a lot of Americans who are not in the military who are in Iraq: they are contractors, civilian employees. We have a lot of Iraqis who sided with us: they were our translators, our drivers, they did other jobs - I don't want to leave them to be at risk of perhaps assassination, kidnapping, whatever."

"We've got to continue to try to deter and detain al Qaeda - which wasn't there before, but it's there now. And I think we have to help the Kurds, because they've behaved well in this - they've tried to do the best they could, under the circumstances."

"What do we then say to people in the military," asked Letterman, "who might ask 'Gee, what was this all about, then?'"

"I think we say to them that they performed heroically, and they did everything they were asked to do. It's important that every American understand that," said Clinton. "They were asked to rid of Saddam Hussein and bring him to justice, and they did. They were asked to give the Iraqis free and fair elections to chart their own future, and they made that happen. They were asked to give the Iraqi government the space and the time to make these political decisions that only they can make, and they did that as well."

"We should be very proud of the way that our young men and women in uniform performed, and we should make it absolutely clear we're going to take care of them when they come home. If they have health care needs and other needs, we're going to take care of them as long as it takes," said Clinton, noting that there are some 30,000 wounded, some of whom are dealing with brain injuries.

[actornaught]

She was impressive enough on Letterman, and i realized how much more ''presidential'' she is than w on his best days. It''s obvious she''ll be able to purge some of the shame w has inflicted on our country and government, worldwide.

The anti-Hillary flock of sheep have kept themselves insulated from the mainstream, eating out of each others toilets as they prefer to do. Try as they might, their laughable mental powers just won''t bend reality. The reality that plenty of people like Hillary, and her electability has been steadily climbing above the ''pubs for some time. AND she will make a much better president than w, and anybody the ''pubs have.

[me4prezz]

I am voting for Hilary.

[detrack]

"Cover your butt, Hillary''s watching
-Laurie"
a comment that has been going around...maybe it''s true.......

[chicagopoet]

It will be much better if John Edwards is our next president. If Clinton gets elected, that will mean that the same two families, Clinton and Bush, have run this country for over two decades, three if you take into account Bush was VP under Reagan. These are the people responsible for the problems we have today. The last thing we need is to choose a president based on nostalgia. We need new blood in the White House. John Edwards has a plan to end Bush''s illegal, murderous war. Take a good look at John Edwards before it is too late.

[zick8310]

Wow, this is the reason''s we went into Iraq...Doesn''t this mean we''re winning?

"I think we say to them that they performed heroically, and they did everything they were asked to do. It''s important that every American understand that," said Clinton. "They were asked to rid of Saddam Hussein and bring him to justice, and they did. They were asked to give the Iraqis free and fair elections to chart their own future, and they made that happen. They were asked to give the Iraqi government the space and the time to make these political decisions that only they can make, and they did that as well."

[revhowdy4277]

Perhaps V.P.Cheney will help the health care crisis by donating some of the billions that he will make from Haliburton when he gets out of office for their role in scamming us on the reconstruction of Irac.

[revhowdy4277]

If Hillary wins the white house will Bill have to undergo a *** change operation?

[socrates392]

booooo Hitler-y, yayyyyy Fred.

Posted by mommajommah at 07:51 PM : Aug 31, 2007

Hitler? I think Fred thinks and acts more like Hitler than Hillary. Maybe Mao or Stalin or something, but not Hitler. The Republicans are clearly the fascists in this country!

[sblake63]

People harping on Clinton''''s experience are funny. What was Bush''''s "experience" prior to the White House? Did he sit in cabinet meetings, did he meet foreign leaders? Of course not.

Dumb arguments from dumb people.
Posted by incog-nito at 06:46 PM : Aug 31, 2007

__________________

LMFAO@ incog-nito .... ummmm Bush was governor of a state with a population of 22 million people while Hillary was spending her time trying to keep track of her cheating husband.

Now we learn one of Hillary''s biggest fund raisers is a convicted felon and of course she says "oh I had no idea". But what can you expect from Arkansas white trash. Don''t liberals usually trash country types? But instead they are they are hero''s of the left. So much for consistency HAHA!

[mommajommah]

booooo Hitler-y, yayyyyy Fred.

[ioweign]

And Hillary''''s accomplishments are...?????
Posted by bizzzz at 03:55 PM : Aug 31, 2007

And Bush''s accomplishments are....??

[incog-nito]

People harping on Clinton''s experience are funny. What was Bush''s "experience" prior to the White House? Did he sit in cabinet meetings, did he meet foreign leaders? Of course not.

Dumb arguments from dumb people.

[incog-nito]

All this Hillary-bashing is pointless. One thing''s for sure: a Dem will be in the White House in 08.

[awbsdad]

Hillary for president? Of what? Surely not the US. That would be the final blow to this country. I think she has no respect among foreign leaders. She would be a pushover. Bill wants back in and would be her advisor. Wonder if Monica can stay in the Lincoln Bedroom?
Please, people....see thru that fake grin, those pantsuits, etc. FAKE FAKE FAKE and money hungry and power hungry. Would she bring back all the stuff she took? What about new stuff? Furnishing a new house? Give me a BREAK!

[randaids]

There is no way Hillary can win, no way!!!!!!

[manner6]

Do you HAVE TO be breath-takingly stupid to be a conservative?

[bizzzz-2009]

And Hillary''s accomplishments are...?????

[actornaught]

Nancy Reagan was more qualified than w, and Hillary''s accomplishments pale them both.

So does her command of the english language...

[j4401]

If you do not think your being manipulated then enjoy your fear. I prefer the truth.
A retired general once told me, "war is all about the money period." I do not think that has changed, do you?

[sblake63]

j4401 - Not really, but does it make you feel better to pretend it''s "over". There has been a least a dozen major plots foid since 2001 and more in the works that we dont know about. Seeing two 110 story buildings collapse should never leave our minds as long as the ones who planned it are still making threats.