NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2008

Bill Clinton Understands Palin's Appeal

Former President Says People In The Heartland Can Relate To Her

  • Former President Bill Clinton at the Democratic National Convention in Denver last month.

    Former President Bill Clinton at the Democratic National Convention in Denver last month.  (AP)

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(AP)  Bill Clinton said Monday he understands why Sarah Palin is popular in the heartland: because people relate to her.

"I come from Arkansas, I get why she's hot out there," Mr. Clinton said. "Why she's doing well."

Speaking to reporters before his Clinton Global Initiative meeting, the former president described Palin's appeal by adding, "People look at her, and they say, 'All those kids. Something that happens in everybody's family. I'm glad she loves her daughter and she's not ashamed of her. Glad that girl's going around with her boyfriend. Glad they're going to get married."'

Mr. Clinton said voters would think, "I like that little Down syndrome kid. One of them lives down the street. They're wonderful children. They're wonderful people. And I like the idea that this guy does those long-distance races. Stayed in the race for 500 miles with a broken arm. My kind of guy."

Palin, the governor of Alaska, became an overnight star when Republican presidential candidate John McCain tapped her for his running mate. Her family, including her Down syndrome baby, Trig, her pregnant 17-year-old daughter, Bristol, and her husband, Todd, four-time winner of the 2,000-mile Iron Dog snowmobile race, have garnered intense media interest.

"I get this," Mr. Clinton said. "My view is ... why say, ever, anything bad about a person? Why don't we like them and celebrate them and be happy for her elevation to the ticket? And just say that she was a good choice for him and we disagree with them?"

The global initiative, a project of Clinton's foundation, will hold its four-day annual meeting in Manhattan starting Tuesday.

After that, Clinton said he will be busy campaigning for the Democratic ticket of Sens. Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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by jgainer2 September 24, 2008 10:25 PM EDT
I could like Sarah if she wasn''t on the Republican ticket. She is not qualified. How many of the states of the US has she visited. She sounded ga, ga, about New York. There are probably 10 women in every room with her that have a better grasp on what is going on with the economy, foreign policy, etc. It''s scary!
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by mainecoonrud September 24, 2008 11:08 AM EDT
Caribou Barbie won''t be answering the phone during a nuclear crisis, she''ll be too busy causing it.
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by sallievoter September 24, 2008 1:06 AM EDT
TThe MEDIA SILENCE from Ms. Palin has been deafening. It appears to many women that the GOP campaign has restricted her from speaking unless they write it and unless they give her permission to speak. This is not the model anyone was hoping for in a female candidate for the office of Vice Presidency. It is essentially a message from GOP that women should be controlled and used and then silenced when told to be quiet by men. Why has a GOVERNOR OF A US STATE complied with this disturbing mandate from a group of male politicians. Is that what Palin and McCain envision as the role of women in the government? to be obedient and quiet? Are ALL WOMEN supposed to just shut up and go vote for the GOP, and then fade away? This is a really disturbing insight into where women stand in the GOP. They handpick a woman%u2014a GOVERNOR, NO LESS%u2014- and then muzzle her while they feed her the party line. Then%u2014and only then%u2014will she be allowed to speak her mind. This is what WOMEN MEAN TO MCCAIN AND THE GOP. KEEP YOUR PLACE, WOMEN. SHUT YOUR MOUTH AND BE QUIET. YOUR VIEWS AND OPINIONS ARE NOT WELCOME UNLESS THE GOP CAN SCRIPT THEM FOR YOU. WHY IS PALIN GOING ALONG WITH THIS?
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by payasyougo September 24, 2008 12:39 AM EDT
"Bill Clinton Understands Palin''s Appeal"
----
But Bill, the topic was politics.

I understand Bill Clinton was attempting to contact David Kernell to see if David was any good cracking phones...
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by September 23, 2008 10:43 PM EDT
These sound like the lines Bill used to seduce Monica. Maybe "First Dude" should be on the alert that the wolf is on the prowl once again?
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by wlmrtpatriot September 23, 2008 8:08 PM EDT
marbu: THATS what I mean!! Exactly. That''s the thing the DNC has lost. Charm and any substance. In defense of a good Democrat. I would like to say this about our state''s Dem. Represenative. He is a good person, His office is helpful and you do feel free to call on them. Some of you people have acted like sociopaths to anybody who disagrees with your point of view. eg: Compromising Palin''s e-mail, then blaming it on her. ''gag''
Ms Palin doesn''t need to lead the world. We have councils on foreign relations to advise her. That''s what they are for.
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by wlmrtpatriot September 23, 2008 7:54 PM EDT
"They took Palin out on a field trip today"??? Where did they take the ''annointed one''?
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by rushlimpdrug September 23, 2008 7:28 PM EDT

Bill Clinton.

barrack obama.

Hillary Clinton.

Sarah Palin.

Joe Biden.


Honestly, which can you relate to?

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by marbru-2009 September 23, 2008 7:20 PM EDT
"I get this," Mr. Clinton said. "My view is ... why say, ever, anything bad about a person? Why don''t we like them and celebrate them and be happy for her elevation to the ticket? And just say that she was a good choice for him and we disagree with them?"

Amen, President Clinton - We don''t have to agree on everything and we don''t have to HATE everything or everyone that doesn''t necessarily agree with what we believe. All the liberals out there like to cry "tolerance" but they have no tolerance for anyone who disagrees with them and spew hatred everywhere. Seems pretty hypocritical to me.
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by kuei12 September 23, 2008 7:20 PM EDT
"I just bet good old Bill thinks moose barbie is applealing. He''''s probably thinking BJ "

I know I am.
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by jack19452 September 23, 2008 6:53 PM EDT
I just bet good old Bill thinks moose barbie is applealing. He''s probably thinking BJ
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by easeup-2009 September 23, 2008 6:44 PM EDT
They took Palin on a field trip today to meet nine heads of state plus Bono. When her field trip is over, she will be a bona fide expert on foreign policy. She will add this experience to the experience she gained by looking out of the window to one of the Russian islands. When all this is done, she will be equipped to lead the free world. Isn''''t that special?

Posted by Salih-Ibn at 03:32 PM : Sep 23, 2008

You could say the exact same thing about the street activist.
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by tammyr7 September 23, 2008 6:42 PM EDT
This election isn''t about Sara Palin''s 17 year old daughter. This is about who we want to vote for President. We''ve all had some kind of problem to deal with in our lives similar to this. Why can''t we take the media away from her daughter? It isn''t any of our business... I wish her daughter the best of luck! And who cares if she marries the baby''s daddy? I''m sure she has plenty of support at home. Ands cutoes to her for having a child with special needs. I personally know how it is to raise a special child. It is tough, but you learn to be the best parent to every child with or without special needs.
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by pastdue1 September 23, 2008 6:28 PM EDT
I have long been a fan of Bill Clinton, but his effort to help this country out of our present dilemna is making me reevaluate my opinion of him. He, more than anyone, should be fighting to keep palin out of the white house. He knows the complexities of being president and he has seen along with the rest of the populace what can happen when someone who is ignorant, not dumb, but without knowledge, gets esconched there. palen may be likeable and just like "us", but most of us realize that taking on the challenge of the vice presidency or the presidency is more than just "not blinking". I am disappointed that he is not putting forth more effort for the country''s survival.
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by notopennshut September 23, 2008 6:18 PM EDT
Bill can just disappear from the scene and it wouldn''t make a difference! He''s hoping that Obama loses so that he can recover and regain some semblance of respect for all the dumpster-diving that he did over the last year. Sure he knows all about Palin - she wears a skirt doesn''t she? He has lost the respect of almost all of us, and if he thinks he can hang on to Hillary "skirt-tails or pants-tail" in 2012, he might as well forget it NOW, for there is no way she will win the support of democrats again after what was done to fracture the party and the lukewarm token of support now. They are FINITO as far as we are concerned and the less said by him, the better the democratic party will be. You are what you "eat" Bill, and so just accept it instead of spewing more rubbish.
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by wlmrtpatriot September 23, 2008 6:17 PM EDT
At least Clinton is aware of how to ''charm'' people.
Something the rest of the DNC lost a long time ago.
Former DNC''ers appreciate what you said Bill, even though we wouldn''t have voted for you again. Say hello to Hillary for us.
McCain/Palin08
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by singlasalil8 September 23, 2008 6:05 PM EDT
Here is a great resource about Sarah Palin - the most comprehensive page of information on her record and policies available on the Internet ... including videos of her saying her proposed $30 billion pipeline is the %u201Cwill of God,%u201D her saying a month ago she doesn%u2019t know what the vice-president does, and her complaining four months ago that Hillary Clinton was whining about %u201Csexist%u201D media coverage -

http://dailysource.org/palin

It has in-depth research, audio clips, videos, and links to hundreds of articles, including many from newspapers and TV stations in Alaska. It has rare footage, including her telling the %u201808 convention of the Alaska Independence Party, whose aim is to give Alaska a vote on seceding from the U.S., to %u201Ckeep up the good work.%u201D

The level of research is tremendous. The site%u2019s editors and volunteers include an Emmy-award winning CNN reporter, the former operating editor of the Christian Science Monitor%u2019s web site, the former head of NPRs News Blog and the Executive Director of the Online News Association -

http://dailysource.org/

Please tell anyone about this who might want to know more.
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by jmurrieta11 September 23, 2008 6:04 PM EDT
One thing about the Clintons--it''s always about them. Just ask them.
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by codymac4 September 23, 2008 5:56 PM EDT
I didn''t post the first paragraph
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by misspp-2009 September 23, 2008 5:53 PM EDT
Clinton is a despicable human being. He is so transparent. He cares about no one but himself. He doesn''t really care about Hillary. He was merely using her to regain the spotlight. He''s hoping that McCain wins, messes up and then Hillary can run in 2012. He doesn''t seem to realize that a lot can change in four years. Also, his over-the-top compliments about Palin are kind of creepy. It reminds you of what a jerk he really is.
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