Former President Bill Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York today, imagines a globe-trotting role as a president's husband. AP photo by Jason DeCrow
by Mark Silva
Bill Clinton spoke about his potential role as First Man in the White House of his wife and presidential candidate, Sen. Hillary Clinton, in an interview with Maria Bartiromo on CNBC’s Power Lunch today. He said he might play a role a lot like that of his own First Lady during his presidency, or that of Eleanor Roosevelt.
Bartiromo interviewed the former president at the annual Clinton Global Initiative in New York, where invitees are required to arrive with announcements of funding for programs that will help people. (First Lady Laura Bush was among them last year.)
“I just want to get more people involved in trying to do things to help solve problems and save lives,’’ said Clinton, touting a commitment from a Florida utility to spend nearly $2.5 billion on solar power.. “That’s the sort of thing we are trying to do.’’
He was asked about Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's attempt to visit “Ground Zero’’ in New York this week, during his visit to the United Nations. The New York Police Department refused to permit the visit, for security reasons.
“I agree with the decision not to permit him to go down there because he has and his country has supported terror,’’ Clinton said. “And I think if I had been him, instead of picking a fight or overreacting to the criticism at Columbia, I would have tried to lay the basis for some sort of dialog. I think it is a mistake that he didn’t.
“Iran is a big country, three times the size of Iraq. They’ve got a genuine military,’’ he said. “We could have a lot of trouble with them in the future… We should be trying to find a non-hostile way to work out our future and their future.’’
Clinton also was asked what role he would like to play if his wife, senator from New York and frontrunner in her party’s 2008 presidential polls at the moment, is elected president.
“I would like to do whatever would most help her succeed,’’ he said. “Serve the American people well and help America’s standing in the world. She thinks off the top of her head now the best thing I could do for her would be to travel the world and help the world to know we are open for business.
“She also has said when I told her I would like to continue to do this work, my old foundation work and AIDS development work, that she agreed that was good for the country,’’ he said.
Can he compare himself to any other first partner or lady?
“Not exactly,’’ he said. “Because I was president, it will be different. But I don’t think it will it will any different in some ways than she or Eleanor Roosevelt. They both went over the world. They were the two most active ones, I think. But in the sense that they didn’t make policy, they just gave their advice when they were asked for it. I think that is what I should do.’’
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Comments
My only problem with Bill Clinton (post Presidency) is his befriending of certain Republicans (George H W Bush ect.) thus giving them some legitimacy that they have not earned and do not deserve.
Posted by: John E | September 26, 2007 3:14 PM
On John E's comment, I think its about being the bigger person and trying to find common ground (this credit goes to both of them). Clinton's work and openly friendly relationship with GWHB actually calls to task those on the Right that continue to use Clinton as the blame for every problem that exists or as the catch-all reason to hate Democrats. If Clinton is so bad, why does the father of the posterboy for everything the far Right believes in openly advocate causes with him, while slapping him on the back like one of his sons? Something for the Righties to try to explain to themselves.
The message is get over it and work together. Focus on what we have in common and what we all want. Eight years of peace and prosperity under Clinton, we could do worse.
It will be interesting how W chooses to define himself post-presidency. As much as I don't like him, if he truly wants to move forward and use his resources to accomplish something of value to ALL Americans or the global community, that should be taken as a positive sign and supported. If he just wants to go fishing with Barney or golf with his cronies, well then there you have it.
Posted by: kb | September 26, 2007 3:50 PM
I'm sure Bill Clinton wishes to globe-trot. That will take him out of D.C. and away from the press. That wll give him the opportunity to do what he's most interested in.
And we can all send him boxes of cigars to help him along.
Posted by: Bruce | September 26, 2007 4:10 PM
I don't recall Eleanor Roosevelt "entertaining" a teen-aged girl intern
in her office in the White House. Or being disbarred for lying to a Grand Jury. Or lying to the American people on television
(course, they didn't have TV back then).
No, not like Eleanor Roosevelt. More like Madame Bovary.
Posted by: M. Flanders | September 26, 2007 4:43 PM
If he just wants to go fishing with Barney or golf with his cronies, well then there you have it.
Posted by: kb | September 26, 2007 3:50 PM
I knew Barney the Dinosaur was one of his friends, but I wasn't aware they went fishing together? Do you have any photographic evidence of this?
Posted by: John W. | September 26, 2007 4:47 PM
Lord, I hope so.
Posted by: c. perry | September 26, 2007 4:59 PM
Barney is his dog, if I recall correctly. I once saw him on a fishing show (not making this up) where Bush talked about Barney's reaction to a caught fish --"He licked it". Bush was pretty amused by it. But then the dinosaur might be more his speed.
Posted by: kb | September 26, 2007 5:51 PM
Well, Bill Clinton, one of the most popular presidents of recent American history.
Ya know, the greatest lie ever told about him by the Right Wing Christian Clerical Fascist Base was; 'He is a Liberal'.
Posted by: TheReamer | September 26, 2007 6:47 PM
Clinton was "so popular" that he never received even 50 percent of the vote in two elections. Don't become enamored with polls that can be manipulated in many ways. The man was a reprobate, pure and simple.
Posted by: Fillmore B. | September 26, 2007 9:26 PM
I'm sure Bill will find plenty of ways to serve his country in his first gentleman role. He can look on the bright side, at least he won't be used as a PR tool like Laura Bush was earlier this week. Sending her to the Middle East to put a good face on her husbands mistakes is a shame. I like her. She's been one of the lone bright-spots in an otherwise disreputable, corrupt, and morally bankrupt administration. I look forward to the next Clinton administration.
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | September 27, 2007 12:23 AM
I really like Obama, first and far most, because he believes that you should really talk with your enemy, before you send other people's children to begin shooting. I am sure Obama would not want to send his girls out to shoot someone elses children.,
"keep your friends close, but your enemies closer"
We talk about working toward eliminating gang violence, and other general violence etc.,Even though I think the U.S. is the best country in the world, because as a people we are ,or was privileged with the freedom to keep trying to make it even better.
Yet, as a Country we do not always set the best examples. We wanted the U. S. land. we just got guns and took it from the Native Americans. We wanted Hawaii, again we just got guns and took it. etc.Why? just because we wanted it. Like it or not, It is what it is.
I am aware its a disadvantage trying to play by the rules, when the opposing party either have no rules, or a set that does not respect the U.S. rules.
However regardless, I repeat, I am all for a President with "good feeling people skills" who believes in letting talking to the enemy first, second, third and fourth be the first shots fired... I like John Edward a lot also, both he and Obama seem to have excellent people skills.They have this special ability to sincerely convince people that they care enough about their problems to try and fix them,whether they do are not is yet to be seen...
I will admit the relationship that Bill Clinton seem to have with George H.W. Bush left me with many questions, and some what confused also. At least, I have not seen photos of the two together lately.
As far as Hillary goes, I know that she is really smart, and capable politicaly to run the business of the "White House, but I can not "feel" her passion in reference to the "People skills'. Maybe that is how she feels that she has to be, as a women, not to be ruled as "just another emotional women" by men in power... As they often like to label women who passionately expresses what she feels...
Posted by: Barbara | September 27, 2007 12:31 PM
Regardless of who becomes president, it will not benefit America to allow Bill Clinton's considerable skills go to waste. Clinton is needed to do the things he does better than anyone else. Two areas come to mind. With his phenomenal grasp of economic issues, he would make an outstanding Treasury Secretary. With his proven negotiating skills coupled with the worldwide trust and respect accorded to him, he would be a great roving ambassador. At the top of the list of his duties would be the urgent need to repair America's tarnished reputation abroad, to restore trust in and respect for our government, and to negotiate peace settlements in the Middle East before America is drawn into a wider war or bankrupt, or both.
Posted by: Phyllis McCurry | September 27, 2007 1:41 PM