by Mark Silva
Bill Clinton, who has been making the rounds of media interviews this week, has served up some conflicting advice for President Barack Obama.
Clinton says he thinks Obama should talk more optimistically about the prospects that the nation will recover from its economic crisis, the 42nd president said in another of his appearances, this morning on ABC's Good Morning America.
At the same time, Clinton said of Obama, "I like the fact that he didn't come in and give us a bunch of happy talk."
And, as our colleague Andrew Malcolm previewed in the Ticket, Clinton himself is upbeat: "You will see some good economic news form the stimulus fairly soon."
Yet, as we observed here last night and earlier this week, Clinton told FOX News' Greta Van Susteren that Obama is doing well in going around Congress and talking straight to the people, and he told CNN's Larry King that "it's always good to be straight with the American people,'' and said that Obama had found the right mix of acknowledging the nation's problems while holding out the promise of a recovery.
So it seems all bases are covered.
Comments
Bill Clinton should be happy his wife got the consolation prize after we put them both out to pasture.
He's a clown and needs to shut his face.
Be careful, Barack. I told you they will stab you in the back the first chance they get. Hillary's eyes are on 2012.
Posted by: captainkona | February 20, 2009 10:01 AM
WELL IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR THAT FAT ASS WINDBAG BILL CLINTON TO START BACK STABBING PRESIDENT OBAMA. WHO THE HELL ASKED FOR HIS ADVICE ANYWAY. BIG BILLY SHOULD JUST DROP OUT OF THE PUBLIC EYE AND STOP EMBARRASING HILARY.
Posted by: BOO-HOO | February 20, 2009 11:05 AM
Guys, calm down. He wasn't backstabbing Obama or doing anything untoward. He's an ex-president for pete's sake, they will all be commenting without criticizing too harshly as time goes on, as they always do.
Posted by: Joe | February 20, 2009 11:38 AM
I wouldn't mind hearing a little more optimisin - what wrong with a pep talk instead of gloom and doom. Bill needs something to do since the little woman is at work.
Posted by: vla | February 20, 2009 1:16 PM
Bill should have been appointed NY Senator.
Posted by: Doug R. | February 20, 2009 2:58 PM
When it comes to the kind of leadership that could show us the way out of this crisis, Obama made it obvious that he's no Vince Lombardi. For a guy who was basking in the triumph of "Hope Over Fear" just three weeks ago, his recent calculated and specious fear-mongering is irresponsible, unhelpful, and appalling.
One of the drivers of our economic mood is what the president is saying- so if he badmouths the economy, it tanks. But, if he is bullish and confident, the markets listen... and are more willing to invest in the future. While Obama is riding a high-tide of support, a little optimism might have done us all a great service... especially in an economic crisis that's rooted in lack of confidence and stability.
Instead, Obama's remarks accentuated the negative, and for political purposes. Whenever dissappointing data was released, to Team Obama it was a sign of impending doom. According to their narrative, this economy is the worst since The Great Depression. So without Obama's massive spending bill, we may "fall into an abyss" from which we will "never recover". This alarmist propaganda may have been useful to Obama politically, but it's inaccurate historically... and betrays very poor leadership qualities.
http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Reaganite Republican | February 20, 2009 5:55 PM
I'm sure Billy is happy - Hillary is in Asia and he has the house to himself
Posted by: Terry | February 20, 2009 9:01 PM
Avoid 14 hour open heart surgery.
All that anesthesia kills off too many brain cells.
Bill is approaching dotage faster than anyone would have thought a few years back.
The Clintons remind me of that phrase, "Job's comforters", when they're offering advice.
Posted by: ornery | February 21, 2009 3:14 AM