What's the Big Deal about Bill's "Patriotism" comments?

[MadBadger]

You know I'm as big a Kool-aid drinker as they come (I think Obama is my messiah - see avatar/sig), but I dont understand this Bill Clinton flap about him possibly questioning Obama's patriotism. Now I do not know when this actually occurred because I've been out of the country for a week, but what's the big deal about what Bill said? I tried my hardest to read something that wasnt there into these comments, but I just couldnt do it; I didnt see the Obama connection in that comment anywhere.

[elizm]

1. Then slick Willie sure finessed one on you! :) nt

[Kierkegaard]

10. I have a question for you, then.

If Bill Clinton painstakingly constructed a statement so loaded with innuendo, why didn't he also imagine the disastrous results for actually using it? This isn't exactly a stupid man (although, this incident wasn't one of his best moments.)

[KittyWampus]

16. So you're saying Clinton is smart enough NOT to use blatant, overt racist/xenophobic cooments

but he's not smart enough to figure how to make covert racist/xenophobic comments?

[Kierkegaard]

20. I'm not saying anything.

I asked you a question. It wasn't complicated.

[elizm]

23. It's all part of the kitchen sink strategy/mentality. Bill can't help himself...

I do not doubt for one minute that he could not have imagined the results, but when your last resort is the kitchen sink.... :shrug:

[BklynChick]

2. in the context of many people's criticism of his association with wright and all the other

"incidents" (implying he's a muslim, implying michelle hates america, the pin, the flat) it's pretty huge. bill clinton knew exactly what he was doing and what a motherfucker.

[mmonk]

3. I noticed it immediately.

I don't think it's "kool aid".

[Kierkegaard]

4. The big deal is...

everything anyone who is in any way connected to either campaign says is going to be parsed, scrutinized and spun as a negative against the respective candidate.

In reality, it shouldn't be a big deal, but given the current state of politics in this country, the media and avid counter supporters have made it so. Bill should have known better than to give away free ammunition.

[mmonk]

7. I'll give you a much worse assessment.

Obama as security risk and someone who hates America. That's politics we can do without because I think it can place Obama in danger with the nuts in our population.

[Kierkegaard]

12. I am aware of the existence of this other 'assessment'

and think it's reaching waaaaay beyond anything Mr. Clinton intended. The truth of the matter is, neither of us has any idea what he really meant. It's pretty pointless to argue about it.

[KittyWampus]

17. Because politicians NEVER speak in "code", right? They just go on the stump and let racist crap fly

out of their mouths.

Oh wait! Not everyone is as stupid as George Allen.

Most figure out how to say the most offensive things without doing it outright.

[Kierkegaard]

21. Don't put words in my mouth, please.

[QC]

5. Any statement about Obama that is not abject, obsequious praise

is considered an evil, racist attack on him. And why not? It has certainly worked well for him so far. It remains to be seen, however, whether crying "Racism!!!!!" every fifteen or twenty minutes will cow the Republicans into silence this fall. I am doubtful about that one.

[MadBadger]

6. You know, this thread has nothing to do with race...so stop injecting it here.

[Rageneau]

24. Your post is a racist,, unfair attack on Obama.

And if it isn't, sit tight and watch the Obama Campaign make it into one.

[SoCalDem]

Emphasis on "TWO" people who love their country

just more code-speak from Bill

[ingac70]

8. The same shit was used against him by Daddy Bush...

after all the shit Democrats have been through since * took office, all that crap about how we "hate 'Murika", he should fucking know better.

He has become on of THEM.

He essentially said McCain and Hillary were the choices if we wanted a candidate who loved "'Murika".

[ProSense]

9. Here:

Link to Bill's comment and Gen. McPeak's response

Link to Hillary's spokesman trying to turn this back on Obama

Hypocrisy

[RazBerryBeret]

11. Just my take on it....

EVEN if you can get past the (obvious to me) slam on Obama's Partriotism (remember Bill is a master of the English Language)....Bill STILL garnered praise on McCain (again)-- who obviously LOVES this country so much he's willing to continue an illegal war for 100 years...God, I hope Hillary doesn't LOVE this country THAT much.....

[madmom]

13. No matter who says what, some one will find something "wrong" with it.

[MannyGoldstein]

14. He Said 'Would', Not 'Will'

Clinton said that it would be nice to have "two people who loved this country and were devoted to the interest of this country" running in the GE. Not that it will be nice. So, clearly, there's a possible scenario where both candidates are not patriotic.

We know that McCain will be running, so he must pass the patriotism test. So Clinton thinks one of the Democrats would not be patriotic. Which one did he mean?

[Tom Rinaldo]

15. You are forever on my "good guys" list

No matter what past or future tangles we might have (or how "wrong" I might consider you to be in any particular one of them :) )

It takes an open mind to question the validity of amnunition useful to one's own side.

[KittyWampus]

19. In this case, it takes someone who is extremely obtuse. Clintons aren't going to say blatantly

racist or xenophobic or McCarthyesque statements.

They'll play these stupid games and occasionally have a surrogate do the most damaging comments.

[DrFunkenstein]

18. Ask Max Cleland. You Can Find Him in The Senate.

Oh wait, no you can't. I'm not sure why, but it might be worth checking out.

[stillcool]

22. This election can be about

the issues, with two people who love this country and are friends discussing the differences in their views. Or it can be about that other guy.