Bill Bradley shoots and scores for Obama on Newshour tonight

[zulchzulu]

You can listen to the entire interview (mp3) and listen for yourself.

On supporting Barack Obama

JIM LEHRER: And, Senator Bradley, Barack Obama, right?

BILL BRADLEY (D), Former Presidential Candidate: One hundred percent.

JIM LEHRER: OK.

Starting with you, Senator Bradley, do you believe that both Clinton and Obama are viable candidates and both should go on from this point on?

BILL BRADLEY: I think Barack Obama has a much stronger chance of beating John McCain in the general election. I think Hillary is flawed in many ways, and particularly if you look at her husband's unwillingness to release the names of the people who contributed to his presidential library.

And the reason that is important -- you know, are there favors attached to $500,000 or $1 million contributions? And what do I mean by favors? I mean, pardons that are granted; investigations that are squelched; contracts that are awarded; regulations that are delayed.

These are important questions. The people deserve to know. And we deserve, as Democrats, to know before a nominee is selected, because we don't want things to explode in a general election against John McCain.

JIM LEHRER: But as a practical matter, based on what happened yesterday, winning three out of four and where the delegate count rests right now, do you think she still has a really good -- there's a real good possibility she could win the nomination, Senator?

BILL BRADLEY: No, I really don't...

JIM LEHRER: You don't?

BILL BRADLEY: ... because, mathematically, even if she won 60 percent of the rest of the races, she'd still be behind in pledged delegates. And that would mean that the super-delegates would end up making the decision.

And I think increasingly super-delegates are going to go with Barack Obama, particularly in districts that he won substantially.

I don't think you're going to find congressmen, even congresspeople that are behind Hillary early, go against their district, because if they go against their district, they're going to find that they could very well have a primary challenge the next time.

---

On Hillary Clinton's experience

JIM LEHRER: Well, Senator Bradley, how would you respond to that on behalf of the Barack...

BILL BRADLEY: The idea that Senator Clinton has got a lot of experience from the time she was the first lady, I think the facts don't make that case. I mean, she has not named one issue that was a critical, national security issue, that we're in a time of war, where she played a significant role.

She has no experience in weighing different kinds of intelligence reports and trying to make a decision. She hasn't managed the egos and agendas of a national security staff. In fact, as first lady, she didn't even have a security clearance.

So I can't buy the argument that somehow or another -- I mean, the role of a first lady is very important. I don't doubt that. And I think, in certain diplomatic situations, she was helpful.

But in terms of being a person ready to go with the so-called red phone at the bedside on day one is just incorrect, given what the whole facts are.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/white_house/jan-june08/demdiscuss_03-05.html

[Captain Hilts]

1. Boy was he a loser and total toadie for the pharmaceutical industry. nt

[Hawkeye-X]

2. If you can't say anything nice....

Don't SAY ANYTHING at all, Mookie.

[ShaneGR]

26. Wait, he bashes Clinton, then you say if "you can't say anything nice."

Huh?

[Tarheel_Dem]

47. what is your definition of "bashing"? I'm hearing this so much

from Clintonites. Any criticism of Hillary is always couched as "bashing". I'm just interested to know what we can and cannot say about Hillary? Is it "bashing" to question the Clintons about their financial records, so that there are no surprises if she's the nominee? I really am interested....

[zulchzulu]

73. Pointing out truth is not "bashing" n/t

[thunder rising]

4. Yeah, but that's not what the audience heard!! Ha Ha

[soleft]

7. He had a nice base line jump shot

And he's really tall. I shook his hand once at the Journal Square Path Station.

[CitizenLeft]

39. yep, he had a killer baseline jumpshot

Marv Albert: "Bradley from the corner... YEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!"

Used to listen to the Knicks on the radio as a kid. Loved Dollar Bill!

[JackORoses]

9. he's sure ringing the Clintons' bell though

[thewiseguy]

Boy did he touch a nerve there! LOL

[Lefty-Taylor]

13. Mookie (love your name), but how is your post relevant to what Bradley said? You posted

a non-sequitor. Even if you're right about his ties to Big Pharma. Stay focused. :>)

[saltpoint]

34. Hillary Clinton hauls in her share from those folks, as shown here:

http://money.cnn.com/2006/07/12/news/newsmakers/healthcare_clinton/index.htm

No. 2 in the Senate. They're flooding her coffers for influence.

[Tarheel_Dem]

48. Old Crusoe, thanks for putting things into their proper perspective.....

I don't get this Hillary lovefest at all. Most of us, at some point, have had our issues with the DLC types, and now we're supposed to forget all that, and fall in line behind HRC? I don't think so.

[saltpoint]

52. Hello, Tarheel_Dem. I'm a refugee from the Edwards camp since he has

suspended his candidacy, but am drawn to Obama as much as I am disappointed in HClinton.

Within the party itself at levels far higher than my household, there's a sense that it's not the 90s any longer and that the Clintons should kind of mosey on out the door.

I'll support our ticket no matter who is nominated, but I just never was a Clinton Democrat.

[Tarheel_Dem]

59. Unfortunately, I was blinded to their shortcomings, because of my

disdain for the Republicans. But I am now witnessing firsthand, some of the very things the Pukes have been saying about them all along. "Scorched Earth" politics may be appropriate against members of the opposing party, but when used against your own, I think is absolutely repugnant and unforgiveable.

I realize that Obama endeavoured to practice a different kind of politics, to move us beyond the divisiveness that has kept anything from being accomplished in Washington. But I think the time has come to turn her "kitchen sink" strategy on her.

Unlike you, I just can't committ myself to saying that I'll vote for her, because I've seen nothing that has endeared her to me since this campaign season began.

[Cha]

43. hilary's just a toadie for

everybody.

[0007]

51. You can say that again!!

[Cha]

55. hilary's just a toadie

for everybody. :)

[0007]

58. That's enough now!

[Divernan]

3. Favors attached to donations to Clinton's presidential library.

And the reason that is important -- you know, are there favors attached to $500,000 or $1 million contributions? And what do I mean by favors? I mean, pardons that are granted; investigations that are squelched; contracts that are awarded; regulations that are delayed.

[tishaLA]

5. Have to bookmark this for later

I suspect that whatever Bradley is saying, we will be hearing a lot of in the next couple weeks.

[madaboutharry]

6. Obama needs to keep discussing the fact that

the First Lady doesn't have security clearance and that it is not to be considered "experience" to become president. The whole "experience" argument is BS and everyone needs to know that.

[anonymous171]

15. The experience argument also helps her use fear to get votes.

Without her experience fear will not drive people to her.

[eridani]

50. Using "security clearance" is using the Repub frame

Under no circumstances should he do that.

[anigbrowl]

8. Oof! He put that one right in the net

sorry, couldn't resist the basketball metaphor.

[Altair]

10. So many in the party establishment are coming out for Obama- great to see

[anamandujano]

36. So where's the new?

[FrenchieCat]

11. Thanks. Listening now. Will comment later!

Thanks!

[ClayZ]

12. Yeah! K and R

[Beregond2]

14. Bradley

He raises a number of good points.

[JimGinPA]

16. We're Going To Be Hearing A Lot More Of These Things Being Brought Up Now...

That's going to make her start answering some tough questions.

[Scurrilous]

17. K & R

:kick:

[americanstranger]

18. Dollar Bill, nothin' but net.

There's your preview of Obama's pushback. It'll stick, too, I bet.

- as

[City Lights]

19. I'm glad he's raising these questions because they do need answering.

I just wish someone had raised these issues sooner.

[Voice for Peace]

23. I think they're just getting warmed up. nt

[City Lights]

35. Absolutely. eom

[KittyWampus]

28. you know, it was almost a given Clinton would win OH/RI. It looks like Obama might even win TX

delegate-wise.

Since Clintons decided to get ugly, perhaps it's all for the best.

Now there's a rationale for exposing Clintons for what they are.

Obama and his surrogates will be seen as counterpunching.

[City Lights]

33. You're right. I'm just eager for this to be over.

She started it. She better be prepared to be buried when the favor is returned.

[Cha]

46. I know but we're still ahead and

now people seem to be expecting Obama to come out with the heavy stuff after the way hilary did the gutter crawl all week.

[City Lights]

54. I'm LOLing over your "gutter crawl" comment.

:rofl: :thumbsup:

[saltpoint]

20. Bill Bradley is one of the rare souls who comprise the No Fools group of

Democrats.

This is pro-Obama viewpoint, but it states simple arithmetic about delegate counts and odds thereof.

I would like to see Bill Bradley on Obama's short list for veeps if Obama is our nominee, and I think Bradley's instincts on that point are spot on.

[zulchzulu]

22. I really want Bradley to be part of the Obama administration

If that happens, it would indeed be a wonderful thing.

I got to meet Bill Bradley a few times in 2000 when he was running...wow...what an excellent human being. If he had a better campaign team, he would have done better.

It's all about the team.

[saltpoint]

25. Agree on all counts.

Bradley would also make an excellent Health/Human Services Sec.

He wasn't too bad at forward with the Knicks, either.

_ _ _
good to see you, sir.

[Colobo]

21. Go Bill! Gobama!

[NMMatt]

24. How could any sane Democrat vote for the corrupt Clintons again!? -nt

[goclark]

49. It's been sixteen + long years of seeing the Bush/Clinton's

in the WH.

There should be a law against it.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

27. Gotta love Bill Bradley.

[cottonseed]

29. Hilllary's "experience" is the biggest fairy tale I've ever seen.

I'm glad it's being chipped away at.

[chitty]

32. Just remember.......

35 years.

35 years of what?

:shrug:

[DrFunkenstein]

30. You're Going to Hear More and More About People Like Denise Rich

The wife of Marc Rich who has given tens of thousands to the Clinton Library and Sen. Clinton's various campaigns. While Obama didn't actually do anything wrong with Rezko, you are going to see more and more come to light about the Clinton donors and the quid pro quo.

[saltpoint]

31. As long as the OP had the excellent taste to invoke Bill Bradley tonight,

I thought I'd share one of my favorite Bradley stories.

It's capsulized here:

http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/time/1999/04/19/bradley.html

but this paragraph is the winner:

For now, it's enough that someone in the race hasn't taken a poll, that someone spends his time talking about "seeing the goodness in your neighbor" and "making connections" and "feeling less lonely, less isolated, less fearful." If it sounds as if he's running for pastor rather than President, at times you can almost feel it working. At a spaghetti dinner in Keene, a fifth-grader named Leeanne Hamel stood and sang the national anthem. Her voice was sweet and clear, but she had trouble with the high notes, and her confidence broke. Bradley's voice came in to help, and then others, until finally the whole place was singing, led by Leeanne. When it was over, everyone cheered. The only smile bigger than Bradley's belonged to the young girl. That might not get him anywhere near the White House, but it counts for more than any political speech I've heard this year.

[Ichingcarpenter]

37. He was my second pick for president many years ago

He still has game, thanks for the story.

[saltpoint]

38. Well said -- he does indeed still have game, and a lot of brains and

integrity, too.

I'd love to see him in as influential a role as possible in our next government.

[CitizenLeft]

44. Mine too.

Brilliant man. Read his autobiography as a kid, I was a huge Knicks fan.

[JerseygirlCT]

67. He was my first. nt

[Shakespeare]

53. I adore the man. I ran into a very exhausted Senator Bradley in 1999....

....about 7:30 one evening in the deserted lobby of the office building where I worked in Washington, DC. I'd worked late that night, and he'd apparently had a meeting in the building with somebody involved with his presidential campaign.

When I came down into the lobby, he was sitting on the marble bench by the entryway, all alone, looking dog-tired (turns out he was waiting for his car to pick him up to take him to yet another meeting). Not being the shy type, I walked up to him and stuck out my hand. "Senator Bradley! I'm so excited you're running for president!" He looked up, a little surprised, and then stood to his full (very tall) height to shake my hand. We chatted for a few minutes, and then I continued on my way home. He was gracious and friendly, and it's probably my favorite political encounter from my time in DC.

The party could use more like him.

[saltpoint]

56. Tired as he likely was he reflexively stood up and shook your hand.

That is Bill Bradley to a T.

I love that story and agree with you -- the more of that we might have the far better off we'd be.

[theboss]

64. Bradley is a fasinating man. He's almost too decent to have been a politician,

The biggest criticism of him in basketball was that he lacked a killer instinct. I think the same is true of his political career.

I actually just re-read John MacPhee's book on him as an undergrad. Amazing read.

[saltpoint]

68. Yes. There's that strange slurry of competition and compassion that

are at work in him. Basketball and politics are both competitive contact sports, but public service should draw compassionate people. How do compassionate people make good things into policy if they have to elbow others under the basket?

He really is an amazing guy.

[Shakespeare]

83. Two of my favorite anecdotes from McPhee's book:

1. That he would shut himself up in his dorm room before every game, and listen to "Climb Every Mountain" from Sound of Music. That's just endearingly hokey.

2. One of his tactics while playing defense with his arms extended downward in front of the opposing teammate standing behind him, was to pull the opposing player's leg hair. Distracted and angered them every time. :rofl:

[theboss]

86. I love the dichotomy in his personality in that book

He had a strict schedule of practice, of study, and he taught Sunday School each week.

Yet, he was too lazy to change the sheets on his bed.

[anamandujano]

40. You forgot how he threatened the black super delegates with challenges

to their seats if they didn't bow to the pressure to go with Obama.

Bradley found a way to excuse Kerry, Kennedy and Patrick from the rule they tried to make about voting with your constituents. Now it's a clear threat.

He even said they have people to run against them and know how to organize.

Threats is the new hope and inspiration.

[FrenchieCat]

41. I got a chance to hear the entire segment.....

And Bradley kicked some real ass. He was excellent.

Started out when asked if he was for Obama. He stated; 100% in such a voice, I was asking, what is it that does this to Obama supporters?

[zulchzulu]

69. The video is even better

Not sure if they have it online or not, but Bill gave a very self-assured endorsement in his voice and body language when he was asked about his support for Obama. The Hillary fans were pretty tepid...

What was funny about the interview was when Ferraro chastised Bradley for making his statement, calling it negative, and then spewed a bunch of nonsense that was not only negative...but lies.

:rofl:

Bill. Kicked. Ass.

[Cha]

42. Bill Bradley shoots some reality into

hilary's little scam game.

[WillyT]

45. Big K & R !!!

Saw it!

:bounce::kick::bounce:

[Hazelrah]

57. kick n/t

[Stephanie]

60. "She didn't even have a security clearance."

Amazing. Bradley is absolutely correct on every point.

[davidinalameda]

62. that just amazes me that she didn't

I would have assumed that she would have had a security clearance

wonder why she didn't, especially since she was so involved with Bill's presidency

no snarkiness here just wondering

[catgirl]

77. And she claims that she got so much experience during this time

She did help with planning with some menus for international events at the
White House , I know that much.

[zulchzulu]

65. No NSA clearance, no access to Presidential Daily Briefing...

...she didn't attend foreign policy meetings...

Why do you think she hasn't released her records on what she did in the White House?

:shrug:

[HCE SuiGeneris]

61. Valid discussion.

Hillary will be leaving soon.

[theboss]

63. I wish he had been this tough on Gore in 2000

Bradley is just another in a long-string of primary candidates who received my vote and won nothing.

In all seriousnes, the fact that I voted for Obama probably dooms him.

[JerseygirlCT]

66. I've always loved Bill Bradley. nt

[catgirl]

70. Finally. Someone's bringing up Bill's dealings

and the information that the Clinton's aren't releasing that will show how sleazy
they are.

[Coexist]

71. can someone say "BAM!"

[sniffa]

72. SNAP

K&R

[dailykoff]

74. rimshot.

:headbang:

[whatchamacallit]

75. "Just another starry-eyed cultist..."

I love Bill Bradley!

[KittyWampus]

78. I actually supported him over Gore- who was a very different Democrat in office than now

[nell2323]

76. Kick

:kick:

[nsd]

79. I really like Bill Bradley.

His 1984 reelection campaign was the first one I ever volunteered for (I was 15 at the time). He'd make a great VP choice for Obama.

[rosetta627]

80. Wouldn't someone need security clearance to answer the red phone at 3am?

Seems significant.

[Stephanie]

81. I believe that was the Super Nanny hotline.

[Cha]

82. Good Question, rosetta!

A reporter should ask hilary.

[zulchzulu]

92. Xeroxing skills would help too

[breakaleg]

84. It's about time Obama started questioning Hillary's supposed experience. Hearing about things

after the fact as your husband vents from his day at work is not experience. What exactly did she DO?

[cottonseed]

85. Nice read. Glad we're now vetting Hillary's "experience" argument.

Or lack there of.

[saltpoint]

87. Kick.

[Ramonna Villota]

88. Bradley

who can not like him.... Always liked him

[saltpoint]

89. Agree. He has this great arsenal of brains and heart and

keeps the "we" in politics instead of the "I."

[Ramonna Villota]

90. Good Man

We need more like him in spirit and mind .....

Well said

[saltpoint]

91. Kick for the weekend.

And because Bill Bradley is a class act.

[0007]

94. I agree 100% in anything Bill Bradley does is a class act.

He would have made a good president.

[saltpoint]

95. I'm homesick for his candidacy. He brought a lot of light into the

debate, that's for sure.

[BeyondGeography]

93. A great segment...He needs to be Obama's lead surrogate

Get him out there as much as possible, Barack. It doesn't hurt that he has total disdain for the Clintons, either.