NVR Logo
A Clinton flip-flop on vice president talk
Friday, March 14, 2008
Save and Share Share
Back in January, former President Bill Clinton came to Napa to promote his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton’s run for the Democratic presidential nomination. During his speech he was very clear that any talk about a vice president was not only premature but detrimental to her campaign.

Remember, this was done at a time when Hillary was leading in the polls and the delegate count.
Now that Hillary is behind Barack Obama in the delegate count, Bill and Hillary are trying to drum up support for Obama taking the second chair to Hillary as her vice president.

Welcome to campaign double-speak, when the message takes a 180 degree turn because a campaign -- and the candidate’s message -- is struggling.
Here's the former President's direct quote from his January speech at the Napa Valley Opera House as he spoke about who Hillary's vice president should be.

"I believe there are iron laws of political combat, and when you are fighting for your life, if you think about something that is going to happen after the election is over you are wasting time, dividing your energy and risking your enterprise."
Last weekend in Mississippi, however, Bill goes directly against his “iron laws of political combat,” by taking directly about how strong a Hillary-Barack ticket would be against John McCain and (enter name of your choosing here).

As the Associated Press stated Monday, “Clinton and her husband, the former president, had suggested recently that a Clinton-Obama ticket would be popular and formidable against Republican Sen. John McCain in November.”

Mr. (former) President, why did you decide your iron laws are now unreliable?

Check out the video I shot and posted at napavalleyregister.com -- it is the on the home page -- and go to 24 seconds left in the video to listen as Bill explains why any talk about a vice president is a mistake.

Well Bill, sounds like you and Hillary are pushing a mistake because you are running out of legitimate ways to win the nomination. Why are you risking your enterprise, dividing your energy and wasting time?

Could it be that iron laws of political combat only apply when you or your candidate is ahead, and once you are behind there are no rules any more, just panic, personal attacks and flip-flops instead?

PREVIOUS COLUMNS

Weekly newspapers next for web redesign

The redesign is here, tell us what you think

A whole new look
16 comment(s)

JimClark wrote on Mar 12, 2008 5:22 AM:

" Clinton seems synonomous with selling a used (lemon) car. Female cuckold comes to mind. This election cycle is very disturbing. Bozos. What honest person could survive? Bozos. What has to happen before y'all get it? "

jwk wrote on Mar 12, 2008 7:09 AM:

" The Clinton's Flip-Flop?? Really? Hillary is also very good at lying (not quite as good as Red-Faced Bill) and will do or say anything to get the power she's shooting for. Everything is for THEM not the good of the people. SHe would be disasterous to our country and economy. With or without Hussein Obama the africian Islamist.. The terrorist' would love those two on the ticket though and are pulling for them along with the uninformed kool aid drinkers on the left! "

kevin wrote on Mar 12, 2008 8:07 AM:

" Legitmate ways? When did the Clinton's ever use anything like that! I think this was a brilliant move on Hillary's part. She used a verbal ju-jitsu move to put Obama on the defensive and move herself into the "top position" in the media coverage. I only hope this battle continues until the Dem Convention! They are burning up campaign money at a furious rate, and at some point, Dem voters are going to start getting disgusted with the both of them... "

musikluvr wrote on Mar 12, 2008 11:55 AM:

" I think it is great to watch the Democrats attempt to destroy each other. The democrats have never had an electable candidate in this election so why all the fuss? Clinton dirty tricks are a legend, they use them on the Republicans all the time, why all the fuss when thy double cross fellow democrats. Leopards and liars don't change spots. "

Dan Ross wrote on Mar 12, 2008 12:00 PM:

" muskiluvr:
No fuss at all, just pointing out that Bill Clinton was adamant that any talk about a vice president was flat out wrong. Funny then to hear him push the idea vigorously. A skilled campaigner like him going back on his "iron laws," is something I found amusing, and something others were giving him a free pass on. I don't tend to give out too many free passes. "

funnyme wrote on Mar 13, 2008 5:30 AM:

" Isn't it "politics as usual"? An honest politician? Show me ONE! It is sad to see that we the people are getting so used to the corruption and lies that come with these politicians' speeches every time. Right now it would be the perfect time to remind the democrats of all the "iron laws" and promises made by the Clintons and never delivered; all of the "fishy" situations surrounding "their" presidency -suicides, blown up airplanes... The "almost" impeachment, and its reasons, seems forgotten. Remember how they destroyed White House property on their way out? The Clintons had a presidency and a re-election, why are they allowed to run again? What's next? Chelsea on 2020 and mom for Vicepresident and dad for Secretary of State?
In the"people" world, if you don't do your job the way you promised you would -or told to do- you get fired and you don't get hired again a few years later. Your bosses will remember your chaaracter and what you did or didn't do for them. "

JimClark wrote on Mar 14, 2008 5:24 AM:

" Clintonism is in opposition to practically everything Constitutional. Morality is the QUALITY of living in accord with standards of right and good conduct. Ethics are the practice of morality in face of adversity. The current definition is “doing the right thing even when nobody is looking”. The subversion of our Constitution over the last sixty years has caused some serious debate over morality and ethics. That is most likely why there are so many bozos fouling the seats of a government created by truly honorable individuals.

This upcoming election in November has caused an important test of the American Mind. Is there any candidate worthy of occupying OUR White House? The same White House fouled and demeaned by Clinton (Blythe) 1? It can be argued that Bush 1 & 2 may have been off the mark. Clintonism did not necessarily come from the 1960s. Each of them have an agenda. Now it is Hillary’s turn.
All too many of our legislators commit treason when they swear to protect, preserve & defend The Constitution of The United States of America. Why? They have no respect or understand of the law of our land. karl marx had no participation in our Constitution. Yet socio-communism has infected our culture and our society. “Education” has ignored American History. As parents, you all need to study American history. The Federalist, Thomas Paine, de Toqueville and all so many others will be an inspiration..

Thomas Jefferson gave us “The American Mind”. I would rather see it as our course of direction as opposed to what it has become. "

Hear Ye wrote on Mar 14, 2008 12:08 PM:

" Hillary and her campaign have basically gone off the deep end. The only thing she can accomplish at this point is making what would have been a very easy win for the Democratic Party in November less likely. She has switched to a republican playbook and even if she somehow got the nomination she has already lost many votes inside her own party. "

reader wrote on Mar 15, 2008 2:00 PM:

" Listen up, you democratic Clinton haters. Obama doesn't have a pinpoint hole of hope of surviving the republican attack machine, if he is nominated. Republicans are the star pupils of dirty politics during presidential elections and they will bring him down, with truth or lies, whatever it takes. He's a new-comer and therefore an easy target. Clinton's dirty laundry was aired long ago and she will not be taken down by slander or lies (nothing we don't already know). She is the only democratic candidate who can survive the republican attack machine and win. It is your choice, democratic Clinton haters; Clinton or McCain, when all is said and done.

Obama would be a great VP because that would give him time to become truly known, build his attack stamina, and put all of this fear mongoring about his name behind him. He will make a fantastic future president but, not yet. As they say, he is not vetted or tested. Therefore, he is the ticket to a McCain presidentcy and you can bet your bottom dollar the republicans know this and are behind his surging popularity, 100%. The republicans are soooo afraid of having to go up against Clinton. So, Clinton-hating democrates, whose side are you really on? "

JimClark wrote on Mar 17, 2008 3:28 PM:

" MY GAWD!!! You all had eight years of Clintons sociopathy. How much more can we stand?
These two people are a two person Jim Jones in Guiana. I’m more into Gatoraide than Kool Aid myself. What is wrong with you people?
There may not be an honest politician on earth; does that mean you have to vote the epitome of dishonest politician? "

funnyme wrote on Mar 20, 2008 8:02 PM:

" WO OW! Didn't they already torture us enough?!?! First it was "Don't ask don't tell" Then it was the political-correct-everything-is-considered-racist junk, what's next? How much more can America take? Liberals can't see the trap they're walking into! They've already tricked us once, who's to say they won't do it again. Sorry liberals, but "sorry" doesn't mean ANYTHING anymore. It's turned into an excuse to take advantage of people and STILL get away with it. "

glenroy wrote on Mar 20, 2008 10:27 PM:

"
Reader...when it comes to winning elections based on bogus innuendos, dirty tricks and outright voter fraud Democrats wrote the book! Kennedy won 1960 Precedential election after stealing Illinois, West Virginia and Texas through organized Democrat Party voter fraud funded by his father’s wealth. Indeed, the Democrat Party was founded on slanderous fraud, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison intentionally undermined the Washington Presidency while they held Cabinet positions in his Administration leaking ‘forged documents’ to newspaper they owned slandering Washington as a British Stooge...these two patriots perfected the art of forked tongue freedom for slaves, as long they aren’t our slaves. You ought to learn a little about your own party history, my former party after I took some objective time to learn, before you make such wildly unfounded claims . Do you even realize the wealth that has been accumulated by your party’s current leadership? The primary difference between your party and the Republican party is that Democrat’s gain their wealth at the tax payer expense and the majority of wealthy Republicans, although fewer than Democrats by a wide margin, did it the old fashion way, they earned it by owning small businesses. Harry Reid’s wealth, on the other-hand was ‘earned’ through his connection to his political office primarily bogus land deals... like Obama, whose developer buddy who is now fighting felony counts. How about the KKK, white Americans have suffered dearly for this Democrat Party fraternity. How about the Kennedy’s... Ted’s should have been in prison years ago for manslaughter, his family fortune was created through alliances with mobs to corner the ‘Spirts’ market...they’ve sent their billion dollar empire off shore to avoid taxes. You take away government jobs and special interest political nonprofits and what’s left of the Democrat Party?
"

JimClark wrote on Mar 24, 2008 11:19 AM:

" GlenRoy: You got that right. Good write. "

nightwatchman wrote on Mar 25, 2008 11:25 AM:

" I thought the Register screened these comments! It's ok to call Senator Obama "Hussein Obama the African Islamist?" Does that add to a constructive dialogue? "

JimClark wrote on Mar 25, 2008 4:27 PM:

" Lighten up nightwatchman. After all, you live in the land of the free. "

Normbc9 wrote on Mar 26, 2008 7:04 AM:

" When someone mentions lack of total integrity the name Clinton flashes into my mind right away. It ranges from illegal business dealings, personal relationships, governmental shields and election campaigns. One has to wonder why others can't see the same flaws. "

Comment Guidelines
The goal of the story comments section at NapaValleyRegister.com is to have an open, thought-provoking, civil community forum for all issues.
What gets your comment posted?
• Staying on topic
• Keeping your comment to 300 words or less
• Avoiding name-calling
• Addressing your comments to the message rather than the messenger
What gets your comment deleted?
• Personal attacks
• Derogatory remarks
• Name-calling of any sort
• Going off-topic
• Hate speech
• Racially-insensitive comments
• Implying guilt of a subject in a crime story before there is a court verdict
• Posting e-mail addresses
• Posting comments of a commercial nature
• POSTING WITH ALL CAPITAL LETTERS
• Linking multiple comments together with "to be continued..." to get around the 300 word limit.
The fine print
- Comments are either approved or denied. We do not edit comments.
- You are welcome to modify and resubmit a denied comment.
- Comments may take several hours to be posted.
- Comments posted are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of NapaValleyRegister.com, its employees or its parent company.
- Do you have information on a story? Please go to our virtual newsroom to send us a news tip.
- If you feel a posted comment has violated our guidelines, please contact online@napanews.com or add a comment indicating you have an issue and our moderators will review the comment in question.
Search:
Web Search Powered
By Yahoo! Search
Napa Valley Register on Facebook
Copyright © 2009 Napa Valley Publishing, a member of Lee Enterprises, Inc.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy