Bill praises wife's debate performance

Posted: Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:14 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: 2008, Clinton

From NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli
ERIE, PA -- Wouldn’t you know it? Bill Clinton thinks his wife won the debate last night.

At the start of a six-event day that will take him 300 miles across northern Pennsylvania, Clinton told a crowd at Penn State Erie that Hillary “was great.”

“She was great because she showed the strength and leadership and knowledge of the issues that is very important to the next president, and she didn’t hedge, beat around the bush on tough questions,” he said. “She told us what she was gonna do on health care, she told us what she was gonna do on jobs. That’s what you want in a president -- someone who is leading for you.”

Clinton hurried from his final event last night to watch the debate in Pittsburgh with local supporters, including Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato.

Joining Clinton for his events today is actor Ted Danson. In his remarks here, Danson talked about his family’s friendship with the Clintons, and called Hillary “the most authentic person I have ever met.” It was a tribute that Clinton felt deserved expanding upon.

“You heard what he said about Hillary? That’s what the people who know her think,” Clinton said. “That is very different than the image that they have tried to create for her, isn’t it, in the media, and out of the other campaign, who are always nagging, nagging, nagging. You heard it for 15 months, you know? How come no one who knows her believes that?”

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Comments

http://twocanpete.blogspot.com/
She had help. Check out the University of Maine flag desecraters on my blog.

twocanpete (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:18 AM)

Those debate moderators knew in exactly what order they were going to ask the questions...and they set up a debate that allowed Hillary Clinton extra time during the substantive questions in the second half while making Obama defend himself against the tabloid questions in the first half.

ABC has lost all credibility. Whoever designed the above hit job should be fired from his own. There's a fine future for him in the tabloid blogosphere.

Dema (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:19 AM)

Health care? Jobs?

Did bubba even watch this time?

turnip (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:22 AM)

Hillary's campaign moves into "surge" mode. To give her more room in the green zone to get the politics time to work.

Where have we heard this before???

No racists in the White House. Send Obama back to Chi-town.

Vote for the other Democrat: John McCain.

RH Oregon (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:23 AM)

I'm going to give you the same advice I give to Hillary: block out the distractions -- the skeptics, the media coverage, the beltway chatter -- and keep your eyes on the prize.

With the news media constantly poring over the minutiae of the campaign, I make sure Hillary never forgets to stay focused on what matters: telling every last American about her vision, her experience, and her commitment to bringing real change to people's lives.

Let the press worry about the shifting polls and the daily back-and-forth. As long as Hillary stands up for the values we share -- and as long as you stand up for her -- she's going to win this race.

It's a tight race, whether you're counting delegates or total votes, the kind where one big victory can shift the momentum. We've got a race like that coming up in Pennsylvania in just six days, and you know what a difference your immediate action can make. You've been there for Hillary in the past, and now she needs you again.

Contribute and volunteer now to help Hillary win big in Pennsylvania on Tuesday.

Thank you.

Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton, NY (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:23 AM)

What issues is Bill talking about? No "issues" were "debated" for the first 45 minutes! Yawnnnnnn and then George and Charlie were only doing a tap dance with soft lobs. It's easy to "win" when one of the moderators was on your payroll.

KYObserver (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:23 AM)

"Screw em!" - Hillary Clinton, referring to poor white rural voters, circa 1995.

Ron, TX (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:23 AM)

Obama is not and will never be ready to be President of the USA.

Hillary is correct she has a lot of baggage and people have been searching thru it for many years.

Obama's baggage has just been opened and the things coming out of it are not good. I wonder what else is in his baggage.

patty,sd,ca (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:23 AM)

How dare ABC moderators put Barack Obama on the spot? This great man who is going to bring us together. Why...it's disgraceful that a man with as solid a record as Barack should have to explain himself. The questions were ridiculous, e.g., he's friendly with Bill Ayers? Why, Barack was 8 years old when Ayers bombed government buildings…let it go! In fact, McCaine meets with Nazis every weekend, but the good Arizona senator was only 4 years old when they were running Deutschland. That anybody could criticize Obama or shake him up to see what's inside, disgusts me. It's like questioning Jesus Himself.

Bertha, PA (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:23 AM)

If Hillary Clinton is the most authentic person Danson has ever met, he must not get out a lot.

Susan E. Bahama NC (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:24 AM)

Surprise, surprise. But then he's lived with her for how many years? Personally, I think it is very sad that sitting US Senator feels the need to spend her time in the gutter with George and Charlie while Obama tries to focus the debate on those of us who are trying to figure out how to pay our bills. Obviously, our voices that we want CHANGE have not resonated with the Clintons. Speak up PA on Tuesday! This is YOUR time! You CAN make a difference. And if you believe that Senator Clinton will bring change, please review the tapes from the debate last night. With her, it will be simply more of the same.

Fed Up (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:24 AM)

Health care? I don't think there were even any questions specifically related to health care, were there?

Baileigh (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:25 AM)

Whatever. Everyone else that knows her say exactly what they think. So the majority of Americans believe the senator from New York, through her own actions, is dishonest and lacks trustworthiness. Yet Bill Clinton thinks we should take Ted "WHO" Danson at his word. Look the Clintons are all about insider politics. If she gets in, everybody who's stayed loyal to her will be set. The old guard know that when the torch is passed to Obama, the aren't owed any favors. America is owed favors, it is the peoples turn. Vote Obama

Tired of Being Tired (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:25 AM)

ABC has lost all credibility. Whoever designed the above hit job should be fired from his own. There's a fine future for him in the tabloid blogosphere.

Dema (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:19 AM)

------------------------------------------------

So because they ask Obama though question it was a hit job?

Obamabots need to relax.

At least we know ABC is not in the tank for Obama.

THANK YOU ABC

GOOD JOB OF EXPOSING OBAMA FOR THE LIEAR RACIST HE REALLY IS.

patty,sd,ca (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:26 AM)

Hillary was amazing as usual.
Obama was a dud as usual. Why can he not speak in whole sentences?

HP Boston (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:26 AM)

"Wouldn’t you know it? Bill Clinton thinks his wife won the debate last night."

In an equally shocking news story, scientists report that jumping into a lake will make you wet.

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:26 AM)

Hillary authentic? I don't think so. There are many things she can be called but authentic is not one of them. There's a book waiting to be written by some enterprising person called "The Two Faces of Hillary."

countingcrows (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:27 AM)

Hillary was amazing as usual.
Obama was a dud as usual. Why can he not speak in whole sentences?

HP Boston (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:27 AM)

Ted Danson? Really? Is that all they've got the day after the Boss endorsed Obama? Scraping the barrel there. Can't wait for the pivotal Willie Ames testimonial.

JZ, New Haven, Ct (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:28 AM)

Yeah He would so would James Carville...

Billary is throwing the Dem's under the bus...

Howard Dean has to step up this process...or the Rep's will win in November...

Common Points? (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:28 AM)

I did not watch the debate last night once I saw that George Stephanopoulos was a moderator. In my mind it was "fixed" before it even started. Besides I am starting to have debate fatigue.

However I did watch Keith Olbermanns review of the debate.
I saw Clinton's Wolfson take the opportunity to make the following statement concerning Ayers:
I don’t regret setting bombs,” “I feel we didn’t do enough.”

Just one more of the Clinton tactics "Snippets" taken out of context as another blogger on another comment has referenced

And to top it all off Pat Buchanan's words to the effect that he did not know any of what Wolfson mentioned concerning the Ayers remark. And then added words to the effect that he learned a lot from that statement.

I had not decided prior who I would vote for but I will now say that Clinton will NOT be my choice if she happens to be the nominee.

And her new theme song since the Boss is supporting Barack should be:

The Great Pretender

Independent Voter, FL (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:29 AM)

How comes no one who knows her believes that???

Maybe it was their stay in the Lincoln bedroom that convinced them of her fiiiine character.

colene, new york, new york (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:30 AM)

Boy, Bill wants this one really bad, but somehow I can't elevate Ted Danson, an actor, to the status of an arbiter of authenticity. And Bill has only one authentic bone in his body.

And no matter how Obama really did (I don't watch Democrat debates) First Read is really going to catch a lot of crap from Obamacolytes for even suggesting that he lost or did poorly. Mean ol' First Read, always biased against Obama.

Or Clinton.

Or McCain.

Etc.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:30 AM)

Hillary was great because we spoon fed the commentators with our questions. And our plan almost was without flaw. Except Frisky Bill the people saw through Hillary and the ABC All Bill Clinton boys.Here are the three major things I took from this as a viewer. 1) Hillary knows Obama is electable she repeated that fact 3 times. 2)She is thought of as untruthful by 65% of the people . 3) She has some very scary views on how she wants to protect everybody in the middle east from Iran , whom I must ad has not as a nation attacked anyone since the mid 1800's. So she really did do a good job at showing she knows even less about foreign policy .

Brian M de. (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:30 AM)

The most authentic person Ted has ever met? ok - Hollywood actors don't meet many authentic people

JIm, Santa Cruz (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:31 AM)

Bill Clinton and Hillary are criminals! They have betrayed their party and American values.

They have no core beliefs as evidenced by their actions.

Andress (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:32 AM)

As of about 11 am today (4/17), there are in excess of 13,000 posts on ABC's website about the debate last night. The vast majority are expressing extreme disappointment and/or outrage of ABC's handling of the debate. This seems to have become the story. There are even some calling for the resignation of Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopolous. This is a reminder to all TV correspondents/analysts that the public will hold you to some standards. I hope ABC issues an apology to both candidates and to the citizens of Pennsylvania.

Ken Russell, Lincoln, Nebraska (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:32 AM)

I think he did not watch the debate - maybe shared another cigar!

Frank, Missouri (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:33 AM)

Some more reviews of last night courtesy of the Huffington Post...

Worst. Debate. Ever.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/16/worst-debate-ieveri_n_97125.html

A Shameful Night For The US Media

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-mitchell/the-debate-a-shameful-nig_b_97122.html

ABC Hosts Heckled

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/16/abc-hosts-heckled-after-d_n_97124.html

The Reviews (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:33 AM)

Issues that the next President will have to deal with.

Financial Sector Meltdown
Exploding gas prices
Massive budget Deficits
Investigations of Possible War crimes by administration officials
Iraq War
Affordable Healthcare for Americans
Possible Terrorist attacks
Massive number of Home Foreclosures
Military readiness
Massive trade imbalances
America advocating and engaging in torture

Debate questions

Bittergate
Flag lapel pins
Snipergate
Pastor gate
Some 60s radical that may have a casual aquaintance with Barack Obama

Are you really proud of your profession?

Richard F. Minnesota (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:34 AM)

How dare ABC make Obama explain himself. If he wants us not to ask any questions and move on we should. Why does he have to explain what he meant about clinging to guns and religion? I though him sticking to just the bitter part of the remarks was all he should have had to do. Why do people keep picking on him? So he hangs out with an ex bomb thrower, so what that's what community organizers from Chicago do. And at last Pastor Wright, I really don't think Mr. Obama attended church that much so he probably didn't really know anything about this Black African Theology stuff. ABC sucks for making him look less than Saintly at last knights debate. Obviously he doesn't want to talk about the company he keeps or the mistakes he makes so we shouldn't even ask any questions about this stuff.

We don't need all the facts - do we? (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:35 AM)

Wrong again Bill! People believe your wife is insincere because it has been proven beyond a doubt that she is a liar. You're asking us to believe you and Ted Danson instead of our "lying eyes". ABC should be ashamed of themselves for their transparent lack of integrity. One very important thing that I took from this debate is that Hillary is incapable of taking the high road (ever). If anyone of you out there has ever seen the movie "Primary Colors" you will understand what I'm saying. This is something that really speaks to her (lack of) character and her true nature. Did she look like a Democrat at all when the moderators goaded her into attacking Obama?

On another note, I believe that Sen. Clinton may have a new problem. This morning on MSNBC, Scarborough asked Wolfson about the "Screw 'Em" statement made by Sen. Clinton. Wolfson's response was, "It isn't so" (basically calling the three witnesses to the conversation liars). Everyone in America knows by now that Hillary has a problem with telling the truth. If any of these men come forward this may very well mean the end. I think this will come back to bite them. Remember what they say about karma.

C.K. Steele Fort Lauderdale, FL (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:35 AM)

All the spin is making me dizzy. I think I'm gonna be sick.

Screw 'em (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:35 AM)

Headline: "Michelle Obama praises her husband's metal in standing up to a 3 on 1 attempted hatchet job." That wasn't a debate. George & Charlie are hacks, no higher on the food chain than Sean Hannity & Bill O'lyly.

JohnnyU, WA State (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:35 AM)

Screw 'em !!

Scenes from the class struggle in Hillaryland...

'...The Huffington Post’s Sam Stein: “During the past week, Sen. Hillary Clinton has presented herself as a working class populist, the politician in touch with small town sentiments, compared to the elitism of her opponent, Sen. Barack Obama. But a telling anecdote from her husband's administration shows Hillary Clinton's attitudes about the ‘lunch-bucket Democrats’ are not exactly pristine. In January 1995, as the Clintons were licking their wounds from the 1994 congressional elections, a debate emerged at a retreat at Camp David. Should the administration make overtures to working class white southerners who had all but forsaken the Democratic Party? The then-first lady took a less than inclusive approach.”

“‘Screw 'em,’ she told her husband. ‘You don't owe them a thing, Bill. They're doing nothing for you; you don't have to do anything for them.’ The statement -- which author Benjamin Barber witnessed and wrote about in his book, ‘The Truth of Power: Intellectual Affairs in the Clinton White House’ -- was prompted by another speaker raising the difficulties of reaching ‘Reagan Democrats.’”...'

Working class Hillary...
Her father taught to shoot...
But he never taught her to TELL THE TRUTH

MSierra, SF (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:36 AM)

I don't think there was even a question on health care dude You are so senile Bill Clinton, you think that young voters are stupid, and old voters can't remember what they ate last night.

rosie, crestview, fl (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:41 AM)

What a bunch of Arkansas hogwash. There was no bebate last night rather it was an attempted ambush by those who want to be one to bring the leading candidate down. I have seen many presidental debates in my time going back to Nixon and Kennedy. The spectical last night however beats all. I can recall only a couple of questions that related to issues. Today I have read many accounts and all are talking not about issues but a discussing matters that most voters could care less about. On the issue of war and defense Clinton set up the possibility of war with Iran and others that may attack countries in the region. It was an obvious pandering to the Jewish vote but when looked at in the light of day is freightning. Based on what she said she is just as hawkish as the republicans including Bush, Chaney, and McCain. Do I expect this to be discussed today? No. What I expect is that the media will continue to approach this race as if all the reporters were from Entertainment news discussing things of no substance. The debate last night was handled by ABC as if it were a survivor island show rather than a political debate to enlighten voters on where the candidates stood on issues. The so called moderators were more interested in kicking up dust in the hopes of causing a fight rather questiuoning two people one of which may be the president of the United States. WHAT HAVE WE BECOME?

candi California (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:42 AM)

The only logical explanation for ABC's handling of the debate was that it was a premeditated assault on Barrack's character for the purposes of knocking him down at the expense of having a civil discourse on the real issues. Now why they were so biased is another discussion. Why don't we demand that all presidential debates be handled by PBS or CSPAN?

Jim, Santa Cruz (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:42 AM)

ABC Network should be ashamed of itself. Given the litany of national woes we have, we are discussing flag lapel pins before the economy????? By the way, where were Hillary, Charles & George's flag pins. Hmmm.... I guess we should question their patriotism?

I am also disgusted at the cowardice of ABC. I have tried several times this morning to call and register my complaint as to the lack of substance in the debate. They just move you from department to department and the number you're told to contact - 818 460-7471 is never picked up.

The media and that network in particular should be ashamed of themselves.

Maggie Schusterman (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:44 AM)

Nagging, nagging, nagging? What is that you are doing right now, Bill? What was bittergate? What was that you did to Bill Richardson before, and after he endorsed Senator Obama? What was the whole of the first 50 minutes of the debate last night, Bill? What was the 'kitchen sink', Bill?

Somebody earlier on this thread blogged, "the bloom is off the rose', referring to Senator Obama. How anyone can look past all of The Clinton's filthy scandals, lies, and traitorous actions against the American social morals, and economic well being, which tortured us during the Clinton Presidency, and continues to sap the morale of many American's through this primary, is flat out insane.

The Clinton supporter's argument of Barack's vetting is one well made. However, for Hillary to have the gall to tell us that she is the best candidate because she has the hide of an alligator because of all the keyloided scars left on her because she is battlescarred due to scandal after scandal, is irrational. It is not about Hillary. It is about America, and what she will do to help save us from our swift decline.

Hillary, given you record in the Clinton Whitehouse, and as a Senator from NY, I want you, and your leathery hide to not let the door hit 'cha, where the repubs bit 'cha.

Good bye forever, Amen.

donna (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:45 AM)

wah, wah, wah. Didn't hear you people griping in some of the other debates when they grilled HRC and basically asked BO what he thought of the weather. I'm glad ABC put him on the spot. Whether you liked the questions or not, you should be concerned about his ability to respond and to control his emotions which he did not do well last night.

obama=drama (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:45 AM)

Go Clinton go! You mirror the rest of us women - like a tea bag - ONLY IN HOT WATER CAN YOU TELL HOW STRONG YOU ARE.....you're strong and I admire you. I wish women are encouraged to vote for you, let gender run this election.

Eleanor Carrolls, NYC, NY (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:45 AM)

Mr. Stephanopoulos and Mrs. Clinton also referred to statements by Mr. Ayers in an article in The New York Times on Sept. 11, 2001, that Mrs. Clinton said were “deeply hurtful to people in New York.”

“I don’t regret setting bombs,” Mr. Ayers said then. “I feel we didn’t do enough.”

Mr. Ayers did not make the remarks after the attacks on the World Trade Center that day. The interview had been conducted earlier, in connection with a memoir that he had published, “Fugitive Days,” and he was referring to his experience in the Weather Underground.

After Mrs. Clinton criticized Mr. Obama for not severing all Ayers ties, Mr. Obama said, “By Senator Clinton’s own vetting standards, I don’t think she would make it, since President Clinton pardoned or commuted the sentences of two members of the Weather Underground.”

That referred to commutations by Mr. Clinton in January 2001, shortly before leaving office, for Linda Evans and Susan Rosenberg. Ms. Evans had been convicted of weapons and explosives charges connected with eight bombings in the mid-’80s and sentenced to 40 years in prison. Ms. Rosenberg had been charged in connection with a 1981 armed robbery in which two police officers and a security guard were killed, and was serving 58 years after being convicted of weapons charges in a 1984 case.

boogyeman, mamaroneck, ny (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:45 AM)

Why is this news? What do you think this lying, cheating, scheming adulterous perjuror is going to say? I personally feel like I need to take a shower anytime I read anything about them.

As a life long democrat, who at the age of 10 saw JFK speak, I know that if the Clintons are the nominees, I will leave the democratic party. I will not vote for them. I will not vote for liars and thieves, which is exactly what they are. I sincerely hope that others will do so as well. There is absolutely no way that the Clintons will win the election. Just wait for the Republicans to bring on the dirt about them. These are things that should be discussed now. What is Bill's connection to China and Columbia? How about Mark Penn? No conflict of interest there, is there?

Let's find the picture of Hillary Clinton burning the American flag. That's patriotism for you!

Olga, Oswego, NY (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:46 AM)

But when he sang his wife's praises was he wearing an American flag lapel pin that was probably made in China? Made in China like the millions Alibaba donated to his foundation?

get a grip (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:46 AM)

I have two questions today. How high will Ms. Clinton's negatives climb to now? And, if a new poll were to be done now, how many Obama supporters would actually rally behind Ms. Clinton in the General Election if she does pull this off?

A Latte Lover, Seattle, WA (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:47 AM)

Debate...on the mickey mouse channel.. what did anyone expect? I wonder why people are so bitter?
I'm thinking of going Republican...what a waste..
Thanks George S....did you take lessons
from your college Dan (the rat) Rather?

Just more Questions (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:47 AM)

I watched the debate without the spin doctors comments. ABC should stay out of the debate facilitating business. What a Joke!

Inspite of ABCs stupid questions Obama handled himself very well and was annoyed as he should have been over the foolishness of the questions been asked of him and Clinton that had nothing to do with real issues for voters.

Clinton took the bait to attack Obama way to often and should have abstained from that line of attack. She needs to understand that voters are tired of her pointed attacks and just want to know where she is on the issues. Her negative ratings are high for a reason, try understanding them Hill.

Rosalyn, Orlando Florida (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:47 AM)

The Debate was ridiculously lopsided. Obama was clearly attacked, but I think he defended himself well. Hillary made some strong points but it was hard to admire them when she had both commentators taking sides with her. ABC should be embarrassed as to how this debate was conducted. Finally, was anyone else annoyed by the constant spotlight on Chelsea Clinton and Gov, Rendell? Give me a break!

missalyssa, Chicago, Il (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:49 AM)

So Bill, you think Hillary's performance was great. How much did it cost you and how many promises were made to make sure it was a one sided attack on our future Democratic nominee. The debate, if you can call it that was shameful in the way it was handled and the way the questions were aimed. The only one that came out looking good last night was McCain. By the way, I thought ABC did a great job of impersonating Fox News last night.

martha, phoenix, az (Sent Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:49 AM)

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