Bill Clinton: 'Comeback Id's' comebacks: The Swamp
The Swamp

Among the subjects: Impact of Clinton's campaigning on his wife's fortunes.

Posted June 3, 2008 9:20 AM
Bill Clinton

Former president Bill Clinton campaigning in Richmond in a primary that Hillary Clinton lost to Barack Obama. (Photo by Paul J. Richards / AFP / Getty Images.)

The Swamp



by Mark Silva

"The Comeback Id,'' as Vanity Fair is calling former President Bill Clinton, has voiced some fairly harsh comebacks for the authority of the critical article.

The article by Todd Purdum, national editor of Vanity Fair and a former White House correspondent for the New York Times, assesses the former president in light of the wealth he has amassed in recent years, the company he keeps with jet-setters and the "negative impact'' that he has had on his wife's presidential campaign.

Clinton, in an interview with the Huffington Post, denounced the author as "sleazy... slimy.. a really dishonest reporter,'' and while saying he hadn't read the article he did assert that there are "five or six blatant lies in there. ''

Reminded that Purdum is married to Clinton's former press secretary Dee Dee Myers, Clinton responded in part: "That's all right -- he's still a scumbag."

"President Clinton was understandably upset about an outrageously unfair article," Jay Carson, a spokesman for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, said after her husband's remarks appeared on the online Huffington Post, "but the language today was inappropriate and he wishes he had not used it."

See what has the former president in a lather, at Vanity Fair.

Hear Clinton's reaction, in his own words, at Huffington Post.

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Comments

Vanity thy name is Clinton. I remember the 80's when Bill was blowing that saxaphone and charming us to death. He could do no wrong! He was "the black people's president". He got lifted up like King Solomon and down he fell. To climb as high as he did, and enjoy the celebrity status he enjoyed was quite remarkable. But his thirst for women brought him shame. Then his wife's campaign, and his remarks in South Carolina, and now this. His legacy has been eclipsed in scandal and racism. And instead of being on the side of history, he decided to play the antagonist. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would see president clinton using racist remarks against any black candidate for president, and especially the once in a lifetime candidate like Barack Obama. Vanity of vanities.


When Obama supporters like Kieth Southsider just keep piling on the Clintons that is just furthering the alienation of Clinton Supporters. 40% of Clintont supporters say they will not vote for Obama in the g/e. If that really happens he cant win. The amin reason they say is due to the attacks by Obama supporters and his campaign. The downright nastiness the Obama supporters engage in against The Clintons and their supporters is something to be ashamed of. If the Obama supporters want McCain to be the next president than by all means keep attacking Hillary and Bill. Yeah Bill Clintont who did more for minoritirs than any President in US History is a closet racist. Yeah ok and I am Babe Ruth's long lost son. It was the Obama campaign that tried to portray Bill and Hill as racist for their own political gain. They even distributed a memo proving as much.


Vinny, VANITY FAIR came out with that Article, and Bill Clinton chased those women. And I heard his comments from South Carolina out of his OWN mouth. CLINTONS have been working with FOX of all people to tear down Barack. The ONLY attacks coming from anyone were aimed at BARACK, who didn't even swing back. It was abysmal. Now you can get mad all you want, but I know what I saw and heard. And if you are a true Democrat, let your VOTE speak. But don't silence folks who are speaking the TRUTH. Barack is about unity and so am I, but that does not mean we don't discuss the TRUTH. Clintons are NOT surrendering or helping Barack, and that is FACT. They are beaten into submission. And even after he clinches, they will still be undermining. Harold Ickes already showed their hand. And Barack needs to quit kissing folks but. Either you want to defeat Republicans or you dont. Do what you want, but there is NO WAY you are going to deny us our voice after all that we have endured.


Anyone who thinks the Obama supporters are not behaving well must be blind. It's the Clinton supporters who are behaving badly, and they do not even see it. Poor souls!


Vinny - The upshot is that enough new Obama-supporting Democrat registrants have joined the ranks that the remaining handful of dogmatic Clinton diehard sit-outs won't be needed. If you want to sulk on the sidelines while history is made before your eyes, that's your choice.

As for "piling on" regarding the Clintons, they are their own worst enemies. And I think it was a big mistake to allow Bill to campaign on her behalf. He did not help her. Bad strategy.


Remember that most current Obama supporters were Clinton supporters in the nineties. I'm fairly young, and Bill Clinton was by far the best president of my lifetime.
At the beginning of this campaign, i had nothing but respect for both him and Hillary. If they had behaved in a reasonably, i would still have nothing but respect for them. Alas, they played gutter politics and divided our party, to the great benefit of the republicans. They have alienated a large portion of the democratic party, and polarized another large portion against our presumptive nominee.
Whatever bad press they recieve is entirely justified, and they have no one to blame but themselves. Unfortunately, blaming themselves seems to be something they are entirely incapable of doing. I bought the vast right wing conspiracy, but this new concept of a vast left wing and media conspiracy is a bit too much.


I don't care who Bill Clinton was yesterday. I care what Bill Clinton does today and tomorrow. Obama supporters want Bill and Hillary Clinton to stop criticizing other Democrats for their defeat and start supporting the Democratic Party's nominee. Vinny's comment that "Obama supporters want McCain to be the next president" sounds like something a Bush Republican says when he/she can't deal with being on the losing side of an issue. Obama supporters want a unified Democratic Party to defeat John McCain. Democrats differ on who their party's candidate should be, but Repubulians differ on matters of political philosophy and government policy.....unless of course there are idiots like Phil who want to place their candidate preference ahead of their party's victory. Losing seems to bring out the "Republican" in some Democrats. All I care about are the Democrats whose first priority is putting a Democratic president in the White House. Any Democrat who believes he/she will be better off under a McCain presidency needs to look at how much money American's are spending today on food, gas, a pair of jeans, air travel, college education and health insurance, and ask themselves if they want another four years of price increases. Those Democrats who choose not to support Obama are either dumber than hell or richer than sin. Which one are you Vinny?


What Bill Clinton is really irrelevant to Hillary Clinton running for president. Hillary must really love the man because he's never made a smooth road for her. The fact that she has gone this far is a tribute to her tenacity. Obama would be wise to name her as his VP.


A majority of people have grown sick and tired of the Clintons.
The Clintons will not exit gracefully, they have to be pushed out screaming and whining all they way like a child.
The clintons are showing what truly classless people they are.


THERE IS NOTHING NEW IN THE ARTICLE THAT MOST AMERICANS DID NOT KNOW ALREADY...THAT BILL CLINTON AND HIS WIFE ARE LYING, DO ANYTHING SAY ANYTHING TO WIN, RACIST POND SCUM. HE HAS CONTRIBUTED TO HILARYS DEFEAT MORE THEN ANYBODY AND PROBABLY ON PURPOSE, HE CAN'T STAND TO BE UPSTAGED BY ANYONE INCLUDING HIS WIFE. BY HILARY LOSING THE NOMINATION HE'S STILL THE "BIG CHEESE" IN THE CLINTON FAMILY. I'M ALSO SURE THAT HILARYS CAMPAIGN STRADEGY WAS THAT...IF I CAN'T WIN THEN LETS DAMAGE SENATOR OBAMA AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE SO THAT SENATOR McCAIN WINS THE GENERAL ELECTION AND I CAN SAY I TOLD YOU SO...WHEN SHE RUNS AGAIN IN 4 YEARS. WHAT A PIECE OF WORK THESE CLINTONS ARE.


Hillary people will not sit it out we will vote against Obama Hussein!


The Clintons have no one to blame but themselves for Hillary's failure to get the nomination. She was far and away the front runner before the season started. The campaign was "hers to lose." And by God, she lost it!

But the Clintons are emotionally unable to accept any criticism or blame, so they seek to shift blame to others. This is an unfortunate characteristic they share with another political figure of our time: George W. Bush. Neither the Clintons nor Bush are capable of admitting they ever made mistakes.


Good Sue! It will be just like the Democratic Primary! Racists and Feminists vs. Unified Americans!!! And the outcome will be the same! I'll take that bet any day and twice on Sunday!


Well, bill is definetly an expert on scumbags. When you are as big a one as he is, that qualifies him to state that. Now bill and hillary and monica can live greedily ever after.


If Hillary and Bill had any class at all they would put and end to the ugliness of her supporters. Even though she has lost, she doesn't need to pull out of the race and she is entitled to go to the convention as many loosing candidates in the past have done.

Hillary, even as she continues onto the convention in Denver, ought to be confronting the really nasty statements and tactics not only of her virilant supporters but also her campaign manager and husband Bill. Her public campaign has turned into an ugly spectacle of sore sports and despicable retribution.

As a leader of the Democratic Party and women, Hillary needs to stop the ugliness that is being carried out in her name.


Um, shouldn't Bill have read the article before sounding off on it? duh.


osage: Guess we'll find out in November how Obama supporters deal with being on the loosing side, eh?



You can see right through these folks like Sue Jackson and the raging upper east side elitist woman from Manhattan screaming about "voting for McCain" (Americas worst nightmare) and see that they are Karl Rove Republican operatives.


Enough of the Clintons and McBushes. Life must go on. Let us give Obama a chance. He may not be the best of the best but, somebody must cleanup the mess !!!!!!


This man was our President?... On the other hand, it doesn't say much for a populace that elected him!
Please.... let's not make the same mistake twice.


I don't care what Bill called Purdum, it was the same as what he was called for 8 yrs. HE, isn't running for anything, so like Cheny he can say what the heck he wants to.


I totally agree with President Clinton- Todd Purdum is a scum-bag and disgusting- I felt as though i was reading the Enquirer. Is this man a real reporter. There was not one name to back up his vicious lies. Oh because he said it we should believe him -DAH! I don't think so. I predict that the magazine will begin to lose readers (I for one will not buy it any more) What that loser reporter failed to see is that our former President has millions of supporters and he will go down in history as one of the Best and most productive Presidents our country has ever had. That is Reality.


I really have no problem with people supporting a candidate. I do have an issue with people like Sue Jackson who would vote for the other party because they seem to be miffed and smell of racism. I don't even mean racist about blacks...you used his middle name in a derogatory way as though anything to do with the middle east or Islam is beneath you. You must be a big supporter of the war in Iraq with that kind of hatred. For your info: The boy's name Hussein \hu(s)-sein\ is pronounced hoo-SAYN. It is of Arabic origin, and its meaning is "good; small handsome one". The name of a prominent person in Shiite Islam and a royal name in Jordan. It really doesn't seem any less of a name than "Susan". If you insist on "taking your ball and going home"...please consider voting Libertarian. Even they are more in line with democratic principles than Republicans.


To the writers in this article.

You all seem to know the history of Bill Clinton.

What do you know about Barack Obama?

Maybe some day the Chicago Tribune will release what they know.

Most men in Washington have a history.

lulu


Bill Clinton - finally the mask comes off, after all these years: selfish, spoiled, mean little boy. One more reason for voting against Hillary.


Hussein, Rev. Wright, can't win general election, racist generalization, Hillary for VP!, muslim something or other, HRC supporters would rather vote for McCain, most liberal, [insert additional talking points here], blah blah blah.
Signed,
Clinton & McCain Astroturfers


I WAS a Republican (now Republicrat).....

Now..........

http://www.constitutionparty.com/


I lost all respect for Bill Clinton when he went around thumping with Mike Huckster Huckabee againts childhood obesity. Follow the money and it is all about alarming parents and stigmatizing kids for the sake of Pharma's profits!!!


Golly Gee! In Gomer Pyle's words, don't you all know that Bill can do no wrong. After all if Monica hadn't shown up at the White House, maybe Bill would have maintained his virginity. It's all those sly people he comes into contact with that give him trouble. He's just a poor Arkansas country bumpkin that just fell off the turnip truck! How can the press villainize such a saint? What is that saying? Oh yeah! "Let the blind lead the blind, and both fall into the ditch"


Americas should ALL be ashamed the Clintons live in the USA. They are BOTH dishonest, low life people and demonstrate this every day.
They stole and continue to steal from Americans every day. Morals they have none and spread the lack of, to all they come in contact with.


To the writers in this article.

You all seem to know the history of Bill Clinton.

What do you know about Barack Obama?

Maybe some day the Chicago Tribune will release what they know.

Most men in Washington have a history.

lulu

Posted by: M. Clift

The only truth I found here today.

I'm sure M Clift will agree that it is very easy to find out TOO MUCH about Obama to ever vote for the empty suit


If Hillary's supporters are ready to vote for John McCain or stay home in November, what would Obama supporters have done if the nomination was denied him? Obama is getting 90% of the black vote, regardless of gender and if blacks stay home in November, it is McCain in a walk. I have just 4 words for all these threats - Thomas, Scalia, Alito & Roberts!


mr change, you wouldn't know it from his earmarks. an aids program at the highly controverisal children's museum; $7M for chgo state university for weapons systems, --- about a 50% drop out rate, president who can't use the right credit card---oops csu is emil jones' pet project. mr obama hasn't changed yet from his lackluster career in springfield. I wonder when he going to followthough on his threat of change/


I am most definately not a Bill Clinton fan but just when did he use racist remarks? To say that Barack Obama has a built in advantage with the black vote is not racism. It is a simple statement of fact. If you call that racism you are clueless as to what racism really is.


Yes, voting against the running democrat will really teach those democrats a lesson. Genius plan. Baby Boomers and Gen. Xers are such a whiney bunch. If you want to abstain from voting, thats your right. But if you want to abuse your given right to vote, you should be ashamed of yourself.

Now I understand why the electoral college is in place - to keep the idiotic die-hard fringe lunatics from having too much sway in elections.


LOL... Let Hilary supporters vote for McCain and give him the election. If I were to vote for my personal interest, I'd vote Republican, but I generally vote Democrat as I'd like to see a nation with people being pulled up a bit. I have no problem with McCain being in office as it still won't be my children who get killed in Iran or my home that will be foreclosed.


Does anybody know why this story came out now? It could have waited a few months? I think the timing is cruel. What's the motive? I'm not one who wants the Clintons back in the White House anyway but this is unfortunate timing. Entertaining in a sadistic way.


I think it's interesting that this is the same writer that wrote an article about McCain to boost his stock w/ Conservatives. I'm sure there's no connection though. Ha!

I'm tired of innuendo and rumors being the basis of news. If I wanted to read the Star and the National Enquirer, I would. I don't.


To Sue:

I never thought I would agree w/ Rush Limbough on anything but watching you and some of the other lunatic clinton women supporters, only one term comes to mind - FEMINAZZI.

sheeeesss....


Truth hurts, eh, Bubba?


Do not be arrogant or overwhelmed by the slight marginal victory by Mr. Obama for democratic nomination. Obama supporters have had to be careful about their negative comments of Clinton's campaign. Those comments are going to neither help Obama's victory in November nor struggling middle class people with everyday worsening economic situation in particular and Democratic party in general. Let the things go smoothly towards November election to win against John McCain.


Now I understand why the electoral college is in place - to keep the idiotic die-hard fringe lunatics from having too much sway in elections.

Posted by: Greg | June 3, 2008 3:47 PM

Spoken like a true idiotic die-hard fringe lunatic.


Sleazy, slimy, dishonest?


Clinton appears to be describing himself rather than the author of the magazine article.


Bill Clinton is simply unbelievable.



Just stop it. The target is George W. McCain.


Osage: Bush has been president almost 8 years. The price increases you mention have happened in the last 1-2. Gee, I think that's when the Democrats retook control of Congress.

Tom: If you're referring to the Iraq War, Bush doesn't think he made a mistake. So why would he admit he did?

Sue: I hope you're right. It is Obama who would be "America's worst nightmare."

David: Exactly. Which is why McCain needs to win. :)


Juth thtop it. The target is George W. McCain.


I thought that Bill and Hill Clinton's feet of clay were a product of the "vast Right Wing conspiracy." Funny how the Obamaroid Democrats have changed their views of Mr. and Sen. Bubba after spending the last 8 years pining for a return to the two-term sleazefest that was the presidency of the "first Black" president. Republicans have known for years what a dishonest, disingenuous and sleazy pair these two are.

While not a grifter in the Clintonian sense, Obama, the Abraham Lincoln of our time, has fooled "some of the people all of the time" with his unique gifts for backpedaling and obfuscation during his frequent misstatements all the while transforming empty sloganeering into profound oration, according to the fawning MSM. Many of us in the Chicago area recognize him to be just another ambitious, opportunistic Daley/Democratic Machine hack, codependent endorser of such local luminaries as Dorothy Tillman, Emil Jones, Todd Stroger, and Gov Blago, co-beneficiary of the Tony Rezko slush fund. Welcome to the United States of Cook County! Now that's change we can believe in!

Democrats will be stunned yet again in November when McCain wins.


LOL... Let Hilary supporters vote for McCain and give him the election. If I were to vote for my personal interest, I'd vote Republican, but I generally vote Democrat as I'd like to see a nation with people being pulled up a bit. I have no problem with McCain being in office as it still won't be my children who get killed in Iran or my home that will be foreclosed. Posted by: Robert | June 3, 2008 3:56 PM


Best post on this thread! You are the hope of America. One who would do what is best for MOST, and not just be selfish. God bless you, and God bless America.


By the far the dumbest thing I've heard was that Clinton supporters will not vote for Obama in the G/E. I can't beleive they think that it's a smart move to not vote or vote for McCain. And they call themselves Democrats?


Obama is going to win the Election if McCain picks another OLD White Man as VP....if he is smart he will pick..WAIT for IT.. CONDI RICE as VP or another Woman....Obama should do the same..pick a FEMALE VP to calm down Hillary's Supporters...although I think Hillary would have a made a great President...Tough ,Smart and Does not Give UP...she would be a WASTE as VP...Senators Kennedy, Kerry, Jimmy Carter, Bill Richardson would make SURE she would be relegated to Cutting Ribbons and opening consulates in Burkina Faso.....She would be the First VP to have her Office in US Samoa...as far away from Barry as possible...She will be more EFFECTIVE as the Democrats Attack Dog in the US Senate for Pres Obama...He will need HER WHEN the Honeymoon is OVER


i don't get it. you'll vote for a republican... someone who does not have your best interests in mind, rather then a democrat who's view are closer to your candidate? I'm sorry but you sound really irrational. However, you do what you want with your vote. The world will go on without you.


i don't get it. you'll vote for a republican... someone who does not have your best interests in mind, rather then a democrat who's view are closer to your candidate? I'm sorry but you sound really irrational. However, you do what you want with your vote. The world will go on without you.


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