Billy Jeff: My mistake in SC was in thinking I’d be treated like any other spouse
posted at 2:17 pm on February 8, 2008 by Allahpundit
Really? Like certain people who used to work for him, I thought his mistake was in acting like a race-baiting cretin. No, turns out he simply didn’t realize until it was too late that his emeritus status lets him “promote” Hillary but not “defend” her. By which I guess he means “make heavy-handed racial comparisons aimed at ghettoizing Obama.”
He says he’s not worried about her disappearing into his shadow, but he should be: That’s a major subplot to where the money came from for that $5 million campaign loan that got so much hype this week. It’s unfair to hold his wealth against her when Waffles was free to campaign on Teresa’s dime four years ago, but the idea of the first woman president being bankrolled by her husband may be too sweet a jab for Team Obama to ignore. In fact, ABC introduced the angle on his behalf in its story last night. With the inevitability facade shattered, they’re working for liberal Jesus now.
Keep hope alive, says Mark Hemingway.
Blowback
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Barbra Streisand
Wade on February 8, 2008 at 2:23 PM
lol.
Billy Jeff, you aren’t like any other candidates spouse! Praise Jesus!
For which the rest of the candidate’s spouses are probably very grateful.
Of course, it depends on what the meaning of spouse is and what the meaning of is, is too.
MB4 on February 8, 2008 at 2:27 PM
“forceful advocacy” = euphemism for “attack dog”
Clinton’s right about one thing–when Michelle Obama or Elizabeth Edwards have been “forceful advocates” for their spouses, they have not been called on it in the same way. They have, in fact, been praised. Edwards, in particular, was not hesitant in using his sick wife as his attack dog whenever it seemed expedient. And Michelle Obama comes across as an angry and forceful speaker when advocating for her husband as well. She’s been known to shamelessly and self-righteously play the race card when Obama himself has refrained from doing so.
I’m not saying that Bill should not be called on the carpet for bad behavior while promoting his wife’s candidacy. I’m saying Michelle Obama should be called out, too; and Elizabeth Edwards should have been, and the Republican spouses if they cross the line as well (though I’m not aware of that happening–the closest instance was McCain’s bigoted mama, and she apparently gets a free pass due to her age).
aero on February 8, 2008 at 2:30 PM
I love the adjectives Lauer uses “forceful” advocacy then “perceived” attackes. Watch out for those “qualifiers.”
KelliD on February 8, 2008 at 2:30 PM
I guess he’s forgetting that none of the other spouses are a former POTUS. That kind of makes him unique.
TX Mom on February 8, 2008 at 2:32 PM
Geez where’s the spell check when I need it.
attackes=attacks
KelliD on February 8, 2008 at 2:32 PM
cry me a river…
upinak on February 8, 2008 at 2:33 PM
Everybody loves a winner. The media knows which one is gonna blow away McCain. It’s time for them to put away the pleasant toys and memories of childhood, then get serious about this thing. Obama will promote Clenis for the Supreme Court as a consolation prize.
a capella on February 8, 2008 at 2:35 PM
Hey, I think if Hillary has a former president at her beck and call, she should get to use that asset to its fullest. But when he becomes a liability, she has to pay the price, and neither one of them gets to whine about it. He should have been her ace-in-the-hole. He was the most popular Dem president since JFK; he was the best campaigner in modern history; his party loved him and forgave him for everything he did. It’s really astonishing that she’s lost her inevitability, given that she had Bill Freaking Clinton in an unbreakable exclusive endorsement deal. I mean, the speaking time he’s given to her for free over the last year must be worth millions on the open market! As legendary as Chuck Norris is, in the world of politics he’s trumped by Bill Clinton by a long shot. Just shows how bad a candidate Hillary really is if even Bill Clinton, Democrat Hero, can’t guarantee her the White House.
aero on February 8, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Holy cow, go click on the link about David Shuster up in the headlines thing. I’d never heard of the guy, but wow.
I’m feeling a wee bit more optimistic about Hillary’s chances to send the Obamassiah back to the Senate. I hope, hope I’m right.
funky chicken on February 8, 2008 at 2:42 PM
He chuckles when he calls her qualified.
TheBigOldDog on February 8, 2008 at 2:50 PM
All true. However, it’s a delicious irony that tickles my fancy that Bill is a victim of liberal political correctness. Cancer striken females and slightly racist minority spouses trump white male ex-Presidents. I think it’s on p. 84 in the lib handbook. The only sure-fired way for Hill to trump them all is to announce that she’s a female “gay-American” and take up with Oprah. That’s box office magic.
JiangxiDad on February 8, 2008 at 2:52 PM
Does anyone remember the night that Obama won IL? His wife was on stage and introduced him: “My baby daddy”. Do you remember that? My husband and I just looked at each other and busted out laughing! Real Class! Don’t think for a minute that the clinton machine wont use that footage if they can!
kcd on February 8, 2008 at 2:56 PM
Why is everybody assuming that Hillary Clinton is using Bill’s money to help finance her campaign? Didn’t she get something like $8 million for her book? She’s not exactly poor herself.
AZCoyote on February 8, 2008 at 2:58 PM
Umm..is it really so unfair?
His “wealth” is largely the result of his (and his wife’s) shameless efforts to cash in on their first tenure in the White House.
Clinton and Gore’s willingness to rent the title “former President of the United States” to whoever is able to pony up the cash is probably the most disgusting legacy of their administration.
billy on February 8, 2008 at 3:05 PM
I just looked this up. Back in 2000, Hillary Clinton sold the rights to her book (her memoir about her years as First Lady) to Simon & Schuster for $8 million.
Given what we know about Hillary’s investment skills (think pork belly futures), that $8 million is probably $80 million by now.
AZCoyote on February 8, 2008 at 3:07 PM
BJ, many of us can see you for what you are, a man who was a pathetic president, trying to put your wife in the WH seeking to put a shine on your pathetic tarnished legacy.
TeeDee on February 8, 2008 at 3:17 PM
everytime I see or hear something like this I think we have to keep them out of the White House no matter what. Even if it means putting McCain in there. OMG it is going to be a long 9 months.
ctmom on February 8, 2008 at 3:31 PM
I just think he loves her way to much.. just not in that keeping the marriage vows kind of way.
AndrewsDad on February 8, 2008 at 3:31 PM
I am certainly not defending the Clintons BUT, what actually did Bill do wrong by pointing out that an overwhelming majority of African-Americans voted for Obama in SC?
That was reality, was it not?
The assumption I get is that it is A-OK to vote for a candidate along recial lines first and foremost, but it is racist to point out when it happens.
Can someone please help me here?
awake on February 8, 2008 at 3:33 PM
Dude, you said he was telling fairy tales while wearing your squinty-eyed face. It was on national TV like a hundred times. In everybody else’s book but yours, that’s calling him a liar. Calling someone a liar is getting pretty personal. We’re not all idiots ya know, just your cult following.
A Clinton mouth opens, and lies flutter about.
fogw on February 8, 2008 at 4:01 PM
Bill Clinton has been getting away with a fawning press for years and now he complains about bad treatment? Give me a break. Clinton got away without talking about his shameful presidential pardons that he issued only hours before he left office. Neither Clinton gets asked about the pardons or the names. Nobody asks either Clinton about the two guys who each paid $200,000.00 to Hugh Rodham before the pardons were issued. Nobody asks Clinton: Just how did these two names come to your attention? Just why did you think these two crooks were worthy of a presidential pardon? Nor does anybody ask Hillary: Do you think it is credible that brother Hugh never told you about the two guys who paid him $200,000.00 for his “assistance” in getting them pardons? For either Clinton to complain about the MSM is absurd.
Larraby on February 8, 2008 at 4:29 PM
Oooh the finger’s wagging. That means he’s telling the truth!
Chuck Schick on February 8, 2008 at 4:33 PM
Wut? wait, WHAT?
You expect us to believe you actually thought that?
What a load of B.S. He still can’t string a sentence together without telling some kind of lie.
Lawrence on February 8, 2008 at 4:59 PM
Maybe if all these years you would have acted like any other spouse? Even when he’s whining he has to point out how special he is. Ugh! What a sick piece of humanity.
kcd on February 8, 2008 at 5:07 PM
Bill Clinton: The Other Race Warlord.
Dorvillian on February 8, 2008 at 5:36 PM
He`s such a phony. How could he think he`d be treated like any other spouse? Any other candidate doesn`t have a former president for a spouse.
ThePrez on February 8, 2008 at 5:40 PM
Between Bill, Jimmy Carter, and George McGovern, the “senior statesmen” of the Democratic Party all put Narcissus to shame.
sulla on February 8, 2008 at 6:06 PM
Why on earth do these two want back in that White House so bad? They finally finished fixing the place up from the last time they were there for goodness sakes.
BJ. will have that place a laughing stock again and on top of Hillary’s Dictatorship, omg I cant begin to think about it. It makes me sick trying.
johnnyU on February 8, 2008 at 11:35 PM
oh and who is it Hillary waves to off camera all the time? Seems in every gathering she suddenly recognizes someone off camera and looks surprised then waves. Damn, I’ll have to try that sometime. It makes ya look important. lol.
johnnyU on February 8, 2008 at 11:38 PM
“I will not interfere with a strong vice-president, strong secretary of state, strong sec. of treasury.”
How about not interfering AT ALL?!!
kylun on February 9, 2008 at 4:18 AM