Before anybody gets upset or accuses Bill of making a racist comment, he did not specifically refer to Obama as "articulate."
OK, shall we proceed?
Although Bill Clinton had the occasional intemperate outsburst during the 2008 primary campaign, it generally wise to assume that nothing he and his wife say is accidental. They weight their words carefully, often with a view to their own long-term political interests.
Ever since her 2008 disappointment, I’ve always thought that Hillary Clinton would run for president again in 2016 and, this far out, would stand a very good chance of winning. Given the way President Barack Obama’s performing, a 2012 primary challenge is not inconceivable.
So it was interesting to see Bill Clinton on two Sunday talk shows making fairly positive noises about the Tea Party – in stark contrast to the White House and Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill, who can’t stop themselves chortling about how stupid and bigoted they think members of the movement they are.
But what caught my ear was this from Bill Clinton on NBC: “The question is, what are the specifics? What really matters is what we’re going to do. And right now they’ve elected a lot of people who are articulate and attractive.” Read the full transcript here.
Ostensibly, he was referring to Tea Party victors in Republican primaries, such as Joe Miller and Christine O’Donnell. But the concept of “articulate and attractive” but lacking in policy heft was exactly the Clintonian critique of Obama in 2008 – a critique, it has to be said, which looks ever more accurate as time goes on.
So, to paraphrase Bill, right now we need leaders of substance who are not just pretty faces with fine words. Sounds to me like code for “We need Hillary not Obama” and the Clintons are already putting down a marker for another White House run.
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Nobody puts THIS baby in the corner!
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Hillarysworld -> Bill Clinton Forum -> What does Bill Clinton really think about 'articulate and attractive' Barack Obama? (UK Telegraph 9/19/10)