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MILWAUKEE, WI -- Just days before Wisconsin's gubernatorial recall, former President Bill Clinton drew a crowd of nearly 2,000 attendees here as he campaigned for Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D) in his contest against Gov. Scott Walker (R).
“Ordinarily, I’m against recall elections,” Clinton told the crowd. “But sometimes it is the only way, to avoid a disastrous course."
Clinton's visit comes on the heels of a recent Marquette Law School poll, which showed Walker leading Barrett by seven points among likely voters, 52%-45%. Democrats argue that their internal polling shows a much closer contest -- one that they say will be determined by turnout.
That explains Clinton’s visit here, which was only announced yesterday.
In brief remarks with NBC News after his speech, Clinton said President Obama was “glad” the former president was campaigning with Barrett.
“A lot of people encouraged me to come, including the White House,” Clinton told NBC News. “But, I didn’t talk to him [Obama] until yesterday when I had already accepted” the speaking invitation. But he was “glad I was going.”
The two-term former president, who noted he won the state of Wisconsin during both of his elections, also told NBC that the recall could have implications on November’s presidential election.
“If Tom Barrett wins, I think it will because it’ll show that people favor cooperation over conflict and that’s really what the American people have to say," he said. "This is not about liberal/conservative, Republican/Democrat anymore. It's about whether you want constant conflict and winner take all or creative cooperation.
“What’s working in America -- the places that are back are places that are working together.”
In his speech here, Clinton even opened with a little joke, just a day after he praised GOP nominee Mitt Romney’s work at Bain -- and taking some heat from Democrats for being off message.
“The great thing about not being president is you can say whatever you want. Nobody has to care anymore, but you can say it,” he said.
While Clinton campaigned with Barrett, Republican South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) is stumping with Walker.
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If anyone can get the base fired up it's Bill!
It will all come down to turnout!
To my Badger neighbors - GET OUT AND VOTE on Tuesday!
Send a clear message - money cannot buy our Government!
Clinton is just the right man for the job. That base is already fired up, and Clinton will do all he can to put them over the top. I am glad that once again, Clinton is there for the middle class. This is all about turnout Wisconsin! Send Walker packing!
Obama is in Minnesota and Illinois today.
How come he doesn't get over to Wisconsin to Stump fpr Barrett?
Can't be because he knows the outcome already and doesn't want to be associated with it now can it?
Man are you folks in for some serious let downs.
Bill Clinton, Yeah!....
Throw Scott Walker out....rational people are with you Wisconsin!
How odd that Obama is not there, and has not been there at any point.
Why, wasn't it Obama who was all about getting a comfy pair of shoes and joining the protesters?
What happened?
Clinton is great. He sure does love him some Bain Capital, eh?
Man, is this place gonna be fun come Tuesday.
Walker by 7.
Wait, if Walker wins WE [the conservatives] must be the rationale ones, right?
Hey, your are pretty smart there chilled. Good job.
Spanky&White Collar Auto
Obama is in Minnesota and Illinois today.
How come he doesn't get over to Wisconsin to Stump fpr Barrett?
Why should the President fall into that trap? The recall would no longer be about the lying crossed-eyed, college drop out Koch sucker governor. The NRA, ALEC, & KOCHs would make sure their money goes to that end.
I wish the firebaggers on the left would STFU. Obama went there last time and begged them until his voice was not to give the keys back.
I see the bait and switch right wingers are here. If President Obama went to Wisconsin, they whine and because he isn't in Wisconsin, they whine.
I also see the gremlins are out in force today; post a comment and FR disappears.
edit:
Beverly in Chicago
Spanky&White Collar Auto
Obama is in Minnesota and Illinois today.
How come he doesn't get over to Wisconsin to Stump fpr Barrett?
Why should the President fall into that trap? It would be about the Presdient instead of the lying crossed-eyed college drop out Koched up Walker. The NRA, ALEC, & Kochs would put a gazillion dollars in to make sure of that.
Obama did go and begged until he was hoarse not to give the keys back. Firebagges on the left said stay hom. Firebaggers need to STFU
Hahaha, the rightwing trolls are parroting Ed Shultz and other liberals, and they don't even know it. I agree with Shultz and others that this recall is more important than just one election in one state. The outcome will send a message to other governors what they can or cannot try to get away with.
Aside from the president having good numbers in Wisconsin and needing to focus his efforts in states that are tighter, the president should always remain above the fray and not put a douchebag like Walker on the same level of POTUS by going to Wisconsin to get out the vote for Barrett. Surrogates like bill Clinton are excellent, perhaps Joe Biden and others could be considered as well.
But even if Scott Walker manages to squeak this out, he may still go down in flames due to investigations. Let's just hope the good people of Wisconsin look past all the outside money and lies and judge Walker on his poor record throughout his political career. They deserve much better than a bait and switch conquer and divide jagoff like Walker.
Clinton is still as popular as ever ...
Scott Walker is NOT just some altruistic guy who was trying to balance a state budget. He came in with an agenda to destroy unions. He considers a union employee who's just trying to keep his pension from getting stolen and his job from being outsourced as "the enemy". He has collected something like 31 million $$ for his recall fight, the majority of it from out of state. That's not coming from little old ladies sending him 10 bucks each, people. Apparently sugardaddy billionaires are just fine with him but union members are communists in his book. Then you have this woman Diane Hendricks from the "divide and conquer" video. She is worth almost 3 BILLION dollars but yet she is still not happy. What would make her happy? To see the chance for a middle class lifestyle taken away from most of the public by getting rid of all unions, public and private. These people are not friends of the American middle class in my opinion.
Money is money...the fact that the majority feel that this is the right course for Wisconsin says alot about how fed they are about unions!
Spanky, it doesn't surprise me that you can't spell.
The president is fund raising in WI but won't GO there...interesting.
If he did, posters like you would be whining equally loudly that he was there. Interesting.
Ain't that the truth!
There is no pleasing these people!
Bill can still charm the masses!
I'm thinking margaritas! A good margarita would hit the spot - or two!
Its odd-
Obama is set to do six fundraisers- a record breaking, historic, unprecedented number, by the way- in two days.
None are in Wisconsin.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz claims that Wisconsin is a harbinger of things to come. The White House says, heck, no,it isn't.
Meanwhile, the centerpiece of this recall drive- re-writing the rules on public employee labor negotiations- is a subject unspoken by Walker's opponent. Think that might be related to the fact that voters in Wisconsin now generally approve of the changes?
Well, nice try, anyway, democrats. All you wasted was a couple of million dollars that could have been better spent preparing an opponent in the correct timeframe, rather than throwing a tantrum over election results.
Between this and Obama, I think you can stick a fork in your party. Republicans are not bloody likely to supply you with two saviors- as Carter and Obama were for the republican party- to resurrect your dying party.
Better look to the "no labels" party. They're your only hope.
njnb - too bad the GOP has no saviors. Not one! Which is why they'll lose soundly in November. Get used to Obama - he'll be President until 2017!
Obama/Biden 2012
no joe, no bo, nj
Its odd-
Sure it is when you factor in the John Doe probe, his legal defense fund, that walker lied about the jobs his state created, how he laid 30 milion people off badger care I could go on and on.
But I'll let you read all about:
BREAKING: MAJOR REVELATIONS IN JOHN DOE PROBE - SCOTT WALKER INADVERTENTLY ADMITS HE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION
Wednesday, 30 May 2012 15:34
Walker, in a rare moment of candor, stated to reporters that he would not use the criminal defense fund to pay for the legal defenses of his aides, who have been charged with crimes ranging from child enticement, to theft from veterans and the families of fallen soldiers, to misuse of taxpayer resources to illegally campaign for Scott Walker, and would instead use the funds for himself or his campaign.
Wisconsin law is very clear: an elected official can only establish a legal defense fund if they, or their agent, are under investigation for, charged with, or convicted of violations of Wisconsin's campaign finance and election laws.
http://www.politiscoop.com/us-politics/wisconsin-politics/1422-breaking-major-revelations-in-john-doe-probe-scott-walker-mistakenly-admits-he-is-under-investigation.html
Only a fool like you or someone who doesn't know the truth would vote for this larcenous man
BTW: you wouldn't happen to know if Walker's job numbers coincide with the BLS as correct; would you?
Last I checked Walker had the lowest job creation in the USA.
Bill Clinton, as usual, get's it exactly right: those of us who have witnessed Tea Party policies at the state level up close: including witch-hunts, blame-the -elderly and sick, tax cuts to the rich, the repeal of environmental protections and the attack teachers, long for the days of civility and cooperation in state government.
I hope Wisconsin sends a message to the right wing politicians and replaces Walker with Barrett, in the name of peace.
What Tea Party Members are you speaking of?
So, Amy, did Bill Clinton get it "exactly right" when he referred to Romney's "sterling" business background?
By the way, I DID read the entire transcript, and that's not taken out of context.
Seems ol'Bill really does believe Obama is an amateur. His denials about his exhorting Hillary to challenge Obama are reminiscent of his insisting that he had a new definition of the word "is". He's only out there stumping for Obama because it keeps him in the limelight- its pretty easy to see him laughing up his sleeve.
Forget walking over hot coals- better start sending emails to the powers-that-be at MSNBC. If Obama gets a talk show, they're ratings will jump- and you'll get to see your heartthrob every night at eight.
Hey Amy, I suppose then Bill Clinton had it exactly right when he said this about Mitt Romney:
“I don’t think we ought to get in a position where we say this is bad work. This is good work."
And he went on: “There’s no question that in terms of getting up and going to the office and, you know, basically performing the essential functions of the office, a man who’s been governor and had a sterling business career crosses the qualification threshold.”
As usual?
I know it's hard for you to understand, but Democratic politicians actually try to avoid character assasination and attempt to elevate the discussion to the issues.
Unlike Republicans "He's a commie! He was born in Kenya! He's friends with terrorists! "
Wisconsin, Walker, is not over until it is over. Polls do not mean anything. All get out and vote.
If Walker wins then we have a brand new game and the tone is set for November.
You all have a good weekend and don't drink to much or eat allot of popcorn.
Messes are difficult to undo. Clinton is the big gun in this and hopefully he will make a difference and Walker will be recalled. If not, the People of Wisconsin deserve what they get. I hope they don't complain later on.
Walker is brought and paid for by the knock brothers. They will get all the money back, with taxs breaks the 1% will get about 5 trillon in tax breaks Lets sent a message and vote Walker out.
Anyone who does not like unions can work for Walmart. Make the Waltons rich while you get no benefits and medicaid is your medical plan. Walmart actually tells their employees to apply for medicaid. Next to slave labor both here in the US stores and in China where all Walmart merchandise is made.