E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSPreviewing his primetime speech tonight at the Democratic convention, former President Bill Clinton tells NBC's Brian Williams that he will explain why President Obama's economic approach "is right" and will "pay off" if he's re-elected.
Clinton also says in the interview that no president, in four years, could have restored the current economy "to full health" after the financial collapse of 2008.
Former President Bill Clinton, who will address the Democratic National Convention tonight, told NBC's Brian Williams why he feels President Obama needs to be reelected.
BRIAN WILLIAMS: Cover of Newsweek, "Why Barack needs Bill." Why do you think Barack needs Bill? What do you have to offer?
BILL CLINTON: I really don't know. I've always been mystified by that. I was honored when he asked me to nominate him. I hope what I can do, because we did have a good economy, because we did have the longest expansion in history, is explain why I think his approach is right and it'll pay off if we renew his contract. Explain why the economy he faced was much weaker and different than the one I faced, so that there's no way any president, no president could have restored it to full health in just four years.
The rest of Brian Williams' interview with Clinton will appear on NBC "Nightly News" beginning at 6:30 pm ET.
Leave a Comment:
When was our last budget? Anyone? Harry Reid should be rotting in a prison right now!
With Condelleza Rice & Donald Rumsfeld & GW Bush
Bet you would like prison. You are always talking about teabaggers. hehehhehehehehehehehehehe
I will stop using that term - right away....you must listen to Howard Stern...yukka
Even after all we've been through, I find it astonishing that so many people just don't get what's going on. How anyone can be so isolated or confused to think that Romney and Ryan will be good for the country (however well-intentioned)...and disparage exceptional people like Clinton and Obama is beyond any explanation of "motivated reasoning" or "cognitive dissonance." Does that sound partisan? At what point does an obviously horrible idea become so horrible that everyone realizes it's actually horrible? Is there any point at which authoritarian people actually "wake up?" We are facing intransigent facts and calling them "matters of opinion." Is it too late to give the Republicans the South, and move on without them?
No one is disparaging Clinton, he did that himself, his women "friends", he lied abou it, was impeached. A real stand up guy. You WANT to see him at the DNC?
While I find it amusing that everyone that has posted so far has managed to blame Obama entirely by himself, a democratic house, a republican house, Reagan, Clinton, Carter, and/or anything else I may have missed as the cause for our financial woes...nobody posted anything about taking personal responsibility or even blaming a global economy. I'm stunned that not a single person that posted didn't get upside down on a car loan or house loan or commit bankruptcy. I'm stunned that all of us struggled to buy American products when cheaper foreign products were available. What is the big stunner is that nobody is discussing the fact that we have a global economy now. Our economy is connected to those of other countries and is absolutely affected by them. What other countries faced what we have faced recently to the same degree? What other countries have pulled out of the depths of despair faster and better? Americans need to realize we aren't the only country in the world and other countries failures and successes affect us. Our financial stability can't govern other countries but other countries can govern our financial stability.
So when Obama promised he would cut the deficit in half and reduce unemployment in the first year, was he ignorant, uninformed or just stupid?
What YOU don't UNDERSTAND is anything you're saying! Why don't you EDUCATE YOURSELF (is that FEASIBLE??) and READ the FACTS concerning TARIFFS (or since Uncle Braindead LACK THEREOF) and the TARIFF RATES between the COUNTRIES of the World or as you and the rest of you Repubes are so fond of calling it the "Global Economy". If you do that you just might sound like you know what you're trying to say...got it?
MAYBE he was playing POLITICS to get elected?? Just a thought! I mean the previous president NEVER LIED even ONCE to the American people did he?? I mean Sadaam, a JOKE with NO ARMY, AIR FORCE, or NAVY was a REAL THREAT to the US wasn't he?? That's what Ol' Gutless told us...ad nauseum and you LOSERS puking up the same Repube lines NOW BELIEVED Ol' Gutless's OBVIOUS LIES back THEN and unfortunately NOW too.
Carter was an embarrassment - Obama has topped him! Sad for the American people. At least Clinton made it interesting.
I disagree. But the hate-and-fear mobsters would have to stop their obstructions.
But they can't do that because it would be an admission their policies are the same abject failures today they were in 1932.
After Clintons and the Democrats 1993 TAX HIKE the economy faded to only 3.2% growth.
Republicans took control of the House and Senate in the ‘94 midterm elections and by 1997 forced Clinton to sign the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 and the Balanced Budget Amendment of 1997. Afterwards the economy grew by 4.2%. 11.5 Million jobs were added, real wages grew by 6.5%, and the S&P rose by an astounding 95% and the Budget was balanced. Our only hope is to elect Romney and give the Senate to the Republicans so they can fix this economic train wreck we’re all riding on.
"Most notably, Citibank’s 1998 affiliation with Salomon Smith Barney, one of the largest US securities firms, was permitted under the Federal Reserve Board’s then existing interpretation of the Glass-Steagall Act.[5] Clinton publicly declared, "The Glass-Steagall Act is no longer relevant."[6] "
I was surprised to learn that Clinton is the one open the flood get for risky banking investment and the sub-prime mess. It is time to jump ship because the "EMPTY CHAIR' Captain is leading us to disaster.
5 Trillion = equivalent to 16k per person per year for 3 years
americans get what they vote for...BS greedy lairs run by the Fed and 1% corporations! Vote ron paul and make a start to wipe this crap out of washington! american citizens are the dumbest people ever! just give them tv, walmart and god... the sheep will follow! what this country needs is to hit rock bottom so they will wake the phuck up!
what a bunch of sheep!
Bill "BJ" Clinton the PERV is such a disgrace. How he disrespected the Oval office, His wife, His daughter, that young intern. Who has any respect for that PERV. LOL he's the keynote speaker for the Godless party.
Oh sure, right! Now Slick WIllie will tell the country to give Barry Obama a break, a free pass. Now comes MORE hemming, hawing and spinning from Clinton. Don't believe this garbage, use your brains people. We need an American President, not this little self appointed kenyan king.
All I have heard on the Rand R campaign is "Let's knock the other guy". Is this called improvement on anything? Does this kind of chatting give us a sense of hope? If that is all these 2 know then we best stick with what we do know before 2 yellow bellies come flying through with confusing answers.hopeless subjects,nothing positive and completely useless airheads. Romney's wife would be the 1st Lady...Do you see or hear something wrong with that picture at all? I quit! I leave it up to all of you!
Clinton is on the money. Ohh and we are at war in another country..Romney forgot. Where are those tax returns Romney??
The debt just went past $16 trillion. Your as dense as depleted uranium if you think for one minute that this election should be about anyone's tax returns.
Yea Mr, Clinton, Mr, fornication,,No one can fix this problem in 4 years, but he can double our national dept in 4 years, put people in his racist categories and give our country away to 4 million Illegals.. turning what jobs that are left to 6-7 dollar an hour slavery.. Any idiot can see if they open their blinded puppet eyes but NO, they would rather follow like the sheep they are to the slaughter..
EAT CROW all you Dems here supporting your party dropping God and refusing to acknowledge Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. You had to back peddle and EAT CROW but you're still the Godless Party! How's Crow taste?
YOU LOSERS can WORSHIP the ZIONISTS who RUN and RUIN the USA from JEWRUSALEM but us REAL Americans DON'T and WON'T!
it doesn't make sense..
if oblamlo gets reelected, it is for sure that he will totally demolish this economy and the democrats will not stand a snowballs chance in 2016..
there goes hillary's chance..
slick willy's only hope is for romney to get in and hope he doesn't turn the numbers around..
or..
slick willy is such a narcissist that he will do/say anything to get back into the limelight!
HOW can Obama DEMOLISH an ECONOMY already demolished by the previous Repube president Ol' Gutless???
1). Repeal the $500 Billion tax on the middle class and business Obamacare.
2). Cut the highest corporate tax on the planet from %38.9 to %28.
3). Repeal the Obama %30 tax on small business in the $250K to $1 million THI range.
4). Cut the cap gains tax from %28 to %18.
5). Restructure the Roman Legion EPA to be part of business plans,
That could do it in Four years with good management from a President who knew what he was doing.
This one has no clue is in way over head.
Obama buried us with the Affordable Care Act. Don't believe me? Wait and see in 2014 when it is in full effect and nothing can be done about it and the American public won't have a say in repealing it at that point. Scared yet? You should be that piece of legislation is the dirt on the grave.
I read it. I was shocked. Look at this.

It is the Forcible Rape of the middle class by Obamacare. How do these socialist b*stards get away with their lies.
Read the 2700 pages, it is full of hidden taxes. is an abbreviated list of taxes on families and businesses introduced by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), known as Obamacare, totalling more than $500 billion over the next ten years as prepared by the Americans for Tax Reform:
Excise taxes on charitable hospitals ($50,000 per hospital if they do not meet HHS criteria of "community health assessment needs," billing and collection," and "financial assistance" (PPACA, 2010, pp. 1,961-1,971)
Codify "economic substance doctrine" (IRS will not allow any legal deductions or tax-minimizing plans because it lacks "substance" and is intended to reduce taxes owed); this is a tax increase of $4.5 billion (Bill Reconciliation Act, 2010, pp. 108-113)
"Black liquor" tax on a special bio-fuel (Bill Reconciliation Act, 2010, p. 105)
Tax on innovating drug companies (PPACA, 2010, p. 1,971-1,980)
Blue Cross/Blue Shield Tax Increase (PPACA, 2010, p. 2,004)
Ten percent tax on indoor tanning (PPACA, 2010, pp. 2,397-2,399)
Medicine cabinet tax disallows Americans to use health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, or health reimbursement pre-tax money to buy over the counter medicines except insulin (PPACA, 2011, pp. 1,957-1,959)
HSA Withdrawal tax hike from 10 to 20 percent (PPACA, 2011, p. 1,959)
Employer reporting of insurance on W-2 forms, taxing health benefits on individual tax returns (PPACA, 2012, p. 1,957)
Surtax on investment income for families that make at least $250,000 or $200,00 single (Bill Reconciliation Act, 2013, pp. 87-93)
Medicare payroll tax increase (PPACA, Reconciliation Act, 2013, pp. 2,000-2,003, pp. 87-93)
A 2.3 percent excise tax on medical device manufacturers (PPACA, 2013, pp. 1,980-1,986)
Medical expenses can be itemized if they exceed 10 percent, no longer the previous 7.5 percent, resulting in fewer people being able to itemize (PPACA, 2013, pp. 1,994-1,995)
Flexible spending account cap of $2,500 which is now unlimited (PPACA, 2013, pp. 2,388-2,389)
Eliminate tax deductions for employer-provided retirement prescription drug coverage in coordination with Medicare Part D (PPACA, 2013, p. 1,994)
Limit of $500,000 annual executive compensation for health insurance executives (PPACA, 2013, pp. 1,995-2,000)
Individual mandate excise tax starting in 2014 if a person does not buy a "qualifying" health insurance, 1 percent in 2014, 2 percent in 2015, 2.5 percent in 2016; exempted are hardship cases as determined by HHS, religious objectors, undocumented immigrants, prisoners, those earning less than the poverty line, members of Indian tribes (PPACA, 2014, pp. 317-337)
Employer mandated tax, non-deductible of $2,000 per employee if the employer does not offer health coverage and at least one employee qualifies for a health tax credit; if an employee receives coverage through the government exchange, the employer penalty for that employee increases to $3,000 (PPACA, 2014, pp. 345-346)
Tax on health insurers based on premiums collected per year (PPACA, 2014, pp. 1,986-1,993 (this all but forces employers to stop offering insurance, forcing their employees onto the government exchanges)
40 percent excise tax on comprehensive health insurance plans or "Cadillac plans" (PPACA, 2018, pp. 1,941-1,956)
and...
the dems and odumbo made a deal with AARP..
there are a billion reasons why AARP deserted the seniors for obamacare..
AARP - Crony Capitalism from the Obama Administration.
Clinton the PERV is the keynote speaker for the Democrat party. How fitting.
The key to understanding Bill Clinton's speech is to remember that the only way that Hillary can win the Democratic nomination in 2016 (the only shot she is going to get) is if Obama wins re-election. If Romney/Ryan is elected, the probability is that they will be re-elected in 2016 as the then current incumbents. The Clintons at this point are singularly focused on Hillary's (and Bill's) driving need for her to be elected president. They know how to read the tea leaves!!! They also don't care what happens to the country in the next four years - they are taking the longer view.
You've got a point there. However, Obama could have selected her as V.P, instead of Bite Me Biden.
Actually if Obama gets re-elected it would blow her chance in 2016. Historically speaking after a party has had the White House for 8 years it almost always goes to the other party.
The best chance for Hillary in 2016 would be if Romney Won. Other wise she will probably have to wait till 2020 because after 8 Years of Obama the Republicans would win in 2016, if they don't win in 2012.
Obama didn't win in 2008 because he was the best candidate he won because the Democrats were going to win after 8 years of the Republicans having the White House. Hillary would have won, John, I screwed around on my wife while she was battling cancer, Edwards would have won, any Democrat would have won in 2008.
Nobody could get outa a recession in 4 years?
REAGAN DID AFTER 4 YEARS OF PEANUT FARMER POLICIES, ONE OF WHICH GAVE US IRAN.
the democrats caused the houseing bubble by voting against legislation to get some regulation on freddie and fannie.
Geez, its just as i thought it would be THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL REINVENTION.
Yup, Trickle down works. Trickle up? Well, we have seen how that worked the last four years.
thomas, the difference between the late 70's minor recession and the catastrophic almost depression of 2008 is beyond astronomical.
A TOTAL collapse of banking, insurance, housing and credit would have stifled the entire world for a decade or more.
Please watch something other than FOX.
Education for those who still back Obama.....
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/reagan-recession/
WilliamOfRites the 1981-1982 Recession was the 2nd worst since the Great Depression.....it was not "mild" as you falsely claim.
Regan tried his tax cuts with his trickle down theroy, then two years later had to introduce the biggest tax increase in history at that time.
Oh, the 'ol Tip O'Neil renig crap?.....again?
http://www.forbes.com/sites/richardgrant/2012/09/02/how-reagan-was-compromised/
BTW he didn't "have to" do anything. Tip O'Neil just lied when he agreed to cut spending in exchange for the tax increase.
This is the same guy that said, 'I didn't inhale and she didn't inhale'.
http://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=Lr1M1T2Y314&feature=related
Who really caused the financial crisis. Watch and learn.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr1M1T2Y314&feature=related
starring Andrew Cuomo, Bill Clinton and special guest appearance by Pres, Obama.
Obama must be held responsible for his failure. It's the economy, stupid! Unemployment for Blacks is 16%; Mexican Americans 11%. People are dropping out of the work force. 50% of College Grads are still looking for work. Forget the fact that he lied about closing Guantanamo, increased wire tapping, and promised to leave office if he failed to change things. Clinton changed to the middle ground in his 2nd term because he is a natural sell-out to his own well being, but Obama is a socialist to the core and must show that fairness is the only way to go. Only the stupid and Democrats believe that Union labor is cheap, but being fair means that not going to college and just getting by in school is the true American-way because Obama's government will support the masses.
How do you sell cars when unemployment is so high? By making risker loans and thanking Obama with car sales. Banks would do the same thing and loan money to small businesses, but Obama has made this group of lenders the evil empire. This is not going Forward, but going backwards. It is time for a change. Jimmy Carter did not get a 2nd chance, and neither should Obama.
Casey, Romney has no support from Blacks. They know the deal with Romney.
Casey, Hispanics support Obama by a LARGE margin. They know the deal with Romney.
Casey, college students support Obama by a LARGE margin. They know the deal with Romney.
Obama simply has not played an active role engaging the elected officials. According to one of his high profile advisors he didn't understand the problem.
Candidate Obama said he was going to fix the economy during his first term. He said he would be a one term president if he didn't. He is an obvious liar, a pathetic liar. Now he has to engineer the excuses for his miserable presidency by proxies like Clinton...another liar, a perjurer and an impeached president. His campaign will be taught in schools as the dirtiest, most dishonest and disreputable example of politics in the history of this country. Obama has done nothing constructive during his term and does not deserve a pension let alone to be elected again.
A lot of the replies in favor of Obama are written by his campaign workers not by the average citizen.