Man, that guy can hold a grudge! Bill Clinton is talking, and he still sounds awfully bitter about the primaries during an interview from Africa with ABC's Kate Snow on "Good Morning America":
over the past six days. On Monday, the former President will address the World AIDS Conference in Mexico.
At times, he appeared to grow testy as he discussed his wife's failed bid for the nomination and was asked if he deserves at least some of the blame for his wife's losses.
Clinton at first said he did not want to rehash events of the past year because it "interferes with the issue which is who should be elected in November." But then he offered a lengthy defense of his own role and chastized the media for its coverage.
When asked, "Do you personally have any regrets about what you did, campaigning for your wife?" Clinton, at first, answered, "Yes, but not the ones you think. And it would be counterproductive for me to talk about."
But then he added, "There are things that I wish I'd urged her to do. Things I wish I'd said. Things I wish I hadn't said.
"But I am not a racist," he continued. "I've never made a racist comment and I never attacked him [Obama] personally." He also described South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn as a "used to be" friend. Jeez.
And when asked whether Barack Obama is qualified to be president, the former POTUS didn't exactly give him a ringing endorsement:
... asked if the Illinois senator is ready to be president, Clinton spun, "You could argue that no one is ever ready to be president." He went on to discuss how he learned things on the job, how the presidency is full of pressure. Clinton finished his evasive response by admitting that Obama can "inspire" and by observing in a a tone that sounded slightly condescending, "And he's smart as a whip, so there's nothing he can't learn."
Hug much?
| Labels: 2008 election, ABC News, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, presidential candidates, race and politics |
