by Frank James
In his interview on Good Morning America, Sen. Barack Obama came about as close as one could to saying that former President Bill Clinton is lying about him on the campaign trail.
In keeping with Obama’s generally sunny personality, his rebuke of the former president was delivered with none of the acid of, say, former Sen. Bob Dole. It was Dole, you’ll remember, who in 1988 famously growled “Tell him to stop lying about my record,” in a comment directed to then Vice President George H.W. Bush.
Obama was polite but his message was clear: Bill Clinton isn’t telling the truth.
Here’s an exchange Obama had with Robin Roberts that illustrates the point.
Robin Roberts: In a “Newsweek” article that’s coming out, prominent democrats are saying what he’s doing is inappropriate. An inappropriate role for a former President to take such an aggressive role. Do you think it’s inappropriate the role he’s taken?
Obama: I completely understand him wanting to promote his wife’s candidacy. And you know, Michelle is out there doing the same thing on my behalf. I do think that there — there should be some standards of honesty in any political discourse. That’s part of the change that I want to bring about. You know, if you have something that just directly contradicts the facts and it’s coming from a former president, I think that’s a problem because people presume that a former president is going to have more credibility. And I think there’s certain responsibilities that are carried with that.
Robin Roberts: Anything else you that want to set the record strait that he said one thing about you and you’re now saying that’s false?
Obama: President Clinton went in front of a large group, said that I had claimed that only Republicans had had any good ideas since 1980. Then he added, I’m not making this up. He was making it up. And completely mischaracterizing my statement.
The Obama camp knows it has a formidable foe in the former president who left office with high approval ratings and is still adored by many Democrats.
But if the former president has a weakness in the area of public perception about him, it’s his honesty, a self-inflicted wound if ever there were one.
So Obama not only defends himself, which all candidates being attacked must do, but he also taps into the widespread perception that former President Bill Clinton views truth as largely plastic, like the meaning of “is.”
Obama and his surrogates will likely have more opportunities to use this line of counterattack since the former president shows no signs of letting up in order to help Sen. Clinton secure the Democratic presidential nomination.
Here’s the entire GMA transcript:
Robin Roberts: Now, the race to ’08 and the new war of words between Barack Obama and the Clinton campaign. In our exclusive interview with Senator Obama, he made his strongest comments yet about his increasingly vocal opponent. But his target is not Hillary Clinton but former President Bill Clinton. I began by asking Senator Obama how he planned to regain the momentum after Hillary Clinton’s back-to-back wins in New Hampshire and Nevada.
Obama: It’s very important for us, I think, to stick to what has worked for us. Talking about the need for change in this country. It’s very specific change. A change in our tax code that closes loopholes for corporations and puts money in the pockets of hard-working Americans. Providing the kinds of resources that young people need in order to go to college. Fixing our school system. Not leaving the money behind, as know child left behind did. Bringing this war to an end and initiating a new era of diplomacy. So talking about change. Talking about bringing the country together, not just democrats but independents and republicans.
Robin Roberts: going back to Nevada for a moment. Hotly-contested race there. And as you know, the Clinton campaign made some allegations against your supporters saying that you were putting pressure on union members. And her husband, former President Bill Clinton, had something to say about that. I’d like to get your reaction to what he said.
WJC: Yesterday when Chelsea and I were going through one of the hotels here, someone was going on along behinds us, saying if you vote for Hillary we are going to give you a job assignment that keeps you from going to the caucus. And I haven’t seen tactics like that in decades in America.
Robin Roberts: are you sure no improper activity by any of your supporters?
Obama: No, what I’m absolutely sure about is that if there was improper activity, it was taken place on behalf of Clinton supporters who we know were trying to get doors closed before people went in. I have to say just broadly, the former president who I think an all of us have a lot of regard for has taken his advocacy on behalf of his wife to a level that I think is pretty troubling. You know, he continues to make statements that aren’t supported by the facts, whether it’s about my record of opposition to the war in Iraq, or our approach to organizing in Las Vegas. You know, this has become a habit, and one of the things that I think we’re going to have to do is directly confront Bill Clinton when he’s not making statements that are factually accurate.
Robin Roberts: In a “Newsweek” article that’s coming out, prominent democrats are saying what he’s doing is inappropriate. An inappropriate role for a former President to take such an aggressive role. Do you think it’s inappropriate the role he’s taken?
Obama: I completely understand him wanting to promote his wife’s candidacy. And you know, Michelle is out there doing the same thing on my behalf. I do think that there — there should be some standards of honesty in any political discourse. That’s part of the change that I want to bring about. You know, if you have something that just directly contradicts the facts and it’s coming from a former president, I think that’s a problem because people presume that a former president is going to have more credibility. And I think there’s certain responsibilities that are carried with that.
Robin Roberts: Anything else you that want to set the record strait that he said one thing about you and you’re now saying that’s false?
Obama: President Clinton went in front of a large group, said that I had claimed that only republicans had had any good ideas since 1980. Then he added, I’m not making this up. He was making it up. And completely mischaracterizing my statement.
Robin Roberts: Moving on now to South Carolina, after suffering back-to-back losses, is this a must-win state for you, Senator?
Obama: Every state is a state we want to win in a contest this close. Right now, the delegate tally is very close. We actually ended up winning more delegates in Nevada than Senator Clinton did, even though she won the popular vote. And so we want to make sure we do well in South Carolina.
Robin Roberts: I know you want to win them all, but realistically, the states you feel like you really have the shot on Super Tuesday.
Obama: We’re not going to win every one of them. We are going to win a sizable share. You know we’ve got a formidable opponent, actually two formidable opponents at this point between Senator Clinton and President Clinton.
Robin Roberts: Do you feel, at times, as though you’re taking on two candidates at one time?
Obama: Well, you know, there’s no doubt, having President Clinton on the trail, and attacking — spending most of his time attacking me, it can be a distraction during the course of the campaign. But anybody who’s heard my wife Michelle on the stump knows that she’s an incredible asset. I feel like it balances out.
Robin Roberts: You’re there in Atlanta; you spoke on Sunday, at Dr. King’s church, Martin Luther King Day. Just your thoughts on the holiday and what you think Dr. King would think of your candidacy?
Obama: Well, you know, I don’t know what he would think of my candidacy. I can say that sitting in Ebenezer Baptist church here in Atlanta, and reflecting on all that’s happened over a relatively short period of time, it’s a testimony to the power of hope and perseverance and sacrifice on behalf of previous generations. But I’m also reminded that a few blocks from Ebenezer Baptist church there are pockets of poverty that are as severe as they were 40 years ago. And it indicates how far we have to go.
Robin Roberts: Hillary Clinton’s campaign issued a statement in response to senator Obama’s comments about the former president. It said in part, quote, “we understand senator Obama is frustrated over his loss in Nevada but facts are facts…” They go to say, “President Clinton is a huge asset to our campaign and will continue talking to the American people to press the case for Senator Clinton.”
