During a wide-ranging interview with Bill Clinton, on Tuesday's "Today" show, about his Clinton Initiative summit, NBC's Matt Lauer wanted to get the former President's advice on whether current New York Governor David Paterson should run again. Lauer, seemingly concerned about the GOP capturing the governorship in New York state, asked Clinton if the unpopular Democrat's reelection bid might "hurt the Democratic Party."
The following exchange was aired on the September 22 "Today" show:
MATT LAUER: Real, real quickly, if you can. You're in New York. The governor here is embattled. His, his popularity ratings are anemic. The White House has suggested he should step aside, he should not run for election next year. Should he run for election or will he hurt the Democratic Party?
BILL CLINTON: I think, first of all, the election is next year, and he's not in good shape now. But I will say this about David Paterson. He is a good man, he has achieved a lot in his life, and the people who really know him tend to really like him and are very, I think that he will do, in the end, what he believes is best for New York. And I think we should trust him to do that. I trust him to do that, and I believe that if he thinks he's got a reasonable chance to win, I think he'll probably run. If he thinks that he, the chances are one in ten or worse, I think he probably won't, but that's up to, I think he'll decide and he'll make a good decision.
—Geoffrey Dickens is the senior news analyst at the Media Research Center.
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Lauer... is this guy
Tue, 09/22/2009 - 12:00 ET by Six String SpiffLauer... is this guy ever going to come out of the closet?
Who?
Tue, 09/22/2009 - 12:06 ET by AgentAmericanWho's Matt Lauer?
I'm surprised he doesn't have an "h" in his last name like other limosuine liberals like Maher and Lehrer.
Awake the sleeping giant...and that giant is WE THE PEOPLE!
and Bill Moyher
Tue, 09/22/2009 - 12:40 ET by needle- Relying upon the State Run Media for your information is like relying upon an embezzler for your portfolio management.
So the MSM has time to
Tue, 09/22/2009 - 12:08 ET by Six String SpiffSo the MSM has time to interview a former IMPEACHED President but doesn't know anything about ACORN.
Wow
Oh my, Matt Lauer
Tue, 09/22/2009 - 12:16 ET by TexndocA black politician and a blind one at that. What will you do? Oh, yes, what WILL you do?
You're glib, Matt
Tue, 09/22/2009 - 12:36 ET by YahooWatcherAnd BTW, I live in NY (Upstate, removed from subsidized NYC) and David Paterson is a fool. He really could have made a difference, but the state is now in the same situation as the federal government, that being the state assembly, senate, and governor's office are controlled by Democrats. Instead of trying to reform things, spending has increased radically, power struggles have erupted, and the people are being taxed to death. All people in America should keep a close eye on NY because what is happening here will soon happen across the country.
Edit: Also, what the hell does Bill Clinton care what happens in NY? His old lady did her Senate thing while telling brain-washed liberal NYer's that she had no aspiration for higher office in 2000 and then was set out like a bag of trash by the DNC in 2008. The happy couple got a house basically given to then by supporters and brought the White House dishes, furniture, and silverware with them. Aren't you done yet here in NY, Bubba? Just catch the next Walmart 18-wheeler on the Thruway back to Arkansas and don't let the door hit you on the way.
Don't Tax Me, Bro.
How will he hurt the party?
Tue, 09/22/2009 - 12:35 ET by CobraManHow will he hurt the Party by campaigning? The democrats are free to run SEVERAL candidates (they still have state primaries, don't they? They still compete against each other, don't they?), why restrict themselves to just one? Are they afraid that this man will split the vote, possibly along racial lines? I would hazard a guess that the answer to that is YES!.
So, the democrats, including the President, want's this man to "step down" because they don't want democrats split along racial lines, a split that will be obvious to everyone and will disprove that the Democrats are "post racial" as they claim. That's it, isn't it Matt?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
You got it!
Tue, 09/22/2009 - 12:36 ET by SouthJersey1953Great observation! That is exaclty what they are afraid of!
"Maybe if we keep our heads buried in the sand, this will blow over" - The Congressional Republicans
Now Obama is asking Paterson
Tue, 09/22/2009 - 12:40 ET by River DogNow Obama is asking Paterson not to run? When will all this sick bigotry and racism end?!
Re Paterson
Tue, 09/22/2009 - 12:40 ET by slickwillie2001I see the Paterson case a little differently. I would have expected that the Bamster would simply assume that he could campaign for Paterson, raise his arms, put his nose in the air, proclaim that "we are the ones we have been waiting for," and Paterson would win in a landslide.
Is this an admission that the magic is gone, that the narcissism has been broken, that the NAA meetings have helped? Or does the Bamster maybe have one of his own cabal that he wants to parachute into New York?
Let's do the checklist: 1.
Tue, 09/22/2009 - 13:44 ET by BruzillaLet's do the checklist:
1. No criticism of Republicans. Check
2. No critcism of other Dem candidates. Check
3. No overly positive statements about Paterson's accomplishments. Check
4. Lots of "I think..." and no "I knows..." Check
Paterson better plan on quiting.
What Matt ought to be
Tue, 09/22/2009 - 14:20 ET by BKeyserWhat Matt ought to be worried about is how soon he's gonna need a bridge to connect that little island of a hair patch. I hope he doesn't go all Phil Collins with that thing.
Good one Yahoo Watcher!
Tue, 09/22/2009 - 14:48 ET by SpikerI loved this:
Just catch the next Walmart 18-wheeler on the Thruway back to Arkansas and don't let the door hit you on the way.
WTF???
Tue, 09/22/2009 - 21:00 ET by ObamaSuxOBAMA, PELOSI and REID are causing FAR more harm to the Democrat party than ANY governor could ever hope to!
Blagojevich.
Tue, 09/22/2009 - 21:02 ET by NL207Blagojevich.
I think it was implied that
Tue, 09/22/2009 - 21:03 ET by Free StinkerI think it was implied that they meant "sitting Governor".
But your point is well taken. :-)