Wednesday's editions of the CBS "Early Show" and NBC's "Today" show both ignored Bill Clinton's incredible assertion on Tuesday that he opposed the Iraq war from its inception. Only "Good Morning America" correspondent Jake Tapper pointed out the obvious fact that Clinton was no vocal critic of the military action. Filing a report on the subject, Tapper incredulously wondered, "Bill Clinton opposed the war in Iraq from the beginning?"
After acknowledging that the ex-President did call for the U.N. weapons inspectors to have more time, Tapper clarified the record: "...[Bill Clinton] was hardly, at least publicly, an opponent of going to war against Saddam Hussein." The ABC journalist then read from a 2003 speech on the Clinton Foundation's website that featured the former Commander in Chief asserting, "I supported the President when he asked the Congress for authority to stand up against weapons of mass destruction in Iraq." So, despite the fact that ample information exists calling into question the validity of Clinton's recent statement, only GMA covered the story.
One point that no reporter has mentioned is that this isn't the first time Bill Clinton has offered confusing explanations for a conflict with Iraq. On July 31, 1992, the New York Times featured a quote from then-candidate Clinton about the first Gulf War:
In the Associated Press article, Mr. Clinton is quoted as saying that, if he had been a member of Congress, he probably -- not certainly -- would have voted with the majority to grant the President war-making authority, but that he personally agreed with the arguments voiced by the minority, that the United Nations sanctions ought to be given more time to work. "I guess I would have voted for the majority if it was a close vote," Mr. Clinton was quoted as saying. "But I agree with the arguments the minority made." [Emphasis added.]
A transcript of the GMA segment, which aired at 7:03am on November 28, follows:
CHRIS CUOMO: Now to presidential politics in this country and whether former President Bill Clinton helps or hurts Hillary's run for the White House, especially after his latest comments on the Iraq war. Our senior political correspondent Jake Tapper is in Washington. Morning, Jake.
JAKE TAPPER: Good morning, Chris. Well, Senator Hillary Clinton heads to Iowa today to talk about health care reform, but she may find herself overshadowed by comments made by her husband, former President Bill Clinton, who is now saying that he opposed the war in Iraq from the very beginning, a war that his wife voted to authorize and that he did not exactly seem to be protesting at the time. The former President was talking to Iowans about military families and then, a startling claim.
ABC GRAPHIC: Bill Clinton: Iraq War Opponent? How Will Comment Affect Hillary's Campaign?
BILL CLINTON: Even though I approved of Afghanistan and opposed Iraq from the beginning, I still resent that I was not asked or given the opportunity to support those soldiers.
TAPPER: Bill Clinton opposed the war in Iraq from the beginning? At the time, the former President said United Nations inspectors should be given more time to look for weapons of mass destruction. But he was hardly, at least publicly, an opponent of going to war against Saddam Hussein.
BILL CLINTON [File footage from GMA on September 27, 2002]: This guy is-- He's got a very dangerous program. We need to eliminate it.
TAPPER: On his own foundation's website, a 2003 speech where Clinton said, quote, "I supported the President when he asked the Congress for authority to stand up against weapons of mass destruction in Iraq." All of this refocuses attention where his wife does not want it, on her 2002 vote to authorize the President to go to war.
SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON [File footage from October 11, 2002]: Perhaps my decision is influenced by my eight years of experience on the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, in the White House, watching my husband deal with serious challenges to our nation.
TAPPER: And it's in Iowa where President Clinton has refocused attention on its war in Iraq, Iowa with its sizable population of anti-war liberal Democrats, where currently in the lead is Senator Barack Obama who opposed the war back in 2002, going so far as to speak at an anti-war rally. Chris?
—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center.




















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Be careful of the Clinton thugs ...
November 28, 2007 - 13:36 ET by mustangsallyMr. Tapper better find cover before the Clinton goons come looking for him. Imagine the audacity of pointing out a Clinton inconsistency! I hope Mr. Tapper doesn't have any skeletons in his closet ... the Clintons will bring them to life in an instant!
I used to know people like Bill Clinton on the net
November 28, 2007 - 13:36 ET by Lame CherryI used to know in my more salad days chronic liars like Bill Clinton on the net. Sure there is lack of self esteem issues "in wanting to be loved by everyone" so you say things to please them all...........but it also is a thrill for these people to literally lie as it makes them feel good inside as a thrill in robbing a bank for criminals. It is a rush.
A soul less creature like Bill Clinton is always so torn and divided that he just can not help himself.........he must be right all the time even if it involves rewriting history one can check on.......because if he is wrong then all the lies unravel and Willum has to face the puss in the mirror who he knows is going to fail the judgment test of God.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
Bald faced or bold faced? Either way...
November 28, 2007 - 13:40 ET by mattmThe MSM has been letting Billy get away with blatant lies like this since the "I didn't inhale" days.
It's amazing. The MSM is suffering from battered wife syndrome when it comes to this charlatan.
true
November 28, 2007 - 16:44 ET by celatorThe Clintons have been publically called "extremely good liars" several times even by true-believer democrats, as we have seen in the press in the last few months. I've come to believe that the Clintons actually cannot separate truth from their self-serving fictional renditions of reality. This might explain their amazing lack of shame in the lies they enthusiastically pronounce at every opportunity. It's really quite interesting to watch, but very dangerous for the political climate of the country. There's truly something pathological about their behavior.
Scott. Clinton did not simply support the war..
November 28, 2007 - 14:29 ET by Gary HallScott. Clinton did not simply support the war.. he made a strong plea on Larry King Live, July 22, 2003 to the country - that we all get together behind the effort, and to step the crap with the fictionalized drama. Had the media not squashed his view - had the media not kept it from the view of the very interested public, might have resulted in the country coming together on a number of issues surrounding the Iraq war. Perhaps the terrorists and disenchanted in Iraq might have looked out and seen that the US was serious in it's effort to bring peace and some form of democracy and basic rights for all, and Iraq might not have sunk into the horrible mess that confronted them and us all. But the media had no interest in anything other than destroying the Bush administration - so they kept it out of the national view (my bold [my comments] - sorry about the length):
CNN LARRY KING LIVE - Bob Dole Turns 80 - Aired July 22, 2003
For a media that always likes Bill Clinton's advice -- how'd they do with censoring this view? One that might have actually brought the country together. I think we would have long ago pulled off the Iraq experience - successfully?
(;~/
". . . we have to use force . . ."
November 28, 2007 - 14:36 ET by TheTruth"If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program."
- President Bill Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998 | Source
"One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line."
- President Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998 | Source
"We must stop Saddam from ever again jeopardizing the stability and security of his neighbors with weapons of mass destruction."
- Madeline Albright, Feb 1, 1998 | Source
"He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983."
- Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998 | Source
"Hussein has ... chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies."
- Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999 | Source
"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members ... It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons."
- Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002 | Source
C A L L I N G . A L L . T R O L L S
November 28, 2007 - 14:59 ET by MrShyThe Nutty Professor/Chemist, Leon the Peon, Bal (he's a troll we actually sort of love) and the rest:
I implore you all to take a look at The (REAL) Truth's post above, and the other posts here as well.
Then....
...simply answer YES or NO, if this will ween you off -- if even the slightest, little, itty bit -- of so much of the blame, vitriol and "war-crime" accusations you heap on Bush. Yes or no?
"MY end justifies THAT mean." - Shakespeare (not really)
It Wont Work Shy
November 28, 2007 - 15:02 ET by JimboIt won’t work. When a Troll looks at undeniable facts such as these that are contrary to their talking points, they go into some sort of inexplicable dyslexic mental state. They can see that something is written on the screen, but they can’t quite make out what they are reading. They really don’t get too concerned about it, because they are certain it is just more right wing propaganda designed to lead them away from their pagan god, The Daily Kos.
It was an interesting read for me though, so thanks.
Leon says "By the way, I'm not afraid of fat people, I'm repulsed"
Truth Monger Says - "Both are religions [Christianity & Islam], yes - with the same percentage of terrorists."
Jimbo
November 28, 2007 - 15:04 ET by MrShyBut to quote one of the greats, we must....
"Keep hope alive."
Let's not be defeatists, like them :p
"MY end justifies THAT mean." - Shakespeare (not really)
Jimbo & Paw
November 28, 2007 - 15:39 ET by MrShySo far, I've got one absolute "no" from Jason, below (well, with a "if I must") -- I know, I squeezed a quasi-absolute out of one of these people.... not bad, huh?
Of course, he came back to us with 4 long-ish paragraphs to start. Nutty Professor will hit us with one looooong rambling paragraph. Leon will be piffy and short, probably riding Prof's coattails, and also skirt a yes/no.
Stay tuned.....
"MY end justifies THAT mean." - Shakespeare (not really)
Here LEON, where's Sandy!!
November 28, 2007 - 15:03 ET by PawpawNLeon has left the building, it seems. Wonder if he took anything in his socks and pants like his hero SANDY!!!
Leon's Hero
November 28, 2007 - 15:05 ET by JimboYou mean this hero?
Leon says "By the way, I'm not afraid of fat people, I'm repulsed"
Truth Monger Says - "Both are religions [Christianity & Islam], yes - with the same percentage of terrorists."
Paw
November 28, 2007 - 15:08 ET by MrShyHaha.... Remember, in their eyes, the Clinton's sh*t simply does not stink.
"MY end justifies THAT mean." - Shakespeare (not really)
Really? I didn't know
November 28, 2007 - 15:22 ET by JimboReally? I didn't know robots actually took sh**s.
Leon says "By the way, I'm not afraid of fat people, I'm repulsed"
Truth Monger Says - "Both are religions [Christianity & Islam], yes - with the same percentage of terrorists."
It doesn't say much about
November 28, 2007 - 15:18 ET by JasonCIt doesn't say much about my self-image as a denizen of this site that I immediately clicked on a post titled "calling all trolls" upon logging in for my daily dose of conservative media. And my participation today will be brief out of deference to the mountain of work that usually sits patiently while I argue on NB, but has today bulked up its provisions for a 'surge', so to speak, into my late afternoon workday.
My response requires more complexity than a yes or no, unfortunately. I don't believe I've ever accused Bush of war crimes myself. Maybe insincerely for the sake of a reductio ad absurdum argument, but not with conviction. I think that some elements of Bush's policies are 'criminal' in the cagey, rhetorically-casual sense, ie "Spending this kind of taxpayer revenue on war instead of healthcare is criminal, by God!", but certainly not in the Nurembergian sense.
However, if I did believe Bush to be a war criminal (and let's all keep in mind that I do not) the fact that Bill Clinton and his administration also beat the drum regarding an Iraq invasion would change little. Clinton was also in part responsible for the sanctions on Iraq that helped devastate segments of that country long before "shock and awe" leveled parts of Baghdad. I truly do not understand the right's obsession with Clinton (CDS is as pervasive as BDS, sorry but it's true), and the bizarre extrapolation that one who disapproves of Bush must be nostalgic for the Clinton years. If you ask me, it would take a fairly feeble political perspective for a person to champion one wealthy Anglo-Saxon political dynasty who did more damage than good in foreign policy but demonize another.
I can't speak for those left-leaning posters whom you mentioned by name, but seeing a few disembodied, decade-old quotations (which are a matter of public record and fully available to any moronic pro-impeachment leftist who for some reason does think Clinton was great), by Clinton et al. bears little on my opinion concerning Bush one way or the other.
"He was, and is yet, most likely, the wearisomest, self-righteous
pharisee that ever ransacked a Bible to rake the promises to himself
and fling the curses on his neighbors." -Emily Bronte
JasonC
November 28, 2007 - 15:26 ET by MrShyForgot about you, sorry :p
"the fact that Bill Clinton and his administration also beat the drum regarding an Iraq invasion would change little."
"would change little" is fuzzy.... so, I still can't gauge an absolute from you on my question -- of whether this makes even the slightest dent on how you view Bush. In other words, "YES, a slight one", or "NO, nothing at all".
I'm putting you down for a "no", okay? (yes or no?... again, just give me one, thanks.) I honestly just want to tally this up, that's all.
"MY end justifies THAT mean." - Shakespeare (not really)
Sorry, I'm not much of an
November 28, 2007 - 15:29 ET by JasonCSorry, I'm not much of an empiricist. But if I must choose, I guess I'm a no. But for the record, note that I called pro-impeachment leftists "moronic", k?
"He was, and is yet, most likely, the wearisomest, self-righteous
pharisee that ever ransacked a Bible to rake the promises to himself
and fling the curses on his neighbors." -Emily Bronte
JC
November 28, 2007 - 15:32 ET by MrShyWell, it was like pulling a tooth, but I thank you.
:p
"MY end justifies THAT mean." - Shakespeare (not really)
also, Jason (seperate from my other post to you, pls :))
November 28, 2007 - 15:31 ET by MrShyTo be a person of true conviction, NEVER do things insincerely, no matter how tempted you are by those around you.
But I'm dishing out advice that I don't always heed, either. Temptations are strong to slip into the "greys" and be cute or sarcastic about things, as that's the left-driven culture these days.
"MY end justifies THAT mean." - Shakespeare (not really)
Perhaps "insincerity" is
November 28, 2007 - 18:33 ET by JasonCPerhaps "insincerity" is the wrong term. I think I was going for irony; taking the premise of "well if we assume X, then Bush have to be considered a war criminal", X being some flawed supposition concerning famous war criminals or fascists or what have you. I'm sure I've done this now and then.
It may have been inappropriate for me to reply to your survey question in the first place, given that I met the criteria for participation only on an ironic level.
"He was, and is yet, most likely, the wearisomest, self-righteous
pharisee that ever ransacked a Bible to rake the promises to himself
and fling the curses on his neighbors." -Emily Bronte
Gosh Jason, I love irony as
November 28, 2007 - 20:40 ET by MrShyGosh Jason, I love irony as much as the next fella, but is anything not ironic with you?
I should actually be asking Leon this, as you're a more stand-up guy it seems.
:p (universal sign of irony, btw)
"MY end justifies THAT mean." - Shakespeare (not really)
Oh I can be serious and
November 28, 2007 - 20:45 ET by JasonCOh I can be serious and anti-sardonic, don't you worry. I am of course just pre-emptively retconning the efforts of any NBer who might dig up some old post of mine in which I got overly-emotional and did call Bush a war criminal. Not that anyone would go to that length, just being careful.
I hate using emoticons, but consider the universal sign of irony (USI; I like that) duly extended 'back at ya'.
"He was, and is yet, most likely, the wearisomest, self-righteous
pharisee that ever ransacked a Bible to rake the promises to himself
and fling the curses on his neighbors." -Emily Bronte
I've never "heaped" vitriol
November 28, 2007 - 18:37 ET by balboaI've never "heaped" vitriol or war crime accusations on Bush.
and I'm not a terrorist
November 28, 2007 - 18:53 ET by TruthMongerand I'm not a terrorist apologist
or a Muslim
these guys play a little fast and loose with the accusatons sometimes:)
You are a radical islam
November 28, 2007 - 20:32 ET by JimboYou are a radical islam apologist. And I typed it slowly.
Leon says "By the way, I'm not afraid of fat people, I'm repulsed"
Truth Monger Says - "Both are religions [Christianity & Islam], yes - with the same percentage of terrorists."
It's wierd that Hillary,
November 28, 2007 - 20:22 ET by FishFace222It's wierd that Hillary, according to her answer to Bill Mahar about how she could be fooled by W about WMD's in Iraq, had spoken with members of BJC's staff about WMD's in Iraq and drew the conclusion that something must be done. Wouldn't BJC and his staff have come to the same conclusions if they all had the same information?
Hannity is also reporting that BJC had penned an editorial to the Guardian in Great Britian saying we should support the effort to remove Hussein. This was right before we went into Iraq.
And the hits just keep
November 28, 2007 - 17:34 ET by ckc1227And the hits just keep coming from Bill Clinton, the greatest President the world has ever known. Seems he also said recently that illegal immigration is happening because of the Bush "tax cuts to the rich", lol. According to him, since Bush borrowed the money for the tax cuts from Mexico, Mexico doesn't have the money to take care of its own people, and, as a result, the poor Mexicans must come here illegally.
What a maroon.
so does he explain all of
November 28, 2007 - 21:10 ET by red_dragon311so does he explain all of the illegals that crossed the border when he, Bush 41, Reagan, and Carter were in office. he can't be saying that 12-20 million people came here in 7 years
Well, I just saw Clinton's
November 28, 2007 - 18:49 ET by Roger the ShrubberWell, I just saw Clinton's pic on Drudge, saw him kvetching on the television, and here's another photo of him here.
The one thing that they all show? Clinton, once again, using the pointing finger. Like I have observed before here on this fine website, long gone is the soft but tough clenched fist (but with the thumb on top), his trademark, a move emulated by every city councilman and state rep across thia fine land.
The pointing finger of defensiveness. Poor Bill.
when was bill clinton was against the war in iraq
November 28, 2007 - 20:36 ET by lunaticcringeradioif clinton didn't support the war, then why did he sign the bill making it americas duty to enforce regiem change through military force if necessary. either way he's still
that same ole liar. his sole intention was his ole gameplan to say what people wanted to hear and never to actually do anything, the typical liberal noncommital lip sevice feel good soundbite with no action. when bush actually followed through with his statements and actually succeeded where clinton only balked, it exposed clinton as the inactive phoney snake oil salesman he truely is, the number one reason liberals hate bush so much.
remember in politics if you never actually do anything nobody can accuse you of screwing up
lunaticcringeradio