Clinton urges Dems to question criticism By PHILIP ELLIOTT, Associated Press Writer
Wed Oct 18, 10:18 PM ET
WASHINGTON - Former President Clinton bemoaned ideologues who describe opponents as "running for office on his or her way to " and urged Democrats not to shy from fighting back.
Clinton, criticizing Republicans weeks before the midterm elections, told an audience at Georgetown University on Wednesday that intellectual debate should trump partisan rancor and either-or choices are false.
"Most of us long for politics where we have genuine arguments, vigorous disagreements but we don't claim to have the whole truth and we don't demonize our opponents and we work for what's best for the American people," he said.
Clinton, whose wife Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., is eyeing a 2008 White House run, spoke at his alma mater to mark the 15th anniversary of his series of speeches there as a then-fledgling presidential candidate. The former president gave notice that Democrats would not be passive victims of attacks.
"This is a contact sport, politics," he said. "You can't complain about being attacked. It's like Yao Ming complaining about being fouled playing basketball."
Clinton said he doesn't see Democrats shying from the debate.
"It's not that we want a bland, mushy, meaningless politics," he said. "We like our debate. ... We understand that campaigns will be heated and only one side can win. But we want it to be connected somehow to real lives and real people, to aspirations of ordinary Americans to the future of our children and our grandchildren."
Recently, the former president engaged in a testy exchange with Fox News over his administration's record on terrorism.
During remarks that were framed as a discussion of the common good, Clinton decried personal attacks against candidates for perceived lack of faith.
"It's not about who represents the religious truth and who is basically running for office on his or her way to ," Clinton said.
Clinton also argued that the GOP has allowed its conservative element to drown out moderate voices.
"The ideological, right-wing element of the Republican Party has been building strength, partly in reaction to things that happened 40 years ago — Barry Goldwater's defeat, the excess of the '60s, Ronald Reagan's election" he said. "But this is the first time on a consistent basis, the most conservative, the most ideological wing of the Republican Party has had both the executive and legislative branches with a very distinct governing philosophy and very distinct political philosophy."
He said the United States' effort to develop new weapons and cut taxes undercut the moral arguments.
"They favor unilateralism whenever possible and cooperation when it is inevitable," Clinton said without specifically mentioning members of the Bush administration.
"The problem with ideology is, if you've got an ideology, you've already got your mind made up. You know all the answers and that makes evidence irrelevant and arguments a waste of time. You tend to govern by assertion and attacks."
In response, Tracey Schmitt, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee, said, "It's not surprising to hear these attacks from a man widely recognized for repeatedly playing the blame game to cover his own mistakes."
Clinton spoke at an event sponsored by the Center for American Progress, a Democratic group run by his former chief of staff, John Podesta.
He hit the nail on the head. The far right has taken control and does not want to hear anything that they dont agree with. They seem to think they are right 100% precent of the time and have decided to not bother with listening to any criticisms or other ideas. No one is 100% right yet the GOP governs like they are.. Now let the predictable 'nothing to do with this topic' Clinton bashing commence..
This is so very typical of what goes on today that has made me sick of the GOP.
Here you get a erudite, well put together thought, an appeal to reason and moderation from a progressive/left person and then the knee-jerk crap from the party hacks in the GOP that do exactly what Clinton said they do: assertion and attack.
"blame game"= GOP talking point thought up in a focus group
5....4....3....2...1.... (reloads page waiting for the Yoni-bot reply)
Yeah, but the far left isn't any better, that's the problem with our elected officials being nothing more then far on either side of the spectrum. Where the is the middle of the road folks?
Knee jerk? You mean like calling on ABC to can a miniseries because it says something other than how great a president you were?Here you get a erudite, well put together thought, an appeal to reason and moderation from a progressive/left person and then the knee-jerk crap from the party hacks in the GOP that do exactly what Clinton said they do: assertion and attack.
Pot, meet kettle.
They think they are right - everybody thinks they are right on a given subject, otherwise, why would they have that opinion/position?
Your argument fails the logic test.
can anyone be 100% right all of the time? ... no. nice try. just because they think they are right doesn't mean they are correct 100% of the time.
John..are you sitting down??? I agree with you.
I didn't say they were right 100% of the time; but, on any specific issue, a person is going to believe they are right 100% of the time.
For example, on THIS issue you believe you are 100% right, when, in fact, you are 100% wrong.
Eh, you'd probably be surprised at how much stuff you agree with me on, I just like to start arguments more then anything. I'm immature that way.
But the far left is not in power, does not control the Democratic party nor has it really ever been in power. The far right has siezed control of much of the Republican party.
Take 2004 Democratic primaries. You had two candidates that were what would be in the far left camp. Kucinich and Sharpton. They didn't even get a sniff within the nomination of the party.
Where is the middle? John Edwards, Susan Collins, Lincoln Chafee, Chuck Hagel, Wesley Clark, Rudy Gulianni, John Kerry, Jim Webb, Bryron Dorgan, Harold Ford.
There is a mix of Dems and Reps. They tend to vote with their parties most of the time but they also show pragmatism at times as well. The extremes of the left and right will call the above people out of the mainstream because they are not the same party or they occassionally work with people on the other side of the aisle.
And by the way, Clinton nailed it. Today Laura Ingraham and El Rushbo were mocking and ridiculing his speech unwittingly making his point for him.
A troll who admits it.
Go on TAKE IT! Take another lil' piece of my heart, now baby!
Hey, but sometimes I actually express a valid opinion..........it just so happens to end up in the NFL forum most of the time.
Exactly. The more "traitorous" a politician to his party, the more likely they are to get things done.
You tell 'em Bill!!!
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
