Clinton is applauded for anti-American remarks in Switzerland
From HughHewitt.com
Bill Clinton, on stage with Charlie Rose, in Davos, Switzerland today:
“And most of the terrible things that Saddam Hussein did in the 1980s he did with the full, knowing support of the United States government. Because he wasn’t Iran, and Iran was what it was because we got rid of their parliamentary democracy back in the ’50s. At least that’s my belief. I know it is not popular for an American ever to say anything like this, but I think it is true.”
Applause from the Davos crowd.
Does Senator Clinton agree with this analysis?
Radioblogger will post some of the Clinton Unplugged in Davos sometime tonight or tomorrow.
A caller suggests that Bill Clinton sounds like Uncle Rico in Napoleon Dynamite. The consensus among those who have seen the film is that this is spot-on.
How was this man ever elected as president? I never understood that. Those were the longest eight years of my life as an American citizen. It was as if I was living on someone else’s planet. I think the only country he is an advocte for is the country of Bill Clinton. I base my contention that his remarks were anti-American by my listening to the transcript on the Hugh Hewitt show last night (1/27/05).
Update:
Radioblogger has the transcripts and excellent commentary. I have been checking the major news outlets and no one is picking up on this story, it appears. Be sure to view these transcript blurbs, so that you can see his comments for yourself.
FYI…Bill Clinton has a blog. It looks real. Is it? I don’t know.
Update #2:
Sebastian Rotella, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer deems Clinton’s remarks part of a “virtuoso” performance.
DAVOS, Switzerland — Taking center stage at the World Economic Forum, former President Clinton delivered a virtuoso performance Thursday with a discussion of everything from Mideast crises to his past as president and future as a global activist.Clinton was clearly in his element in the high-powered annual talkfest that is Davos. He won a standing ovation from a rapt audience of political, business and cultural leaders.
I have to admit I’m a little puzzled. Is it anti-American to be critical of US policy? (I guess the Pope must be anti-Catholic for apologizing for mistakes the Catholic church has made in the past.) Or is the problem that Clinton did it in front of a foreign audience? At any rate, I think the real issue is if Clinton is right in what he said. I’m frightened of the consequences of labeling someone as anti-American even when they’re speaking the truth. Perhaps you (or anyone more knowledgable than me on Middle East history) can give some more perspective on his comments. I hope this comment doesn’t mean I’m anti-American
I thought hard about using that term, but decided to leave it in. I think that Clinton, as a former American president (a formal position for life), is bound by a code of decency not to bash the current sitting president. That’s just my take on it as a citizen. Anti- American to me means making derogatory comments against a sitting president when you are the former president. That’s just wrong. It’s different for you and me to discuss politics, since we are not really representing our country to the world…at least not in a formal capacity. Of course, you are not anti-american for questioning my use of the term. Why would you be? I suppose it doesn’t help that I have zero respect for President Clinton, but I did teach my children to respect the office of the presidency and was careful to not denegrate him in front of them.
Good comments. Thanks for making me double-check myself as I express my opinions. FYI - I’m not a Republican-or-die conservative; I vote by issues. I’d seriously consider voting for Joe Lieberman for president, depending on who was the VP. Unfortunately, I come from a state where the Democratic party is dominated by extreme liberals, as is the Republican party dominated by extreme conservatives. Not much middle ground in Minnesota these days.