NEW YORK - Former President Bill Clinton, who will be meeting Barack Obama for lunch on Thursday, also plans to hit the campaign trail for the Democratic presidential nominee.
Discussing his planned meeting with Clinton on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” Obama praised the former president’s political skills and drew parallels between his own message of change in the current campaign and the one Clinton ran on when he beat then-President George H.W. Bush in 1992.
“You had an economy that wasn’t working for people, you had a party that had been in power that didn’t seem particularly concerned that it wasn’t working for people, but you know, he was new,” Obama said. “He was young and people were still trying to figure out whether or not the guy was up to the job.”
But Obama added, to applause, that there was “nobody smarter in politics” than Bill Clinton.
The lunch in New York is the first lengthy meeting between Obama and the former president since the Illinois senator emerged as the winner in the long Democratic primary fight between Obama and Clinton’s wife, Hillary Clinton.
Several news reports have suggested Bill Clinton has been slower than his wife to move beyond the hard feelings stirred up during the primary battle, though the Obama camp was pleased by the former president’s hearty endorsement of Obama at the Democratic convention in Denver last month.
Obama also plans to commemorate the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and will also visit Ground Zero in a rare joint appearance with Republican presidential nominee John McCain.
Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki said both the luncheon and the Ground Zero visit were in keeping with a unity theme for the day.
“Tomorrow is a day for unity, not politics,” she said.
Obama and McCain are locked in a close race but recently the Republican candidate has been moving up in the polls, helped by the enthusiam within his party for his new running mate, Sarah Palin.
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
Photo credit: Reuters/Jim Young - Barack Obama with Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton at a memorial service for Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones in Cleveland, Ohio on Aug. 30.
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I like the article by the african american. I am of african origin and i am not voting obama. african americans have been made to think the dem party will solve all their problems. that is not true. i hope african americans wont board this democratic slave ship. we have to learn to put our country before our stomachs. african americans can do well in america like asians, latinos etc do if we will rise up and work hard and not expect live life on a bed of roses. cut down on trips to the mall and invest in CDs, bonds, education adn etc. Money. How are all the rappers making millions helping their country?
- Posted by PKMcCAIN is may man. Politics is not about voting for a polictical culture, but voting for a person who has the guts to lead. Look at africa and see what african leaders are capable of doing. obama is not far from that. my thoughts
I am not a mccain nor obama supporter.
Why do people think that the president will solve all the problems americans have? At this point the senate and the house has a majority of dems - did anything get done?…not really no
Why is it that the media is only broadcasting news about republicans and dems…there are so many options out there….obviously having republicans or dems doesn’t quite work out for america now does it?
Taxes. let me give you abit of an inside info about taxes….people say that the rich don’t pay taxes…we pay through our nose trust me!If you make money working you pay more tax than if you don’t work ( capital gains vs income tax)this taxation method does not apply only to the rich (it applies to the retired also). Would it be fair to tax a retired person as much as you tax a working person? …no not really
- Posted by AlexI hate it when ppl think that the rich don’t pay taxes.
Bill Clinton has finally come to his senses and will campaign for Senator Obama, our next President.
- Posted by JoyceBring on the issues, for heaven’s sake. McCain looks like Palin’s VP; all he does it stare at her anatomy while she’s speaking.
Ziadore- good point regarding the fear of science by the GOP. I am a well educated person, with 2 Master’s degrees in science.
You have to remember the GOP are the same hypocrites that bash the progression of science until they need it. Perfect example is Nancy Reagan- she was against stem cell research until Ronald Reagan died of Alzheimer’s disease. Afterwards she called for more stem cell research. Why is that? Maybe because there is SO much promise to curing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s with stem cells? Just a suggestion….
Another example is in-vitro fertilization. Did God really intend for conception to take place outside of the body? I find it quite hypocritical that the God-fearing evangelicals won’t accept that God might have different plans for them rather than children. They then seek the selfish path and turn to science.
- Posted by TriciaLove this quote:
“McCain, by the way, is the Republican nominee for president. You may remember him from the Sarah Palin convention in Minneapolis, where he gave a speech and was congratulated by Sarah Palin.”
Great atricle - http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/11/opinio n/11collins.html?ex=1378872000&en=e4cda5 73c0ae30dd&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exp rod=permalink
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Kevin B
I’m saying it now: President Barack H. Obama, Jr., 2009 - 2017
- Posted by KbI am terribly saddened to see what this election process has become. Not able to run on the issues, the GOP once again has subscribed to “Rove-style” politics. To date, I have not heard Sarah Palin say ANYTHING other than recycled versions of her acceptance speech, which wasn’t even written by her! We, as Americans, are so foolish and petty we would rather pay attention to juvenile antics and fear tactics than pay attention to issues we hold dear to our hearts. We are setting up the world for our children. I don’t want my son to bear the burden of our mistakes when they get to turn the Supreme Court conservative and trash the Constitution. I don’t want to see the entire country suffer economically because they voted on morals rather than in their own economic interests. What good are morals if you don’t have a roof over your head or a job to feed your kids? I don’t think the GOP is going to come visit you in OH and give a hand out once this election is over. Remember, the McCains are worth well over $100 million- I’m sure if times got tough they can just sell one of their homes. If we do not vote for REAL change (and that is not voting along with GW 90% of the time) we will reap what we sow.
- Posted by TriciaDo Republicans make us fear as they would like us to? Do we dare say, science or stem cell research, Do we dare say, reproductive rights or the rights of gays and lesbians. Do we dare say, sex education for children. Do we dare say, I am not of your faith. Do we dare not say these things for fear of being cast in the role of the terrible sinner by those who try to beat us down with a moral majority pretension. No, we do not fear. We will not fear. The Republicans are a joke!
- Posted by ziadoraThe Republican Way: scare tactics, ridicule, lies.
- Posted by ziadoraOn the anniversary of 9/11, I’m still confused by Senator McCain’s vice-presidential pick given reports about the Governor and Mr. Palin’s links to Alaska’s separatist party. Don’t the Palins’ secessionist leanings (either past or present) bring into question their *patriotism* today? Isn’t this crossing the line when it comes to states’ rights?
It doesn’t matter if Palin is currently Alaska’s governor or if her husband once served bravely in the armed forces. Most of the top political and military professionals in the Confederacy were also US leaders prior to the outbreak of the Civil War. If the Palins were at one time sympathetic to the idea of Alaska as a break-off republic, then why did they change their minds and what prevents them from flipping again?
Patriotism is one of the key issues Republicans have used to tip several presidential elections in their favor, and this time Palin’s nomination makes the GOP’s ticket much, much weaker than that of Democrats… unless of course the point is to appeal to the Alaskans, Texans, old school Southerners, etc. whose national allegiances alternate between the United States and their respective regions.
But then again, Republican operatives usually define a patriot as someone with a strong record of military service and demonstrated support of the Second Amendment (the right to keep and bear arms). Governor Palin is married to a veteran, and she loves guns. Hence, there is no irony in a political advertisement in which Palin is aiming an assault rifle under the caption, “Change you can believe in.” Palin is, according to the Republican definition, a true patriot.
So, maybe it’s time for Democrats (and other opposition parties) to reclaim the term “patriotism” and define it for themselves. One way is to take aim at the Palins’ support of the Alaska Independence Party.
- Posted by SidObama politics will be better for everybody than McCain politics:
1. Less American soldiers will die, because he will withdraw from Iraq (responsibly, so that Maliki can take over as he wants)
2. Obama will make longer rest periods for soldiers between deployments -> this means less burnout and mental problems for soldiers
3. Obama will improve veteran benefits -> this means less homeless veterans
4. Obama will concentrate on getting Bin Laden in Afghanistan/Pakistan -> more security for US
for all 4 points Obama politics is better than McCain politics -> Obama better on foreign policy issues.
5. Obama will increase school funding and quality of teaching -> better education for people -> better jobs for people -> just better
6. Obama will reduce taxes for everybody earning less than 250 000 USD -> 95% of people will have reduction in taxes
7. Because Obama will increase taxes for very rich people, his tax cuts will be balanced more or less and the deficit will not grow.
compare McCain: he will decrease taxes just a tiny amount for poor people (19 USD for people making less than 19 000 USD, i.e. next to nothing) and hugely for very rich people (more than 100 000 USD)
-> McCain helps the superrich who do not need it,
but helps the poor just a tiny amount
(who would need it very much)
-> McCain runs up a huge deficit, because his tax cuts
are not balanced by any increases
-> McCains plan much worse for the US
I could go on rather endlessly, but that should give you an idea already.
- Posted by Sophie AmrainIt is clear that Obama does not have the ability to fight back hard. He continues to smile and take the “high ground” as if McCain deserves this courtesy. I am an Afican American and if you slander my name, question my character, or patriotism you have a fight on your hands. As an independent I was prepared to cast my vote for Obama based on the fact that he actually has documented plans for helping the middle class. But I am the son and brother of Vets and I firmly believe that our Commander-in-chief should have a backbone. All these attacks and all he has to say is “Enough”? Please! I don’t feel he has the guts to tell McCain let alone the leaders of other nations where they can go. Therefore, I will tell every Black/African American person I know that Barack Obama is a punk and while it may not be in our historical or personal interests to vote for McCain, it clearly is in our national interests.
The truth hurts…so be in pain!
- Posted by independentGood to see Bill and Obama together…..we are going to win this thing, the attack bulls of the republicans are so tired…
- Posted by RosalieObama/Biden
Lisa! That is SO very well said. I hope you don’t mind if I use your words for a new manta:
“Palin is not a GENDER!”
- Posted by KbThank you, Norah. Well said. I was thinking the same thing… let’s get on with discussing the issues.
So, taxes…. John McCain says (and keeps saying) “Obama will raise your taxes, I will lower them”. Here’s what really surprised me. If you are making between $227,000.00 and $603,000.00 per year, under the Obama plan your taxes will go up…, by $12.00. Please check out the article at CNN. http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/11/news/eco nomy/candidates_taxproposals_tpc/?postve rsion=2008061113
……………… MCCAIN …………. OBAMA
Income ……. Avg tax bill ……. Avg. tax bill
Over $2.9M …. -$269,364 (-4.4%)… +$701,885 (+11.5%)
$603K and up…. -$45,361 (-3.4%)… +$115,974 (+8.7%)
$227K-$603K…… -$7,871 (-3.1%)…….. +$12 (+0.0%)
$161K-$227K…… -$4,380 (-3.0%)….. -$2,789 (-1.9%)
$112K-$161K…… -$2,614 (-2.5%)….. -$2,204 (-2.1%)
$66K-$112K …… -$1,009 (-1.4%)….. -$1,290 (-1.8%)
$38K-$66K …….. -$319 (-0.7%)….. -$1,042 (-2.4%)
$19K-$38K …….. -$113 (-0.5%)……. -$892 (-3.6%)
Under $19K ……… -$19 (-0.2%)……. -$567 (-5.5%)
I’ll end with this story.
I’m working closely with a faculty member that teaches finance. This professor has a “real job” (she loves to teach but only conducts two classes per year as an adjunct professor because she loves teaching). Her real job puts her well over the mark that the Obama plan sets and if his plan is enacted she will see an 8.7% increase in her taxes. However, she stated that she would be voting for the Obama/Biden ticket. I asked “Why, when you know your taxes will be raised?”
She replied: “Taxes are not everything in life.”
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Kevin B
I’m saying it now: President Barack H. Obama, Jr., 2009 - 2017
- Posted by KbPlease stop pounding the same lies. Obama has been scrutinized for two years now and the Republican smear machine has to resort to very tenuous connections with other people to criticize him. Obama is a citizen- Hawaii is a state. Panama, where McCain was born is not but we won’t go there. Obama is a patriot. He is a family man. He is incredibly intelligent and well educated. Now- let’s get on with discussing the issues instead of the lies.
- Posted by NorahHow can you say that Obama has been vetted longer than Palin? The liberal media has fallen in love with him and only vetted him superficially. Think about it. They have treated Hillary unfairly and given Obama a free pass. The media and political wolves shamefully have smelled the fresh meat of a new political rock star, Sarah Palin, who could change the political climate in the USA for decades. They don’t like it and will desperately do anything they can to try to destroy both McCain and Palin. Look for the far left, the news media, the democratic party, and the Obama/Biden ticket to do anything, anything they can to distort the facts from now to the election.
- Posted by SchreffI am really tired of the Republicans treating Palin like a GENDER. It is ironic that they condoned the attacks against Hilary, but can not handle it for a Republican women.I am a female veteran, and I am happy that I was treated like a soldier, not a female soldier. Palin needs to roll with the punches. If she can talk the talk, she must be able to walk the walk!
- Posted by LisaOh my gosh, maybe you’re right! Maybe the Republicans can win now because Obama’s not a U.S. citizen!
- Posted by NBPLEASE, get your head out of your a** and stick to the real issues. BTW, Obama’s been vetted a little longer than Palin.
Stop wining. McCain was not born in the US but since the father was on an assignment, he was accorded citizenship.
- Posted by Jean WakelinBerg vs. Obama, Civil Action No. 08-cv-4083, in Federal Court
What is going on here! Is it true that Obama was born in Kenya Africa. Is it true that there are no records of his mother giving birth to him at any hospital in Hawaii.
What Hospital in Hawaii was Obama born at?
Who was the Doctor that delivered him?
Who was the Nurse that cared for him at his mothers delivery?
What are their names?
Is it true that his Grandmother, and half-sister have said he was in fact born in Kenya.
Is it true that Republicans have records to prove Obama was born in Kenya.
And is it true that he was registered as a citizen of Indonesia as a Muslim.
Is there any truth to any of this. Where is the major media on this story. Have they investigated this. Has any of the above been proved untrue.
If any of the above is true this is very serious.
What’s up!
- Posted by is it true