Okay, I'm really embarrassed to admit that I just looked at the online version of People Magazine. I have no excuse, so I won't try to make one up.
Once on the site, I was somewhat surprised to see an article entitled: "15 Questions with Bill Clinton." I'm not sure why he chose to speak with this esteemed publication (how the mighty have fallen!), but let's start with how he likes Obama personally:
I don't know him very well. I did one event for him when he ran for the Senate. He's an immensely talented man. I think I understand him. There are enough similarities in our childhoods and things that I think I get what he is doing. But I do think it's better to have made a lot of decisions before you get to be President.
Hmmmm . . . so Bill feels a kinship with another deft politician who grew up without his biological father.
(In Obama's case it's deft; in Clinton's it's daft.)
Here's how Bill responds when talking about the use of the "race card:"
I'm not responsible for what other people say and what other people think. I have lived too long. All I can say is "You line up what you've done, I'll line up what I've done, and we'll see who's got a good life." I was really hurt about it at first. I am way over being hurt. This was cold-blooded, calculated, manipulated and a revolting strategy.
Oh, I get it now. This is about "who's got a good life," not about having deliberately used an odious racialized method of playing on people's fears. The "cold-blooded, calculated, manipulated and . . . revolting strategy" is Obama's, not his!
Thanks for clarifying, Big Dawg.
Finally, when asked if he could have handled anything better, Bill offers:
The only thing I regret is saying any of this stuff late at night when I was tired, 'cause if you are tired or angry, you shouldn't be talking. We needed to give ourselves Miranda warnings.
-- this priceless nugget of wisdom from the man who is often touted as the best political mind in the Democratic Party. Give ourselves Miranda warnings. Sheer genius!!!!!!!!!!
Link to the article: http://www.people.com/...