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People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Barack Obama is no Bill Clinton despite Clinton's support

Posted on Saturday, December 11, 2010 at 08:50 AM

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The sight of Bill Clinton propping up Barack Obama in his hour of need ,as he did at their joint White House conference, is a striking one.

Clinton is clearly gambling that Obama's latest move to do a deal with Republicans will pay of in the long run, as his decision to work with Republicans paid off with his second term.

But what ultimately delivered for Clinton was the over-reaching of his opponents, specifically Newt Gingrich who decided he could shut down the government and get away with it.

Clinton won a famous victory and secured his place in history as a result.

What Obama is doing now, however, is very different.

He appears unable or afraid to take on Republicans at a key moment like Clinton did.

He had the public on his side on the tax cuts extension with only 26 per cent supporting the Republican version but chose to concede.

His capitulation also gives credence to the idea that Obama has no intention of standing behind any policy that Republicans can filibuster.

Thus, Dream Act, Don't Ask Don't tell, tax cuts for wealthy all either get stymied or put on the long finger.

The difference between Clinton and Obama is not that both choose to work with Republicans but that Clinton picked his moment to fight with them and defeat them.

Obama has given no indication he has the same steel in his resolve.

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maireadinmelb | Dec 16, 2010, 05:11 AM EST

we actually sell to select countries, recently we began selling it to India, for some unknown reason we sell it to Israel adn USA!! But no Iran is not on the list, we would not want to upset the Yanks and Israel would we!

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Monsoonman | Dec 15, 2010, 09:34 AM EST

Yes I know, President Achmadenajihad has been telling us that the enriched uranium he is buying from you is for peeeeaceful purposes. aka: may we rest in peace.

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maireadinmelb | Dec 15, 2010, 04:59 AM EST

BTW uranium is used for purposes other than weapons!

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maireadinmelb | Dec 15, 2010, 04:59 AM EST

I never said I liked that we sold it, the fact is we do!! And I did not say that selling uranium and other national resources was the only economic policy a government should rely on as Howard did!! Further Howard was a racist! Probably why he gets along with the teabaggers!

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Monsoonman | Dec 14, 2010, 12:49 PM EST

Just fyi, (I'd put this someplace else if there was a general category) Another socialist lead economy, promising free stuff for everyone on the slippery slope: Canada’s top economic officials yesterday urged households to be wary of taking on too much debt after data showed the indebtedness of Canadians surpassed U.S. levels for the first time in 12 years. Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in separate public appearances that they are concerned about rising debt. The ratio of household debt to disposable income in Canada was 1.48 in the third quarter according to Statistics Canada, exceeding the U.S. level of 1.47.

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Monsoonman | Dec 13, 2010, 09:11 PM EST

Bur mairead, you were just bragging about all of the uranium for nuclear weapons your country was selling to the rest of the world...Now it's bad?

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peterson | Dec 13, 2010, 08:22 PM EST

Obama is definitely a one term president.

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whiteycat | Dec 13, 2010, 01:06 PM EST

Here I finally agree with writer/journalist.There is no comparison between these two men. Clinton is so much more people oriented than Obama. When Clinton shed a tear you knew he actually felt the pain with someone. When Obama shed a tear finally you knew it was because he had been blasted for being cold hearted.Clinton regardless of his faults is a man I would be proud to meet, Obama is a man I would snub.

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maireadinmelb | Dec 13, 2010, 06:02 AM EST

That 12 years of prosperity was based on the mines on selling natural resources, there was no investment in education for our young people Howard just important cheap south pacific labour. Taxes came down for the rich but only minimal changes for the working classes, further there were government handouts to middle classes not to those who needed. Also when global financial crises hit, Howard and his cronies were in opposition and refused to support stimulus spending in infrastructure which has seen our economy largely unaffected in the way USA Greece and Ireland are

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seamusmoore | Dec 12, 2010, 05:16 PM EST

maireadinmelb Funny how those down in OZ have no appreciation for the 12 years of prosperity under John Howard's governmrent. I visited OZ about 5 1/2 years ago and was very impressed. The day I landed the Govt announced a tax cut since it was running a surplus. The following morning, I watched the Aussie "Katie Couric" (sorry I don't recall her name or the channel) blather on about "tax cuts for the rich". It was like I had never left America.

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MrSinatra | Dec 12, 2010, 03:47 AM EST

i love watching the liberals cry over their pied piper having no clothes... the way they talked him up like he was jesus, not he's just "heyzeus" hahaha, its delicious.

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maireadinmelb | Dec 11, 2010, 09:34 PM EST

Rejected a nanny state! The capitalist country where big business goes bankrupt and seeks handouts from the government and thats ok, but no assistance for the individuals who lose their jobs, their savings and their investment??? These Republicans don't make sense!!

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hancock | Dec 11, 2010, 12:21 PM EST

What did he think was going to happen?

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seamusmoore | Dec 11, 2010, 11:58 AM EST

Hilarious press office yesterday. For the first time in US history, a President outsourced his own job, or at least a part of it, when he bailed and turned the stage over to Bubba. Clearly, Clinton didn't want to get off the stage either; I thought they might have to use the old vaudeville hook under the collar to get him away from the microphone.

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DrTrelawney | Dec 11, 2010, 11:27 AM EST

"Barackk Obama" Really, Mr Raborts?

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