White House: Clinton qualified to be president

[Cali_Democrat]

Source: The Hill

The White House on Thursday said Hillary Clinton is qualified to serve as president, rebutting comments from her Democratic primary opponent, Bernie Sanders.

“The president has said that Secretary Clinton comes into this race with more experience than any other non-vice president in recent campaign history,” White House spokesman Eric Schultz told reporters aboard Air Force One.

Schultz added the president was “fortunate” enough to have Clinton as his secretary of State for four years, when they “worked together on complicated, on complex issues.”

The White House came to Clinton’s defense after Sanders said his rival was unqualified to serve as president.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/275513-white-house-clinton-qualified-to-be-president

[Javaman]

1. well, I'm glad that's all cleared up!

[navarth]

5. yeah...real game changer there. nt

[roguevalley]

36. irony ... she said he wasn't and now he had to save her ass.

how things come full circle

[Javaman]

37. i know...

one needs a decoder ring these days.

[DhhD]

40. Republicans are adding up the results.

[beastie boy]

44. That's some unsolicited ass saving!

“The president has said that Secretary Clinton comes into this race with more experience than any other non-vice president in recent campaign history,”

[scottie55]

81. So What If She Has Been Wrong Consistently - Right?

Experience matters more than judgement right PBO?

Rest assured. She won't touch tax havens in case you plan on cashing in too.....

[beastie boy]

88. Hmmm... POTUS or Scottie55? Who has better judgement on the subject?

Let me sleep on this. I'll get back to you later...

[leveymg]

104. He said it better: "Doing stupid shit isn't a foreign policy. "

I like the earlier Obama better, one who seemed to care about his legacy and had learned from the stupid shit some of his first term Cabinet had pushed through.

[beastie boy]

111. That was late Obama describing his foreign policy.

Hillary Clinton and John Kerry. No stupid shit.

[Scootaloo]

106. All Schultz cited was "experience"

Which hey, is true. Four years as part of the executive branch is more expedience than anyone else in the running can claim. But as Scottie55 points out, experience and judgement are different things.

As for who you ought to place more weight on, consider ; who has to keep up the appearance of being neutral-yet-positive all the time when these sort of questions come up? Scottie55 can say whatever he thinks, but the president's surrogates have to say something nice, no matter what.

[beastie boy]

112. Scottie55 passed a judgement. So did Obama.

I am torn on whose judgement is more informed.

Can't I have my doubts?

[Scootaloo]

113. It's not a matter of informations, but a matter of politics

For a moment, imagine if Obama thought clinton was a stupid yutz who wasted four years of foreign policy potential after blackmailing him into giving her the SecState position. i'm not saying that he does think this, but just imagine he does.

Do you imagine he would ever, ever actually say that he thought that? While in office? While there's a presidential campaign going on/ of course he wouldn't. He can't, due to the demands of politics. The sitting president coming out swinging against clinton - or against sanders, for that matter - would be hugely inappropriate. The White house is pretty much bound by political expectations to "say something nice or say nothing at all."

[beastie boy]

114. If that were the case, would he go this far in praising Hillary"

"She was a formidable candidate in 2008, she was a great supporter of mine in the general election, she was an outstanding secretary of state, she is my friend, I think she would be an excellent president,"

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-hillary-clinton-would-be-an-excellent-president/

If he thought Hillary was that bad, would he be stepping on Bernie's toes even before he endorsed anyone?

[daleanime]

70. +1

[florida08]

90. LOL

just love pithy sarcasm

[Blue_Adept]

2. Yeah, as much as I'd rather Obama stay out of the primary race...

There are things where he will end up defending his Secretary of State over.

It's called politics after all.

[truedelphi]

10. And how can one Big Friend of the Banking Class not approve of another? n/t

[ejbr]

59. +1

Their mutual donors must have placed a call. Not sure why her qualifications need to be reinforced, however

[Ferd Berfel]

87. Well,

She has terrible judgment and not many people trust her.

There's two reasons.

[INdemo]

94. Its called One Corporatist President to one Corporatist Presidential Candidate.

"Here's knowing the TPP and all other trade agreements will be safe if you win"

[oldandhappy]

3. Maybe WH could add that Sanders is qualified, also?

But I don't want them say anything with which they disagree. I am disgusted with the WH pandering to clinton.

[john978]

9. Yes

[truedelphi]

60. I can understand your disgust, but I really hope you were not surprised.

Obama has done little other than support the same endless wars, the same Big Banking give aways, and the same destructive Gm farming policies that Clinton represents.

So you shouldn't be too surprised.

Eighty percent of what any President accomplishes has to do with appointments they make.

This man has appointed arch-economic criminal Geithner to be the Head of Treasury. He re-appointed Bernanke. He also appointed countless Monsanto-inclined executives to head up positions at the FDA.

If America's middle class and lower classes had been given the monetary gifts bestowed on Big Bankers, through appointees of the Obama Administration, each man woman and child in those
classes would have received $ 222,000 !!

[dorkzilla]

68. Honestly it doesn't mean shit

"She's qualified" isn't any kind of gushing endorsement. She's over 35 and a natural citizen.

[rock]

80. Then Bernie was really in deep

trouble when he said she wasn't.

[TomCADem]

97. Which Is Why Bernie's Comment Was Stupid and Over the Top

It is one thing to disagree with her positions, but claiming that she is "unqualified" just makes Bernie lose credibility.

[riversedge]

102. That Sanders and his fan meme is so boring

[Gregorian]

4. Are we having fun yet?

[Cali_Democrat]

7. Just getting started. nt

[AlbertCat]

62. Just getting started.

Hardly


All the corporate Dems who admire Reagan have been propping up Bill's wife since the 20th century.

[bkkyosemite]

6. Like I couldn't have guessed...and Obama was a one term Senator. Let's see Bernie 25yrs hmmm

[Blue_Adept]

8. It's a nitpick, but it's just ten years

He ran for Senate in 2005. In government for 25, sure. But your phrasing implies a Senator far longer.

[bkkyosemite]

12. Okay but he was in government for 25years...and Obama.....not

[Gregorian]

11. I'm not sure Obama fully realizes the experience versus judgment context.

It's kind of unique in modern politics.

[kadaholo]

16. So true, Gregorian! :)

Bernie has been on the right side of history with both judgment and experience. In addition, and certainly just as important, he never lost his moral compass.

[beastie boy]

48. Looks like Obama just found Brnie's moral compass lying in the mud.

No indication so far that Bernie wants it back.

[AlbertCat]

64. was that some kind of Haiku?

[beastie boy]

79. A Haiku in progress

I am still missing a third line. May take me a few years to finish it.

[Democat]

27. You have to be "in government" to decide if someone is qualified to be president?

Nice that you seem to dismiss both Clinton and Obama though - much like your allies Trump and Rush Limbaugh.

[LanternWaste]

33. One imagines Strom Thurmond would agree with your premise.

One imagines Strom Thurmond would agree with your premise.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

71. Obama was in government for longer

Than just his senatorial position.

[pnwmom]

82. Whoa. I can't believe you'd denigrate a "one term Senator" who went on to become PRESIDENT.

No wonder so many Obama supporters are supporting Hillary.

[raindaddy]

13. The very fact that the question was asked and the President defends Hillary's qualification

legitimizes the question. Exactly what Clinton is doing when she suggests Sanders is responsible for Sandy Hook..

[RoccoR5955]

17. Do you really believe that Sanders is responsible for Sandy Hook?

Surely you forgot the tag.
If not, can you please send me some of what you are drinking, smoking, or otherwise ingesting to get into such a delusional way. It could come in handy.

[raindaddy]

46. You completely missed the point...

Make an outrageous claim, lie, etc and just the fact that it's out in the public and being addressed places the negative in the public's mind..

[pnwmom]

83. Bernie's accusation wasn't legitimate. He blew his top because of a false headline.

Hillary deliberately refused to rise to the reporter's bait about him being unqualified ,but Bernie jumped on the quote without even bothering to read the actual text of her words. She was addressing specific issues, not his overall qualifications, and she never said he was unqualified.

[Surya Gayatri]

14. Excellent. Thanks for posting.

[Gregorian]

15. George Bush was qualified to be president.

[RoccoR5955]

18. So are about 100,000,000 other people. n/t

[KansDem]

22. Hate to say this, but after W...

Anybody is qualified to be president.

[closeupready]

19. This is like when Bill Clinton had to hold an "I am relevant" press conference.

How embarrassing for her.

[oldandhappy]

20. Kind of weak and feeble to have the WH have to say you are qualified.

Pathetic in a way. I would be embarrassed -- but thank goodness I am not running, giggle. I sometimes wonder if people really know how hard it is to campaign for the presidency. So much awful stuff.

[beastie boy]

49. Not quite as feeble as your opponent proclaiming you are not qualified.

Bernie is catching up to Trump with his rhetoric. What's next, Hillary not qualified because she is ugly?

[SammyWinstonJack]

63. You think Hillary is ugly?

[leftofcool]

110. I'm waiting for Bernie to insist that Hillary denounce Chelsea

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

21. In America, anybody can be president....

"In America, anybody can be president. That's one of the risks you take." - Adlai Stevenson (1900-1965)

[Democat]

23. Both Democratic candidates are more than qualified

If you don't think so, then you don't belong on Democratic Underground. Try Trump Underground.

[JDPriestly]

24. I disagree. Hillary's recent statements such as her failure to affirm that Bernie is a Democrat

suggest to me that she does not have the tact or intelligent to be president.

Obama would never say or insinuate the nasty things about Bernie that Hillary has been saying and insinuating.

These low digs are the resort of a loser, of a vicious loser.

Hillary is alienating Bernie supporters with her loose tongue and her lack of graciousness and lovingness.

The technical aspects of being president are less important than the social ones.

Hillary fails on social graces.

It's not because she is a woman. Elizabeth Warren is a woman and succeeds when it comes to the social graces.

Obama is a man and is as kind and gracious as a person can be.

Hillary -- no. And that is why I do not think that she is qualified to be president.

[Democat]

34. Using your own logic, Sanders is not qualified either - but you are wrong

Here, let me rewrite your post for you from the other side:

Sanders recent statements such as his failure to affirm that Clinton is qualified to be Democratic president

suggest to me that he does not have the tact or intelligent to be president.

Obama would never say or insinuate the nasty things about Clinton that Sanders has been saying and insinuating.

These low digs are the resort of a loser, of a vicious loser.

Sanders is alienating Clinton supporters with his loose tongue and his lack of graciousness and lovingness.

The technical aspects of being president are less important than the social ones.

Sanders fails on social graces.

It's not because he is a man. Obama is a man and succeeds when it comes to the social graces.

Warren is a woman and is as kind and gracious as a person can be.

Sander -- no. And that is why I do not think that he is qualified to be president.

That is exactly what a Clinton supporter could say about Sanders and they believe it as much as you believe your nonsense.

Here is the correct answer:

Both Democratic candidates are qualified to be president and both of them would make excellent presidents, especially compared to Trump or Cruz.

[Stuckinthebush]

39. Well played, sir

Well played.

[JDPriestly]

41. Sanders' statement was in response to Hillary's unwillingness to affirm that he is qualified

to be president.

I agree that Bernie is qualified to be president, but Hillary's lack of tact which was demonstrated by her unwillingness to confirm that Bernie is qualified and by her, as I have heard but did not see myself, REPEATED UNWILLINGNESS TO CONFIRM THAT BERNIE IS A DEMOCRAT reveal.

It is not the specific statements that she has made but her lack of graciousness toward Bernie that disqualify her as a candidate.

Bernie was responding to her nastiness. Not the other way around.

And it is true that a person who accepts as much money from the wealthiest people and interests is not qualified to be a president who is supposed to be president for all of us.

In this respect, Bernie is the only candidate out there who qualifies for the presidency.

Hillary along with Cruz, Kasich and Trump are all running on corporate money and gifts from the wealthy.

Bernie is the only one running on people money, ordinary people money. In my book, that means he is the only one of them who is truly qualified to be president of the people.

[JDPriestly]

72. See this post.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1280168169

The accusation that Bernie was not qualified was in the Washington Post.

That thread at the link I am giving you explains this controversy.

[earthmanneil]

86. Clinton "qualified", but hardly excellent

Sanders would make an excellent president, initiating a bold new and needed direction for this country. Clinton #2 might make for another in a line of mediocre presidents who prioritize corporate interests over that of working Americans. Clinton only looks "good" in the fiendish light of authoritarian Trump and theocrat Cruz. But excellent, no!

[beastie boy]

51. By that measure, Bernie is not qualified either

oops, you beat me to it, Democrat!

I will leave the link just in case there are any challenges to your post.


http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-03-15/sanders-yes-im-a-democrat-of-convenience

[JDPriestly]

69. If you read his book, Outsider in the White House, you realize just how much of a Democrat

he really is. He is the kind of Democrat my parents were -- an FDR Democrat.

He criticizes Bill Clinton for having gone too far to the right, and as an FDR Democrat myself, I very much agree with him.

The Democratic Party used to brag that it is a big tent.

I hope it is big enough for me and other Sanders supporters because if it isn't, well, there may be some big surprises in November.

Do you think I am a Democrat?

Check back on my history on DU? Do you think I am a Democrat?

Because I have always voted for Democrats, but I am a strong Bernie supporter.

For me, he is what other Democrats should be. We are the party of FDR, and I am proud of that fact.

[beastie boy]

77. Wait a minute, I am using your logic here.

You stated that Hillary's failure to affirm Bernie is a democrat disqualifies her from being President.

As late as March 15, Bernie also failed to affirm he is a Democrat.

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-03-15/sanders-yes-im-a-democrat-of-convenience

By your own words, you just disqualified Bernie.

[geek tragedy]

53. Bernie isn't a Democrat, he just plays one on tv. nt

[Scootaloo]

107. And does a vastly bettr job of it than most Democrats

Food for thought, huh?

[lark]

74. Social graces?

OMG. Hillary is supposed to be awesome 1 on 1, has plenty of social graces. I can't believe you gave that as a reason. She's not great in crowds or in front of crowds, but that doesn't disqualify her, just makes her more likely not to win. That's not the same thing at all.

Hillary and Bernie are both qualified to be president, much more than any Repug running. I don't think Bernie should have said she was "unqualified", that was wrong. I agree that she made some bad decisions, but all of the Repugs did too and they are running for president, so obviously they all qualified to run. Would they make good presidents, hell no, but they are qualified to run.

Hillary, though I wish otherwise, is probably going to be the Dem candidate. She is far more qualified by temperament and discernment than any of the Repugs and needs our votes if she is the general candidate.

Still hoping for Bernie, and voted for him, but the games rigged and it will be a miracle if he wins.

[JDPriestly]

75. Did you see this? It's what started this controversy.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1280168169

[lark]

91. Yeah, it's weird seeing the 2 headlines juxtaposed like that.

Wish I could open the articles, but sadly can't on this computer. I'll try again when I get home.

Thanks.

[JDPriestly]

78. Hillary is not qualified by temperament to take the flak that the president has to take.

Think of what Obama has gone through.

He has been patient from the deepest depth of his soul.

I am always amazed by his grace. I disagree with him on some of the issues, but as a person, he is in his nature exceptionally well qualified to be president.

Hillary is too nervous. People really make her mad. She is deeply hurt by criticisms that are unkind. She did a pretty good job at the congressional hearing on the crazy e-mails and Benghazi. But by nature she is not easy-going and graced with the ability to relax even when people are pointing their fingers at her.

Bernie is more able to take that kind of pressure, but Obama is the master of the kind of grace I am talking about. He is genuinely not too upset by nasty opponents, and goodness knows, he has had to deal with more than his share of them.

Bill Clinton was fairly good at this aspect of being president too. But Hillary? No. She is not. Has nothing to do with her views on the issues. It's her personality. It just is.

Being president is really, really tough. Bernie is better suited for it. Read his book, Outsider in the White House and you will see.

[lark]

92. Totally agree that Bernie is the best candidate by FAR.

Just don't think that she's unqualified.

[captainarizona]

25. voting for iraq war for political gain qualifies you for presidency?

I don't think so! Nor do the families of the over 4000 dead americans in iraq. the worst mistake america has ever made with vietnam war a close second.

[revbones]

26. Makes it all better does it? rofl nt

[Bleacher Creature]

28. What a massive unforced error by Sanders.

This President is hugely popular among Democrats in PA, NY, and CA. Other than a direct rebuke by Obama himself, the Clinton campaign couldn't have asked for more.

Wow.

[Lil Missy]

29. Of course she's qualified. And she's the best choice for the POTUS. n/t

[INdemo]

30. She can play the liberal part just like you did Mr. President but once elected she will move

farther to the right than you did Mr. President..Her cabinet GFB if elected will look more like a Republican staff.
Just take a look at the Right Wing advisers she has on her campaign staff...they will want rewarded.

[JudyM]

61. Unfortunately he clearly knows this and has her back anyway.

[lamp_shade]

31. Ooooo.. Lookit all the noses bent out of joint. n/t

[litlbilly]

57. oh lookie, all these new shills on ignore. by by...

[ImaPolitico]

32. Hell, yes,

Hillary is qualified. Sanders, definitely not.

[blackspade]

35. Once again, the Administration has to step in to prop Clinton up.

Clinton hides behind or coops Obama's policies and legacy and now has to be bailed out when the going gets rough.
Typical.

[closeupready]

43. She just can't take it, it's obvious she's nothing but a crybaby.

[leftofcool]

108. Sounds like Bernie was doing all the crying over something WaPo posted

[onehandle]

38. Most newspaper endorsements of Hillary call her 'most qualified.' nt

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

42. I think DWS also considers Clinton to be qualified. nt

[Skwmom]

45. Alas, experience does not a competent person make. In fact you can have a lot of experience and

still be a major fuck up.

[Android3.14]

47. Unqualified President calls his evaluator qualified

The logic in this eats it's own tail.

[beastie boy]

95. My bad

It was intended for a different recipient.

In the context of your post, it is indeed bizarre.

Self-deleting in a few...

[Android3.14]

96. No worries. i also self deleted.

[Oakland]

50. Anybody who won't prosecute banks and torturers

and is still at war 8 years after taking office isn't qualified to talk about who is qualified to be President.

[geek tragedy]

52. Democrats know she's qualified.

Bernie's not a Democrat, so he obviously has his own way of viewing the world.

[Wibly]

54. The people will decide

The people will decide who is qualified to be President, or not. The sitting President will not be the decider on that file.
That said, while Clinton may be qualified as per her CV, the question Sanders is asking is if she is morally qualified to be President. And its a good question.

[LiberalLovinLug]

56. predictable

[Cali_Democrat]

66. The White House is desperate?

Ho so?

[Greybnk48]

58. Of course she's qualified, and so is Bernie.

Cruz, Trump, Kasich, and Lyin' Ryan...not so much.

[AlbertCat]

65. Clinton qualified to be president

But only at $12 an hour.

[ViseGrip]

67. Yes, cleared up, as ANYONE WHO IS A U.S. CITIZEN IS QUALIFIED.

His statement could have been as broad as the scope of my statement.

[JDPriestly]

73. The source of this controversy is the Washington Post, and anti-Bernie rag if there ever was one:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1280168169

[ish of the hammer]

76. No, she's not and the PANAMA PAPERS prove it!

Podesta and Blumenthal are named in them.
you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas! and the Clintons are busy scratching!

[leftofcool]

109. And Bernie's vote on the Brady Bill disqualified him

See how that works?

[ish of the hammer]

115. not really. Sanders may (or may not) have made a mistake in POLICY.

the Clintons have their hand out for MONEY.
see how that works

[ish of the hammer]

116. private CORRUPTION vs public POLICY

the Clintons are filthy rich and how did they acquire that wealth?
what did they promise behind closed doors?
do you know?
see how that works.

[Helen Borg]

84. Roger that, Sir.

Sanders just responded to what Clinton said about him.

[liberal N proud]

85. Oh bern!

[leftofcool]

89. Bam!

[ashtonelijah]

98. The bashing of Obama in this thread is disgusting. #FeelTheBern and #SipTheTea.

So called liberals using Tea Party talking points. Another reason I will never support a demagogue like Bernie Sanders.

[INdemo]

100. Moved to GD

[SunSeeker]

99. K & R

[riversedge]

101. Thank you Pres. Obama.

[AgerolanAmerican]

103. Clinton is 100% qualified to be President

Her qualifications:

a) a natural born citizen
b) over 35 years of age
c) has lived in the US for more than 14 years

This "qualified" thing is so juvenile, it's beneath everyone participating in it. My face has a visible palm print on it from reading these threads.

[riversedge]

105. and a big REC

[Jefferson23]

117. Very interesting he feels he needs to say this out loud to the press.

Confidence..where did it go? lol

[Reter]

118. She's over 35 and was born in America

So I guess she's as qualified as Trump.

[pressbox69]

119. Thank you Mr. President

I would vote for you again.

[riversedge]

120. #Hillyes