Chuck Todd claimed Clinton didn't make choice between candidates; left out saying he would campaign

[DeepModem Mom]

Media Matters for America: Responding to video of Bill Clinton saying Obama "should win," Chuck Todd falsely claimed Clinton didn't "make a choice" between Obama and McCain

NBC political director Chuck Todd responded to video of former President Bill Clinton saying of Sen. Barack Obama, "I think we have two choices. I think he (Obama) should win, and I think he will win," by falsely claiming that Clinton's comment constituted an "interesting non-endorsement." Appearing on the August 5 edition of MSNBC Live, Todd went on to falsely accuse Clinton of "talking about the Constitutional qualifications of Barack Obama rather than sort of making a choice between Obama and McCain." Todd concluded: "We'll see if he tries to clarify that later today."

Clinton made his comments during an interview with ABC correspondent Kate Snow in Monrovia, Liberia, posted at ABCNews.com on August 4. In the interview, when Snow asked Clinton, "Will you campaign for (Obama) now?" he replied, "Absolutely." In falsely asserting that Clinton had given a "non-endorsement" of Obama, Todd also left out Clinton's statement that he would "absolutely" campaign for Obama.

*

From the August 5 edition of MSNBC Live:

"TODD: Finally, our friend, the former President Bill Clinton, had some interesting things to say about the qualifications of Senator Obama. Let's take a listen.

(begin video clip)

SNOW: Is he ready to be president?

CLINTON: You could argue that no one's ever ready to be president. I mean, I certainly learned a lot about the job in the first year....

SNOW: You think he's completely qualified to be president?

CLINTON: The Constitution sets qualifications for the president, and then the people decide who they think would be the better president. I think we have two choices. I think he (Obama) should win, and I think he will win.

(end)

TODD: Well, there you heard it. That was an interesting non-endorsement form the former president, talking about the Constitutional qualifications of Barack Obama, rather than sort of making a choice between Obama and McCain. We'll see if he tries to clarify that today."

*

From Clinton's interview with Snow, posted August 4:

SNOW: Will you campaign for him now?

CLINTON: Absolutely.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200808050002?f=h_latest

[Egnever]

1. I think Todd is right on this one

The correct reply for Clinton here was. "absolutely I think he will make an amazing president, The american people cant afford a John mccain presidency."

Not that tepid BS he served up instead

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

25. Weaksauce, through and through. Bigdog needs to snap out of it.

[Abacus]

30. I do too,

but I don't care -- if Bill's behavior continues the way it has been in recent history, I'd rather not have his "help".

[ericgtr]

2. We don't "need" his endorsement

If it carried that much weight anyway Hillary would be the nominee right now. Bill has went from being the greatest president we've ever had to a sleezy politicain. Either way, this really isn't much of an issue no matter how Todd spins it.

[marylanddem]

3. Clinton has turned out to be such an a**hole

[DJ13]

4. This gets back to the determination by the MSM to make the race seem close

Its an ingrained trait with all the TV analysts now.

Cant let Obama get ahead.

[Radical Activist]

5. Another example of the press acting like a gossipy teenage girl.

Bill: "That's a nice dress Kathy is wearing"

Todd: "Did you hear that Bill is dating Kathy? They're hot and heavy!"

[ccharles000]

6. I don't think Bill did anything wrong.

Good god people he said Obama should win. Short of shitting gold nothing he does is going to make you happy.

[beachmom]

32. Oh, please. That is not a helpful surrogate there. AT ALL. I have heard

MSM pundits say more favorable things about Obama.

[Arkansas Granny]

37. Unfortunately, many of the comments on this board remind me of the lyrics to Simon and Garfunkel's

"The Boxer"

Still, a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest.

http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/simon_garfunkel/the_boxer.html

It's obvious that some here have made up their minds and don't want to be confused with the facts. While Bill's statements in support of Obama may not be enthusiastic, I doubt that there is anything he could say that would satisfy some posters here. They will always hold against him the fact that he originally supported Obama's opponent in the primaries.

[CakeGrrl]

7. Clinton *OUGHT* to know better than to give the MSM anything to work with

He's an attorney who chooses his words carefully. He's skating just below the radar, not being a strong supporter.

That sucks.

[TomClash]

8. Who the f*ck cares about Chuck Todd's views?

Or for that matter Bill Clinton's endorsement?

[book_worm]

9. Sorry, but let's face it, Bill Clinton, unlike Hillary, has not yet enthusiastically endorsed Obama

[southern_belle]

10. They either take things out of context or leave out

half the comment. I'm disappointed with Chuck Todd. I usually like him. :(

[stray cat]

11. Clinton did choose Obama - just a very very tepid choice

[grassfed]

12. News Flash: The Clinton's are phonies.

Bill is furious the camera caught him linking Obama to Jesse Jackson's NC campaign in a totally overt, undeniably racist manner. He's pissed he didn't parse his words better and as a textbook narcissist - it's Obama's fault.

[Major Hogwash]

13. You're right, DeepModem Mom!! The media is still trying to promote some divide between the Democrats

I saw Bill Clinton's comments and there was nothing in there that suggested what Todd said about his comments later.

Good catch!!

[Hieronymus]

14. Bill Clinton's comment was too long and studied.

[quickesst]

15. As you can tell....

by some of the replies to your thread, some people here at DU are angry and disappointed that Todd wasn't right.

"Media Matters for America: Responding to video of Bill Clinton saying Obama "should win," Chuck Todd falsely claimed Clinton didn't "make a choice" between Obama and McCain" Those damn pesky facts.

Since they don't like facts that tear at the fabric of their hatred for anything Clinton, they indignantly assert that Clinton didn't do enough by not offering total fealty, worship, and praise upon Obama. When you see a Clinton quote that goes anything like, "I'll campaign for Obama when, and where he asks me to.", Clinton haters see, "We're the great Clintons, and Barak Obama should be greatful that he is even acknowledged." Like an addictive drug, they too, will go to some lengths to obtain their "fix". If this group were indicative of all Obama supporters, I too, would be hard pressed to give them the satisfaction of this Clinton supporter's vote. Fortunately, they are not, and my vote has been decided by the words and actions of Obama himself, as it should be. Thanks.
quickesst

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[book_worm]

17. Bill didn't rape anybody. Monica was an adult and made it more than clear that she was interested.

[Occam Bandage]

22. I don't like that argument any more than I like the 'rape' one.

Monica was a low-level employee in an organization in which every single person is employed at the pleasure and discretion of her employer, who is the most powerful man on Earth. I wouldn't go so far as to call it "rape," but it wasn't as clear-cut as "she was a consenting adult" implies that it is. Had he held any other job on Earth, he would have been hauled in front of his company's ethics board and been politely asked to seek new opportunities elsewhere.

[zalinda]

36. Sorry, but she went after him

not the other way around. Even if you didn't believe her ex-boyfriend, when he said she told him she was going to bring her Presidential knee pads when she was moving to DC, she did deliberately lift her skirt as she bent over to reveal a thong. If that isn't asking for it, I don't know what is. And, I don't know of many 50 year olds who would or could resist a 25 year old woman making herself available to him, especially when she gives blow jobs (sorry for the crass wording).

zalinda

[ladjf]

28. Consent was never the issue. Context was.

[rucky]

24. Clinton's reponse was truly the best that he could offer.

Because Todd's laying a trap and trying to get a soundbyte that contradicts what he said about Obama's qualifications in the primary. Clinton knows this, hence his careful wording.

[Occam Bandage]

34. That's where you change the focus to John McCain's failures. If he wants a soundbyte, let it be,

"Of course I support Obama. The American people cannot afford four more years of Bush/McCain policies."

[beachmom]

33. Bill Clinton has a record of not being all that helpful for Democratic nominees.

That is why I DON'T give him the benefit of the doubt. Frankly, pressure needs to come down on him to snap out of it, and help us win for once.

[JackORoses]

18. Thanks for the knife in the back, Billy!

Too bad for you that it won't even slow Obama down.

Are you worried that this country is about to find out what a real Democratic President can accomplish?

[AtomicKitten]

19. I think the inference is right-on.

I found Bill Clinton's response to "Is Obama ready to president?" very telling. "One could argue nobody is ready to be president." Seriously, Bill. That's the best you could muster?

Whatever else one excavates from the interview doesn't rise to dispelling the overlying stench of that pissy response.

[Occam Bandage]

20. That was a pretty damn lukewarm response. Clinton's smart enough to know

how things will be taken. If you want to send a message, you make it clear and punchy. If you want to avoid sending any messages whatsoever, you say something bland, tepid, meaningless, and inflated...as he just did.

[rucky]

21. They'll just drag out the file tape of him saying McCain's more qualified. n/t

[Occam Bandage]

23. Pretty much. When his declarations in support of McCain were worded more strongly

than his declarations in support of Obama are now, it's hard to believe he's gotten over it.

[Jakes Progress]

26. And the neophytes rise

to the MSM bait. It's like fishing in a rain barrel to get these guys all het up. Jerking their knees like that with just the lightest tap from the media is gonna wreck their patella. If the republicans keep being this successful with us, I see knee replacement surgery as big business by November.

Stop buying on the media message. Sheesh.

[Imagevision]

27. Has Bill actually endorsed Obama yet?

[beachmom]

35. Sorta kinda. A long meandering statement came out after

Hillary conceded, which ended with tepidly supporting Obama.

[tblue37]

29. It's called damning with faint praise.n/t

[beachmom]

31. Where does Media Matters show Bill really making that choice?

The only thing I have seen is a long complex statement which ends grudgingly, saying the former president will support Obama. Not particularly convincing, which is why Todd's remarks reflect what I thought as well.

Oh, edit: I see the last line. Hmmmm ... still not all that enthusiastic. I mean Bill needs to do better.