Michael O'Brien, NBC News
Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney embraced Bill Clinton's speech this week at the Democratic National Convention, saying the former president's speech — which was full of criticism of Romney — helped "elevate" Democrats' convention.
In his interview airing Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press," Romney praised the Wednesday night speech by the Democratic ex-president, which ridiculed Romney and Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan on issues ranging from fiscal policy to Medicare.
"He did stand out in contrast with the other speakers; I think he really did elevate the Democrat convention in a lot of ways," Romney said. "And, frankly, the contrast may not have been as attractive as Barack Obama might have preferred if he were choosing who'd go before him and who'd go after."
Clinton's speech was regarded as one of the highlights of the Democratic convention; he formally nominated President Obama for a second term, and his folksy speech built up the current president while simultaneously taking Romney to task. But as Romney suggested, Clinton's speech drew as much interest as Obama's among political observers, and Romney seemed to suggest the former president even overshadowed the current one.
But Clinton's criticism hasn't previously deterred Romney from embracing the former Democratic president. He's praised Clinton on the campaign trail as a centrist, as if to portray Obama as governing well to the left of Clinton.
Romney's tack is an implicit acknowledgement of Clinton's broad popularity, a sentiment the GOP presidential nominee joked would probably propel Clinton to a third term in the White House, if it were legal.
Asked whether Clinton could be elected president today, Romney responded: "If the constitution weren't in his way, yeah. Perhaps. But I don't know the answer to that."
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This just goes to show that Romney is the man for 2012. He is humble enough to reach across the aisle and give some credit to Clinton for being a moderate. Immediately the idiot, hard core liberals say that Romney is throwing in the towel. How pathetic. Here's another sound reason to vote Romney. The man is willing to work with both parties to move this country out of it's recession unlike Obama who is the most divisive president this country has ever endured.
Romney is wise to acknowledge Clinton as an asset to the democratic party, while contrasting him with the rest of the dnc speakers and the current candidate. I was a democrat - voted for Clinton both elections - but I bailed from the dems when they nominated Obama and especially Biden. I did not vote in the last presidential election, but after four years of Obama, I am inclined to vote against him in November. Romney is looking better and better as an alternative to Obama.
But, Romney doesn't understand that Bill could run again...Doesn't know the rules...That is scary
It takes more than 4 years to unBushwack an economy. Especially when Repubs in the house and senate vowed that it is their #1 priority at all costs to make President Obama a one term president. Repubs in the house and senate, bad people, bad for America.
Romney sounds like a person that will reach across the aisle like Clinton and govern the country for all people.
Not like the "My way or the Highway"style of the racist Obama.
Reach across the isle to defund planned parenthood, repeal Obamacare, I doubt anyone across the isle would care to listen to that.
Chris-3950430
Is that the Isle of Man, Isle of Capri or on an off chance maybe the Islets of Langerhans? I don't think anyone in those locations, especially the latter, care about defunding Planned Parenthood.
Romney is upset he had no President endorse him at his convention :(
Mr. Romney is all set.
President Obama had to choose between President Carter and President Clinton. And despite trashing Hillary, he went with Slick Willy because the Clinton's are indebted to President Obama for his help in her "campaign deficit" reduction.
I heard the GOP was planning a Regan hologram, I dont know if that was a joke, but that would have been creepy, cool, but creepy.
Creepy as "It's a bird, no, it's a plane, no, it's a DRONE"?
"Asked whether Clinton could be elected president today, Romney responded: "If the constitution weren't in his way, yeah. Perhaps. But I don't know the answer to that." Um, yes, Bill could run again..its not just two terms, its more that two in a row....Romney definitely doesn't know how to read....Joe's idea that we all should understand Citizenship, which includes understanding the Constitution and its provisions, is basic stuff. I did not realize this guy was so ignorant of basic rules of this government. Wow...The Republicans let him run with that much ignorance?
Perhaps you should read the constitution. It's Amendment 22.
"No person shall be elected to the office of President more than twice..."
You guys ALL need to see the film "2016". Open your eyes...
So what did ya think about Fahrenheit 911?
This actually shows me that Romney actually has some qualities that make him presidential. I am an Independent who leans toward the Democratic Party, mainly because of extreme conservative views of many of the constituents of the Republican Party. It will make an interesting election, because this shows me that Romney is a viable candidate.
Republicans need to remember a couple of things.
At the end of St. Reagan's run, unemployment was over 10%. Bill Clinton balanced the budget. Our economy and foreign relations tanked under Dubya Bush. Obama, while not the greatest, held the helm together...and that was no small feat.
Good Luck Mitch....you may just convince the voters, but I remain unconvinced.
Robert, Obama's foreign policy is abysmal. He had no foreign policy experience, and eventually, he had no desire to work with Isreal. We have weakened that alliance in 4 years under Obama.
Who was there to elevate Romney? No one. Chris Christy, a big-mouthed bully - from a state with the same reputation, certainly no signs of George W or Papa Bush.
How about that Jennifer Grandholm's speech? Who in the GOP could top that speech? She was governor, she has the facts, figures and knows how the people could have been devastated by actions Mitt Romney would have put into place in regards to the auto industry. Not only would the auto industry have failed; every supplier and manufacturing plant in the nation supplying that industry would have failed.
How about the speech of John Kerry? All the GOP/TP can do is downplay his foreign affairs credentials. He has traveled extensively and met with world leaders and traveled to calm tensions. Does the GOP/TP know that some senators and congressmen actually work for this country? This bunch of Republicans have nothing to say and no one to offer. No substance and nothing but fabrication, talking points and lies.
Everyone should read Matt Taibbi's article in Rolling Stone magazine - you will fully understand the real Mitt Romney and get a grasp of the real meaning of private equity takeovers and the consequences on business, the workforce, cities and their populations, as well as our economy. The only "winners" here are those in the plan - the Bain Capitals, the Mitt Romneys of this world and a select few who were in on the "deals".
Take a struggling yet profitable company, offer them a deal. Put up only a small portion of your own money for the sale and transfer of the company and then borrow the rest of the loan from a Wall Street bank at the expense of the newly formed company. Bain then comes forth as savior offering advise at substantial costs to the newly formed company in the form of management fees and annual debt services, adding to the newly formed "mortgage" (debt). These companies mostly failed because of the hefty debt. Of course, by that time Bain, Romney and the money holders had already made their millions with little of their own capital invested. The debt (now owned by the newly formed company) is enormous and the company ends up filing for bankruptcy. A loss to everyone involved except Bain, Romney and their hand picked share holders, co-workers, etc. who made millions.
Is this any way to run a government? I think not. There was no regard for the company, the hard working employees, their benefits, or even some honest upper management or the cost to the tax payers and our economy. We cannot afford to have a greedy power hungry private equity manager run our country.
Instead we have a man-child in chief without any leadership experience who is so power hungry he will say anything to get the sheeple to elect him and live their lives on the dole.....paid for by the real income earners. Great plan for the country.
The contrast is pretty sark. BHO blames his failures on the Republican House majority. Republicans controlled both the House and Senate for the final 6 years of the Clinton administration and the Democrats, including BHO, all sing the praises of those years.
Democrats also have amnesia about the fact that Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and the Democrats took control of both houses of Congress in January 2007 and the economy collapsed in the summer or 2008.
Like Clint's descent into Alzheimer's depressed the Republican convention?
Next time he leaves the home, it would be nice if somebody would comb his hair.
The DNC had Clinton talking policy and accomplishments and the RNC had Eastwood talking to a chair. That about sums it up.
A write-in vote for Ron Paul/Jan Brewer are votes Obamney will never get!
Mitt wants to reach across the isle,not even close !! He liked his speech and did NOT say that he disagreed with him one bit,so does that mean he is conceding the fact that Clinton himself could not have straightened out this mess in just four years.Or is he admitting that his math just does not add up,or that they want to take women's rights back about 30 years ??? When asked today the specifics on his plan he said his principles will dictate that-Really ?? Which ones: Banning all abortions,more tax cuts for the rich,being a leverage buy out expert,doing away with Obamacare to replace it with Obamacare lite ???
Maria, where do you get the idea about "banning all abortions"? I thought the idea was that taxpayers wouldn't fund them. Big difference.
It more than not using taxpayer money to fund abortions. Ryan wants to ban all abortions, period, even when the life of the mother is at risk. Romney wants to ban abortions with exceptions for rape, incest, life of the mother. Both support a "human life amendment" (which actually doesn't square with Romney's stated position but what else is new?) Neither is willing to let women make their own choices. They want to place limits on the scope of those choices, in Ryan's case because of his religious beliefs and in Romney's case, for political expediency.
The trouble with you and the rest of the GOP Romney is that there is not anyone who could elevate you !!!! You are so low down that it would take a digger to even bring you anywhere near the top of the heap.
Well, Romney and the GOP could have always used "Dubya" to elevate their convention......Oh, I forgot unlike Clinton, "Dubya" created the mess were in....
When you see and hear real people with real concerns and real empathy -- if you don't close your mind with the belief you have all of the answers -- you will vote for compassion first. It is after all the reflection of God's love. All of us need to understand we are in this life together and will rise and fall together - we will rise as long as the majority of us hold hands !
Hey Mutt,
You had the chance to invite..Dead Eye Dick ( who shoots his friends in the face, then has them apologize for being in the wrong place), Sarah (something about Russia..), how about that Donald guy..what's his name.....???? , oh no wait ..George..what number was he -01 (not really talking IQ here), sure,,Mitt you really are a whiner!!!! Take a break..why didn't you have the Koch bros speak???? How about Sheldon???? you are really a low life
Really? You guys are embracing the guy that went on television and lied to the American people, violated his oath to his wife, and was impeached. His wife stood by and said nothing, I believe in the interest of politics - say nothing that will keep either from getting ahead regardless of the impact on the country and regardless of the lies to the people. Where are their morals? Where are their ethics? This is what upstaged the President? It is a sad day.
Everyday is a sad day when Repubs believe Repubs have ethics and morals.When you live in a glass house, you should not fire machine guns.
obamas buying a 30 million dollar home in hawaii and selling his home in chicago how did he get so rich
Most ex-presidents get rich. The Clintons made over $100 Million in the first 10 years after Bill left office. If BHO got that rich while still president, that is cause for wonder.
As I see it Americans have 2 choices.
Vote left - the path to prosperity is based on taxation and penalty and if we aren’t as prosperous as we desire raise taxes and penalties until we become profitable!!! The claim is this will help the economy… example require US coal fired electrical utility to install environmental control technology on their facilities in an effort to keep up with EPA requirements. Unfortunately technology doesn’t exist that will allow utility to achieve these arbitrary standards moronically forced onto US industry by these executively maintained agencies. Governmental claim is these regulations add jobs… likely so several governmental employees to enforce these arbitrary standards along with a couple of industry employees to communicate with the governmental dictates. Cost to industry is in the billions in which will be passed along to consumer making them poorer and there employer less profitable giving them less incentive to produce and employ Americans forcing these employers to look at offshoring and importing. At some point there will not be enough income created in US to allow general public to purchase anything so employers will no longer be needed. This is a vicious cycle pretty soon there will not be enough employed people to pay for all the unemployed people. Simple math 0 people working adds up to $0 dollars going into government taxes means $0 coming out in un-employment benefits… can you spell third world Ethiopia. Of course I’m a masochist since I would rather kill everyone off with global warming obviously caused by over production of carbon dioxide. I don’t believe this premise since there is only so much carbon on earth and that plant life converts carbon dioxide to oxygen during photosynthesis.
Vote right – the path to prosperity is to get as many people working as possible. Create an environment in which industry can produce products in the US that can be marketed locally and abroad meaning everyone that is able to work has a job and rather than collecting unemployment is paying into the coffers for those whom can’t . Since fewer people are collecting unemployment less money leaving coffers means less taxes required to fill coffers meaning more wealth for everyone. As for environmental health the more items produced and sold by US industry the fewer items produced in foreign countries where we have little or no influence on their environmental standards. Something most people don’t think about air pollution from China affects environment in US… example I believe we are starting to see nuclear waste from Japan on west coast here recently due to Japan tsunami.
Your "vote right" portion is a lot shorter than your "vote left" portion.
You left out a bunch of details on your right "plan" - kind of like Robme tends to do. You took a giant leap after you mentioned "job creation."
Here's an idea...How about write in voting?...That would be revolutionary!...Wait a minute, it does exist. For the sake of argument, why not write in a Ron Paul/Jan Brewer ticket? I mean a vote for Ron/Jan, is a vote taken away from the Obamney tickets! What a concept. Imagine a shocker greater that the Truman/Dewey blast from the past.
I think the right wingers are planning on using fairy dust to create jobs.
No… business principals. You asked how jobs are created… the answer profits. I learned a long time ago profits are achieved from value added, taking something of little or no value processing it adding value and selling this item to someone that wants it. In the process of doing this many people end up reaping the benefits of this value added process and get a job that pays them wages to live on. Taxes and regulations short circuit this profit added process if unchecked… that is why Obamas economy is sitting in limbo and Corporations are sitting out in the wing seats with record capital available not spending / expanding!!!
Why didn't Romney use George Junior to "elevate" his campaign? Oh yeah, he's the one who made this whole mess. Hmmm, maybe he could have used Palin.
The "elevation" occured with Bill while Sandra Fluke, the DNC wh0re (or potential first lady as they are known), was promptering BJ Clinton from under the podium. They had the forethought to get an official DNC face wipe to avoid the embarrassment of presidue staining her pant suit.
People like Romney like people like Bill Clinton: one create value and wealth and the other just sucks it dry and calls it his entitlement. And If America wasn't racist and stupid mostly on the GOP side, maybe Obama could be more of a centrist and grow this economy.
Hang Romney, that's how much I like you.
...more like clinton took the convention to its knees.......