- Highlights
- Full Text
[0:00] ..." Former President Bill Clinton on Monday weighed in on the economic stimulus package approved by congress last week he called it quote our bridge over troubled waters. Mr. Clinton also said president Obama is off to a good start with a good team. WBZ's Mary Blake asked ABC news political analyst Steve Roberts whether the partisan rank are still very much alive in Washington."...
[1:39] ..." John McCain when you talk about that baseball analogy John McCain one of one of the big hitters or pitchers if you will mean it over the weekend again he's -- this package"...
[1:55] ..." Well John McCain has always criticized the Republican Party on fiscal matters. He. In fact it's interesting because he was one of the strongest voices"...
[2:25] ..." Brock Obama went out of his way to. Pay his respects to John McCain he hosted a dinner for McCain on the eve of the inaugural and praised him extravagantly. But McCain has decided to. Join"...
[4:13] ..." that's going to come up but later in the year probably on immigration reform I think it. You look at people like John McCain is is much more likely. To ally himself with. With president Obama on that one then on the -- fiscal matters to"...
[0:00]" Former President Bill Clinton on Monday weighed in on the economic stimulus package approved by congress last week he called it quote our bridge over troubled waters. Mr. Clinton also said president Obama is off to a good start with a good team. WBZ's Mary Blake asked ABC news political analyst Steve Roberts whether the partisan rank are still very much alive in Washington."
[0:22]" Is a setback well I do think you have to give him credit for having past a major piece of legislation very expensive very complicated. In a very short period of time in effect this is not the only bill he's passed there -- two others. Of considerable significance to have also passed as well expanding the children's. Health insurance program and improving. Gender equality in the work place. But I do think he's made some steps to I think he has underestimated. How virulent the partisanship is in Washington attended. Great or out on the campaign trail to talk about unity and partisanship and working with Republicans and that he got promoted to the major leagues and he found out hit big league pitching has a lot harder and being in the minors secondly. He's placed an enormous -- here. That if stimulus package is going to work and Republicans have placed an enormous bet that it's not going to work. If they really thought that economy was going to improve by 2010 you're missing a lot more Republican support so. Whether this in the end is a victory for Obama or not. Depends heavily on the economic. Performance. Between now in the next election."
[1:39]" John McCain when you talk about that baseball analogy John McCain one of one of the big hitters or pitchers if you will mean it over the weekend again he's -- this package generational theft are you surprised that even his old nemesis is one of the lead roles in terms of up. Calling the shots here."
[1:55]" Well John McCain has always criticized the Republican Party on fiscal matters. He. In fact it's interesting because he was one of the strongest voices saying that. Republicans had strayed. From their fiscal responsibility. Small government lower taxes pedigree. And so I do think in some ways this is understandable but I. I was a little surprised that he was this this critical. Brock Obama went out of his way to. Pay his respects to John McCain he hosted a dinner for McCain on the eve of the inaugural and praised him extravagantly. But McCain has decided to. Join the ranks of of hardline Republican opposition and you've got to remember something else. Which is that. There are relatively few moderate Republicans left. Two to partner with you have the two senators from Maine. But look at the rest of the wing and right there in and Massachusetts -- long history of a progressive Republican driven Henry Cabot lodge Leverett -- installer so many others. They're virtually gone from from Massachusetts politics with the neighboring Rhode Island -- like John Chafee who. Was a very. Progressive figure there for many years those people are gone and so. You now have be a Democratic Party that is basically a Liberal Party or Republican parties basically Conservative Party. And for all of the talk about bipartisanship there are relatively few moderates relatively few centrists in both parties to do the hard negotiating."
[3:32]" And during his news conference last week president Obama said well you know it takes time to it to -- to thaw relations do you really think that that's nigh eve now on and then he gets that."
[3:44]" Partly I think he did underestimate. How -- poisonous and rigid that Washington had become. All that talk of having eighty votes. For the stimulus package in the Senate now seems pretty nigh eve and a inexperienced. But it's also true that. It -- down the line in he he hopes that his investment of good relations and cordiality. Will pay some dividends take just one example of a bill that's going to come up but later in the year probably on immigration reform I think it. You look at people like John McCain is is much more likely. To ally himself with. With president Obama on that one then on the -- fiscal matters to work. I don't think it. Washington has condemned. To being rigidly partisan every issue. But I do think that Obama is learning that. Talking about something on the campaign trail and making it happen in Washington. Are two very very different things."
[4:47]" I just a couple of quick questions to now on the week ahead is he a quick learner he has. I think it in a way if you can correct me if I'm -- sort of taken -- taken that debate and he's running with it now in terms of and put the with the Republicans framed the debate over the stimulus package for several days he then held a news conference he is now heading out this week more public appearances as he continues to sell this package a smart move on his part."
[5:13]" Yes for several reasons I think. He's trying to remind people why they voted form and he had his best when he gets out of Washington when he he. Sort of revives the emotions and the feelings of the campaign he did it three times last week in Indiana Illinois Florida. This week he's going to Denver to sign the stimulus package then on to Phoenix. When he's out in the country he. He draws energy from this -- good politicians do. And you don't get to be president if you -- a good politician except a few Jimmy Carter and and so he is AM. I think he wants to draw on that energy he wants to graphically demonstrate that. The partisanship in Washington is not the whole story that there are a lot of people have a country still supportive and I think he wants to. Put pressure on the congress to say look there are real people out here hurting. You had this a remarkable story just last week in Florida where a woman a homeless woman got up at the at one of his meetings talked so emotionally about her plight that put a face on a lot of these problems and he's trying to say to the politicians in Washington. Stop political games there are real people hurting here and it's interesting because out of the country. There are Republican governors. Who support him you had governor Crist of Florida who have to worry about a balanced budget have to worry about homeless people have to worry about crumbling schools. He can't afford to play political games in the same way Republican senator's camp. So when you go out in the country and you meet governors and mayors -- meeting people who -- going to be far more pragmatic about these matters. The senators who just makes speeches in Washington."
Del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
