Leading Dems to Bill.... STFU

Prominent Democrats are upset with the aggressive role that Bill Clinton is playing in the 2008 campaign, a role they believe is inappropriate for a former president and the titular head of the Democratic Party. In recent weeks, Sen. Edward Kennedy and Rep. Rahm Emanuel, both currently neutral in the Democratic contest, have told their old friend heatedly on the phone that he needs to change his tone and stop attacking Sen. Barack Obama, according to two sources familiar with the conversations who asked for anonymity because of their sensitive nature. Clinton, Kennedy and Emanuel all declined to comment.

On balance, aides to both Bill and Hillary still see Bill as a huge net plus in fund-raising, attracting large crowds and providing a megaphone to raise doubts about Obama—even if some of those doubts are distortions. But there's concern that in hatcheting the Illinois senator and losing his temper with the news media (last week he thrashed a San Francisco TV reporter for asking about a lawsuit filed by Clinton-backing teachers union members to limit the number of Nevada caucuses), Clinton is drawing down his political capital and harming his role as a global statesman. "This is excruciating," says a member of the Clintons' circle, who asked for anonymity. "But the stakes couldn't be higher. It's worth it to tarnish himself a bit now to win the presidency."

http://www.newsweek.com/id/96385

what happens to the Democratic party--he never was.

:grr: :nuke:

criticism is going to go public. I can also see people like Kennedy and perhaps even Gore, endorsing Obama if he doesn't ease off. He doesn't have to stop campaigning for Hillary, but it's clear that he's taking a risk with his behavior. You don't want to piss off Teddy.

:hide:

x(

And we thought Bush's cabinet were rubber stamps....

Bill has become an embarrassing cancer on the body politic.

I get the growing feeling that he's becoming (or has become) somewhat of a loose cannon.

What do you Hillary folks think?

he's going to lose the campaign for her. Is she running or is he?

kind of Repug methodology virus or something. Bill needs to dial it back a lot...

"It's worth it to tarnish himself a bit now to win the presidency."

Remember my post "Bill Clinton: Unprecedented bad behavior for a former president." Now Kennedy and Emmanuel agree wth me. I don't feel quite as much of a lone wolf after all.

Sick.

he can taste it. Can you say 3rd term?

to be tough...they'll interpret that as shrill and cackling--like so many Obama supporters here. Until there's a level palying field, Ted and Emmaneul shoudl STFU themselves.

Well, at least the inner circle is admitting it to themselves.

and still not care. I do not understand people at all.

I'm just baffled this time around.

No one expected him to sit on the sidelines, but one wonders just how low Bill will go to win one for Hillary.