Bill Clinton answers Barack Obama's phone call -- finally

Well this was a little long in the coming but it finally happened -- Barack Obama and Bill Clinton shared a little quality phone time earlier today. Obama communications director Robert Gibbs said Obama made the call and the two men talked for about 20 minutes as Obama rode from Kansas City, Mo., to Independence.

Obama asked Clinton to campaign with him, and for him, and Clinton agreed, though spokesmen for the men didn't break out who spoke for how long during those 20 minutes. The Swamp has a bit of it here too.

Clinton's communications director, Matt McKenna, described the call as "a very good conversation" and said Clinton "renewed his offer to do whatever he can to ensure Sen. Obama is our next president.  President Clinton continues to be impressed by Senator Obama and the campaign he has run, and looks forward to campaigning for and with him in the months to come."

Added Obama spokesman Bill Burton: "Senator Obama had a terrific conversation with President Clinton and is honored to have his support in this campaign. He has always believed that Bill Clinton is one of this nation's great leaders and most brilliant minds, and looks forward to seeing him on the campaign trail and receiving his counsel in the months to come."

So what's that you see in the rearview mirror? Looks like South Carolina.

-- Scott Martelle

Comments

[Seni]

Bill Clinton is doing what politions do. He is showing support for Barack Obama because they are both democrats. I don't think they really like each other. Remember, Bill Clinton was there for Al Gore and Kerry, but they both lost the election.

[Brian]

That endorsement sounds about as heartfelt as Bush's endorsement of McCain.

[Kevin]

Brian, YOU ARE PATHETIC

[Mike in Sac]

Great, that is wonderful. Now we can have Bill out there campaigning. After all, he helped Hillary so much, didn't he...?

[Pepe]

I'm intrigued by his motives. Was it money? Hillary putting pressure on him? It's not like this man has anything to worry about.
Maybe he actually wants Obama to win. Who knows.

[Richard]

Obama needs the support of the Clinton clan...Bill Clinton is firmly behind his wife on this one. He perhaps more so than Hillary, he is bitter at losing the race for the Democratic nomination...it was a tough loss, both financially and emotionally and it's taking him a bit to 'come around' and accept that fact... That's politics... I know only too well having run in a bitterly contested civic election myself. But in the end both will heartily endorse Barack and work with him for the change the US sorely needs.

Finally, just maybe, the President will be elected by the little people, the electorate and not by the powerful special interest groups that have dominated Presidential politics for so long.

[N.E. BodybutHillary]

The disgraced ex-president is as capable of bringing down Barack Obama's campaign as he was in sinking Hillary's campaign.

Aside from intern indoctrination Slick Willy has nothing to offer anybody.

Bill Clinton seems willing to play the senility card.

[steve]

Obama must in this crazy country we call home have someone out there who speaks "Bubba", because God forbid we have someone who is intelligent and doesn't fit neatly in some little box that we call all know who he is with some labels. Bill will go out into the nation and promise that BO is not a Muslim, or whatever. Barack has put too much faith in people to understand nuance. As such he is targeted by those who cling.

[Cryos]

I find it amusing how fickle a lot of democrat supporters are depending on who the leadership and media wants ot win. Before this primary election it seemed most democrats liked Clinton's legacy and stated he was unjustly attacked by republicans during his presidency, but once Obama was the chosen one for the election democrats turned on him and began calling him all the names they got so mad at republicans for.

[mark]

Sheeple. Glad the media has you by the nose. Baaaaa!!!

[Millie]

I always thought politicans lied ..... now that we have Obama, I KNOW they lie.

[Aiken Blue]

Bill had better cross the bridge after Obama extended his hand. After the Telegraph reports, it would reflect badly on him as former president. Obama, for one, has the graciousness of a fighter and a leader, one that cares about his people. He is inspiring with his words and his actions. I'm supporting Obama for President. Vote for Obama. Go WhyObama08.org!!!

[Lee Ward]

I don't know why Bill bothered. With Obama-loving media like the LA Times printing garbage like this headline "Bill Clinton answers Barack Obama's phone call -- finally," which suggests that Obama has been calling on Bill in the past and Bill hasn't answered previously -- why should Bill let himself be slimed by the likes of you putzes any longer?

No where in the article was anything stated which supports that headline.

The LA Times has reached new lows this election season, but since the newspaper is failing and on its way to extinction anyway, exactly because of this kind of reporting,who's surprised by any of this.

Enjoy it while it lasts, Scott - but good luck finding a real job in journalism. You're not up to the job.

[Click through the first link to the article about the earlier attempts to contact. -- Scott]

[Harold Reimann]

BO and BC together at last. There's got to be a BS somewhere. And a BM (Bro Mugabe) should be there for BO giving him election-winning advice.

[Leishtek]

I respect what good Clinton did for this country. Shrub (Bush Jr.) has done absolutely nothing. So one endorsement is worth gold while the other is...exactly what? Perhaps 8 more years of the same. I think no respectable person would vote for anyone Shrub endorsed. No way McCain, all Obama or America is 3rd world by 2016.

[Jason Scroggins]

'Mike', what are you talking about? Bill DID help Hillary. Check facts, not that some people just simply didn't like him campaigning.

[BrandonEdwards]

I think Obama needs the support of the Clintons and sould ask Bill to be vice president it might secure the deal for them.

[S. Turner]

Obama is the candidate for "change"........

So where is the change with BIll Clinton on the scene...do you really think anything will change with his Political pull?

[Dave]

Bill Clinton was a great president so his word matters, however, Obama's legacy will become something bigger than Clinton's Legacy will ever be.

[Lee Ward]

Scott writes: "[Click through the first link to the article about the earlier attempts to contact. -- Scott]"

And here's what you find at that link -

----quote---
Barack Obama beckoned Bill Clinton Friday to climb aboard his campaign bandwagon, even through the Democratic top dogs have not spoken since Hillary Clinton quit the primary race.

The ex-Prez is in Europe and has yet to return phone calls from the party's new torchbearer.
----end quote---

Bill was in Europe. Obama beckoned Friday, and they talked on Monday.

And that warrants a "Finally!" headline? Oh, please.

The drama -- All made up by the LA Times. Thanks for proving me right, that the LA Times is over the top on this issue.

[Eliz-NY]

The Clintons should stay as far away from BO as they possibly can. They should allow him to fail...or succeed all on his own otherwise they will be blamed for anything and everything.
No way...no BO!

[VJ Machiavelli]

I guess Obama's check cleared the bank

VJ Machiavelli
http://www.vjmachiavelli.blogspot.com

[GEO]

i think there's something wrong with this article...IT'S OBAMA WHO PHONES PRES. CLNTON AND WHO NEDS HELP FROM HIM!!!

THIS IS THE TRUTH AND THIS IS THE TRUE OBAMA ONE WHO WANTS ONLY VOTES AND LET HIS MONEY MACHINE SUPPORTERS DO THE MANAGING FRO AMERICA!!!

SORRY, WE ARE DIE HARD CLINTONS AND GAYS , WOMEN WILL HAVE BIG ROLE IN THIS ELECTION!!!

[matt]

Ideally, the more Obama stays away from the Clinton entourage, the better it is for the country once he is elected. Obviously, this is wishful thinking. Obama needs Clinton to win over the skepticals, the low middle class whites etc, who would never vote for him unless they are reassured by the Clinton camp. Alas, this is not very good for the country because the more "pure" Obama remains from the Washington revolving lobby door and that malaise of old fashion politics, of which the Clintons are the Democrat masters of, the better, but that is too much to ask for is it? Go Obama...and go Clinton, ahem, I guess.

[BOO-HOO]

SENATOR OBAMA CALLS BILL CLINTON...IS HE NUTS? WHATS NEXT, WILL HE NOW CALL CHELSEA? SENATOR OBAMA DOES NOT NEED BILL, HILARY OR CHELSEA TO WIN THE GENERAL ELECTION. HE SEEMS TO HAVE ADOPTED THE CLINTON PHILOSPHY...DO WHATEVER IT TAKES & SAY WHATEVER THE PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR AS LONG AS YOU WIN. THIS ELECTION IS TURNING OUT TO BE WHO WILL BE "THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS", SENATOR OBAMA OR JOHN McCAIN. BASED ON THE WAY SENATOR OBAMA HAS BEEN CAMPAIGNING LATELY, HIS LIBERAL LEANINGS AND NOW THAT HIS TRUE COLORS ARE BEING EXPOSED PLUS ALIGNING HIMSELF WITH BILL AND HILARY CLINTON I AM SAD TO SAY I AM SEROUSLY GIVING SENATOR McCAIN ANIOTHER LOOK...I SUGGEST ALL OF YOU DO THE SAME.

[Jake]

I think every Democrat should rally around all of the candidates and especially around Barack Obama. We need to do some housecleaning in Washington with the idea of putting a Democrat in charge at the White House. This is incredibly important. Obama should have no problems accepting help from the Clintons while maintaining his own agenda of change. He is going to be the one in charge when he is elected this November.

[A citizen from PALENCIA (España / Spain)]

I think than Barack Obama is the new man and the good way for political action in US from 2009 on C the White House (presidential mansion). This is the......virtual sure president of the UNITED STATES.
A mistake?.- I believe and hope no.- THE WORLD is with the charismatic, eloquent and dynamic citizen Barack Obama.-Congratulations¡- Whit help of God....ahead¡

[James in SB]

Hey Millie,
What exactly is the untruth that you imply Obama told that proves to you that politicians lie? Yours is a typical comment here; throw out a charge, don't even say what it is, but couch it in the language of smear (i.e. politicians lie) and then run for cover. If you want to debate, put some thoughts together, and maybe even some facts; if not, isn't there a "Four more years for W" site somewhere that you can go read for a while?

[Cheryll]

Bill!!! Hnag up the phone! Hang up the phone!! Please have more respect for yourself that to support this shifting wind!! You are a Democrat he is who the H*LL knows!