Barack Obama and Bill Clinton: At least they're talking

DENVER -- Barack Obama was working the phones Thursday -- in addition to offering Joe Biden the second spot on his presidential ticket, he spoke with none other than Bill Clinton.

Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters today that the two, who we doubt are on each other's fav five cellphone list, "had a broad-ranging conversation about the country and about the campaign."

Without offering specifics, Psaki suggested that the former president -- who has not used his considerable political skills to actively promote Obama's cause -- would become more of a team player as election day approaches.

"We anticipate President Clinton having an important role in the fall," she said.

Clinton's office, in a statement released Saturday, said much the same.

In announcing that he would be arriving in Denver on Tuesday in advance of his speech to the party's convention Wednesday, the statement added that Obama "and his message of change have inspired millions around the country and President Clinton continues to be committed to doing whatever he can to ensure that Senator Obama is the next president of the United States. He looks forward to campaigning for the presidential candidate to ensure a Democratic victory in November."

Bill Clinton always looks forward to campaigning -- it's what comes naturally to him. But he has yet to give any real indication that when it comes to Obama, his heart will be in it.

Psaki also revealed that Obama spoke with Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday (the day he was notifying several folks that they had not made his VP cut).

"The truth is he speaks with them on a relatively frequent basis," she said.

-- Don Frederick

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Comments

[Dr. Dave]

Obama: Way too proud too arrogant and too vindictive to pick Hilary
He still believes the insane Barney style "We can do it! Yes we can" hype created by his campaign David Axelrod. Without Hillary he'll never make it. At this point it's all lip service from her no matter how broad she smiles or how loud she chants "Barak Obama! The next president of the UNITED STATES!!!".

[Robin]

BARAK HUSSAIN OBAMA IS TOTALLY UNFIT FOR PRESIDENT OF AMERICA. SELECTION OF JOE BIDEN SHOWS HUSSAIN OBAMA LACKS EXPERIENCE. HE IS AS CROOKED POLITICIAN AS GEORGE BUSH. HE WILL TUMBLE AND FUMBLE JUST LIKE GEORGE BUSH IN EVERY RESPECT. I CAN NOT TAKE ANOTHER CHANCE LIKE GEORGE BUSH WITH OBAMA. I WILL VOTE FOR JOHN MCCAIN.

[rachel]

I don't beleive a word that comes out of Obama's advisors mouth.

I bet the conversation went something like this

Obama: umm yeah umm bill can you help a brother out?

Bill: hmm click!!!

Obama trashed Bill's adminstration during the primaries, Bill has nothing to lose he dosen't need job now Hillary she will be more a team player because she wants to at least keep her seat in the senate.

[joseph marcucilli]

I could care less what these self-centered narsacistic jerks say or do.

[Harry Ambrose]

Will someone tell me - without resorting to platitudes and generalities - (1) What is Senator Obama going to change? (2) To what is he going to chnge those things? and, (3) How is he going to cause those changes to be made?

[Disgusted Dem]

The Clintons can campaign for Obama 'till they're blue in the face. The non-vetting, short list lying 3AM text messaging fool's final blow has sent this lifelong Dem straight into a third party.

Shouldn't the Supers be a little concerned that Obama's national poll went down by a point after he finally named his war hawk "pick?" WAKE UP you losers! Obama can't win.

See ya in 2012 unless Hillary is the nominee!

[captainkona]

Bill Clinton having any role in the Fall would be a detriment to our chances of beating McSame.

Biden was a poor choice, but one that can be lived with. Allowing the Clinton's to be involved is a mistake simply because they cannot be trusted.
They are far too close to the Bush family and could seek to sabotage Obama's Presidency.

Clinton willingly helped the GOP in 2000 by disenfranchising, through the Drug War, nearly a million Americans who would likely have voted for Al Gore. Most of them black.

Bill and Hillary Clinton simply cannot be trusted. They will stab Barack in the back the first time he turns.

[abby0802]

The Clintons and their supporters should be team players or else we'll have another 4 years of the same type of administraton we've been suffering under for nearly 8 years.

Now, the challenge to all Democrats -- do you want to win or lose the election? Your choice.

[scootmandubious]

I switched my support from Clinton to Obama after the New York primary, but, had Hillary been the nominee, would have supported her hands-down.

I am disgusted with the alleged Clinton supporters who want Obama to lose. What that would do to the Supreme Court alone should scare the living daylights out of you. If you truly are Democrats.

I am willing to bet that more than a few of you are Republican plants. It's got Rovian fingerprints on it.

As for McCain, he really should pick Lieberman. They are 2 peas in a pod.

In my blog today, I referenced the letter written by 10 members of Congress (the lone Democrats were Lieberman and Harold Ford Jr.) that was sent out in December of 2001.

Well before WMD was being used as the excuse to invade, these 10 helped Bush out by calling for action against Iraq. McCain even went on "Face The Nation" that month to state his case. I included a revealing portion of that transcript as well.

It's at http://scootmandubious.blogspot.com/2008/08/mccain-lieberman-sought-to-invade-iraq.html