Bill Clinton says Barack Obama must 'kiss my ass' for his support
By Tim Shipman in Washington and Philip Sherwell in New York
Last Updated: 8:16AM BST 30/06/2008
Bill Clinton is so bitter about Barack Obama's victory over his wife Hillary that he has told friends the Democratic nominee will have to beg for his wholehearted support.

AP
Bill Clinton is still very bitter that Barack Obama beat his wife Hillary
Mr Obama is expected to speak to Mr Clinton for the first time since he won the nomination in the next few days, but campaign insiders say that the former president's future campaign role is a "sticking point" in peace talks with Mrs Clinton's aides.

The Telegraph has learned that the former president's rage is still so great that even loyal allies are shocked by his patronising attitude to Mr Obama, and believe that he risks damaging his own reputation by his intransigence.

A senior Democrat who worked for Mr Clinton has revealed that he recently told friends Mr Obama could "kiss my ass" in return for his support.

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A second source said that the former president has kept his distance because he still does not believe Mr Obama can win the election.

Mr Clinton last week issued a tepid statement, through a spokesman, in which he said he "is obviously committed to doing whatever he can and is asked to do to ensure Senator Obama is the next president of the United States ".

Mr Obama was more effusive at his unity event with Mrs Clinton on Friday, speaking fondly of the absent former president, who attended Nelson Mandela's birthday celebrations in London instead. The candidate told the crowd: "I know how much we need both Bill and Hillary Clinton as a party. They have done so much great work. We need them badly."

But his aides said he has so far concentrated on cementing relations with Mrs Clinton first. They say they are content to let relations with Mr Clinton thaw gradually.

It has long been known that Mr Clinton is angry at the way his own reputation was tarnished during the primary battle when several of his comments were interpreted as racist.

But his lingering fury has shocked his friends. The Democrat told the Telegraph: "He's been angry for a while. But everyone thought he would get over it. He hasn't. I've spoken to a couple of people who he's been in contact with and he is mad as hell.

"He's saying he's not going to reach out, that Obama has to come to him. One person told me that Bill said Obama would have to quote kiss my ass close quote, if he wants his support.

"You can't talk like that about Obama - he's the nominee of your party, not some house boy you can order around.

"Hillary's just getting on with it and so should Bill."

Another Democrat said that despite polls showing Mr Obama with a healthy lead over Republican John McCain, Mr Clinton doesn't think he can win.

The party strategist, who was allied to one of the early rivals to Mr Obama and the former First Lady, said Mr Clinton was "very unhopeful" about the nominee's prospects in November.

"Bill Clinton knows the party will unite behind Obama, but he is telling people he doesn't believe Obama can win round voting groups, especially working-class whites, in the swing states," the strategist said.

"He just doesn't think Obama will be able to connect with the voters he needs."

Joe Klein, the author of Primary Colours, a fictionalised account of Mr Clinton's 1992 election, who has known the former president for 20 years, said he also heard that he was "very, very bitter", from people who have spoken with him.

"It's time for him to get over it or go off and do his charitable work. He knows the rules of the road. What's going on now is kind of strange. I think his behaviour is really, really shocking."

Which makes me think that the Clintons are setting Obama up for a loss so they can attempt to re-take the seat in 2012. This would be their best chance if you think about it.

If Obama wins she can't run again until 2016 at that point the party will be Obama's party. At that time it will also be harder for her to run against a Republican as we apparently do one term Dem 1 term Repub as the country will look to swing back.

So I would not be surprised if they do not turn on him now to keep control of the party and to say "I told you so...."

It is not the ulterior plan of the Dems, it is the power that the Clintons still hold and they know this.

Bill has that benevolent slave master mentality, like he wants to say "I was good to you wasn't I boy? I let you eat my scraps, let you wear my old clothes, I even let you ride in the back of my car, and now you say that ain't good enough for you?"

Obama knows that he does not have the full power wielded by other party leaders until he becomes president. I mean if this were the case, Kerry would still have had the power of the party. Right now Obama has the backing. If he becomes president he will have control.

The Clintons are still a factor and a move to usurp Obama's rise to them would be worth it "FOR THEM" to come back in 4 years as Obama would not sneak up on them and a jacked up economy would fare even better for her to say to the Dems and the Repubs I told you so.

I never write off the white tigers because even though they may be on the ground and bleeding they are not dead and still have sharp fangs. As disgruntled as these two are, they still hold in their hands their numerous disgruntled voters who say they would vote for McCain over Ob(s)ama......

This is what I was looking at as well D, but it is the "fear of the AA man" that I am thinking is going to swing the Clinton vote. A lot of the speculators are splitting the Clinton vote among them both and don't get me wrong, I am pulling for Obama all the way, but remember we went to sleep thinking Gore was our president and we woke up to 8 years of Bush........

I keep seeing this Obama stranglehold on the Dems, but I just don't trust them Clintons because they are bitter and could start the ball rolling to McCain for their own benefit.

I mean 8 years ago we would have said that there is no way possible for a man to steal the presidency and we were all proven wrong.

Did I say I don truss 'em?

Even if Hilary and Bill WERE planning this and pulled it off, I bet black folk would still vote her ass in at that election.

Bill Clinton 'the FIRST BLACK president' Wow I bet some people feel real stupid right about now?

The problem with Gore was the same problem with Kerry. Yes, the election was stolen from Gore. But his issue was his strategy. He only campaigned in a few states. And if he didn't win those states, then he wasn't going to win period.

He even lost his home state, Tennessee.

Barack is doing what Gore should have did and what Kerry should have did. He can win without winning Ohio. He can win without winning Florida. He can get Virginia. He can get North Carolina. He can get Iowa. He can get New Mexico and Colorado.

John McCain will have to defend territory that no Republican has ever had to defend in the last 20-40 years. Now, I can't even explain why some of these states are in play the way they are.

For instance Oregon. Why hell would Barack do so well in a state that is 98 percent "White"?

???????

But he is trouncing McCain in polling. So much so that the Republican Senator up for re-election has aligned himself with the Democratic Nominee. . .Barack Obama.

That is unheard of.

Of course, it is a stretch to say that he will win. But he running awfully strong. And he is wielding power within the Democratic party. He made the commitment that no one in the party will take money from PACs. Word on the street is that the Democratic Leadership Council, (created and built by the Clintons) is done. Barack came here to Chicago to set up his headquarters. The DLC is down the street from his offices.

He hasn't even bothered with meeting them.

That is absolutely hilarious.

The Slow Death of the DLC - Political Insider

I have to give you that. Obama forced Clintons hand last night and I forgot that Obama did have the Kennedy's on his side. So considering Sen. Kennedy's health and his family's history of dealing with AA's, I think we witnessed a torch passed, but I think this is going to have a negative effect in the long run unless Obama brings back happier times economically starting with the price of gas.

I still cannot figure out why everyone in Oregon and even Iowa for that matter has aligned themselves with Obama. I have not heard any of his speeches in full, but may be I should because he seems to have that effect on people.

I am happy to be wrong on this one so far