Former president Bill Clinton accused Republicans of sending mixed messages on the economy, during an interview with Today's Savannah Guthrie.
"I’m not sure both sides want the economy to get better," he said. "I know the President does, but I know what Senator McConnell said that his No. 1 priority was winning the election."
Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has repeatedly said a top goal of his party is to defeat President Obama's re-election this fall.
Clinton suggested that the president's recent call for an extension of tax cuts for those American households earning less than $250,000 a year was one solution, but Republicans needed to stop blocking the president at every turn in order for progress to be made.
"If we’re going to have long-term debt reduction, we're gonna have to have some spending cuts and some more revenues and that’s the fairest place to get it," Clinton remarked on the tax cut, which would also raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans. "What the Republicans are trying to do is put him into a position of giving all that up for another year, which I think would be a big mistake. These things have been extended a long time…If they’re not going to negotiate with him, which they seem disinclined to do, then he has to stand his ground on this, and I think he’s right."
The former president also added his voice to those calling on Romney to release additional years of his tax returns.
"I am a little surprised that he only released a year’s worth of tax returns. That’s kind of perplexed me," he said. "It’s typical that we release 10, 11 years…that struck me as a little odd."
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Figured that out, did you, Bill?
boy it took him awhile to figure that out,huh. i knew this from day one.
If you notice both Bill Clinton and Hillary are overseas this week. Hillary has been in Southeast Asia: Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia to the ASEAN regional form held in Phnom Pehn. The topics discussed consisted of the South China Sea disputes, natural disaster relief, and economic relations including investments and trade. The Obama administration has placed a new emphasis on U.S. military power in Asia with U.S. Marines being permanently stationed in Darwin, Australia. As we pullout of Iraq and Afghanistan the U.S. is increasing our strategic outlook towards Asia.
Bill Clinton is going to Africa as part of his Clinton foundation work. The AGOA, or African Growth and Opportunity Act was signed into law by President Clinton in 2000. Since that time this initiative has AGOA benefits have helped turn six African countries into the fastest growing countries on earth. AGOA has helped create over 300,000 direct jobs, indirectly created about 1.5 million jobs, and benefited an estimated 10 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa (Clinton Foundation 2012). President Obama also sent 100 U.S. Army military advisers and trainers to Uganda to shore up the Ugandan governments struggle against insurgent elements in that country. The U.S. Army, a few years ago, has also opened up Africa Command in Stuttgart, Germany to coordinate our military policy on the huge African continent.
Who cares about any of this stuff? Well most Americans should care greatly about ASEAN and what the Clinton Foundation is doing in Africa. One country cares greatly about all these things: China. The Chinese have moved massively into Africa and into the ASEAN region. Diplomatically, economically, and with business ties the Chinese have secured a long term foothold into Africa. The Clinton Foundation and the U.S. Army opening Africa Command underscores the importance the U.S. government has for the region. Much of our future trade growth will be with the ASEAN nations and with Sub-Saharan African nations. Also with a world at peak oil we must secure every barrel of oil that we can because Chinese officials are scouring the globe for oil to buy. Most American diplomacy and military activities centers around securing oil supplies for our economy. While most public officials don't like talking about peak oil this is now become a great concern for the United States.
In the midst of a presidential election year it seems trite to worry about Africa or ASEAN countries. After all we have 8.2% unemployment at home. We live in a tough global economy where we will have to compete for every job, every contract, and every new market. The 21st century will bring large amounts of stress on America. We can reduce that stress level by adopting green energy policies that eliminates our need to import oil from unstable parts of the world. We have to understand that Asian demand for crude oil will greatly change the global market for oil at a time of peak oil production. Many analysts are talking about $175 per barrel oil as soon as this recession ends, which it will in coming years. I wish Americans would understand the importance of getting an Apollo energy program going on a large scale. Now is not the time for austerity. Now is the time for an Apollo green energy program, so we can get off of oil before oil leaves us.
i can't wait to see their faces when he is re-elected
The clip on Clinton's audio seems to have been heavily edited out. What, did they run out of Internet film? o_O?