Wise words from Bill...
Clinton Urges Dems Against Divisiveness
WASHINGTON - Former President Clinton urges his party's presidential candidates not to question the Democratic credentials of their rivals and avoid tactics that divide the party.
"I don't believe that either side should be saying 'I'm a real Democrat and the other one's not,' or 'I'm a winning Democrat and the other one's not,'" Clinton said in an interview in the November issue of American Prospect, a liberal magazine.
"I think it is highly counterproductive to spend a great deal of time trying to identify the wings of the party and having each wing criticize each other."
Democratic front-runner Howard Dean has identified himself as being "from the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party," a claim that has drawn criticism from several of his rivals, including Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who has argued that Dean is too liberal to defeat President Bush.
Wesley Clark, who recently indicated his party affiliation, also has come under criticism from backing Republican presidents in past elections.
Clinton argued that Democrats walk a fine line.
"We can't win if people think we're too liberal. But we can't get our own folks out if people think we have no convictions. So the trick is to get them both."
Clinton Urges Dems Against Divisiveness
WASHINGTON - Former President Clinton urges his party's presidential candidates not to question the Democratic credentials of their rivals and avoid tactics that divide the party.
"I don't believe that either side should be saying 'I'm a real Democrat and the other one's not,' or 'I'm a winning Democrat and the other one's not,'" Clinton said in an interview in the November issue of American Prospect, a liberal magazine.
"I think it is highly counterproductive to spend a great deal of time trying to identify the wings of the party and having each wing criticize each other."
Democratic front-runner Howard Dean has identified himself as being "from the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party," a claim that has drawn criticism from several of his rivals, including Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who has argued that Dean is too liberal to defeat President Bush.
Wesley Clark, who recently indicated his party affiliation, also has come under criticism from backing Republican presidents in past elections.
Clinton argued that Democrats walk a fine line.
"We can't win if people think we're too liberal. But we can't get our own folks out if people think we have no convictions. So the trick is to get them both."
posted by Pamela J. Leavey at 11:25 PM
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