December 11, 2007
Posted: 03:57 PM ET

Watch Bill Clinton's speech get interrupted.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Bill Clinton has dealt with his fair share of hecklers over the years, but on Monday night he faced off with his first robot.

Or, more specifically, a man dressed like a robot.

In the middle of a speech on behalf of wife Hillary Clinton in Iowa City, Iowa, a young man clad in a dark metallic-like suit — with a helmet to boot — stood on a chair and interrupted the former president’s remarks.

"Bill Clinton, I want you to apologize to Sister Souljah," the man yelled in a robot-like voice. "Robots of the world want you to apologize to Sister Souljah. We want you to apologize."

The would-be robot’s act didn't end there. He started throwing colored pieces of paper around the room, prompting the former president to respond, "You need to find more environmentally responsible ways to protest than throwing grafiiti around."

The heckler's comment was referring to then-presidential candidate Bill Clinton's 1992 public criticism of black rapper Sister Souljah for saying "If black people kill black people every day, why not have a week and kill white people." In a now-famous campaign moment, Clinton called the comments racist during a speech before the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition.

Filed under: Bill Clinton • Hillary Clinton • Iowa


Dave, NY, NY   December 13th, 2007 11:29 am ET

So was the robot fool throwing graffiti or pieces of paper Mr Clinton? I think you need to lay off whatever your taking because your grasp of the english language is a bit off.

Ira Lapides   December 12th, 2007 4:30 pm ET

Finally something I can like Bill Clinton for doing.

HC   December 12th, 2007 3:01 pm ET

I AM NOT A ROBOT! A little stiff in bed perhaps.., but Bill always said he liked that.

demwit   December 12th, 2007 10:18 am ET

This is not heckling to Bill, he lives with a robot..

Opportuniac   December 12th, 2007 9:43 am ET

FINALLY someone has the sprockets to voice the concerns of Robots, America's most loved minority.

Sistah Souljah was a very supportive of the robot-wars of 2067. Or rather, she will be…

Michelle D. - Atlanta, GA   December 12th, 2007 9:09 am ET

What the heck???

Someone should be following up with that guy…he's a candidate for some high school or mall shooting.

Get help, dude.

Max, NYC NY   December 12th, 2007 7:47 am ET

Please STOP SHOUTING - it's generally considered rude to type in all capital letters.
Also please consider learning the proper use of the apostrophe; the plural of "Clinton" is "Clintons".
Thanks Butch.

Kyu Reisch, Radcliff, Kentucky   December 12th, 2007 5:39 am ET

Richard Lee, Nevada, it is true, he did so much for our Country, he is one of the best President, Hillary will be a better President than any of candidates right now. I love Hillary and The Clinton's.

Jack, Atlanta, GA   December 12th, 2007 1:32 am ET

Bill needs to lighten up. He's so intent on putting people down these days. I could understand when he dumped on that last guy talking about the Bohemian Grove, but come on.

G. Andrew Maness, Cape Cod, MA   December 11th, 2007 11:34 pm ET

If that was a robot, it was a robot with gender-identity problems.

BUTCH POSEY RAEFORD,NC   December 11th, 2007 8:34 pm ET

I TRUST THE ROBOT MORE THAN I WOULD TRUST ANY OF THE CLINTON'S.THE SAME FOR THE LIBERALS.

Jimenez - Texas   December 11th, 2007 8:22 pm ET

Oscar A., Alhambra, CA - God Sir you made me laugh and hard. What was really funny is that you're probably right.

Carolyn Lake, Monterey, CA   December 11th, 2007 8:09 pm ET

C'mon CNN, do your job and report the substantive remarks made by Pres. Clinton at this appearance. You have reported two frivolous stories, and I'm story, but I'm not amused by this type of media circus programming. Our country is in big trouble and faces serious issues on every side. Please shape up and give us reporting that will help a serious decision.

Steve, NY   December 11th, 2007 8:00 pm ET

Yeah, because people are going to take you seriously if you throw pieces of paper around and heckle Bill Clinton while dressed as a robot.

Nolan, Sacramento,CA   December 11th, 2007 7:15 pm ET

"Why would Clinton need to apologize for calling a racist comment racist?"

Couldnt agree more…this article made me want to post a comment to that exact effect. Thanks for doing it for me.

Paul, New York, NY   December 11th, 2007 7:12 pm ET

I think he means "confetti", not graffiti. I'm pretty certain you can't throw graffiti in the air. Although, if you could it would probably be harmful to the environment.

Mark, Springfield, MO   December 11th, 2007 7:05 pm ET

THE WORLD IS LAUGING AT THIS COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted By Nando, Palm Coast,FL : December 11, 2007 4:53 pm

The world has been laughing and disgusted at the US since the braindead re-elected Bush and a Republican Majority.

The world actually though we were a great country when Bill Clinton was president. Though they did think the country was a little screwed up when the Republican Moronic Right spent all that time and money on Clinton getting busy with an Intern when there were more important things they should have been working on.

President Bush and Republican Congress has done the most to make the United States the laughing stock of the world.

D. Elwood Cook   December 11th, 2007 6:58 pm ET

The flyers he tossed out included this website: http://mr-ifobca.org/

D. Elwood Cook   December 11th, 2007 6:46 pm ET

His name is Kembrew McLeod, he's an assosciate prof. at the University of Iowa.

Oscar A., Alhambra, CA   December 11th, 2007 6:21 pm ET

Those rightwing nutjobs find the most creative ways to harass the Clintons don't they? Notice the heckler was disguised? I suspect either Matt Drudge, Ann Coulter or Karl Rove underneath the costume.

Sue, Baltimore, MD   December 11th, 2007 6:12 pm ET

CNN: Way to encourage more stupid nut-job behavior as this. Give them a forum on CNN. Who wants to talk about the real issues, anyway–right? That would just be boring and make us think too hard about who we should vote for.

sean,boston,ma   December 11th, 2007 6:07 pm ET

As NH is next door, I have a lot of experience and friends in that state. My conversations confirm the recent polls that Clinton’s lead is evaporating. The “negative” campaigning has taken its toll, to be sure, but the perception that Obama represents a true change in course is a big fator in the changing numbers. Edwards, for whatever reason, remains a “blip” on the NH radar screen. Call a winner? No way as Iowa’s results will have a big impact in NH as will a huge pool of still undecideds. We got ourselves a horse race in both parties primaries.

what else to focus on apart from change!

LULU KNOX, IN   December 11th, 2007 5:59 pm ET

GEE A ROBOT CALLING OUT A FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON !!!!! i DO NOT SEE THAT ANY AMERICAN WAS KILLED OVER ANYTHING MR CLINTON DID !!!!!i DO NOT THINK ANYONE WAS TORCHERED !!!!!!!! ROBOT RECALL OUT THE REAL PROBLEM THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION !!!!!!! WIN HILLARY WIN. EVERYONE USES HILLARYS FULL NAME; HOW ABOUT USING THE FULL NAME OF THE GOP FROM IL?? I THINK HE IS ASHAMED OF HIS MIDDLE NAME !!!!!!!

Jo McKanna, San Diego, CA   December 11th, 2007 5:56 pm ET

I wonder if tasering the "robot" would have simply recharged its batteries? They should have at least tried…several times!

Bill, Streamwood, IL   December 11th, 2007 5:50 pm ET

Are you certain the robot wasn't Fred Thompson made up to look like a human being?

jw, canadian,ok   December 11th, 2007 5:47 pm ET

C'mon CNN this is not news - it was a racist comment and it was 15 years ago - got anything more current?

Mac, Severn, Md   December 11th, 2007 5:43 pm ET

Sounds like Sir Robot has had a Y2K breakdown. He's in the wrong century.

:)

Omar, Phoenix, AZ   December 11th, 2007 5:33 pm ET

All the loonies I've met are on the right. The loonies define the Iraq war as a success. The loonies have no clue about foreign policy and just cry about the "liberal media". The loonies want to strike Iran. The loonies speak with loud voices with fake New York accents on Fox News.

On another note, why would CNN post this story? Sista Souljah? Who cares.

Gabriel, Washington, DC   December 11th, 2007 5:32 pm ET

"Why is it that all the loony protesters and plants come from the left?"

Two words: Pat Robertson. Explain that one to me.

Erik, Austin TX   December 11th, 2007 5:25 pm ET

Wow, referencing an incident from 15 years ago. At least the guy keeps his comedy fresh!

anonymous   December 11th, 2007 5:25 pm ET

This is news?

What happened to the Bush/Iran issue, concerning Bush's lying to the American people (again)?

Just this morning on American Morning was a news story about some stupid monkey and its owner…. Hello? There are wars in Afghanistan and Iraq! There's a liar in the White House! There's corruption in the government!

All of the junk on this website and on CNN television is making me believe that CNN is all part of this grand conspiracy to undermine the freedom of the American people. CNN = CIA News Network

Los Angeles   December 11th, 2007 5:25 pm ET

Do we need to pass the baton back to the Clinton's? We're big, we're diverse, we are the USA… so really, do we need to go to the Bush/Clinton well once more? Enough is enough. Let's move away, and quickly, from these two good for almost nothing dynasties.

Minneapolis   December 11th, 2007 5:24 pm ET

Maybe the person was a "Ron Paul Bot"??

KEITH JAMES LOUTTIT   December 11th, 2007 5:19 pm ET

That's not newsworthy
Posted By Jaik , chicago, IL : December 11, 2007 3:47 pm ?????

Well maybe its not great breaking news, it is great information. It tickles my bones to have this kind of wild off the beat, humanizing, mocking sarcasm of the Power That Be!!!

I got a good laugh!!!

theo, Manorville, ny   December 11th, 2007 5:17 pm ET

I'm surprised Al Gore didn't come in after Bill's comment and pick up all the paper. Of course, we would then have to hear how much he is doing for the environment

J   December 11th, 2007 5:14 pm ET

"Why is it that all the loony protesters and plants come from the left?"

What makes you think he comes from the left? He's heckling someone on the left, correct?

"First, we don't do anything about the gang violence because it is difficult to fix and its gang member on opposing gang member, generally."

It's difficult to fix so we don't do "anything". Good reasoning…"Nah that's too hard…lets not do anything"

"She goes on to say that its just a reflexive response, if you killed my mother, I would kill you, but the underlying assumption, that the white people who were killed by blacks (in the Rodney King incident particularly) didn't do anything to blacks"

So you are saying because, in one case, white people didn't kill blacks that it never happens?
Are you saying that white people don't ever seek revenge unless the killer was non-black?
What exactly are you saying?

P Don, Sarasota, FL   December 11th, 2007 5:13 pm ET

Posted By Anonymous : Why is it that all the loony protesters and plants come from the left?

What is the right's fascination with mens bathrooms? Three repubs and counting so far this year alone.

And those are just the one's that got caught.

Don Ks, KS   December 11th, 2007 5:11 pm ET

That was 1992 - what happen - is the robot running "Vista"?
Maybe you should wait another 15 years to report it.

Ken, Boston MA   December 11th, 2007 5:07 pm ET

Ha! You let 'em have it, Bill!

Clinton/Clinton '08

Tom Dedham, Mass   December 11th, 2007 5:06 pm ET

When I read the headline about Bill being heckled by a robot, I thought they meant Hillarity.

My bad.

This was one of the few times Bill was totally correct and truthful.

Nancy Falconer, New York   December 11th, 2007 5:00 pm ET

Why that Robot can not show his face? Too ugly?

Sugahwafuhs, Morgantown, WV   December 11th, 2007 5:00 pm ET

Since when did Rip Taylor hit the campaign circuit?

Richard Lee Nevada   December 11th, 2007 4:57 pm ET

Clinton, go ahead! Just ignore those who are trying to stop you from being President. They are dirt!
We love you and lots of people love you! We know you have done a lot for the country. You are great!

Steve in SC   December 11th, 2007 4:55 pm ET

Looks like we have our first candidate for Hillary health care!

Nando, Palm Coast,FL   December 11th, 2007 4:53 pm ET

This is What Hillary and Bill do, They rally all the WAKO"s They just have BAD KARMA! THE WORLD IS LAUGING AT THIS COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!!!

Brian, SLC, UT   December 11th, 2007 4:39 pm ET

Having watched the video, I thought the most bizarre and humorous thing was not this robot guy, but instead a comment I heard on the video from a lady in the audience who said Bill had nothing to apologize for and had done so much for his country. Now THAT made me laugh!

Steve, New York   December 11th, 2007 4:30 pm ET

that’s it… people are dieing in Iraq, bush has spat on the US Constitution and broke how many laws… and this is on the front page of cnn?

Richard,Derry, NH   December 11th, 2007 4:15 pm ET

Talk of desperation and non news…Talk of a plant. Kinda used to this sheet from Clintons!

Kurt   December 11th, 2007 4:13 pm ET

Why would Clinton need to apologize for calling a racist comment racist?

David, Fairfax, VA   December 11th, 2007 4:08 pm ET

Okay, so I actually went and researched the context of what she said… and it isn't so much racist as it is illogical. Her statement was about how blacks die in gang violence everyday and thus it is not unreasonable to expect that the same gangs would, from time to time, bring violence to the white community.

But why she said that and what she intends that to justify is somewhat beyond me. First, we don't do anything about the gang violence because it is difficult to fix and its gang member on opposing gang member, generally. She goes on to say that its just a reflexive response, if you killed my mother, I would kill you, but the underlying assumption, that the white people who were killed by blacks (in the Rodney King incident particularly) didn't do anything to blacks… and certainly didn't the kill anyone's mother. So, her statements are unfounded, and if not directly racist, at the very least bogus.

David, Fairfax, VA   December 11th, 2007 3:58 pm ET

I wonder why this guy wasn't taken away and tasered? He was being disruptive and more or less totally pointless. I can't even remember the incident in 1992 and it seems very far down on the list of significant things Bill Clinton has done, good or bad.

Unless there's some strange context to the statement that Sister Souljah made… it is definitely rather racist and I don't see anything wrong with him calling it out as such.

Anonymous   December 11th, 2007 3:54 pm ET

Why is it that all the loony protesters and plants come from the left?

Surrealist, Fort Myers, FL   December 11th, 2007 3:50 pm ET

Another nut fell out of the fruitcake.

Jaik , chicago, IL   December 11th, 2007 3:47 pm ET

That's not newsworthy

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