Des Moines, Iowa (CNN) – Mitt Romney jabbed his Democratic rival Barack Obama Tuesday over the president's complicated relationship with one of his party's leading political dynasties: the Clintons.
The presumptive GOP nominee told an Iowa audience that Obama had ignored former President Bill Clinton's 1996 declaration that "the era of big government is over."
– Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
"President Obama tucked away the Clinton doctrine in his large drawer of discarded ideas, along with transparency and bipartisanship," Romney said. "It's enough to make you wonder if maybe it was a personal beef with the Clintons."
Romney's insinuation of bad blood between Obama and the Clintons was not an off-the-cuff remark, but part of a formal speech the candidate read from a teleprompter in a Des Moines hotel ballroom.
Obama and then-Sen. Hillary Clinton battled through an acrimonious Democratic primary in 2008. However, the election year ended with Clinton accepting a job as secretary of state in Obama's cabinet.
Former President Clinton and Obama occasionally tangled during that primary as well, with the former president calling Obama's claim of being a stronger opponent of the Iraq war than Hillary Clinton "the biggest fairy tale I've ever seen."
In April, the Romney campaign sought to capitalize on past disagreements between the two men, and sent reporters a collection of news stories documenting the insults Obama and Clinton had traded during the 2008 campaign.
But the former president told donors this year at an April fund-raiser that Obama "deserves to be re-elected" and, in an Obama campaign online video, lauded the president's decision to order the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound.
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
This from a man whose faith says he will be a god??
Republicans added 1.7 million government jobs under Bush, Obama has cut nearly 600,000 government jobs since he started... Their argument that he is for "big government" is just because he hasn't successfully undone all of their idiocy.
Romney has no friends in politics so he has to tear the president down. The repos jut tolerate the flip flopper. They know they can control him if he wins. He will do what ever they say. Good he used a telaprompter did it help him any. Worst speaker ever can't say a complete sentenance.
I challenge any conservative to point out any way that President Obama has made government bigger. Anyone? And singing a law that reforms health insurance does nothing to grow the size of government. Maybe they are referring to the idea that, after the end of DADT there may be more gays enlisting in the armed forces? Is that what they mean by growing the government? The govenment payroll is smaller now than when President Obama took office so I'm at a loss as to what Republicans are talking about.
I have to agree with the article. I just don't know if Obama is gonna to pull another 'shove health care down our throat' like move again if he is re elected. If someone with bill clinton like character was running, I would be glad to head to the polls this fall. I'll be staying home.
Etch-a-Sketch Mitt Romney will be pulling "great" IDEAs from the large drawer GW Bush just handed to MITT after he got his erdorsement today!!!!
We are ALL going back to GW Bush ideas of great Economic Recession, Un-funded Wars, Shipping American jobs overseas, more Tax Cuts on top of GW Bush Tax Cuts, No-Child Left Behind, massive deregulation of WALL STREET...
President Obama may have a personal beef with the Clintons, but Etch-a-Sketch Mitt has embraced GW BUSH hook, line and sinker!
Remember that!!!
"Romney's insinuation of bad blood between Obama and the Clintons was not an off-the-cuff remark, but part of a formal speech the candidate READ FROM A TELEPROMPTER in a Des Moines hotel ballroom."
Surprised he didn't write it on his hand like Sarah. Mitt is a joke.
Hahahahaha! Romney can make his jokes and laugh but let look thiis, in Obama corner is Bill Clintom, one of the most successful president in the past half a century. If there was a 3rd term, Dubya would be been wiped out.
In Willard's corner is the Bush's, 41 and 43. We all know that 43 is one of the worst president in history, no question about that. 41, Mister, "Read My Lips, No New Taxes" he was out of touch with the American people. Heck, you can say that Bush 41 presidency was only won due to Dukakis being weak on Foreign Policy and the popularity of Reagan as the people thought Bush 41 was a Reagan 3rd term. Just too bad the world was in a recession.
Of course he would jab them. Two Great Presidents who accomplished a lot. All Romney has is failed attempts at being President and unfavorable ratings.
Mittens would do well not to call attention to Bill Clinton at all since his was the most successful administration despite the Psycopathic attacks he weathered from the Right his whole Presidency. This president has had to endure much of the same which is insidious, considering Mittens now has the endorsement of the Worst President Ever!
"I don't think Romney can wine & dance the Electoral College like Obama can."
This bizarre nonsense you've been spouting lately, implying that GOBP is some weak and helpless party in the face of Dem power, is pretty ludicrous when you follow the Wall St. and bankster bucks, not to mention the 100 donors who have provided 70-80% of ALL donations to ALL parties and PACs.
Obama can't be too close to Clinton. Under Clinton, my career was at its best. It went downhill after Bush came in and never recovered.
Keep trying Willard maybe something will stick. Have you beat anyone up lately? Let's hope not, you are running out of stuff to distract the voters with.
Funny how the GOP can overlook the fact the George Bush grew the Government AND the debt more the Obama.
Facts mean nothing to the GOP. They lie even in the presence of truth. The funny thing is the sheep follow them... right over the cliff.
Once again Willard the serial liar lies again. Can't wait for the media to start calling him out on all his lies.
@ carol
Get some education on Mormons then. God like not a God. Its as close to christen faith as any, but people lable it as a cult. Your guy wants gays to redefine the word marriage, so I guess soon Cats will be called Dogs too...
Romney ahead on every poll. Finally America woke up. No more small communist agitator.
Romney / GW Bush
Political Dynasties with Daddy Issues 2012 !
obama has friends -clinton. romney has owners ,rove ,koch brothers
Two bad Prez, two Dems, (not-so-sweet) sixteen years apart, economy went down during their presidency, both ending in odd numbers (don't blame me after the term of Nixon), both won DC, OR, WA, NV, CA, both lost TX (big-shot). What more could you want to make Obama lose in the election?
Democrats can't get elected on policy, so they get elected on individual popularity. Sad that there are so many liberal dupes out there.
@ Ken.....
one of the reasons government jobs are being cut under Obama is because of your GOP buddies...you know the ones cuttiing teachers, firefighters, law officers, the government jobs that they always claim people are OVERPAID with too good benefits. Obam didn't cut those jobs, YOUR guys did. As I recall the president sent a jobs bill to Congress to have more jobs fixing roads, bridges, ect and guess who said NO!
When will Robmey quit whining? All the jerk does is tear down the President and our country.
Romney is just jealous and is apparently congenitally incapable of forming a 'dynamic' relationship with a peer. He's spent his entire life believing he's better than the rabble and has been surrounded by yes men for so many years he wouldn't know the first thing about compromise.
The Clintons are planning a 2016 run for the WH and so the best way to do that is to promote OBAMA