Rendell says it may be time for Bill Clinton to 'get over it'
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/06/26/art.rendell.gi.jpg caption=" Rendell says it may be time for Bill Clinton to move on."](CNN) - Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a longtime backer of both Bill and Hillary Clinton, said Thursday it's time for the former president to move on if he is still upset about his wife's loss to Barack Obama in the prolonged Democratic primary.
Rendell, whose ardent support of Clinton proved critical in her decisive Pennsylvania win in April, said he's not sure if Bill Clinton is still upset with the ultimate result, but made clear he thinks it’s time for the former president to rally behind the party's presumptive presidential nominee.
Watch: Rendell on Clinton's exit
"Bill's my friend. If that is true the way he feels, he's got to shake it off, get over it, get back in the game and help elect Senator Obama," Rendell said on MSNBC.
"Like everybody else, [he] has to listen to Hillary," Rendell also said. "And Hillary said it best - there's no sense in looking back and wasting any energy."
The former president has come under criticism for remaining conspicuously silent with regards to his support of Obama, even more than two weeks after his wife formally ended her campaign bid. Bill Clinton's office finally released a short statement earlier this week saying the former president is "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."
But the former president, who was at times sharply critical of Obama during the campaign season, has yet to make any public declaration of support - which has fueled speculation he remains upset with the primary result. Bill Clinton, according to some reports, is specifically upset with Obama's criticisms of his administration over the course of the campaign and the media's treatment of his wife.
Watch: Obama, Clintons: Hard feelings?
But Obama said earlier this week he is confident both Clintons will be enthusiastic supporters as the general election campaign heats up.
“They’re going to want to campaign actively on behalf of the Democratic ticket,” he told CNN earlier this week. “I am going to need them.”
ED NEEDS TO SHUT UP SINCE HE HAS NOTHING TO BASE HIS COMMENTS ON. OBAMA NOW SAYS HE NEEDS THE CLINTONS. BEFORE OBAMA WAS SAYING THE CLINTONS WERE WORTHLESS, DISINGENUOUS, UNTRUSTWORTHY, AND BAD FOR AMERICA. OBAMA STOLE HILLARY'S POLICY IDEAS AND WAS HIGHLY CRITICAL OF BILL'S ADMINISTRATION SAYING IT WASN'T GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY AT ALL DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE HAD 8 YEARS OF THE GREATEST PROSPERITY THIS NATION HAS SEEN IN A CENTURY. OBAMA, HIS CAMPAIGN AND SUPPORTERS CALLED BILL AND HILLARY RACISTS AND SAID THEY PLAYED THE RACE CARD AGAINST HIM (OBAMA). OBAMA, WHEN GIVING A SPEECH ONE DAY, MENTIONED THE GREAT DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTS IN THE LAST 100 YEARS (FDR, JFK, ETC) BUT INTENTIONALLY EXCLUDED JIMMY CARTER (RIGHTFULLY SO) AND BILL CLINTON. IT IS OBAMA WHO OWES BILL CLINTON A PUBLIC APOLOGY FOR CALLING HIM A RACIST AND SAYING THAT BILL'S 8 YEARS AS PRESIDENT WAS BAD FOR THIS COUNTRY. BILL CLINTON IS ONLY 1 OF 3 DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTS IN THE LAST 100 YEARS TO BE ELECTED TO A SECOND TERM. THE REPUBLICANS HAVE HAD 6 OR 7 SECOND TERM PRESIDENTS. IF OBAMA THINKS BILL'S ADMINISTRATION WAS SO BAD, THEN WHY IS OBAMA HIRING ALL OF BILL'S FORMER ADMINISTRATION PEOPLE AND USING BILL'S IDEAS. OBAMA IS A HACK. I'M VOTING FOR MCCAIN BECAUSE A MCCAIN VOTE IS A VOTE AGAINST BARACK HUSSIEN OBAMA.
Stop with the Clinton bashing! He's the best president we've had in agges, and she is a terrific Senator and would have made a great president. She;s being very gracious now towards Obama and Clinton is saying he'll support him and campaign for him. What more do you want? Obama supporters think he's the second coming. I hate to tell you, but he's the second coming of Mayor Daley with his insider Chicago dealings and his refusal to go along with Federal campaign spending limits, and hisfreindship with Rezko. Who's the insder now? Change? Yes, a change back to old machine politics.
It's a shame the Obamabots don't see what is going to happen. Many Hillary Clinton supporters, including myself, will be voting against Obama in November. Bill Clinton has every right to not want to be involved with the manipulating and ultimately weak presidential candidate Barack Obama. Stay strong, Bill, and we will wait for Hillary to come back for 2012!
PUMA!~
OOOOOOOhh – Let 'em soak a little while longer, makes the head cooler in the end and allows for a cleaner start to the next faze.
....but after that be a 'BIG BOY', hold your chin-up and move-on (Bill and Hillary).
...AND HER TRUE SUPPORTERS
let him talk his time he needs it so give him a break
At this point I'm not sure it matters. I don't know how many of us would believe him if he said he supports Obama anyway.
I've read enough articles about him holding a grudge to think it doubtful that he will go out of his way to support Obama and campaign for him. However, you can bet if Hillary was the nominee he would expect Obama to do whatever he could to get her elected.
Bill Clinton's pouting confirms what many of us have always believed about him: He is a self-centered, egomaniacal jerk, who saw his wife's run for the presidency as an extension of his own legacy. The shame of it is that she is much more qualified for ANY office than he ever was. His inane, goofy comments on her behalf hurt her candidacy. Obama will be well served to ignore him.
I will never understand the ongoing love affair between democrats and Bill Clinton, nor will I ever fathom republicans' reverence for Ronald Reagan. They are both responsible for the mess we are in today.
Please tell me that the Governor was interrupted during budget negotiations to offer this opinion.
Its easy to say to get over it but let's be honest, its hard to get over something you thought you had and lose it. Plus, he probably feels that he let his wife down and he feels let down by the party insiders that they thought were going to side with them over Obama. However, this is the reality and they, as well as many others, need to move on. Its been over since February honestly, and its time to move toward November. Unlike you nutty PUMA people I feel noooo pity for (because your NUTS), I know for him its much more personal, so I can understand, but he can't hide forever.
So much is at stake in this year's election. Quite honestly, our country's future is at stake. We all need to put aside our personal feeling and pride, thrust our support for Sen Obama. I feel confident, come November we will be one team.
RENDELL IS A TRAITOR LIKE THE REST OF THEM!!!!!!!!
GO BILL!
I LOVE THE CLINTONS!!!!!!!!!!!
HOW CAN ANYONE EXPECT BILL TO BACK BO AFTER HE ATTEMPTED TO DESTROY BILL'S LEGACY? NOT TO MENTION BASHING HIS WIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NOBAMA
N
E
V
E
R
I LOVE YOU HILLARY AND BILL <3
Who is this guy and who cares what he thinks? Bill Clinton sees the writing on the wall that many people are too blind to see.....Obama is supremely UNQUALIFIED and if he is elected, we are in deep doo-doo.
Yes Bill get over it. I'm so over it, I am voting for McCain. My party does not value my vote.
what so funny is that bill, hillary and their camp is the ones that was attacking Sen Obama, thereby forcing him to respond.
Now Bill's upset about the wrong he feels that was perpetrated against him? unbelieveable!
I agree with Obama Supporter. Cut the guy some slack. He'll come on board in due time.
Why is this being reported as if Bill Clinton is upset when he clearly released a statement a few days ago that he is behind Senator Obama? The article is not news at all, it's more like gossip. When Bill Clinton is ready to come out publicly with Obama he will do so. In the mean time CNN please stop creating more drama between the Clintons and Obama. The article is completely unfair to Bill Clinton
Thank the Lord for good sense. I have been a heavy Obama supporter from the beginning, but I like Hillary's spirit and drive. And I used to like Bill Clinton, but he is starting to work my nerves...for goodness sake – get over it....Hillary (and Rendell) were correct – we can't focus on the past...we can't change it...so unite the party...whether its for the sake of our nation, or for the sake of your political career Bill, get out there and start campaigning...the more time you sit in silence, the more damage you do to your image. If Hillary can get over it and get on board with the Obama train, so can you.
Just imagine the powerhouse campaign they will have if Hillary, Bill and Obama all teamed up. That would be simply AMAZING!!! They would draw so much support that the Republicans will be put to shame....
Obama – YES WE CAN!!!!
Great news. I believe Bill s getting closer to doing the right thing. Just give him a little more time. Can't be easy for him though, after being so sure he would end up back in the White House. Let's try not to be bitter about this delay We've had enough of that.
wow, good job Rendell, this is too funny. Get over it Billy boy!
I think this reflects how many of us Clinton supporters are feeling...not ready to jump and down about a candidate we never supported in the first place. Jump on the bandwagon? I cant speak for President Clinton, but I know Im not about to forget my reasons why Obama shouldn't be President. He will never get my vote and that's my right as a voter. Even if Hillary herself came to pick me up & drove me to the polls & asked me to vote for him, Id tell her no. He is simply not ready.
Hey Oil Rules,
McCain said he was against the tax cuts, then supports them. Regardless of his explanation, he flip flopped. Was he lying? Is that loyalty to his own beliefs or to ensure he wins support from his party?
And people seem to forget that Bush had never even left the country and became President. He was governor of a state where the GOP completely rules – and if you're from Texas as I am – you'll notice the big gap in the rich v poor, quality of education and employment.
And let's not forget the numerous Clinton snafus throughout the campaign season.
People make the case to be President. Only a FORMER PRESIDENT IS TRULY EXPERIENCED TO BE PRESIDENT. Regardless of how many years in the Senate, a person – male or female – is not truly ready to run a country that has such global influence. Anyone who thinks that years in the senate or running a state truly compares to the stress and responsibility of running a COUNTRY like the U.S. is outrageously short sighted.
It is amazing the amount of people that have bought into the crap that the press churns out. Bill Clinton was a very good president and popular, we seem to forget that, but now he is treated like some sort of pest. If Nobama gets in, he will be treated with much more scorn and criticism because he is going to lead the country to ruin.
As an Obama supporter, I have to agree with "oil rules." To now turn face and admit that, contrary to his smarmy well-poisoning pronouncements before, Obama would be better for the country than McSame, Bill has to acknowledge what he did to the primary. And that ain't pretty.
"get over it"
That must be the new catch-phrase.
Obama said it about Hillary's supporters. Now Rendell bleats it.
Wow! What an ingenious way to gain support–NOT!
Maybe Bill is ticked off because Obama spouted lies about his presidency. Maybe Bill doesn't want to support a candidate who
too green (inexperienced) and yellow (cowardly).
Obama needs to "get over it." He cannot skate to the presidency on charm and speeches. He is overly ambitious and unqualified. Obama is Bush 3. That's right–Bush ran on the change and unity
mantra, too!
Oh, and by the way, the Constitution requires that a president be native born. All candidates should be required to show proof beyond any doubt.
Hey, Barack Obama. Let's see your original birth certificate with a SEAL and signature. That "doc" at your site proves nothing. This
Constitutional requirement of native born is too important for there to be any doubt.
CNN, please post. Thank you.
The Clintons Do not understand Fair play. Both of them wanted to get back in the White House so bad. If they are still upset, they are obviously upset about Democracy. I am afraid they have already done enouth damages to the Democratic Party. She has a need to proove she is right-all the time.