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.”
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I do not agree that Bill should get over it, if he wants to choose to campaign for Obama than is fine, but do not force him to campaign for someone that he doesn't believe was elected to the nomination.
He was selected not elected, I am a pledge delegate for Hillary Clinton from California and I am looking forward to supporting Hillary at the convention.
Obama supporters wants us to get over it and get behind Obama, well let me tell you something, it is up to Bill Clinton and Hillary supporters to make that decision and not the Democratic Party or Obama camp, if we wnat this party to unite as everyone is preaching about you have to respect everyone and their decisions.
In the Spirit of Democracy!
"What do you expect, Hillary and Bill said Obama was not qualified to be President. If they start singing his praises now then they were either lying then or they are lying now."
Exactly, oilrules. They've completely boxed themselves in with the negativity they had earlier. I wish people would stop pretending Hillary didn't run an insanely negative and divisive campaign. Just because she finally dropped out doesn't mean we should now say that she fought a good fight. Do the senators that gave her a standing ovation really not remember the "panic" in Washington a few months ago that she was killing the party?
If Bill wants to regain his legacy he should accept Obama as the nominee of the democactic party. He should also work hard to get Obama elected to the oval office.When this happens the party will forgive him for some of the things that came out of his mouth during the primary season.
Governor Rendell...I agree with your thoughts about Party unity and to win the election. So, Bill clinton should join tomorrow with Hillary to show his fullest support to win the election...otherwise, Clinton is greedy, hypocritic and not trustworthy.
Obama 2008.
Bill and Hillary need to realize there is always 2012, and Bill should be focused on getting more votes for Hillary for that election. Bill should also go get some elp with his anger management before he tarnishes his wife's image and ruins her chances of being president of the US. I think Hillary has a chance in 2012, and she should be repairing her wounds and analyze where she went wrong in her bid for president this time around and do things different.
But I do not think McCain will become president. Obama will be president in January 2009.
Bill looks like a bitter, sore loser. It's time to grow up.
Oh, if he is still angry, jeez Billybob must know how Gore felt when he did not support Gore. Whiner, guess Billybob was hoping for an easy pardon of his impeachment, now he has to beg Obama to pardon him so that he can continue his philandering.
Bill Clinton is the slickest guy I've ever seen. He is a prooven liar.
we democrats MUST unite to beat the lies, crimes, and injustice of the republicans!
McCON is a complete disaster who continues to spread the white house's lies and misinformation. he supports their deregulations that affect US on a daily basis with tainted food, lead-filled toys, dangerous pharmaceuticals, THE HIGH GAS PRICES...
do not be duped by the repubs any longer-offshore drilling is not even close to necessary! if you're ready to stop being a right-wing, neocon pawn and want a better life, go to stopoilspeculators.com
Is this another gottcha question by CNN to cause trouble? Do we know how Bill feels? Heres what Gov.Rendell said " he's not sure if Bill Clinton is still upset with the ultimate result". The media is out of hand,Obama backers to the fullest. Look at the question they posed to Mccains advisor about a hypothetical terrorist attack helping Mccain in the election and when he answers; it's AH HA!!!! we got you. It's not really journalism it's more like tabloid fodder. I don't blame the Clintons if they don't support the Obama's they were labeled racists by their backers.
Yes I'm another Clinton supporter voting for Mccain.
The Clintons should start a third party...something dearly needed in our political structure. I agree with Rendell, Bill should get over it and move on to better things than campaigning for a loser.
Yeah, get over it and start thinking about how you are gonna pay off that debt, baby. 'Cause you ain't gettin a DIME of my endorsement money. Obama, don't send one cent of my endorsement to them.
Bill is a political animal and will do whats right to aid his party. He knows he is no longer the party's leader and thats a tough thing to admit for him but he'll come around.
I would not worry about Bill, but the right wing nuts who do not care about our country and will do anything to elect another "C" student politician to the white house so they can continue the rape of our resourses and enrich themselves further.
It is Bill Clinton's call and only Bill Clinton's call as to whether he wants or needs to "get over it". Obama would benefit from putting the "race card" politics behind him. If Obama wants Bill Clinton's support then he should apologize for trying to paint "Bill Clinton" as a racist as that is certainly not the case.
yup. he needs to move on if that is the case. i completely agree.
After the way Bill "helped" Hillary during the Primary, I'm thinking that having him keep quiet and on the sidelines might work out better for Obama.
If I never again hear the names Clinton, Bush, or Kennedy, I will be quite happy.
And on 5...4...3...2...1; here comes; Brian TN, Hillary Supporter, Hillary or McCain, Sharon MN, Karen FL, Uncle Sam, Charlotte, Belle: Hillary was cheated, empty suit, she had the popular vote, she better be VP, write her name in and on......on......on.....NOT THIS TIME TROLLS.
Wah-wah-wah...good lord Bill, get over it and play ball !! Have a good 4th-
dave
DEMOCRATS UNITE!!!! If you people want this country to turn around, we as a nation need to come together and support OBAMA, because he is our best hope right now. There is nothing we can do about HRC losing the primaries, so we might as well come together as a party so we can steer this country in the right direction.
OBAMA 08
Governor, you are absolutely right, Bill need to get over it and join The Obama Boat for unity. Bill and Hillary were really convince that they were entitled to the presidency, now that Barack won, they have a very hard to admit that they lost. We can all see their true color today. Very selfish and arogant people.
How about the former president is out of the country at the moment??? Please with the know-it-alls in this country. The internet has made fools think they are wise.
President Clinton will have to find the actions he wishes to have speak for him on his own – let him reflect on his own about this (this shouldn't be an issue). I always thought the extent that Bill Clinton became directly and visually invovled with Senator Clinton's campaign for his old office was very detrimental. I had a sense back when all the living former Presidents and First Lady Clinton attended Coretta Scott King's funeral and all spoke that First Lady Clinton was not going to be President – contrasting her speaking style with her husbands (they both spoke) the audience was giving her husband's eulogy "Amens" and her own eulogy polite attention (I felt back then that Senator Clinton was not entirely comfortable with who she was or wanted to be). At the same time – I didn't know I would support Barack Obama until the NYC Primary in February (it still wasn't going to be my own Senator but I was leaning to Edwards too).
Back to the point – it has to be hard for President Clinton because I think he wanted to rally people back to the themes that elected him President the first time – he won the popular center of this country ... but this was his wife's campaign and even GW's father was hardly as visual as Bill Clinton – even GW (amazingly) was able to stand out in the public on his own w/ limited visual attention/help from his father .... there's some kind of bizarro world conflict here – oh, I forgot, the Bush's stole the last two elections. Anyway, I wish Bill Clinton luck.
The former President wants everyone to forget and move on with regard to the disgrace he brought to the office of the President durning his terms in office but refuses to move on and give Senator Obama his due. Come on Bill! Better yet maybe Senator Clinton should move on and dump Bill after all the disgrace he has brought to her.
I voted for Bill Clinton, but, I don't believe he is the same man he was then. He has become racist and is a sore loser. I'm sure it's because the blame has been put on him for her loss. I do agree. GET OVER IT!!!! To Obama, you don't need the Clintons!!!!! You've gotten along so far without them. Hillary's supporters are either Democrats or upset women. I think that once the draw that curtain in the polling booth, they must make a decision.Do they really want McCain or are you also sore losers? Obama should stick to the issues where he has his strength and let the Clintons go in the corner and suck their thumbs! Hillary can be a strong senator and can do the most good there, now. I think Obama will find a place for her in his cabinet that will put her talents to the best use. She should NOT BE CHOSEN FOR VP!!!! Bill would again be back in the picture, and we don't want that! My choice is Bill Richardson who had the guts to stand with Obama . Colin Powell should be Secretary of Defense, for whomever gets the presidency. The world is waiting! Let's show everyone who we are!!!!