Posted on 10/31/2004 7:33:05 PM PST by nypokerface
LITTLE ROCK (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Bill Clinton returned to his native Arkansas on Sunday, telling voters Republicans were trying to drive a wedge through the American heartland with social issues.
"Let's be frank about it. Out in the country, they are wearing us out with guns and gay marriage. It's a load of bull," Clinton said.
Clinton told a crowd of about 3,000 gathered at a civic arena that Republicans were trying to mislead the public about what Kerry's positions were on these issues.
On guns, Kerry wants the ban on assault weapons, which expired earlier this year, reinstated. The Massachusetts Senator also wants enforcement of the Brady Law provisions requiring background checks and a waiting period for handgun purchases, Clinton said.
On marriage between homosexuals, Kerry feels that gays deserve civil unions and feels the matter of marriage should be decided by individual states.
"This election is not about guns and gay marriage," Clinton said. "It's about the economy, health care and the future of our children."
Clinton was sidelined four years ago when then-Vice President Al Gore mounted his losing White House bid out of concern the Monica Lewinsky scandal had diminished his popular appeal.
Bush has been leading in Arkansas, a state he won in the last presidential election. Polls indicate that Kerry has been cutting into Bush's lead.
Clinton underwent heart bypass surgery two months ago. He returned to the campaign trail about a week ago at a rally in Philadelphia, where he appeared with Kerry. Since then, the former president has visited several swing states to rally the Democratic faithful.
Clinton remains popular among Democrats, but is reviled by many Republicans who dislike his policies and believe his affair with White House intern Lewinsky dishonored the presidency.
Clinton was impeached by the House (of Representatives) but was acquitted by the Senate.
The presidential election will be held on Tuesday.
- The election is about whatever the individual voter is most concerned with. What an idiot, he is still trying to tell us how to think. I can't stand these socialists.
I'm surprised more people didn't show up to see Clinton... a former President and Governor of Arkansas should draw a bigger crowd than 3,000.
It was about guns to me (and a few other things like Sovereignty and the WOT and...) but I early voted before hearing Clinton's specific marching orders. Shame.
Clinton was sidelined four years ago when he mounted Monica Lewinsky.
Bill "I Don't Know What Sex Is" Clinton is still involved in politics as usual.
It's about terrorism, you moron. If we're all dead, the rest of that stuff doesn't amount to a pile of used Kleenexes.
Beelzeflubba was in Arkansa to pumpkin...
"Clinton told a crowd of about 3,000 gathered at a civic arena that Republicans were trying to mislead the public about what Kerry's positions were on these issues. "
BJ only pulled 3000? That's pathetic!!
Tonight, President Bush spoke to about 40,000 people at the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. Screw you Slick Willie - you're a has been and your endorsement of any candidate has become the political kiss-of-death.
Well, when you've humped everyone's wife, girlfriend, daughter, granddaughter, niece, sister, etc., it tends to thin out your Christmas card list.
OMG. Is this the same Bubba that FReepers obsess over the size of his...er, beeber?
"I'm surprised more people didn't show up to see Clinton... a former President and Governor of Arkansas should draw a bigger crowd than 3,000."
Well, he is getting old and doesn't have as many mistresses as he used to! I am surprized that there are 3,000 prostitutes in Arkansas.
I was thinking the same thing! If Bubba can only pull in 3,000 in his home state, I personally think it shows Lurch is in big trouble. Only 3,000????????? I thought WJC was the most popular democrat on earth! And he can only pull 3,000 in his home state? The Dems are in trouble... Big time!
We attend a church just across the river from Arkansas that has about 15,000 every Sunday just to hear an Ordinary Baptist Pastor ( which we love).
So Kerry wants a waiting period on handgun purchaces. No way. That is why we have an instant NICS system. Kerry would make us wait whatever time it took us to reach age 80 then he would know we could not afford a cheap spit ball handgun on our poor SS benefits. He would say eat dog food if you want a handgun but would be willing to use Federal dollars to pay for an abortion if we still thought we needed one.
"Clinton told a crowd of about 3,000..."
Yeah, ya'd think! Assumingly they sent him down there as a draw, plus consider the fact that the man is not entirely well.
I don't care, I'm staying nervous!
they are wearing us out with guns and gay marriage. It's a load of bull," Clinton said.
If it's wearing them out it is not a load of bull, it is an important issue.
If the media says there were 3,000, then it was probably less.
Yeah, you fat sack of schumer - you WISH it wasn't about guns.
You wish we hadn't MADE it about guns.
You said you'd give up your Presidency over your stupid Ass-Sault rifle ban, and now it's gone, and your Demonrat goblin cohorts are starting to admit their obsession with guns is costing them their hegemony. Not that they'll give it up, of course - it's about the only thing they ARE ideologically commited. I notice Ketchup Boy will *always* show up for a gun vote, while most of the rest of the time he's off waiting on TerrorAAayza hand and ahh... er... foot?
It's interesting how the Demonrats are so thoroughly ideologically committed to their program of disarming us all, even though they are NOT similarly committed on ANY other issue. I find that *very* interesting. They're willing to waffle and compromise on nearly *anything* else (maybe abortion is another exception?) but *not* guns - they'll cling to it like a drowning man to a... to a *concrete block*.
Yeah, it's not about guns - in your dreams, you decrepit old bag of reprocessed Communist garbage.
Yep, we are all hunkered down in our basements with our guns in fear of homos.
Call me cynical, but this is classic Clintonese. He indicted Kerry as much as he indicted Bush by calling the issues of guns and gay marriage "bull."
If I recall correctly, it has been Kerry who has staged gun photo ops ad nauseum. And both Kerry and Bush are against the gay marriage amendment. Clinton gave a half-baked endorsement of Kerry at best. Just enough of an endorsement to show he is a party loyalist, but not enough of an endorsement to show he meant it. It's all about 2008 for him and his Senator from NY.
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