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Will Obama use Bill Clinton as a spokesman?

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    Alexander Bolton on the potential of Bill Clinton stealing the limelight

  • Duration 6:49
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But I let's bring in Alexander Bolton as a stop right there with the hell hole one of -- favorite political publications.

Joining us from our DC bureau I was -- -- good to see if thanks for having me a whole bunch of interesting stuff as always.

On the -- website.

Including would something has since come up every fully -- How much does the democratic candidate full presidency.

To involve the clintons it's always a big deal.

It's an ongoing soap opera.

The latest is Bill Clinton says he'll do a three fundraisers for Obama.

And that's all good and well but the question is will Obama use Bill Clinton as a spokesman.

There have been some.

Criticisms.

From Clinton namely that Obama hasn't been a very good job of selling his economic message.

The question is whether he wants to turn -- part of the job over -- Bill Clinton this campaign season.

Of course the Obama folks are worried that Clinton may steal the limelight.

Like he did after the 2010.

Tax deal with Mitch McConnell the senate.

When.

President Obama had Clinton.

Come to the briefing room -- reporters at Clinton spoke so long that Obama acts excused himself and in the Clinton took over the podium for twenty minutes so.

Clinton while an effective spokesman is a bit of a wild card on the campaign trail and -- creates a dilemma for the president what.

And what do we know if anything out of Donna about Bill Clinton's willingness.

To be a -- will almost a full time campaign up.

Full President Obama and his enthusiasm.

For president Obama's policies.

Well I think he's I think he's enthusiastic to be a spokesman on campaign trail he loves the limelight he loves the spotlight.

But he's also known to speak his mind especially when it comes to the Obama administration's record.

And so will he be a 100% enthusiastic in his praise.

Of the Obama administration or will he -- perhaps set up his wife for 2016.

House democratic leader Nancy Pelosi has -- urged.

Hillary Clinton to think about -- 2016 run.

So with Bill Clinton yes he'll be supportive of the president but just how enthusiastic will he be.

And even when he was campaigning for his -- in 2008.

Analyst sometimes wondered whether he was of two minds.

He tried to help.

His wife.

Certainly but there were times when he hurt her and there were some question of speculation by analysts whether.

There was some sort of neo Freudian -- before you hang up on his hard -- It let me -- -- and into the conversation to briefly hit Bill Clinton -- he he is a wild comedy does suck at the oxygen from.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Plus there is this idea is he making a political calculation ass to Hillary's ambitions way how do you think that plays and it's not what I don't.

They want concludes the other man I think he could institute actually support the president.

And pave the way for Hillary even though she's claiming she -- running amber but I I think she will also I think you do both I think she will run in and I think so and English is not gonna speak at the convention apparently but.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- President Obama is a great friend of Israel Bill Clinton seems to have is connected well -- Jewish voters that would be a case may be to put him out there on that.

But clearly in the past.

The war I I joke that.

In the last campaign -- like Bill Clinton was on the I ruined my legacy tour because he was saying things that were a little.

Off the -- and not a very good way so they can be as well but they're not selected yes.

Like a -- Alexander another another issue that tell you guys that they -- of being focusing on -- -- The idea from the Republican side that we need to change the way.

We -- jobs the unemployment figures which is something our -- talk about a law.

On the chat here that they don't think that that current figures reflect the reality.

All of real unemployment.

That's right the proposal is from representative Duncan Hunter from our Southern California San Diego area.

What he wants his day he wants the unemployment rate to reflect the number of people who become discouraged and stop looking for work.

Now -- the economy added a hundred and a 20000 jobs in March that was a disappointment.

But the unemployment rate went down to eight point 2% drop from eight point 3% eight point 2%.

Now -- hunter makes the argument that if you.

-- -- included in the tally all the people who -- discouraged and dropped out of the workforce the unemployment rate would actually be closer to nine point 6%.

And what we seen since Obama's become president is that there's been a divergence.

The official unemployment rate has dropped but if you take this unofficial unemployment rate -- which includes people who become discouraged.

Stop looking for work.

People who -- marginally attached the workforce it's actually gone up so there's been kind of a divergence in fact there has been a divergence between these two numbers the official rate.

-- -- unofficial rate which some academics think is more reflective of the employment situation in the country.

Is this still Alexander both sides playing politics -- obviously.

Republicans would like the the numbers to to sound to much worse because that makes President Obama less likely to be reelected.

Obviously the Democrats wanted to Sam -- is and is anybody really.

Dealing with the realities here are a -- playing politics.

Hunter's been asked about this and his answer is.

He is focused entirely on -- policy and he makes the argument that.

This would affect a Republican president as much as a Democrat president this affects the Republican congress.

There they have a stake in the government.

If unemployment goes up it looks bad for them so.

He makes the argument that.

This sword cuts both ways and that maybe it would hurt -- short run but a Republican -- would have to deal with in the future so he says that it's.

More of a policy focus rather than a political -- mascot is that -- that this would -- it would it would affect presidents of both political.

Parties and is just more accurate.

Also they need to get -- revise the way we put these figures the other now you should update.

What was going on those last days of the Bush Administration to in fairness so you have a better gauge.

But I think in the end it is I don't know people sit around going to -- -- feel about my life let me see what the numbers are I think they look at their own lives and so people do feel some hope that they do feel as is true that.

Companies are increasing hiring him and I'm not quickly enough I don't think whether we just the numbers are not as going to be that -- the headlines that you would make a much different is -- don't know of their own life personally I.

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