4:33 pm Aug. 14, 2012
"[Clinton] wrote a best-selling book in the middle of the campaign, with real ideas," said Michael Bloomberg today, during a forum in Chicago about immigration.
"And George W. criticized Tom DeLay," he continued. "You know, I mean, he went after the right wing."
Here's the full exchange:
"All I know is that we are gonna have a split Congress, roughly equal, so whoever’s president is going to have an enormous problem in getting anything through that's controversial," said Bloomberg. "And in fact, the president's job is to lead, and to come up with ideas. And I don't see that from either candidate. And some people say well, in an election year, you cannot have new programs. You cannot face these issues, whether it's the tax issue or all of the social welfare programs. And yet, go back to Bill Clinton. He wrote a book, Power to the People, or something like that. He wrote a best-selling book in the middle of the campaign, with real ideas..."
Andrea Mitchell, the moderator, interjected to correct him. Clinton's book was called Putting People First.
"And George W. criticized Tom DeLay," Bloomberg continued. "You know, I mean, he went after the right wing ... So you can do this. The president has the bully pulpit. But so does Mitt Romney ... Neither one is willing to stand up."
The idea that Bush "went after" DeLay and the right wing is arguable.
Bloomberg's comments were in keeping with a theme.
