[ 2012-09-06 ]

Democratic convention: Bill Clinton backs Barack Obama
Former US President Bill Clinton has delivered a
prime-time defence of Barack Obama, nominating the
president for a second term in the White House.

His 50-minute speech at the Democratic convention
in Charlotte, North Carolina, was strongly
critical of Republican economic plans.

He launched a full-throated defence of Mr Obama's
policies, saying his economic policies were
working.

Mr Obama will take on Republican Mitt Romney in
November's election.

Mr Clinton told the crowd that they would "decide
what kind of country you want to live in".

"If you want a 'you're on your own, winner take
all society' you should support the Republican
ticket," he said. "If you want a country of shared
opportunities and shared responsibilities - a
'we're all in it together' society - you should
vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden."

Mr Clinton attacked Republicans for blocking
further progress on the economic recovery and
getting deep into the detail of policy debates.

"In order to look like an acceptable, moderate
alternative to President Obama, they couldn't say
much about the ideas they have offered over the
last two years," he said, referring to the
Republican convention in Florida a week ago.

Reminding the crowd that Senate Republican leader
Mitch McConnell had revealed that their number one
priority was to get Mr Obama out of office, he
declared: "We're going to keep President Obama on
the job," he said.

Ryan attack

Mr Clinton argued that Mr Obama's economic
policies on taking office had prevented further
collapse and begun the recovery, but said he knew
that many Americans were still struggling.

He compared Mr Obama's experience to his own first
term in office, when "our policies were working
and the economy was growing but most people didn't
feel it yet".

"No president - not me or any of my predecessors -
could have repaired all the [2008] damage in just
four years," he said. "But conditions are
improving and if you'll renew the president's
contract you will feel it."

Elizabeth Warren railed against inequality on the
convention stage

Mr Clinton criticised Republican vice-presidential
candidate Paul Ryan, who he said misrepresented Mr
Obama's Medicare policy at last week's Republican
convention.

He argued that Mr Ryan had made the same amount in
cuts as part of his plan for the
goverment-sponsored healthcare plan for the
elderly.

"It takes some brass to attack a guy for doing
what you did," Mr Clinton.

He also countered a Republican ad that Mr Obama
had weakened the work requirement for welfare,
which Mr Clinton signed into law.

"When some Republican governors asked to try new
ways to put people on welfare back to work, the
Obama administration said they would only do it if
they had a credible plan to increase employment by
20%," Mr Clinton said, adding that the Republican
charge was "just not true".

After the former president finished a lengthy and
partially ad-libbed speech, Mr Obama joined him on
stage.

Sandra Fluke: 'We talk often about choice... it's
time to choose'

Wednesday night's speech is being seen as the high
point of a revitalised relationship between the
two presidents and as an attempt to boost Mr
Obama's appeal with white working-class voters.

Polls show these traditional Democratic voters are
wary of Mr Obama, but Mr Clinton has a strong
record in winning their support.

The pair have previously sparred, most notably
during the 2008 primaries when Mr Clinton
supported his wife Hillary's bid for the
nomination, and they are known not have a close
personal bond.

Israel confusion

Earlier, House minority leader Nancy Pelosi was
just one of a string of speakers who highlighted
social causes including women's issues, and
economic concerns such as the future of the auto
industry.

Ms Pelosi warned that "democracy was on the
ballot" in November.


"Republicans support opening the floodgates to
special interest money and suppressing the right
to vote," she said. "It's just plain wrong."

Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren railed against
inequality, saying Mitt Romney's policy would
amount to "I've got mine, the rest of you are on
your own".

And Sandra Fluke, a student branded a "slut" by
conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh during a row
over contraception, made a prime-time appearance
calling for action on women's issues.

In a procedural surprise as Wednesday's events got
under way, the convention reinstated language from
the 2008 platform describing Jerusalem as the
capital of Israel.

In confusing scenes a voice vote on the language
was called three times. Despite loud boos in the
audience, convention chair Antonio Villaraigosa
said he had determined that two-thirds of the
convention had voted in favour.

Reports emerged shortly afterwards that Mr Obama
had personally intervened to change the platform's
language.

Earlier, organisers moved Mr Obama's acceptance
speech from an outdoor stadium, citing poor
weather forecasts.

They moved Thursday's speech from Charlotte's
74,000-seat Bank of America stadium to the 20,000
capacity indoor arena where the rest of the
convention is taking place.

Source - BBC

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