The "knee-jerk liberal press" is too quick to judge and too harsh when it does so, President Clinton complains in an interview. "I'm sick and tired of it."
However, Clinton said Thursday his remarks to Rolling Stone were not intended as a "broadside attack on the press." He said that his criticism was in response to a "highly critical, personal statement" by interviewer William Greider and that the magazine had used his comments out of context."He (Greider) hit me with a very personal attack that I thought was representative of a very small number of people," Clinton said.
The Dec. 9 issue of Rolling Stone quotes the president as saying the news media ignore or distort the administration's successes to the benefit of "the know-nothings and the do-nothings and the negative people and the right-wingers."
His outburst came at the end of a wide-ranging discussion touching on such topics as gun control, campaign finance reforms and humorous moments of his months in office. The angry comments were triggered by a report that a former supporter had questioned his commitment.
"That's the press' fault, too, damn it." Clinton said. "I have fought more damn battles here for more things than any president has in 20 years, with the possible exception of Reagan's first budget, and not gotten one damn bit of credit from the knee-jerk liberal press, and I am sick and tired of it, and you can put that it your damn article."
Clinton said he has gotten little credit or positive coverage for his accomplishments: tax breaks for the poor, a family leave bill, national service legislation, among others.
"You get no credit around here for fighting and bleeding," he said. "And that's why the know-nothings and the do-nothings and the negative people and the right-wingers always win." He added: "And they're going to keep winning until somebody tells them the truth."
Clinton also laughed about rehearsing for the historic handshake between Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO leader Yasser Arafat. He quoted Rabin as saying, "OK, I'll shake hands, but no kissing."
Clinton said there also was an understanding to avoid an "Arab embrace," so he practiced with an aide until determining the best way to do so was grab Arafat's bicep with one hand and shake his hand with the other. "I thought, `I got elected president to do this?' "