Popular ex-president Bill Clinton praises President Barack Obama for taking a tough and “honorable” decision to kill Osama bin Laden in a new clip from his soon-to-be released campaign film
The movie lionizes Obama for tough decisions on economic and national security issues during his three-year presidency, and represents the latest attempt to secure a political dividend for killing the Al-Qaeda leader.
“He took the harder, and the more honorable path,” Clinton said in the latest excerpt from the film “The Road We’ve Traveled” released by the president’s campaign.
“When I saw what had happened, I thought to myself, ‘I hope that’s the call I would’ve made.'”
Obama ordered the high risk Navy SEALS raid deep into Pakistan last year which ended the huge manhunt for bin Laden, and closed a chapter on the traumatic period of US history following the September 11 attacks in 2001.
He was given a number of options for taking out bin Laden, including a missile strike, but chose the risker special forces raid on the Al-Qaeda kingpin’s hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
The movie, to be released on Thursday is narrated by Tom Hanks and made by Academy Award winning director Davis Guggenheim, and seeks to place the daily struggles and bitter partisan fights of his presidency in a larger context.
Republicans ridiculed Obama when Guggenheim said in an interview on CNN that he couldn’t find anything negative about the president to include in the film.
The Politico website has reported that Clinton, the first Democratic president to win a second four-year term since Franklin Roosevelt, has agreed to attend a string of fundraisers and campaign events for Obama.
The two men had a tricky relationship during the Democratic primary campaign in 2008 in which Clinton was an outspoken and energetic advocate for his wife Hillary Clinton, who lost the party nod to Obama.
But ever since, Clinton has appeared with the president several times, and given his widespread popularity and political skills, could be an important asset for Obama as he seeks reelection in November.
