Why do americans think Bill Clinton was a bad president?

Portugal
March 3, 2010 11:38am CST
I mean, he fought economical crisis, thanks to him America had superavit. That's great isn't it? So way are there so many jokes about him being a lousy president? Is it because he had affairs? That's wrong and unethical but it doesn't take away from the good things he did, does it?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@phyrre (2317)
• United States
3 Mar 10
I'm not 100% sure myself, though when he was president I was too young to care much about political affairs anyway. Personally, I don't think he was a great president, but I don't think he was really a bad president either. There have been many worse presidents just since him and he really did help the economy. I think a lot of it stems around the affair and the scandal and everything and that's always what I hear negative in conjunction with his name. Personally, what a man wants to do in his own time is between him and his wife. The nation shouldn't get involved. If he cheats and she wants to leave or stay is up to them. It's no grounds for impeachment, certainly, and it doesn't make him a bad president. You don't have to agree with it and, certainly, I think it's not right, but that doesn't change anything else about him.
1 person likes this
@karen1969 (1779)
29 May 10
Yes, exactly, what he did with his affairs is between him and his wife, not the world. His time as president should be remembered and analysed separately and I think he did a great job politically.
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
18 Apr 10
Actually, Americans don't think he was a bad President at all. Of course, there are some who didn't like him or didn't approve of his politics but in general he left office far more popular than when he was sworn in. I don't know of anyone who would defend his personal actions with Monica Lewinsky and any other affairs he may or may not have had but the majority of us believed that was a personal matter between hom and his wife. Personally, I'd have happily voted for him for a third term if that had been allowed! Annie
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@sjvenden27 (1840)
• United States
8 Mar 10
Each president is remember for one thing or another... Clinton's happens to be the affair.. Yes he did a lot of good things for this country.. And there were somethings that he did that I do not agree with, politically... Did you know that he cut back on our border security? Not only between Mexico and the US.. But also the Security in our ports... We are still not as secure as we were before he was elected?
@nangisha (3496)
• Indonesia
3 Mar 10
Its about memory sometimes bad memories last longer than good one, so people tend to remember the bad one. I think because Clinton is president people expect more from him, especially to be row model for his fellow american, its hard to respect someone who cheat from his own wife.
@karen1969 (1779)
29 May 10
I live in the UK so may have a different view to the Americans on here that know more about the situation, but over here, Bill Clinton is well respected. I personally think he was a very good President. Yes, he had an affair and made a mistake there, but that is his private life and should be none of our business. I think he was a great leader and in the future, historians will look back and see that.