The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

(Page 2 of 2)

br> Everyone was surprised by the critical comments former President Bill Clinton made over the weekend about the Bush administration's handling of the so-called crisis of confidence in corporate America, but according to one former Clinton source with knowledge of the ex-president's thinking, Clinton has been waiting for the right moment to sound off. /p>

"I don't think President Clinton would ever do what he did last weekend in a public, prepared way, like in a speech or in a forum where there was lots of credentialed press and an audience. He understands the rule about presidents not criticizing their fellow presidents," says the source who worked in the Clinton White House during its second term.

But apparently Clinton views local TV interviews, such as the one last weekend in which he made his remarks, or impromptu press queries as offering a fair opportunity to sound off in a way that he wouldn't in more formal settings.

"Look, he has spent two weeks getting dumped on by Bush and his underlings for all this corporate crap when it wasn't his fault at all," says the source. "He should be allowed to hit back."

In fact, Bush has at times pointedly said that Clinton can't and shouldn't necessarily be blamed for the collapse in corporate confidence. That doesn't mean others aren't looking for a way to tar Clinton and his people. A source at the Treasury Department says Sec. Paul O'Neill intends to continue calling out former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin (as he did on last Sunday's "Meet the Press") until the current Wall Street big shot lets up on his comments about Bush and his Treasury policies.

p> ON THE ROAD AGAIN br> The Bush cash wagon makes a stop this week in South Carolina, where the president is expected to bring in more than $1 million for the state party and gubernatorial candidate Mark Sanford . Tickets for the speech Bush is expected to make run from $500 for lunch and a listen to $10,000 for a pre-lunch, private meet and greet that would include a picture with the prez. /p>

"He's been consistently pulling in more than $1 million everywhere he goes," says an RNC source. "It's amazing what the president has been able to do."

As the Prowler has noted, it'll be even more amazing if Bush's checkbook coattails translate into electoral coattails.

topics:
Transportation, Bill Clinton, NATO