Bill Clinton on 'Ellen' Says He Didn't Find Out About bin Laden Death From Hillary
Former President Bill Clinton has appeared on "Ellen" discussing Osama bin Laden's killing. In a surprising twist, Clinton revealed that he knew nothing of the mission to kill bin Laden until it actually happened.
"When [Hilary] got named to that position (Secretary of State) I said, 'Look, I don't want anymore briefings unless the President or the National Security Council, the White House people want me to have it. Because I give too many talks, I do too much work. I didn't know about [bin Laden] until they told me, and Hilary never said a word," Clinton told DeGeneres.
It was just over one year ago that elite Navy SEALs raided bin Laden's compound in Pakistan and killed the mastermind behind the September 11 attack. Clinton has been a vocal supporter of Obama's decision to go after bin Laden, appearing in a documentary made by the Obama campaign, saying that he hoped he would have made the same decision had he been president.
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The Obama campaign is now using that clip in a controversial new ad supporting him for re-election and promoting Obama's role in the killing. Clinton has offered his full support to Obama's campaign.
One thing Clinton is looking forward to, though, is Hillary's retirement from the Secretary of State position at the end of Obama's first term.
As part of the interview, DeGeneres asked Clinton what it was that he missed the most "because of who you are." Clinton laughed and replied with a simple, one-word answer: "drive."
He also told DeGeneres that whenever he plays golf, his favorite sport, he always makes the Secret Service men let him "drive the golf cart." It's an added perk for the former president, who is still very active in politics and in his humanitarian work.
