Bill Clinton clarifies "fairy tale" comment on Sirius

Former President Bill Clinton talked to Sirius host Mark Thompson on Friday, January 11th to clarify comments he made that suggested Barack Obama’s presidential campaign was a “fairy tale.”

The former president drew criticism for the "fairy tale" comment he made while campaigning in New Hampshire for his wife Hillary Clinton, Obama's main rival for the Democratic Party nomination in the November presidential election.

"Give me a break. This whole thing is the biggest fairy tale I've ever seen," Clinton had said in accusing Obama of distorting his stance on the war.

The most senior black in the Democratic congressional leadership, Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, told The New York Times on Friday that he may end his neutrality in his state's January 26th primary because of recent remarks by the Clintons.

On "Make it Plain" a show that airs weekdays from 5-8pm ET on Sirius Left (ch 146), Clinton also comments on Obama’s stance on the war on Iraq, how Hillary’s life has been shaped by the civil rights movement, what the Clintons want to say to the African-American voters of South Carolina, and much more.

"This is what happens anytime anyone tries to question a statement or a position of Senator Obama, the response is ‘You’re attacking me personally’ and that relieves him of the obligation to address the substance," said Bill Clinton.

"Number one, I brag on Barack Obama in every speech I give—every single one. I have given hundreds of speeches all over America and anybody who has heard me speak, or my wife, will tell you, I always start by bragging on Senator Obama and the other candidates as well. And I respect why many in the African-American community are supporting him and how proud they are of him."

"Number two, I never said that he, his life, or his campaign was a fairy tale. It is a serious campaign…it might be a successful one. I have said, however, that all campaigns should be judged by the same standards."

"Presumably, every African-American in this country believes that. And what I said was a fairy tale was his attack on Hillary….he said months ago in a very disrespectful way, we’re talking about disrespect …that it was ridiculous for her to claim that anything she had done for America in the 90s or even in this decade as a senator could qualify her to be president because it was such a divisive time."

[Listen to full audio of Bill Clinton's interview.]