Blair: America Ready for Woman President
EmailABC News’ Ed O’Keefe Reports: Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair says the United States is ready for a female president but resisted endorsing any of the sixteen White House contenders.
"Of course America is ready for a woman president," Blair said in an interview as a part of the First Lady’s Conference on Women in California. Ever diplomatic, Blair preceded this statement by reminding the crowd, "Let me say first, who you elect as president is up to you and not me."
The women’s conference, led by former NBC journalist Maria Shriver turned first lady of California, will feature five wives of presidential candidates in a discussion about their role in the 2008 campaign.
Elizabeth Edwards, Michelle Obama, Jeri Thompson, Cindy McCain, and Ann Romney will participate in the Shriver-moderated portion of the program. Several aspiring first ladies including Judith Giuliani and one first spouse (or ‘first laddie’ as he might prefer to be called) declined to attend.
Blair, who served ten years as Prime Minister, and developed a close working relationship with then-President Bill Clinton, also told New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman, who conducted the public interview, a story about the Thatcher era in Britain.
Blair recalled his "really strong conservative" father predicting, ‘There is no way the British people will elect Margaret Thatcher.’
Thatcher, a conservative, won reelection three times and is the only female prime minister in Britain’s history.
"People are less prejudiced than you ever think they are⦠irrespective of race, irrespective of gender, irrespective of everything else," Blair said of Thatcher’s success, still carefully treading what such a tale might mean for the U.S. presidential election.
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JUST NOT HILLARY. We need a president not a slug.
Posted by: Andy | October 23, 2007, 2:03 pm 2:03 pm
Might want to listen closely when transcribing quotes: Blair said “irrespective” three times, not “irregardless” as you reported. (note: irregardless is not really even a word…”-ir” and “-less” are both negatives.)
Posted by: Jay | October 23, 2007, 3:17 pm 3:17 pm
BLAIR better watch what he says or the REPUdlicans will destroy him like they tried to do the lovely DIDIE CHICKS they don’t believe in FREEDOM OF SPEECH UNLESS IT IS SPOKEN BY THEM
Posted by: jshrum | October 23, 2007, 4:54 pm 4:54 pm
He’s right. We are ready for a woman president. Unfortunately, Elizabeth Dole is the only decent woman to run for the office so far!
Posted by: jade02008 | October 23, 2007, 5:06 pm 5:06 pm
Why does everyone bring up the Dixie Chicks when discussing freedom of speech? She said what she wanted and she needs to accept what others say. Freedom of speech goes both ways.
Posted by: befair1265 | October 23, 2007, 5:36 pm 5:36 pm
We are not and never will be ready for Hillary Clinton as President. I will NEVER give her my vote regardless of who the Republicans run. I would rather stay home. We don’t need inexperienced people being elected to the office that was once occupied by the likes of Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Reagan.
Posted by: Gary | October 23, 2007, 8:03 pm 8:03 pm
I think we’re ready for a female president, as long as it’s not Hillary. I’d vote for Condy Rice…have you seen her resume? Hillary can’t hold a candle to her as far as qualifications and accomplishments go! Without Bill’s name, she’d be just another mediocre lawyer.
Posted by: Brenda | October 23, 2007, 8:43 pm 8:43 pm
It’s no secret all the pro-war advocates want Hillary. WE NEED A REAL CHANGE, NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL! RON PAUL AND/OR BARACK OBAMA!!
Posted by: Jeff | October 23, 2007, 8:50 pm 8:50 pm
Oh, I see the Hillary fan club is here. I love the ‘centrist’ label on a woman who has consistently been a left winger since her days at Wesley. Her brief foray into politics during her husband’s administration would hardly be centrist. National health care is hardly centrist. Do you left wing moonbats really think that most people are fooled by that malarky?
Posted by: Gary | October 23, 2007, 9:36 pm 9:36 pm
I am really sick of the embracing of a person because they are a woman or a widget. She isn’t even remotely experienced for this job. Please share with us what her experience is that makes her even remotely fit for the chief executive officer of the largest government on the face of the earth.
Posted by: Gary | October 23, 2007, 9:39 pm 9:39 pm
Gary, she was a former First Lady, also a Senator from one of the largest states that does have the largest city in the country with the largest government on earth. Would you say GW is more qualified?
Posted by: Jeremy | October 23, 2007, 10:01 pm 10:01 pm
So anyway the worst of them all had something to say, shame on you ABC news i would not have even provided a minute for his limelight, for anything. Good riddence in the UK
Posted by: lika valentino | October 23, 2007, 10:53 pm 10:53 pm
She is qualified to be President because she was first lady? Are you serious. That would make Laura Bush experienced to be President. You really haven’t thought this through. That is a patently ridiculous statement.
Posted by: Gary | October 23, 2007, 11:02 pm 11:02 pm
GW was a Governor of one of the largest states in this nation. In case you are not aware, a Governor is a chief executive position. Senator is a legislator and has no relationship to being a chief executive.
Posted by: Gary | October 23, 2007, 11:03 pm 11:03 pm
At least Hillary finished her first term in the Senate — Edwards and Obama couldn’t even make it through one without giving in to ambition.
Posted by: Scott | October 24, 2007, 10:02 am 10:02 am
Let the people decide who they want as their president. As for Hillary she is qualified to be a president. The fact that she is a woman dose not mean anything, she has held public office, she is intelligent, articulate, and the right insight to issues. The best CEO’s are not the smartest poeple but the people that work under them make the CEO look smart.
Posted by: vinni | October 24, 2007, 10:49 am 10:49 am
I would be glad to have a woman president. Just not Hillary. Hillary is too overrated. There was so much hype about getting a new president in 2004, but Bush still won. I don’t think the people of America want a woman president that bad.
Posted by: Will | October 24, 2007, 11:59 am 11:59 am
Hillary is great. she will be our first women and first communist president.
viva la revolucion!!!
Posted by: Che | October 24, 2007, 1:53 pm 1:53 pm
yes, I think that the USA is ready for a female presdient in 08…that is 3008….won’t happen in this century.
Posted by: Jake | October 24, 2007, 4:25 pm 4:25 pm
Gary, please educate yourself b4 you comment again! GW is doing as well with the US as he did with TX, and Perry continues in his footsteps, OMG to imagine Perry as president…eek!@ Don’t be so scared of Hillary, just admit it ..If a chimp was running for your party and God for the other, you would still vote for the chimp.
Posted by: TXproud | October 25, 2007, 12:34 am 12:34 am
You Americans are scary..remember the Florida vote count??? Whoever the powers to be will put your next President into office…GW is a puppet and so shall be your next leader.
Posted by: Robert | October 25, 2007, 8:25 am 8:25 am
GW did god with texas? That guy totally RUINED the environment,
The west coast of the united states would start to look like texas if it werent for the openmindedness of the Leaders
Including Arnold, even tho he is a republican he understands the importance of enviroment, Something george bush doesnt give a **** about since he is gonna die in 20 years anyways
We need a presidental Change So drastically that it will help change the world for the better. We wont find that in the Conservative side of the Nation. We need someone to lead this Country and the World into a cleaner Era, Global warming being a myth is the most IGNORANT thing i have EVER heard. I bet that Dryspell they had in Cali before those fires was a myth too and not aided by global warming. The next 5 years will set the tone for the future of humanity.. If I die because of a global warming related cause, I am going to be %&^$& at GW!! (what else is new)
Posted by: Steven | October 25, 2007, 7:26 pm 7:26 pm
We can not judge hillary or any other woman because we never had a woman president!!!!
Posted by: Esmer | February 17, 2008, 6:54 pm 6:54 pm
I don’t see why everyone is so against Hillary Clinton. I don’t think anybody is actually looking at her accomplishments. It seems like you’re just ranting about how you think she is because of her husband’s mistake in office and her attitude. She’s trying to prove that she’s strong enough to run the country and all everyone seems to do is shoot her down. I think she’s perfectly qualified to be president. She has a great platform. She’s intelligent, thoughtful, calm, and not testosterone driven, thank God. Sure, being commander in chief of America is difficult but women can do anything men can do believe it or not. Just because you’re ridiculously conservative doesn’t mean you shouldn’t open your eyes to the possibilities. What has she done wrong? You’re tearing her to shreds and she hasn’t even messed up yet. Give her a chance! Before she even decided to run for president, people were spouting nonsense about her. She’s a good person with a great attitude. Maybe if you all stopped judging her by one thing she said, one thing her husband did, one picture taken, or one look she gave, you’d see that she is just like you. I’m sure you’ve said or done something you weren’t proud of. If you’re going to say you don’t like her, at least give a valid argument.
Posted by: Michelle | February 25, 2008, 8:34 pm 8:34 pm
I believe the saying goes something like, “Behind every successful man is a ‘woman’ who put him there!!” You go girl!! Hiliary will lead the American people back to success!
Posted by: Sam | April 14, 2008, 7:58 pm 7:58 pm