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Clark Says She Would ‘Politely Decline’ Help From Bill Clinton

Massachusetts congresswoman she hopes other Democrats will follow suit

Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., said she would not help former President Bill Clinton's help on the campaign trail.. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., said she would not help former President Bill Clinton's help on the campaign trail.. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Katherine M. Clark said she would say thanks, but no thanks if she was offered help on the campaign trail by former President Bill Clinton.

Speaking on Boston Public Radio, Clark said “I would politely decline” if she were asked.

“It’s not because I don’t think he did some good things in his presidency, and continues to, but I think that this issue in this time, we’d need to hear more of an apology,” about his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

The comments come as many Democrats are reconsidering Clinton’s conduct with women in light of the #MeToo movement, which has shined a light on sexual harassment and assault in and out of the workplace.

Clinton was criticized earlier this month when he gave an interview with NBC saying that he did pay a price for his actions and was left in significant debt.

Clark said the former president, once considered the Democrats’ top campaigner, has been “slow to apologize.”

“I think it is long time that men like Bill Clinton come to a better understanding of the implications of their actions” Clark said. “Like so many men of considerable power, just really doesn’t understand the ramifications of his actions.”

“This is a time where we need to be saying we demand apologies that are meaningful from people who have really hurt women,” she said. “And that this is not the time to have people who have had such public scandals like Bill Clinton on the campaign trail with us.”

Other Democrats have been critical of Clinton since his comments on his affair with Lewinsky.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said Clinton should have resigned the presidency when the affair came to light but was lambasted by Hillary Clinton aide Philippe Reines.

Watch: The #MeToo Impact on 2018

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