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Videos: Clinton on Microsoft antitrust, philanthropy

Here are two video clips from former President Bill Clinton's briefing with reporters today on Microsoft's campus, after speaking to employees.

In the first clip, from the middle of the briefing, you'll hear me asking Clinton for his thoughts on the outcome of Microsoft's U.S. antitrust case, which started during his administration, now that five years have passed since its resolution. I was hoping for a more substantive response, of course, but it's interesting in its own way.

"I don't know enough about the outcome to know. You know, in our administration, we had no contact between the White House and the Justice Department over the enforcement of the laws. ... The first time I heard about the Microsoft case was when I read about it in the paper -- literally had no knowledge of it in advance. ... I'm not dodging this question. If I knew enough to give you an answer I would, but since I'm so ignorant on it, there's no point in demonstrating it by giving an answer that would only show I don't know what I'm talking about."

In this second clip are introductory remarks by Clinton and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, giving a sense for the background of the event.

The event generated news on the political front, when Clinton responded to a question from AP reporter Jessica Mintz on the subject of Tim Russert's statements to Hillary Clinton during this week's Democratic debate. See this post on the P-I's Big Blog for background and video.

Posted by at November 2, 2007 1:53 p.m.

Comments

#62738

Posted by unregistered user at 11/2/07 11:28 p.m.

Its amazing that Microsoft would host the person who' very administration tried to break them up. Kudos to you for asking him about this.

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#62770

Posted by unregistered user at 11/3/07 2:13 a.m.

Wow, his "ignorance" was astounding! The average man in the street knows more about the case and could give you a perspective. Not only was it a dodge, but one that was suprisingly undiplomatic and not smooth given who its being delivered from. The question you should have asked was how he feels about the recent EU decision and the implications of the EU using its antitrust laws to keep US companies in check (essentially as trade policy) and favor its local industries. Anyway, nice try. You should have followed up.

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#63043

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/07 3:05 a.m.

My God. Look at that cheesy background. Is Microsoft on some sort of austerity program?

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#63115

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/07 10:46 a.m.

BJ Klinton is such s sleazebucketl. The sucker just "can't" seem to recall anything that puts him a bad light. Hey, Klinton tell us about all the bribes (campaign conribution) that the Klintons and the Democratic Party received from Sun Microssystems, Oracle, Netscape, IBM and every a whole army of Microsoft-hating vermin out there, to influence the super corrupt Klinton administration to hold Microsoft down, while they kicked it.

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#63142

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/07 1:37 p.m.

Somebody once asked why this administrator got to sit next to Angelina Jolie. The real antitrust exists during that administration & possibly why those posting here are all unregistered users.

# 63043, yes strategic head cheeze, notice the diminished size of the once great logo "your potent...as sion
al our pa
whited out by the lettering on the blue background.
Ingenious political propaganda displayed there Todd, not derived from he who claims ignorance is the bliss of leadership both to Microsoft and the nation.

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#63194

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/07 6:04 p.m.

Pomping kyoto doesn't resolve waste of expenses written off as anritrust and shmancy libraries do nothing to reduce green house g as is

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#68214

Posted by unregistered user at 11/19/07 10:21 a.m.

I can't believe people are so critical and downright rude in the comments about Bill Clinton. He's not perfect but he has done much to redeem himself and is helping his wife become the next president. Anyone without sin cast the first stone!

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