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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Blood Feud summary
Edward Klein
The Clintons vs. the Obamas
12 mins
Brief summary
"Blood Feud" by Edward Klein is a political exposé that delves into the bitter animosity between the Clintons and the Obamas. It paints a portrait of a power-hungry political dynasty and the lengths they'll go to secure political power.
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Blood Feud
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The animosity between the Clintons and the Obamas runs deep.
At a Wellesley College class reunion in 2013, Hillary Clinton, according to one attendee, aimed heavy criticism at Obama, calling him “incompetent and feckless,” and going so far as to say “you can’t trust the motherfucker.”
What inspired this vitriol? Was it simply a lack of confidence in Obama’s skill as a statesman? Far from it. It was revenge.
Let’s take a trip back to the 2008 presidential election. During the course of the campaign, Bill thought Obama had essentially put a “hit job” on him by implicitly calling him a racist. Furthermore, Obama snubbed Clinton by implying that Ronald Reagan had had a great impact in a way that “Slick Willie” had not.
Bill, who wanted to be remembered alongside FDR and Reagan as a great president, was deeply wounded by these remarks.
Moreover, Bill begrudged Obama for never seeking his advice during his campaign. Even George W. Bush had reached out to him!
Bill’s disdain for Obama has developed into a visceral hatred. In fact, he has even said that he hates Obama more than any man he’s ever met.
Hillary’s resentment of Obama is similarly intense. It all started in the 2008 primaries after the Obama campaign said that she couldn’t be trusted, implying that political calculation – and not conviction – was her sole motivation.
The Obamas share this disdain, feeling that the Clintons are racially insensitive and morally bankrupt. According to Senator Ted Kennedy, Bill has said of Obama, “A few years ago, this guy would be getting us coffee!”
Michelle has held a grudge against Hillary ever since she became aware of Hillary’s aggressive, over-the-top attack on Edward Brooke, the first African American ever to become a US senator, during her time at Wellesley College.
The Obamas also feel that Bill spends too much time flying around on his private jet, dubbed “Air Fuck One,” and feel his shady deals with shady businessmen, such as Nebraska multimillionaire Vinod Gupta, are done in return for campaign contributions, compromising his integrity.
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What is Blood Feud about?
Blood Feud (2014) tells the story of how two of the most influential families in the United States, the Obamas and the Clintons, came to despise one another, and how this mutual hatred has led to a long and cruel history of manipulation, back-stabbing and broken trust.
Best quote from Blood Feud
Im not sure what Bill and I expected from the Obamas, but there was bad blood between us from the start. – Hillary Clinton
—Edward Klein
Who should read Blood Feud?
- Gossip aficionados who love wild rumours about America’s Beltway
- Anyone interested in American politics
- Fans of Machiavelli’s The Prince
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