Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

As the 15th anniversary for the Oklahoma City Bombing approaches, former President Bill Clinton gave his perspective on today’s similarly heated political climate and issued a solemn warning to pundits and politicians alike to watch their words.

“There is a difference between criticizing a policy or a politician and demonizing the government that guarantees our freedom and the public servants that implement them,” Clinton said Friday during remarks before the Center for American Progress. “The more prominence you have in politics or media ... the more you have to keep that in mind.”

The two term Democrat explained that he was not troubled by the political bickering surrounding the health care debate, and stressed that disagreement is an important part of American politics. However, said Clinton, a line should be drawn when violence becomes a feasible risk.

“All you have to do is read a paper every day to see how many people there are who are deeply, deeply troubled,” Clinton said. “There are people who advocate violence and anticipate violence.”

The former president also addressed the conservative activists that have staged dozens of “tea party” protests nation-wide since President Barack Obama assumed office.

“The Boston tea party was about ... no taxation without representation. It was not about representation by people you didn’t vote for and didn’t agree with but can vote out in the next election.”

Added Clinton, “They say they’re for limited government and a balanced budget. When I left office we had the smallest workforce since Eisenhower and we had four surpluses for the first time in seventy years.”