Bill Clinton: Donald Trump’s Base Is ‘Your Standard Redneck’

If you ever need to know what the Clintons think of you, all you have to do is listen to what they say to their supporters.

During a campaign stop in Fort Myers, Fla., President Bill Clinton took a swipe at Donald Trump’s supporters, saying they were mostly “rednecks.” The comments were part of cracks he took at southerners—who he implied are racist—and more specifically, at residents of West Virginia, drawing laughter from the crowd.

“You know, [Hillary] made me go—I went down to West Virginia to talk about [her proposal to help displaced coal workers in West Virginia] ’cause she said there’s no way we can carry it now, and I said no way. I said you know they’re—first of all they only watch FOX News—but to be fair, they think we only care about our political base and the people who agree with us culturally. It’s not true, but that’s what they think.”

Clinton then proceeded to tell a story about being confronted by Trump supporters who were “raising Cain and everything,” and how he spoke with them privately.

“I said Hillary sent me down here to tell you that if you really believe that you can make America great again, knowin’ what I know it means as a white southerner,” he said, before explaining himself. “What it means is I’ll give you the economy you had 50 years ago, and the society you had. In other words, I’ll move you up on the social totem pole and others down.”

Clinton said his wife’s agenda is to “tear down the totem pole.” Then he told the audience he understood where the protesters were coming from, having grown up in Arkansas.

“You know, look, man, the other guy’s base is what I grew up in,” he added. “You know, I’m basically your standard redneck. I was the first person who went to college in my family.”