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Clinton: Occupy Movement Has Gotten Out A Message

SKOKIE, Ill. (CBS) -- Former President Bill Clinton was in town Friday morning to sign his new book, Back to Work Barnes and Noble at the Old Orchard shopping center in Skokie.

He stopped to talk with WBBM Newsradio about the Occupy movement, as Mike Krauser reports.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser reports

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President Clinton arrived to applause from a long line of people at the bookstore, but before he started signing books, he said the Occupy movement has succeeded in getting a message to the country that most of the gains go to the top 1 percent of Americans.

"One reason I wrote this book is to try to respond to what Occupy Wall Street and the other Occupy movements are doing," Mr. Clinton said.

Does the former president share the Occupy movement's frustration with the direction of the country and where it was headed right now?

"Well, sure, because we're in a terrible fix," Mr. Clinton said. "But what they need to understand; what all Americans need to understand, a financial crash is not like other recessions."

Because of the real estate component, he said, this economic slump could last 10 years.

Tony Mancuso of Lake in the Hills was first in line at the book signing.

"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet the 42nd President of the United States, which is fantastic," he said.

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