Ripping Into Bubba
I'm guessing at this point that the author of this piece from the New Hampshire Union-Leader is an Obama partisan. It's possible he is just an anti-Clintonist, but he seems intent on slamming the Clintons - hard. (I've linked to another piece of his in the same paper. Based on those two points, I'm pretty sure he's partisan). Regardless, he rips into Bubba in this new piece with a vengeance.
Hillary has used Bill as an attack dog because she knows he's effective. And she knows their diehard supporters are forgetful. If it's true that the couple made a deal long ago that he would have his political career if she could then have hers, then it's playing out, regardless of how good or bad it will be for America. Ultimately, it's all about the Clintons.
When Barack Obama and John McCain talk about the importance of judgment, it stands in stark relief to the judgment Hillary has shown in unleashing her husband. Average voters and distinguished leaders can say that he's hurting her, but if you think she's going to rein him in, think again. She knows he gets the ladies squealing.
He defends his passionate remarks by saying how much he loves her. Well, he's made a career out of defending his passions. He does best in the defensive position and deliberately places himself there. I watched him do it in Peterborough during the primary, when he accused the press of a "broad agreement" to lay off Obama. He's a counterpuncher who likes to step backwards into the ropes, where we can feel sorry for him. Then he comes out swinging and we cheer. A professional victim.
Perhaps that's why women respond so well to Bill. He cocks his head, opens those puppy dog eyes and apologizes. Oh, come here honey-bubba, it's OK. But two women from opposite ends of the political spectrum, Maura Liasson from National Public Radio and Peggy Noonan, a former Reagan speechwriter, don't buy the act. Two weeks ago, they agreed that Hillary's dispatching of Bill drains all credibility out of her image as feminist — he's doing the dirty work, the heavy lifting, while she cultivates her compassion and likability.
Maybe she's punishing him, but she's punishing us, too. And we've endured enough punishment, thank you very much. When I step back and think about Hillary's candidacy, it takes some real chutzpah to ask Americans to trust her and her husband after what he's put us through. So much so that it can only be the consummation of a promise made long ago. Hillary did not forget. It's payback time — for Bill, not for us.
We must cast a cold eye on Hillary's ambitions, too, and what she's willing to do to achieve them. After all, they provide a hint of the Hillary we would see as President, her willingness to have others savage her opponents, to use lies and innuendo, to distort facts she knows to be true, and to send an infamous perjurer out to present her case.
Pretty strong stuff, red meat for folks who genuinely do not like the Clintons - either one - very much. I would not have put things in quite the same way, but he's hitting Bill Clinton hard here. Personally, no longterm reader here can doubt that I dislike the Clintons and their machinations rather deeply. That said, I still think Hillary the most beatable candidate the Dems could run - in part because of Bubba and his antics.
Thanks to commenter theo for pointing this one out to me.
By Mwalimu Daudi, Saturday, 2 February , 2008 @ 8:10 pm
I still think Hillary the most beatable candidate the Dems could run - in part because of Bubba and his antics.
I believe that you will get your wish. As much as I would love to see Clinton Inc. fall to pieces, I predict that there will be enough left in the tank for at least one more term in the White House.