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Which Clinton for President?Posted on Dec 20, 2007WASHINGTON—Hillary Clinton tells audiences that having lived in the White House for eight eventful years, she’s eager to take charge as president on “day one.” Apparently, though, so is Bill. Before the Clinton campaign’s recent shift to themes of warmth and approachability, a major weapon against the Barack Obama insurgency was the argument that Hillary could move right in and get to work on reforming health care or restructuring foreign policy. She wouldn’t need to spend months learning how to work the buttons on the Oval Office telephone. It’s true that Obama, like almost all presidents, would face a steep learning curve as he worked to master the arcane procedures and perquisites of life inside the White House bubble. So would any of the other contenders from either party, except Clinton. The learning-curve issue for her—and it has no precedent in American history—would be figuring out how to deal with a husband who was very good at being president but shows little talent or motivation for being a president’s spouse. Sexism might have something to do with the fact that Hillary Clinton has to answer questions about her husband that the other candidates never get asked about their wives. But Bill Clinton has always had a way of making himself the story, and he’s at it again. When the Clintons made a campaign stop at an Iowa grocery store Tuesday, Hillary’s face said it all. She realized that Bill had departed from the script and wandered off to another part of the store, and cameras caught her scanning the aisles with a look of sheer terror. Bill was supposed to be at Hillary’s side; instead he was way over yonder, giving an interview to “Entertainment Tonight.” What was supposed to be a controlled photo op had suddenly turned into a happening. Spontaneity gives ulcers to campaign staffers, but the supermarket stop got much more coverage than it would have if Bill had followed the script. He ended up drawing more attention to himself than the candidate—which is in keeping with his formal campaign speeches. On the stump, he draws big crowds and comes off as charming, eloquent and persuasive. But reporters who have tallied his words say he talks more about himself than about his wife—at a ratio of about 9 to 1. The real problem comes when Bill goes off-message. Campaigning in South Carolina on Monday, he said that Hillary’s “No. 1 priority” as president would be to send a group of notables—including himself and former President George Bush the Elder—on an around-the-world mission to repair America’s image. As one might expect, Poppy didn’t react well at all to the implication that his son, George Bush the Younger, had sullied that image. He issued a frosty statement saying no one had ever talked to him about any such mission, and that anyway no such thing was needed, and that besides—remember?—he’s a Republican. That episode shows what Hillary Clinton might face in the White House. After his eight years as president, and nearly seven as a millionaire statesman/philanthropist/philosopher, is Bill Clinton capable of following any script? He’s used to saying whatever he wants to say, whenever he wants to say it. And he’s a talented improviser, always overflowing with ideas—some of them brilliant, some half-baked—that he can’t wait to share with his listeners. Does anyone think that William Jefferson Clinton would confine himself to the bland, inoffensive pronouncements we’ve come to expect from presidential spouses? I’d give him two weeks of ribbon-cuttings and ceremonial visits before he felt compelled—and perhaps entitled—to jump into policy. Clearly, the smart thing would be to give him a portfolio of his own rather than let him play hopscotch. But how would anyone keep him on the reservation? How would anyone tone down his charisma? And what would happen if a new Clinton administration gutted one of the accomplishments of the old Clinton administration? One potential case in point is the North American Free Trade Agreement, which Hillary now says has to be modified. If she were to keep that campaign promise, would Bill just smile sweetly on his way to the next East Room reception? What people think of Bill Clinton and his presidency is grist for other columns. For now, I’m asking a simpler question: Since the Constitution provides for one president, not two, could he find a way to live in a White House that wasn’t all about him? Eugene Robinson’s e-mail address is eugenerobinson(at)washpost.com. © 2007, Washington Post Writers Group Previous item: Fear, Loathing and the Crisis of Confidence Next item: The Race for Name-Caller in Chief Elsewhere: . CommentsAre you a Truthdig member yet? Login now, or register with Truthdig. Add Your Comment |
By John Hanks, February 3 at 4:31 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Too much TV. Too much frat boy.
Report thisBy Rmoses, February 3 at 3:50 am #
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on could say the same about kerry and ted kennedy which one will bbe telling obama which one is running obama ,kerry or ted kennedy ?they are all three lyers ted kennedy is a drun and a killer and heres old ass kerry just wants a win win for anything .and here is this crook and bigot lyer obama wow what a three some.together they are the the votes of iraq sure obama voted for the iraq war and hell put America right back into it with this keneya war thing to.he will sell America out hes a dictator and a nasty muslim. break down mu slime.
Report thisBy John Hanks, December 24, 2007 at 8:41 am #
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Tek: What are you talking about? Did I miss some irony somewhere?
Report thisBy tek, December 23, 2007 at 8:30 pm #
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It hasn’t occurred to you that voters don’t care if he does get involved in policy? That’s the beautiful thing about the Hillary candidacy, it’s the only way to get the best president since FDR back in the WH.
Report thisBy John Hanks, December 23, 2007 at 5:39 pm #
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Too some extent I believe in guilt by association. The Democratic Leadership council is solidly backed by the Clintons even though its main purpose is to use money to manipulate the Democratic party. The Clintons are up to their elbows in Pentagon and Israel money. Whether Hillary or Bill rule, their real loyalty will be to the people who bought them.
Report thisBy Margaret Currey, December 23, 2007 at 3:08 pm #
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Bill will not the run the White House, I am sure Hillary will be her own person, I can understand how Bill still has his ego, after all he was president of the United States.
To say this is a dynstay, come on there was Bush sr. then Clinton then Bush junior, but Hillary is not related to Bill therefore she is not a Clinton and is one in name only.
Chelsea is not going to follow momma to think that is like can people really see into the future.
I think that the far right will justify how Bush’s can do it but the Clintons cannot sounds just like hypocrits over and over I say let the best woman/man win.
The Republicians are running scared and if they do land the presidency for themselves, can they also win the congress, after congress are the ones who are supposed to run the county and the pres. is the Comander-in-chief.
The war was started to gain war powers, just like Hitler did in Germany, we will not quite do it like Germany but the blueprint looks similar.
Report thisBy rage, December 23, 2007 at 9:52 am #
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by john polifronio on 12/23 at 2:05 am
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RAGE gives himself/herself (I’m guessing male) away, when he describes Bill Clinton as “Slick Willy.” I’ve “never” heard a Clinton admirer call Bill “Slick Willy.”
You sound like one of the brainwashed drones programmed from a script to describe Manchurian Hillary at the subliminal coaxing of her name recognition alone. “Hillary is the most warm, loving, professional, qualified candidate I know.” ROTFLMAO! I’ll bet you can’t put down in writing 10 things she’s done in the Senate that has benefited the Empire State she was elected to serve.
Clinton hater? I don’t think so, nephew! I voted for ol’ Slick Willy TWICE! I wish he could run again. All that notwithstanding, I am not going to risk a vote for Hillary on the false premise that the Presidency can be learned via osmosis and mere observational note-taking. Chelsea was BORN to the Governors’ Mansion in Arkansas, and went to Stanford from the White House, demonstrating what 23 of Big Dog’s chromosomes can do for a lady. But, that alone no more qualifies Chelsea to be the Governor or the President than having the last name Windsor would make you an heir to the British throne. Get over it. As much as I love John Goodman, King Ralph was a comical fantasy, but steeped in absolutely no reality AT ALL.
No one is a hateful loser just for not buying into the best hype Hillary’s campaign coffers can afford. Her showing cleavage does not address the issue of job outsourcing or loss of GDP because little is grown or manufactured in the adjoining 48 States of a Union dying from lack of education, healthcare, public service, and access to the wealth of the commons to which we have INALIENABLE RIGHT BY VIRTUE OF AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP. What about our lost rights and securities? What about the steadily receding economy? What about our foreign relations? What are her plans for legally holding the Bush43 Administration accountable for the predicament in which we now shamefully find ourselves? That Hillary is avoiding these issues through craftily managing her appearances, the questions she can be asked, and the selection of inquirers does not make me a Hillary hater who fears her. Her oh so careful selection of what she chooses to let us know about herself as opposed to what we really need to know, however, does leave me suspicious about what America will have in a President during a potential Hillary tenure. Candidates tend to govern the same way they run for office.
Bill came to Washington DC having been the Governor off his own steam. Now, Hillary wants to claim Bill’s steam for herself. That I’m not buying that does not make me a Clinton hater. I want to hear Hillary talk about how having been a corporate lawyer and a Senator has moved her to take the Nation to a new height after the setback of the dark ages of Bush43 imperialism. I’d even be glad to hear her rant on how pitching the Martha Stewart homemade wreath off a Rose Garden balcony the day after Christmas, as First Lady, helped her decide that there was a greater public work for her. I don’t hate Hillary to state that she needs to PROVE beyond all shadow of doubt that she is the next President, particularly when all her opponents are as bright and shiny as Hillary is. The Presidency of the United States of America is not the reward she’s due for being present there through years of Bill’s public service. Furthermore, I don’t think the Nation, especially in our current state, has the time to spare to mollycoddle another overindulged pampered elitist who has more of a sense of entitlement to the office than an earnest commitment and faithful obligation to bettering America, thereby bettering the world.
Report thisBy John Hanks, December 23, 2007 at 9:41 am #
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In the interests of justice I would almost say that Bill and Al Gore deserve another chance because of the way they were treated by the crook media. But, the sad truth is that the Clintons never went out on a limb to defend others or even themselves. Bill was asleep at the switch when it comes to the crooked court and the election of the filth. Gore was almost as bad in failing to use the tools available to put of a challenge. All of these people are part of a gentleman’s club. God knows what to make of skull and bones Kerry.
Report thisBy john polifronio, December 23, 2007 at 2:05 am #
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RAGE gives himself/herself (I’m guessing male) away, when he describes Bill Cinton as “Slick Willy.” I’ve “never” heard a Clinton admirer call Bill “Slick Willy.”
Report thisForget all the ludicrous prognostications and forebodings warning us against a Hillary presidency. RAGE, like all Clinton haters, has no idea how Hillary would lead, he just needs you to believe he does, so he can launch one more last ditch effort to derail her campaign, with with the usual, unbearable and tedious rancor, with which repubilcans talk, delusionally, among themselves, about their common enemies. Clinton may have a few areas where her experience is lacking, but she’ll make up the deficit in record time, probably faster than her husband, during the crucifixion republicans instigated against him, for half the duration of his tenure as president. You fear Hillary. That’s the only reason you continue to bore one another with your rants against her. You may yet defeat her, with phony polls, media smears and lies, and the constant drivel delivered against her on the internet. But, win or lose, Hillary has singlehandedly revealed what a bunch of fakes and losers you all are.
By rage, December 22, 2007 at 10:06 pm #
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Let’s shame the devil. Unelectable Hillary has no more experience at being the President than any of the other candidates against whom she is competing. Would she be able to walk into an operating room and perform a complex surgery from just having been married to a top surgeon? I think NOT! America has endured enough Presidency for Dummies. We can’t take another chance on another ill-equipped neophyte wrongly determining that the job is that simple. Being the President of the United States of America is NOT EASY! In the best of times, it’s difficult and very demanding.
Hillary is not Bill in an Anne Klein pantsuit. Bill was a Rhodes’ Scholar and the consummate politician. Bill could have sold brimstone and treacle to folks in hell. Bill had a 65% approval rating during his impeachment. Meanwhile, Hillary was duped by Dumya into supporting the Iraq occupation. Now, I don’t know that Bill would not have supported Dumya’s unilateral aggression for oil. But, I’m certain Big Dog would have squirmed out of the predicament a lot more unscathed than Hillary has. And, I doubt if Big Dog would have followed that mistake with his support of the Kyl-Lieberman Bill. Slick Willy had done plenty for Arkansas as Governor before coming to the White House. Hillary has been little more than a placeholder in the Senate for New York. Truth be told, I don’t recall Big Dog leaving a dog fight as chewed up as Hillary has left debates slanted in her favor. Rethugnican combatants had NOTHING for the Big Dog in any fight. Thus, WE WILL NEVER HAVE IN HILL WHAT WE ENJOYED IN BILL!!!!!
I liked Hillary better when she was still reasonably progressive in the causes she supported, back when she was Eleanor to Big Dog’s Franklin. Here lately, she’s working my nerves with all these claims to experience she does not have, bolstered by all this blatantly solicited validation of her charming character. The only time a person needs character witnesses is when one’s character is seriously challenged. What’s up, where she needs to so obtrusively solicit certification of her warmth and approachability? The gender card with all the whining about her opponents going after the front-runner is way played too. Surely, she realizes that the top is always the target of the bottom.
She’d be a lot more tolerable if she were arguing important issues about which voters are actually concerned, instead of snarkily claiming an entitlement to an office by virtue of her husband’s public service, or opportunistically twisting wedge issues that have little bearing on the majority of her constituents. No one really gives a rip whether she prefers pearls to diamonds. We are interested in whether she prefers the extension of more government doles to corporations over doling money to education and housing for our struggling masses. We want to know if her legacy is going to be one where public officials continue to receive the healthcare vetoed in S-CHIP. Under Hillary, will Congress and the Senate get another raise while our seniors lose more Social Security, Medicare, and prescription drug benefits? What does she plan to do about unregulated business practices, predatory lenders, the losses of Taft-Hartley, Habeas Corpus, the CONSTITUTION, and the Bill of Rights? What are her plans to rescind the Patriot Act? America is worse off now than during Reagan and Bush41. Hillary can’t use Bill’s track record to win. The expectation is that she, like all the other runners in this Marathon, leap every hurdle without complaining that her legs are shorter than her opponents.
America is not setting a Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton pattern here. It’s only going to be Hillary’s turn when she can prove to the voters that she is unquestionably the next President of the United States of America. So far, Hillary has yet to convince the nation that she is anything more than an overly ambitious former first lady.
Report thisBy troublesum, December 22, 2007 at 3:41 pm #
We’re becomming a banana republic with wives succeeding husbands and sons succeeding fathers to the presidential palace.
Report thisBy Blackspeare, December 22, 2007 at 1:42 pm #
Make no mistake about it----a vote for Hillary is a vote for Bill. She’ll be the president in name, he’ll be the president in actuallity or something close to that. I’m not saying its a bad thing, but we will have a dual presidency.
Report thisBy john polifronio, December 22, 2007 at 12:56 pm #
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Of al the moronic justifications for denying someone the presidency, this one of saying that we’ve had enough of Bush/Clinton/Bush/? Sorry, but your stupidity is showing. You didn’t say a word, when the Bush name (Bush being a “true” continuation of a family, father followed by son)was in offie first as VP, then as President, then his son as President. Now that Clinton has only been in once, you pretend it’s a problem. If Jeb had run for president, you’d have a fifth term, and, by that time, one of W’s daughters could run, and you’d theoretically have a 6th term, and you bozos wouldn’t have said a word. But now, a democrat is running, and it’s a woman (god forbid), so now we’re worried about dynasties. Bullcrap. You hate Hillary because she’s a democrat, and she’s a woman. She’s certainly not a Clinton. She’s a Rodham. She’s only a Clinton by law, now by blood, because tradition requires that the wife adopt surname of her husband. Dynasty is defined in the dictionary, as a “family” or a “group” that has been in power for an extended period. 1) Clinton has only been in power once. 2) Hillary is not a Clinton. 3) Hillary hasn’t even won the presidency. 4) This isn’t a dynasty; it’s neither a “group” or a “family” that’s being continued. Hillary is not related to Clinton, except by law.
Report thisBy Greg Brian, December 22, 2007 at 10:20 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
No More Bushes! No More Clintons! No More!!!!!!!!!!!!! Someone different, please…
Report thisBy John Hanks, December 22, 2007 at 10:07 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
The Clintons are smart enough and they are popular with useless rich people. But, they have never demonstrated that they have anything above the average in integrity.
Report thisBy newsreader, December 22, 2007 at 8:27 am #
If being a first lady was considered “experience” then Martha Washington would have been the second president of the United States. There is a term limit of 2 terms or 8 years; this is just a backdoor way of violating.
Report thisBy DennisD, December 22, 2007 at 6:25 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
A another Alien movie and another Hillbilly run at the Presidency. America, what a country of sad sequels we’ve become.
Report thisBy Enemy of State, December 21, 2007 at 7:34 pm #
The reality is Hillary would be the decider, and Bill, after a few awkward missteps would become aware of this fact. I’m sure the press will have a field day with any apparent disagreements, but when push came to shove the legally required signature on the bills that come to the president will be Hillaries, not Bills.
Report thisBy troublesum, December 21, 2007 at 6:09 pm #
#121775 “Hillary was a constant presence in the decision making during Bill’s tenure.”
You mean like the decision to bomb Iraq for eight years; to deny medical supplies and equipment to Iraq which resulted in the deaths of possibly half a million children; to bomb Kosovo; to support NAFTA and railroad it through congress; to give up on national health care insurance; to sell out to corporate interests over environmental protection..... on and on. All great decisions, were they?
Report thisBy troublesum, December 21, 2007 at 5:51 pm #
How are they going to keep him away from the White House secretaries and interns? He’s going to have so much time on his hands. Eight years of the Bill and Hillary show was more than enough.
Report thisBy john polifronio, December 21, 2007 at 4:25 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Leaving aside the usual boring and nauseating drumbeat of rightwingers, dripping with hatred and jealousy over the Clintons, what is Robinson fretting about? I understand that he, and the rag he works for, is republican territory, but why the silly pretense that there’s something wrong with a president’s mate, having a say in policy? Who cares? The history of the presidency is filled with examples where the president’s wife was influential, or was careful to conceal the fact, in policy decisions. You can’t be serious. I can’t believe the conservatives are in such a state of upheaval, that they’re resorting to such nonsense in their desperate efforts to bring Hillary down. Do I need to point out, that what matters, is the quality and wisdom of the policy results we get from the Clintons if Hillary wins the White House. Apparently most of the people that make such inane and uninformed comments on this site, are unaware that Hillary was a constant and highly insightful and influential presence in the decision making that occured in Bill Clinton’s tenure.
Report thisBy PatrickHenry, December 21, 2007 at 3:08 pm #
In agreement to get the Christian Coalitions’ vote, Hillary agreed to Bill wearing the red letter “A” at all social functions.
Report thisBy Pacrat, December 21, 2007 at 2:28 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
BILL GET OUT OF HILLARY’S WAY!
It’s very clear that Bill Clinton does not want Hillary to become the president and is doing his best to undermine her campaign. He keeps making stupid statements - even for him - and he has been know to make a few.
“I tell you, I did not have the presidency with that woman.” He can’t stand the thought that she might upstage him.
She may have to just dump him to become free!
Report thisBy David, December 21, 2007 at 1:07 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Maybe Hillary will hire Monica to keep Bill ‘busy’.
Report thisBy craig, December 21, 2007 at 11:44 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Fair or not, there’s only two roles the media can proscribe for Bill Clinton:
1.) Obedient manservant.
2.) Usurper to the throne.
(I’m being charitable, insert your regionally appropriate dialog as needed)
If Bill assumes the role of First Gentleman, can anybody resist the image of his doing pennance for Monicagate?
And if Bill takes the more likely approach of being his wife’s Dick Cheney and inserting himself into the national dialog when Hillary stumbles, can anyone resist calling him a pirate?
Margret Thatcher’s husband was a thoroughly trained and tested house mouse. He was no risk to her, or the nation.
But, in “rolling the dice” on Hillary, aren’t the odds in favor of any national agenda being swallowed by Bill’s percieved or actual behavior?
Report thisBy Dr. Knowitall, PhD, PhD, December 21, 2007 at 6:44 am #
Dear Hillary and Bill,
Let’s not do anything half-baked. Bring Chelsea in and make it a power house threesome, You Three Wise People.
Then, I’d like to see a Dept. of Religion. We need to control Christmas. Incidently, Mike Huck, your fellow statesman, would make a superb Secretary. Everyone believes and believes in Hucklebee Mike.
Two things I’d like to him do immediately, before next Xmas season, because it’s pagan and not really religious, it to ban “Jingle Bells.” I hear residuals have made the Pierpoints among the wealthiest families in America, right behind Gates and Buffy.
Second, we’ve got to standardize the use of “Merry Christmas” and cresh scenes. It should be made a misdemeanor, maybe even a felony to say, “Happy Holidays” in place of “Merry Christmas” and also for NOT putting a Baby Jesus scene in front of town halls or on town park lawns. People need leadership on this issue. You might rub a few malcontents the wrong way but what else is new? These people are anit-baby and kill-joys. They can go pound salt. The overwhelming majority of god-fearing citizens would appreciate knowing where America officially stands on this all-vital issue and especially if the official stance aligns on the right side.
You go, you three!!!
Report thisBy Greg Bacon, December 21, 2007 at 5:29 am #
Which Clinton for President?
Hmmmm??
Will it be the conniving and scheming Hillary that will stop at nothing, smashing any and all obstacles in her bid to seize power?
Or will it be the Machiavellian and deceitful Hillary that will stop at nothing, smashing any and all obstacles in her bid to seize power?
Good Question.
Report thisBy Marjorie L. Swanson, December 21, 2007 at 4:41 am #
Lighten up Eugene, we all ready get that your want Obama. Keep up the hits on the Clintons and you’re begin to resemble Chris Matthews and that’s a fate worse than death. FYI I don’t support Senator Clinton I just object to the piling on.
Report thisBy Jaded Prole, December 21, 2007 at 4:21 am #
Post Cheney, the vice Presidency is in fact a dual Presidency. Clinton was a disaster the last time and another Clinton administration is the last thing we should support. Better to have a wolf than a wolf in sheep’s clothing. We can’t afford the delusions
Report thisBy G.Anderson, December 20, 2007 at 11:19 pm #
Clearly Bill wants back in the white house. But already his comments have overshadowed his wife’s, and what little she has to say.
I’m not sure though either one of them would really want to be president, given what the next several years are going to be like.
Just as Bush’ presidency was the era of SUV’s, excess, conspicious consupmption on a grand scale, corporate scandals, and the loss of real jobs with real wages. Any New president will likely face just the opposite, having to beg from the Chinese to keep our economy afloat, penny pinching, tiny car’s, going abroad to try and find investment so people can find work, falling standards of living and the return of Debtors prisons.
Hundreds of thousands will go to Jail for contempt of court when they fail to comply with court ordered payment plans, on houses they can no longer afford.
Without a middle class to act as a buffer between the wealthy and the poor, civil unrest is a very real possibility.
Report thisBy BRM, December 20, 2007 at 9:26 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
You make to point that the Constitution provides for one president, not two. There are presidents, take the current president and vice president. Not that the current administration is an example of it working, but clearly we had situations where we had a president and a very strong person in the administration that makes up the presidency.
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