Bill, You’re Not Helping Hillary
By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, Hillary
Back in early November 2007, when Hillary had that awful debate performance, Bill went on the attack against Obama and Edwards and suggested that they were swift-boating her. Later, somebody from the campaign clarified his statement and said he was referring to the right wing attacking her again, but I didn’t buy that. And at that time I warned her…
Is he mental? Seriously, I’m not joking. Because bringing up swift boating is beyond weird. It’s a completely erroneous statement and makes Bill sound like a hack trying to defend somebody who should simply take her lumps and move on. Instead, Bill has made it seem like Hill can’t fight her own fights. That’s not good for a lot reasons, not the least of which is she’s desperately trying to escape his shadow and still has yet to do so.
Fast forward to today. Where do we find ourselves?
Ben Smith over at Politico gets an email from an Obama supporter who has noticed a trend in her circle of Hillary loving friends…
Around the office today, a number of women who were definitely in the Hillary camp are starting to feel a little sick to their stomach about the role Bill Clinton’s is playing. One remarked that she thought she would be voting for the first women president, not a trojan horse for Bill Clinton’s overactive ambition. Another friend I thought last week would definitely vote for Hillary labeled them the “Dynastic Duo” this morning and said she may switch to Obama. And finally, my best friend, who already sent in her absentee ballot says, she’s got serious “buyer’s remorse” saying she thought she had voted for the first women president, but now she’s not so sure she’s advanced or hurt women everywhere by voting for Hillary.I think the media is missing the point like they did in NH. Bill’s role as of late is undermining the very strength derived from her seeming historic candidacy. Suddenly it doesn’t look so historic, but simply a repeat of history. Again, I’m speaking from the anecdotal perspective from women like myself here in So Cal, but this tactic seems to backfiring amongst my peer group in a significant way.
The only problem she has right now is that her campaign doesn’t REALLY know if Bill’s attacks are working or not. Why is that a problem? Because South Carolina is very likely going to go for Barack, and after that contest he’ll come out stronger. Given that, Bill will most likely keep playing attack dog because the campaign THINKS that strategy is working. But it very well may not be and it has the potential to spread enough ill will among women to swing Super Tuesday for Obama.
One thing’s for sure, Obama needs to keep pushing this dual presidency meme because there’s no way that Hillary can get around it now. Bill’s role in the campaign has gone far beyond the norm, and I doubt anybody’s going to stop him when he thinks it’s working. The result is that it will appear even more like she can’t stand on her own.
Long story short, people don’t want to vote for Billary, they want to vote for Hillary, and if she doesn’t put a muzzle on him, it may cost her the election.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008 and is filed under 2008 Election, Hillary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:41 pm
It’s so sad to see the Clinton’s bringing back the dirty tricks etc. How much more of the old divisiveness and mudslinging will it take before folks starting remembering that it was HIllary who was in charge of the Clinton’s political attack machine when they used attacks, smears, lies, denigration, intimidation etc. to undermine the credibility of anyone who challenged them. The long list of woman who were victims of Bill’s sexual compulsions, like Paula Jones, Monica Lewinski, Gennifer Flowers, Jaunita Broaderick, Kathleen Willey, Sally Perdue, Elizabeth Ward Grace, Dolly Browning etc. etc, thereafter, became victoms of HIllary, Carville and the rest of The Machine.
Surrogate, James Carville denigrated Paula Jones on news shows with the “walk through a trailer park with $100 and see what crawls out comments.”
And even after Hillary knew about Bill’s woman problem and lies, she sat by silently enabling while he looked the camera in the eye, wagged his finger and said “I did not have sex with that woman… Monica Lewinski.”
Both of the Clinton’s own this history. And both have been remarkably consistent their modus operandi and behavior and what it says about their character. They will do or say anything necessary to gain power.
And now new Clinton surrogates have the gall to attack Oprah and other woman who support Obama about betraying the “sisterhood.” gak!
Hillary owes these woman and all woman victims of sexual abuse, and harassment an apology. Why hasn’t the press asked her about this. How do these woman feel about a Clinton candadacy now? Oprah should do a month long series bringing these woman back and asking them how it felt to have their reputations and their lives bludgeoned by the Clinton attack machine, with Hillary leading the charge.
But even after the Clintons disgraced themselves, the office of the Presidency, and our nation, we forgave them and let them rehabilitate themselves back into public service.
But they need to study other successful models of redemption. Public redemption is not a free pass to commit your sins and crimes all over again.
Daschle warns Bill, “to be careful not to tarnish his legacy.” LOL He has got to be kidding right?
Too late Clintons. The only question now is how much lower are you going to bring our nation by bringing this style of the politics of personal destruction and all of this muck, back to the front pages.
I voted for Bill twice and defended hi and low, through the impeachment, and have appreciated and encouraged his post-presidency rehabilatation and good works especially around the world.
I hope the Democratic leadership wakes up and works harder to get the Clintons to stop these low down tactics before they do further damage not only to themselves, but to the Democratic Party and our nation.
Once the Rovian GOP attack machines rejoin this battle it will get really ugly.
My hope would be that Hillary withdraw with apologies to everyone before this spirals further down and out of control.
It’s time for a fresh start and new directions. I’m happy to support either Edwards, or Obama. Or if necessary any progressive third party like Bloomburg. But I’ve had enough of this Clinton negativity.
Former Clinton Supporter
January 23rd, 2008 at 4:17 pm
I dont know. Seems like lots of people would gladly vote for Bill again but dont like Hillary. And some people want to vote for Hillary and want her to keep Bill out of it. Yet the fact that a popular ex president will be there in the WH assisting as she sees fit is a big plus to some, and from what you say here a negative to others. Did it ever occur to anyone this is a probably once in a lifetime unique chance to get a woman elected and break the gender barrier precisely because Bill is with her, and that without Bill she would not get anywhere, and no other woman would either? Once she is in, if she is to be in, other women will have a better chance and possibly no need for a strong ex President next to them. this first time, it may actually be necessary. Just my thoughts.
January 23rd, 2008 at 7:32 pm
I agree! Though I am a Obama supporter, I once believed that no matter who got the nomination, we (democrats) would be in pretty good shape for the general election. Even though I believe that Obama would be the best candidate for change as well as the best candidate to go up against the republicans, I still had a lot of respect for both Clintons. It’s amazing how a couple of months have totally changed my opinion. I now think the Clintons are an embarassment…and the whole “first woman president” dream seems more like a farce everytime Bill Clinton is out there sounding like he’s running for a third term. It’s a real shame. I mean, its one thing to be out there supporting your spouse, but Bill Clinton is taking it to a whole other level, and its really damaging.