Gene Robinson makes an observation about the recent behavior of the Big Dog:
So forget about the Bill Clinton we’ve known for the past eight years — the one who finds friendship and common ground with fellow former president George H.W. Bush (a Republican, last I heard), who dedicates most of his time and energy to the William J. Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Global Initiative, who speaks eloquently about global citizenship, environmental stewardship and economic empowerment. Forget about the statesman who uses appropriately measured language when talking about transient political events, focusing instead on the broad sweep of human history. Forget about the apostle of brotherhood and understanding whose most recent book is titled, simply, “Giving.” That Bill Clinton has left the building.
There’s a battle to be fought against an upstart challenger who has the audacity to suggest that maybe the Clinton presidency, successful as it was in many ways, didn’t change the world — and that he, given the office, could do better. Some things, I guess, just can’t be allowed. Bill Clinton obviously has decided that history can wait.
Except it won’t wait, and it won’t remain unchanged. While I fervently disagree with people like Chris Matthews that think Hillary Clinton owes her unique opportunity to her husband (I’d guess the reverse was equally true), I think it is indisputable that Bill Clinton’s generally good reputation among rank-and-file Democrats is one of Hillary’s greatest assets. And it is an asset that can go up like a puff of smoke if Bill Clinton damages his image.
Right now I think there is still time for Pres. Clinton to dial back his campaigning and avoid some of the worst fallout. Yes, there has been some damage in the African-American community and among those that are paying a lot of attention, but the overall media narrative hasn’t been devastating.
What I find disturbing is the Clintons’ willingness to create these fissures in a previously united Democratic electorate. They must have been looking at some pretty bad internal polls when they decided they would risk alienating the African-American community and their rather stellar reputation within it. This also applies to their decision to use robocalls (which are illegal in South Carolina) and other Rovian tactics. There is a palpable sense of desperation that emerges from these tactics, and it just doesn’t look good, particularly coming from a former president.
If Democrats grow disgusted with Bill Clinton’s behavior (and with the campaign tactics, more generally) it will dry up all that positive nostalgic feeling in a big hurry. Maybe the biggest question of the campaign is: will it dry up before or after the Tsunami Tuesday primaries on February 5th?
