Usually my hometown newspaper is kind of stupid but, today they have something really good about Bill clinton sticking his nose into the primary last weekend.
When did Bill Clinton put away the saxophone and become such an old fuddy-duddy?
It was surreal to see one of America’s most famous baby boomers — the man who, despite youth and inexperience, broke the World War II generation’s grip on the presidency — try to argue that Barack Obama is too young and inexperienced for the job.
As it happens, Obama is the same age that Clinton was when the former president was elected in 1992. Apparently, for the Clintonistas, 46 isn’t as mature as it used to be.
snip-
But when you challenge an opponent, it helps to be consistent. And this line of attack isn’t. Fifteen years ago, some in the World War II generation accused Bill Clinton of being too green and unprepared to assume the presidency. Now Clinton is trying to make the case that Obama is even greener and less prepared. In 1992, Clinton was often referred to as a young man in a hurry. Now, his refrain to Barack Obama comes off as: “Hey young man, what’s your hurry?”
Meanwhile, Obama fired back as one would expect him to — by quoting Bill Clinton to rebut Bill Clinton.
“I remember what was said years ago by a candidate running for president,” Obama said in a statement. “He said, ‘The same old experience is not relevant. You can have the right kind of experience and the wrong kind of experience.’ Well that candidate was Bill Clinton. And I think he was absolutely right.”
Obama then insisted that he “may not have the experience Washington likes” but that he has “the experience America needs — the ability to bring people together, stand up to the special interests, and tell the truth to the American people ... “
This episode brings back bad memories of what was one of Bill Clinton’s major liabilities — that his principles were flexible and that he would say whatever you wanted to hear and whatever suited his objective at any given time. And then when the objective changed, he’d simply change his views — such as the time he broke his promise to allow gays to serve openly in the military.
Since Hillary Clinton shares the current objective — to get herself elected president — one wonders if she shares the same tendency to break promises and adjust her views when it suits her purpose. If so, that should worry her supporters — especially on contentious issues such as the Iraq War and immigration reform.
It might even prompt them to take a second look at yet another young man in a hurry.
http://www.rrstar.com/opinions/columnists/x680962986
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