Davos Bill (Clinton) is tarnishing his philanthropic brand

[NYCGirl]

From the Financial Times:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/516866be-c9c9-11dc-b5dc-000077b07658.html

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But this Bill Clinton has not been seen since Barack Obama emerged as a serious threat to Mrs Clinton’s hopes of the presidency. Instead of a non-partisan philanthropist, US voters see a partisan operative getting red-faced with anger as he bitterly rails against Mr Obama for, in Mrs Clinton’s words, “raising false hopes” that the US can be otherwise.

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It may not matter if Mrs Clinton gains the Democrat nomination and becomes president. Her husband will return to the White House as the “first laddy” and his sharp-elbowed campaign will eventually be forgotten. Despite his insistence, the Clinton Foundation and Global Initiative would probably hibernate.

But what if Mrs Clinton is defeated and Mr Clinton wants to resume the role of senator’s husband and global philanthropist? That, I suspect, would be hard. For the Bill Clinton on display in this year’s election is now overshadowing the Bill Clinton the non-US world knows and respects. It spells trouble not only for Mr Clinton himself but also for the causes he advocates and for others who have placed their causes under his banner.

Consider whom Mr Clinton has been denigrating. Mr Obama is not Karl Rove, Mr Bush’s political guru, or another member of what Mrs Clinton once called the “vast rightwing conspiracy”. He is an African-American pioneer who is admired not only at home but also in the rest of the world for his calls to heal US divisions.

Mr Obama’s campaign speeches are reminiscent of those made by Mr Clinton in his post-presidential role. Both of them have used their skills as orators to instil hope that intractable problems can be solved with united effort. By laying into Mr Obama so cynically, Mr Clinton is trashing his own reputation for idealism.

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LOTS MORE AT LINK

[jkshaw]

1. This is an excellent piece, NYCGirl

John Gapper's columns are always full of insight.

[NYCGirl]

3. It certainly does remind us that the rest of the world is watching. NT

[AtomicKitten]

2. "sharp-elbowed campaign will eventually be forgotten"

I wouldn't bank on it. In fact, according to my phone bank work here in
California, many Democrats are so turned off by the Clinton tag-team nasty blitzkrieg on Obama they will simply sit out the election if she gets the nod.

Very interesting article, NYCGirl. Thanks for posting. ;)