Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - Posts
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Maybe, Emily, I didn't see Bill Clinton's speech the way you did because I actually expected him to do Barack Obama some good tonight. But then, that I expected better of him is an old, old story.
History was made in the Pepsi Center this evening, when William Jefferson Clinton arrived on schedule. I would not say that Michelle Obama twinkled at the sight of him ... and could not say whether Hillary did, because there was a lady waving a flag standing in front of her. But before too long, I was remembering why I voted for Ralph Nader in 1996. Back then, Clinton had the political capital to get a much better welfare reform bill but cared more about himself than all those down-on-their-luck Americans he was always biting his lip over. Tonight, he had the chance to make a much better pitch for Barack Obama. But again, instead, forever and what else is new, talked about how much better things were when he was president.
Who was it again that he was referring to when he said Obama "has the intelligence and curiosity every [emphasis his] successful president needs''? Or helpfully pointed out that he and Hillary have made Obama the candidate he is today: "The long primary tested and strengthened him.'' Oh, and not to worry because "he will continue and enhance our nation's commendable global leadership in an area in which I [emphasis his again] am deeply involved—the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.''
Though every word he said about how much better off we were when he was president was true, of course, I hadn't realized that burnishing his legacy was the point of the exercise. He had the crowd going bananas before he ever opened his presidential beak, and one of the lines they loved best was, "People the world over have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power.'' Woohoo, true again. But how that moves one voter to Obama I'm sure I don't know.
"America can do better'' than it has under Bush. "And Barack Obama will do better.'' Really? That is one weak offense, Bubba. And the old hound dog did not exactly rip John McCain's head off, either, going on and on about how his wife's former drinking buddy loves this country and sure suffered in Hanoi. The best I could give him would be a gentleman's "C''. But at the moment, I am too mad to manage it.
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Bill, the original stickler for exact language, manages to give a roaring, inspiring endorsement of Obama without entirely selling out his wife: "Barack Obama is the man for this job."
[Emphasis mine. Just sayin'.]
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Wow. I have spent these many months—years?—gnashing my teeth over Bill Clinton, ruing his narcissism and practically forgetting the good he did as president. And there he is tonight, showing us his best side: the commanding, masterful framer of Democratic goals and values vs. Republican ones, and repeatedly bringing the choice back to this presidential election, this Democratic candidate, Barack Obama. It wasn't just "He is ready to lead" and "They say he's too young and inexperienced ... sound familiar?" (I'm paraphrasing.) It was the weaving of Obama with real policy of the future and the best of the Clinton past. And what a great new twist on his signature line about hope. Maybe it's all about defying expectations. Whatever—it doesn't really matter. Bill, you nailed it.
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Yeah, and she might also have whipped us up an omelet while she was up there, with feta, maybe, a little spinach, and some whole wheat toast would have been nice. But I personally am glad that Hillary did not sing any hosannas to Obama, or even try to sell us on how wonderful he is. Why? Because this was her Moonstruck moment, her last best chance to slap some sense into her crowd—metaphorically, of course—and scream "Snap out of it!" as if she were Cher and they were Nicolas Cage. To have done that and then pivoted to a sales pitch? Nope, she made the right call.
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Hillary did give a good speech—with the clear subtext that she should be giving it Thursday night, not tonight, and look what has been lost by her not being the nominee. She was strong and commanding and convincing. And then the camera cut to the face of Bill Clinton, all teary-eyed, lip-biting, suffused-with-love-for-his-woman, and I thought, “Sorry, Hillary, we just couldn’t go there again.” After she spent all the time she did tracing women’s suffrage and what a world-historical figure she was, she rejected the obvious next move of mentioning that this year’s Democratic nominee is similarly a figure of history. She could have then segued into saying something, anything, about the specific qualities of Barack Obama. You’re right, Dahlia; it’s ultimately up to Obama to sell himself. But with the race right now looking as tight as it is, a bunch of put-out PUMAs could be a mighty big problem.
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