As a life-long Republican--recently re-registered as an independent--and as a former sidekick to my late evangelical right wing father Francis Schaeffer, until I dropped out of the fundamentalist ghetto in the mid 80s and started writing fundamentalist-baiting funny (to me anyway) novels such as "Portofino," and as someone who once labored over liberal-bashing strategy with the likes of Jack Kemp, C. Everett Koop and Gary Bauer... let me tell my Democratic Party friends something: Bill and Hillary Clinton's legacy is a far bigger threat to the chances of the Democratic Party winning in November than anything in Obama's life.
For the record: I am a dedicated Barack Obama supporter, but I would vote for Hillary Clinton instead of John McCain in a heartbeat (in spite of the fact that Hillary seems to be trying to be more Republican than the Republicans with her pro-Iraq war vote, her anti-environmental "me too!" pandering gas tax rescind, and her "I'll obliterate Iran" wacky Bushisms). Nevertheless, I'd vote for her over McCain, even though in 2000 I went on several conservative talk shows on McCain's behalf as I worked to get him elected instead of Bush in the primaries. But McCain changed. Today I couldn't possibly vote for McCain, the man who lies about why we are in Iraq, the man kissing up to the lunatic fringe of the religious right. We can't afford another 4 years of Bush, Iraq war forever, and economic cataclysm. So Hillary gets my vote if she's the candidate. That said ...
If you think that a few loopy loops of Reverend Wright's more unfortunate sound bites endlessly playing in October spells terminal trouble for Obama, why are all my old Republican friends rooting for Hillary? And why is McCain quietly playing tag team with Hillary Clinton to destroy Barack Obama's chances?
The Republican insiders aren't just rooting for Hillary they're salivating at the chance to run against "THE CLINTONS." Republicans know that in spite of the Wright "issue," the absent flag pin "issue," the who Obama's acquaintances are "issue," the if Michelle loves our country enough "issue," etc., etc., that none of this amounts to anything compared to the HUGE target Bill and Hillary would present in the fall.
Republican shills don't do things by accident. So when the Weekly Standard (05/12/2008) publishes gushing praise for a Democratic candidate they have their reasons. Anyone who takes the following pro-Hillary puffery at face value should call me about this great bridge I have for sale. In "An Exceedingly Strange New Respect--Hillary Clinton Makes Friends In Some Surprising Precincts," Noemie Emery (contributing editor) writes:
"The Hillary of May 2008 is radically different from the Hillary of two months ago, much less the one of last year, or of eight years back. And this one (at least till the nomination is settled) has some traits the right wing can love.... And better--or worse--[Hillary Clinton] is becoming a social conservative, a feminist form of George Bush. Against an opponent who shops for arugula, hangs out with ex-Weathermen, and says rural residents cling to guns and to God in unenlightened despair at their circumstances, she has rushed to the defense of religion and firearms, while knocking back shots of Crown Royal and beer.... She might run to the right of McCain, if she makes it to the general election, and get the votes of rebellious conservatives. Or she, Lieberman, and McCain could form a pro-war coalition, with all of them running to pick up the phone when it rings in the small hours."
Notice the Weekly Standard's gratuitous swipe at Obama on the way past, while pretending to boost Hillary as someone tough to run against. Yeah, right, the Republicans just love the Clintons and are shaking in their boots at the thought of a Hillary Clinton/John McCain match up!
Here's Karl Rove's wet dream/Republican strategy. When the Weekly Standard et al. have done their work and, through a series of backhanded compliments, fooled the Democrats into thinking Hillary would be harder to beat than Obama then phase two -- the easy destruction of Hillary -- will begin.
It's October 1, 2008, deep in the batcave Rove is talking to his pals...
"Gentlemen; can anyone seriously contend that the presidential candidacy of Hillary Clinton would be possible without the fact that she was married to Bill Clinton? Hillary Clinton would not have become a senator, let alone be running for the presidency, absent being Bill's wife. Her association with Bill Clinton is the bedrock upon which her candidacy stands. Unlike Obama, who's association with his minister was peripheral at bes t- -and that the public is now sick of hearing about -- Hillary Clinton's ties to Bill Clinton are the foundation of her candidacy. So here is what we'll be pounding home...
"A far bigger issue than Obama's minister is Hillary's association with her husband! Anything Rev. Wright said vis-a-vis damage to Obama's chances against our boy was pale by comparison with what Bill did, said, was and is and Hillary's political association with him. Even if this isn't "fair" on so-called moral grounds--as in the privacy of the Clinton's bedroom, bla, bla, bla,--it's certainly fair game now because Hillary's connection to Bill is not just personal-- it's also a political marriage, especially since he's out campaigning as much as she is...
"Obama had to answer for his minister again and again. Now it's perfectly fair to ask Hillary to answer for Bill. It may not be polite, but as Bill said; 'Politics is rough, and if you can't take the heat get out of the kitchen.'
"If who baptized Obama's children was Hillary's business ('I wouldn't have stayed in that church!') then who she conceived her child with is all our business too! Even if it isn't 'our business' her candidacy is our business and that's entirely based on the legitimacy -- and damage control -- she conferred on Bill by staying with him even after he:
"# Committed adultery in the Oval Office with a young woman about the age of Hillary's daughter,
"# Pardoned criminals in a manner that -- at best -- seemed to bolster credible charges of corruption,
"# Cashed in on his public service to the tune of $108 million (in contrast to, for instance, Jimmy Carter's legacy)
"# Cashed in on his presidential connections, including dealings with foreign dictators and using his influence for his own and for his friend's gain,
"# Engaged in far-flung and dubious fundraising practices during his presidency in which the Lincoln Bedroom was virtually for sale,
"# Entered into a corrupt relationship with donors to his presidential library,
"# Amassed a fortune in a 'charitable' family foundation and only began to disperse some of the money in the context of launching Hillary Clinton's campaign,
"# Has a continuing reputation (well established by friends, associates and personal connections, check out the new FOX NEWS footage about to be released!) for gross philandering that he will bring back into the White House and keep shaming America,
"# Left the Democratic Party with a discredited legacy, an impeachment and the loss of both houses of congress,
"# Played the race card in the fight against Obama, (we can pick up a lot of black votes for once now that the Clintons have managed to alienate most American blacks, maybe forever! Or, at least those people will stay home this year!)
"So here's the deal boys. I Karl Rove, tell you this: Since it was legitimate for Hillary to ask why Obama stayed in his church for so long, it's much more to the point to ask why she stayed with a corrupted, money-grubbing serial sexual predator and what he'll be doing for the next eight years back in the White House! All we had on Obama was his pastor. With the Clintons we have, well, everything! Even our seventy-year-old has-been cancer patient hero, saddled with a six-year-old war, and with no plan for the economy, or energy, or universal medical coverage, and who's been saying he'll follow the lead of the most unpopular president in modern history with more of the same, can beat the Clintons!"
Frank Schaeffer is a writer and author of CRAZY FOR GOD-How I Grew Up As One Of The Elect, Helped Found The Religious Right, And Lived To Take All (Or Almost All) Of It Back.