Bill Clinton: Take a Vacation

If ever someone needed to take a vacation and leave the campaign trail it is the former president of the United States Bill Clinton.

If the Democratic Party wants to have any hope of being a united party in November party leaders -- other than the leader of the party -- Bill Clinton -- need to tell Hillary's husband that he is doing much more harm than good to the Democratic Party by his remarks against Obama.

If the two term former president wants to keep his excellent post-presidency reputation intact he should go back to his philanthropic activities and his business at his presidential library and the Clinton Initiative programs.

If the first serious woman running for president of the United States wants to prove she can win the White House on her own merit she should tell her husband to move to Sweden or some other country far away from upcoming primary states.

If the Democratic presidential contest is not to drift down to its lowest level about who was friends with what slum landlord or who was on this or that board of directors of unpopular corporations then Bill Clinton should find a hobby other than politics.

If Democrats don't want to give away their high ground -- after all they are not the party with the unpopular president currently in the White House -- they should all encourage Hillary's husband to exit stage left.

The overall tone of the Democratic presidential campaign has gone downhill since the 42nd president of the United States started taking such an active--and mainly, negative role--in the campaign.

The discussion has gone away from the key issues of the day from Iraq to solving the housing crisis and other economic ills to name calling and arguing over really nothing at all in order only to score political points.

William Jefferson Clinton is an astute politician, probably one of the best political minds in the past fifty years, who appears to have lost his exceptional skills campaigning for his wife.

It now looks as if President Clinton's remarks and actions are helping his wife's main opponent, Senator Obama. It is very unfair for Obama to have to respond to two Clintons these days. After all, it is Hillary that is the one running for president. This is rapidly being lost as the former president continues to give talks discussing the "glory days" of his presidency.

If Hillary and the others are using the the word "change" in every other sentence having your spouse talk about going back to the days of his presidency in the 1990s certainly is not change. And, it is not experience to talk about your husband's presidency either.

Hillary is being overshadowed by her husband on the campaign trail. We are not going to be voting for a return to a Bill Clinton presidency. Hillary has to explain how she will provide "change" for the country. Having a spouse talking about the past isn't going to do it for her.

And, having a spouse who is taking away from her message on the economy and foreign policy issues is petty and demeaning for a former president of the United States.

Watching the Clintons one wonders how much they really want power to help the country or how much they really want power to have power again.

Now that the former president has interjected himself front and center in the campaign of his wife it is time for voters to ask what role will he play in her White House if she is elected.

America actually can survive without a Bush or Clinton in the White House. Voters realize it is time for a change -- hopefully both Clintons will wake up to the fact that we aren't voting for a restoration of Bill's presidency but voting for a candidate with new ideas of his or her own.

Bill, go to Sweden or Hong Kong or somewhere far away from the campaign trail and let your wife run for president on her own. The other candidates seem to be doing just fine running on their own. Hillary, go out on the campaign trail without Bill and battle Obama and Edwards on your own.

Hillary, if you can't win against your Democratic opponents on your own how do you hope to beat your Republican opponent in the fall if you get the nomination.

As a voter, I want to vote for only one person for president--not a husband and wife team to occupy the Oval Office!

Comments

[MR]

Thank you for being wrong. The overall tone of the campaign went south,literally when Obama's supporters stupidly and ignorantly tried to attack Clinton on the issue of race over her very correct comments about LBJ's role in getting the civil rights act passed. Before then it was just contentious with Obamas people thinking they could say anything while attacking his positions was supposed to be off limits.

[ccspruce]

Hey, Mr. Guttman, have you seen the movie "What about Bob"??? Bill Clinton is ON VACATION!!!! He is having the best time of his life----campaigning for his wife, the love of his life.

[darkacre]

Oh and I suppose it is fair that Oprah, one of the most popular and powerful person in the world, endorses Obama in front of millions of viewers everyday and Obama's wife Michelle trashes Hillary with "..you can't even clean your own house, let along White House".

I guess these dirty innuendos are A OK as long as your favorite candidate does it. If Obama supporters applied the same strict standards they have against Hillary on themselves, they would realize that Obama is alot worse than the Clintons.

Bill Clinton didn't win in a landslide in 96 because he miscalculated. And he isn't about to miscalculate now after 10 years the wiser. He IS a brilliant politician and knows exactly what his doing. Trying to win the presidency for his wife with his god-given and age-wisend skills. Why should he? He has every right to support his spouse. Were you as critical of Bush's father help? It is Obama who chose to RUN against Hillary knowning full well that Bill would come with the package. He thinks he can take them on, so let him. But sadly, Obama expects people to punch lightly when he is in the ring while he punches any which way he can. Bill may be pissing off Obama supporters (who are behaving like a spoiled brat), he is making Hillary as popular as ever. The more Obama supporters panders to the dislike of Hillary, the more it will push people over the fence to her side(as you saw in NH). Neocons have hated the Clintons for the longest time to the tune that is being sung now by the Obama supporters. Result: Landslide.

On a lesser note: Hillary supporters doesn't whine and criticize whenever Obama wins a primary or an endorsement on the otherhand, whenever Hillary accomplishes something, everyone hates her for it, attacking her integrity with DIEBOLD conspiracy to cries of racism...That about sums up the difference between Obama supporters and Hillary for me.

[LoloZ]

Excellent piece "Bill Clinton Take a Vacation."
While she was in the lead, Obama was a nice young man. After Iowa the claws came out, and then Bill was sent on the attack. How can women think HRC represents them when she can't challenge Obama on her own and on her own merits? She is dividing the race, the democratic party, and it is a glimpse into what her presidency will be like. And Bill will be on his own program, doing god knows what. Obama is a breath of fresh air, and we better realize what a chance we have here. Listen to his speeches, especially the one he have at MLK's church in Atlanta. Listen to that and you will have no doubt as you go to the polls. Lets end the Clinton dynasty now!!!

[PerryLogan]

I'm still waiting for someone to show me what rule Bill is breaking.

[vbond]

"Watching the Clintons one wonders how much they really want power to help the country or how much they really want power to have power again."

What's to wonder?

[GhostOfSchlesinger]

Seeing Bill Clinton's deepest and darkest nature emerge out of the shadows of a psyche stricken by some very deep inner schism has served to both undermine the office he once held and to demean and devalue the candidacy of his wife.

There is no doubt that the Clinton's suffered multiple spiritual crises while in the White House. I, for one, had genuinely believed that the former president had healed the divide between his ideals and his actions - that, indeed, he had applied a spiritual balm to that very human portion of himself that undermined the functioning of a brilliant political mind and the integrity of his service.

I still believe that's true to a significant extent. But I also believe that his wrath - a well-utilized tool in the past (one thinks, for instance, of his argument with a certain Fox News reporter) - has become a burden for his wife and, more importantly, for our country.

Senator Kerry and Robert Reich and the author of this article are entirely correct. For, while the winning of an election must be a fiercely emotional undertaking, there can be no excuse for mangling the truth in pursuit of power - particularly when the mangler is a former president.

[GLaB]

Robert Guttman. Aren't you the one who back in October said Obama couldn't win without going after Clinton's character?

"It did not appear at last night's debate that Obama really cut into Hillary's lead. He was articulate and on top of the issues but he has to move more aggressively against Senator Clinton and her positions and her character if he hopes to make any movement in the polls."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-guttman/obama-is-he-tough-enoug_b_70600.html

Why yes, you are THAT Robert Guttman.

Why should anyone take anything negative you have to say about the Clintons as anything more than partisan drivel?

[traveler501]

Everyone knows more than Bill...blah, blah, blah. The woman is way ahead on delegates, she will win the primary and the general. Enough with the media "experts."

[VictoriaHope]

Beautiul dream, wake unto me. And I do NOT mean "dreamer"!
Trash 2008! That is what the campaign for presidential nominee of the democratic party has become because of "them."
Nevertheless, we did for just a remarkable moment or two experience uplifting oratory and the promise of a politics of CHANGE in Washington governance from presidential hopeful Barack Obama. Unity. Bi-partisanship. "Gentlemanly" behavior--civility--among the candidates as they debate their health, education, economic proposals to bring about a better life for the poor, the "squeezed" and all Americans.
But, Hillary is about 60 years old. By hook or by crook now is her time, Barack. . . . . She will be too old 2016, but you will not. So Barack Obama, not now, and either you step aside willingly or we will have to do what we must do--demonize you and break down the audacity of your hope. We doubt not your integrity nor the capacity of your super intellect--you mounted a campaign against us that inspired dems AND indies AND repubs! The audacity of it all!
Hill weeps and Bill the Stomper in Chief begins beating the Hope out of the Democratic Primary 2008.
Doubtlessly Obama assumed former first lady Clinton as his opponent would behave competively during the primary. But that a team would operate against him -- Stomper in Chief and Lady of Smear. No!
Barack went public and put Stomper in Chief Bill and Lady of Smear Hill on notice.
No cry baby Barack. (Now the "whole world" is calling Hill and Bill on their low campaign tactics and the damage they are doing.)
Voters charmed by bad boy Bill and want to set them up in the White House again will vote for Hillary and the competencies she may have in a co-presidency. Voters who hold public officials to higher standards and seek a new kind of White House and govenment will vote against Clinton in the primary and general elections.
Go Barack! Fire Up! Ready to Go!

[SDnavyPROUD]

Unfortunately the chances anyone convincing Bill to disappear and let Hillary handle the campaign are slim and none. Even Barack and his acknowledge that prez #42 has that right.

This family is some greedy, ego-maniacal SOBs, that have managed to brainwash a pretty significant number of democrats. Thats the only reason that explains why regardless of how much bad press, and all the scandalous characters we have witnessed over the years, no one is able to take them down.

[Krazime]

So it looks like McCain will be our next president, because as a Democrat, I'll be voting for him over hillary. The clintons have destroyed this race with their divisive and dishonest politics. And I'm sure there are thousands who feel the same way.
I'm through with the Democratic Party.

[TheWesternBreed]

Can she divorce Bill as soon as she gets into the White House?

[S1m0n]

Indeed. From what we've seen this election cycle, Hillary's two moves are 1) call in Bill, and 2) cry.

Neither are very flattering for a would-be commander-in-Chief. If she can't stand on her own two feet--just ONCE--wtf is she doing pretending she's capable of being president?

The primary is where candidates prove themselves fit to lead and fit to run. Hillary has so far done neither; when she was running her own campaign, she was losing ground. Since Iowa, 'her' (unquote) campaign has turned around, but apart from the tears, she's had nothing to do this happening.

[nads2985]

A quick question - should Michelle Obama and Elizabeth Edwards stop campaigning for their spouses as well?

Yes, Bill Clinton has a bigger megaphone than they do, but hes just doing the same thing that they are doing for their husbands. He just happens to be much better at it.