Bill Clinton, The Closer

by Taylor Marsh

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

All doubters come forth.

Watch, listen, release any qualms you've been harboring.

Bill Clinton joined Barack Obama last night in Florida and lit it up. Nothing was spared. No question remains.

"Are you ready for a new president? And are you ready for this new president? ... .. Barack Obama represents America's future and you've got to be there for him next Tuesday. ... I want to say a few things that he can't say on his own behalf. ... There are four reasons they ought to be for Barack Obama. ... Number One: The philosophy. Number Two: The policies. Number Three: The ability to make a decision. ...Number Four: The ability to execute that decision and make changes in people's lives." - William Jefferson Clinton

Obama's got the right philosophy. America works from the ground up, not from the top down.

"They talk about redistributing the wealth. They just presided over the biggest redistribution of wealth upward since the 1920's, and we all know how that ended." - William Jefferson Clinton

There is no one who can talk about economic justice and the importance of equality like the Big Dawg.

Obama gave Bill his due.

"Nobody, nobody, makes the case for change that works for the middle class like President Bill Clinton. Nobody. And while I'm at it I also want to say just a little something about Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton -- applause -- because I learned from her and President Clinton as a candidate. I'm proud to call them my friends. I know how much we'll need both Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton in the months and years to come. Florida, I think you'll all agree with me that we all wish that the last eight years looked a lot more like the Clinton years when he was in the White House." - Barack Obama (video)

There was no one who could close in Florida for Barack Obama like Bill Clinton, the last Democrat to win that state in a national election. He did it with class and generosity of heart and spirit, with his usually WJC style and intellect, and without any reservations whatsoever.

The rest is up to you.

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Comments

[ncscl]

04:46 PM on 10/30/2008

At different points in our nation's history; leaders have stepped forward, empowering us. We have been in need, for at least a decade. Barak's emergence is remarkable, given our country's condition. If the nation desires to rise above pettiness, he will be our next President. It will be "one" of those moments in time.

[ElBruce]

04:11 PM on 10/30/2008

If Bill had started this earlier and been getting a lot of prior exposure giving strong endorsements, nobody would have cared, because the other side would have had time to spin it: "of course Clinton endorses Obama, he's a Democrat, nothing new here." Worse, they might have dredged up all the old anti-Clinton smears from the 90's. This doesn't give them enough time to massage the message, and it leaves voters going into the booths with that speech fresh in their minds.

Also, Bill's endorsement of Obama way back at the convention was at least as good as this. You can't think back on that and accuse him of not being enthusiastic about this.

Finally, it's been the method: Bill, Hillary and Biden have been hitting the Steel bels ground game while Obama plays to the air. It's exactly what they should have been doing, and it's been done perfectly.

[michellemtsu]

03:54 PM on 10/30/2008

This is even further proof as to the BRILLIANCE of the Obama campaign. One day historians are going to look back and say, "THIS is how you win the presidency." Kudos to both Senator Obama AND President Clinton for a job well done!

[JaneAusten2]

03:23 PM on 10/30/2008

Taylor - you know how I love your posts. Once again you have captured the moment as I watched it. Obama knew exactly where to use Big Dawg and the Big Dawg knew exactly what had to be said. And I don't for one minute believe the media hype about the animosity that is between the Clinton and Obama camps. Makes for great theater but when you want the job done you call in the big guns and that is exactly what WJC is.

[wheresthebeef]

02:44 PM on 10/30/2008

Welcome home, Bill.

[customgreen]

02:43 PM on 10/30/2008

I am not one who believes that Bill Clinton held back. I think the Obama team has held him back on purpose. Think about it. If they had been using Bill Clinton all along his effectiveness would be deminished by now. Bringing him out near the end of the campaign to me is brilliant. Barak knows that no one can talk plain talk like Bill Clinton, Obama knew just where to use him and Bill Clinton knew just where to be used. I am certain they have been in close contact and had this all worked out. It was something to see, something to behold. The two most gifted speakers of our time sharing the stage giving the crowd and the country reasons to reject the recent past and move into a new era. I think it's impact, timing, location couldn't have been better! This is one smart group of people, and they will win Florida and the general election in an electoral landslide.

[Taylor Marsh]

03:01 PM on 10/30/2008

BINGO.

[icemama]

11:53 PM on 10/30/2008

As always Ms. M., that which is not obvious to many, you extrapolate and present it for what it truly is. I love how you delve into the hidden "whys" so eloquently. You always make sense to me. Thank you.

[ESerafina42]

02:40 PM on 10/30/2008

Go, Bill. And this is like the Powell endorsement, which I criticized for coming so late, but have now changed my mind on. It has that much more effect. The punch hasn't been worn away by constant repetition and dimmed by the passing of time. If Florida ends up going for Obama (or at least with enough of a majority that it can't be stolen), this speech will have a lot to do with it.

[EuroAmerican]

02:17 PM on 10/30/2008

I hope more younger voters will turn out in Florida. For now their numbers have been lagging alarmingly.

Sadly, Obama needs all the help he can get. This country is still very entrenched and hypocritical.

If he had made only one of McCain's many blunders, we'd have to count Obama out.

[Titus]

02:07 PM on 10/30/2008

All I can say is. It's about time Mr. President. You could have helped Senator Obama much more by saying this over and over again every where McCain went. Regardless of your other faults, no one can deny your administration worked with Congress to provide a long period of growth and prosperity to this country. I wish you had entered the arena sooner.

[Taylor Marsh]

03:01 PM on 10/30/2008

Just for the record, WJC has been campaigning a lot in areas where Bubba loves him.

Also remember that it was Barack Obama who orchestrated the brilliance of last night. He wanted a closer and there was only one man who could provide yet one more push right before election day.

It was planned as political theater, wherein the final act is begun most dramatically.

[FogCityJohn]

03:59 PM on 10/30/2008

I think Bill Clinton has been going where he's helpful and avoiding places where he's not. I also think that you *have* to be sparing in using a former president as a surrogate, particularly a larger-than-life figure like Clinton. If one isn't careful, he can suck all of the oxygen out of the room. (That's not a criticism; it's just a fact of life.)

In that sense, I think Hillary Clinton has been a far more effective surrogate. She knows how to campaign and is trusted by traditional Democrats. Perhaps more important, she provides a devastating contrast to, and argument against, Sarah Palin, and she does it simply by being herself. Hillary shows people what a female contender for national office *should* look like -- displaying powerful intelligence, a peerless command of policy detail, and an ability to sit down with any interviewer or debating opponent and hold her own (and then some). Best of all, she does it all without so much as mentioning Palin's name.