A Fine Point

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The editors who craft the Post-Gazette’s daily stands on the issues affecting the region, the state and the nation hold an on-line conversation with readers about key topics in the news. The PG editorial writers are: Tom Waseleski, Reg Henry, Susan Mannella, Tony Norman and Dan Simpson.  

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Et tu, Bill?

Tony Norman

What's up with Bill Clinton? The so-called "genius" of American politics has been co-opted by Republican presidential candidate John McCain's campaign BIG TIME!

Bill is the star of John McCain's latest ad. Clinton is quoted spreading the blame for the fiscal meltdown evenly between Republicans and Democrats going back to his administration.

"I think the responsibility that the Democrats have may rest more in resisting any efforts by Republicans in the Congress or me when I was president to put some standards and tighten up a little on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac," Clinton told ABC News last week. The quote made it front-and-center into one of McCain's ads, followed by a narrator's "unbiased" analysis of Bill Clinton's words:

"Loans soared. Then, the bubble burst. And taxpayers are on the hook for billions. Bill Clinton knows who is responsible."

How does it feel to catch a spear with your heart, Mr. President? This is what happens when you say nice things about your party's opponent during the height of a tightly-contested presidential campaign.

I understand that Bill Clinton was probably feeling more bipartisan than usual last week because John McCain was a guest at one of his foundation events, but fluffing the pillow for the man who is trying to keep your party out of the White House isn't cool.

Last week, Mr. Clinton said nice things about McCain several times. I wouldn't be surprised if McCain's campaign featured those sound bites in upcoming commercials to make it seem as if the former president was campaigning for Obama as a matter of form, but endorsing his Republican opponent by subliminal suggestion.

This is no time to go all "fair and balanced" on the Democrats, Bill. Either you're in this thing to win it - or you're not.

 

Posted Sep 30 2008, 03:13 PM by Tony Norman
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Comments

Dave@OMT wrote re: Et tu, Bill?
on Tue, Sep 30 2008 8:31 PM

Of course, I believe that there is nothing good to say about any Republican, so I’m especially disappointed in Bill’s insistence on making nice with McCain.  

This is especially true in light of the contentious primary battle between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, in which a lot of the sheen wore off Bill’s political prowess, largely through his own doing.  You’d think by now he’d know better.  Sometimes I wish he’d just stay home with his cigars.

But let’s not forget about the Republican’s shameless use of both Bill's and Hillary’s remarks for their own vile purposes.  You don’t see the Democrats using clips in which Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and Rudy Giuliani are talking about what a useless hack John McCain is.   And there’s certainly no shortage of footage on that score.

If there’s a cheap, dishonest, misleading or underhanded way to win an election, you can be sure that it will be embraced by the Republicans.

This year, though, it’s going to backfire.  The sun is setting on this poor excuse for a political party.  

Ruth Ann Dailey must be fit to be tied.

kevin morris wrote re: Et tu, Bill?
on Wed, Oct 8 2008 5:16 PM

Do you really think the Clintons want Obama to win? In four years McCain will be 76 and the country will be in a worse mess than it is in now. Hillary will breeze into the (still) White House.