Several months ago, the Romney campaign made an interesting concession. As the Republicans saw it, they could use Bill Clinton to their advantage, trying to point to imaginary differences between him and President Obama, in the hopes of making Obama seem less moderate. The move, Romney's advisors said, was "devised as a trick to drive a wedge."
In practice, Republican praise for Clinton -- an unimaginable development in the 1990s -- raised the former president's stature, credibility, and reliability. In the new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, Bill Clinton is the most popular political figure in America -- with a favorability rating 21 points higher than it was a decade ago.
And now that Mitt Romney and the GOP have boosted Clinton's reputation, Team Obama is taking full advantage.
For those who can't watch clips online, Clinton says in the ad, "This election to me is about which candidate is more likely to return us to full employment. This is a clear choice. The Republican plan is to cut more taxes on upper income people and go back to deregulation. That's what got us in trouble in the first place. President Obama has a plan to rebuild America from the ground up, investing in innovation, education, and job training. It only works if there is a strong middle class. That's what happened when I was president. We need to keep going with his plan."
The ad, called "Clear Choice," will air in New Hampshire, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Iowa, Colorado, and Nevada. Rumor has it, the spot did awfully well with focus groups. The spot also begins airing as Clinton gears up for a high-profile role at the Democratic National Convention in two weeks.
In terms of the larger context, there are a couple of angles to keep in mind.
The first is that Romney's plan was a mistake. By trying to drive a wedge between two political leaders who agree on practically everything, Republicans, as a practical matter, only boosted Clinton's popularity to new heights. The Democrat the right loved to hate -- does everyone remember just how intense the GOP's hate-filled rage towards Clinton was in the '90s? -- has become the former president the American mainstream loves to love.
So, now that Romney has helped elevate Clinton, even as part of the ridiculous welfare smear, the Big Dog's words have that much more salience.
The second is a more subtle argument about the economy in general. Greg Sargent had a sharp take on this today.
In the spot, Clinton focuses on the future and on the past before Obama was president. The contrast it draws is between Clinton and Obama's approach on the one hand and Bush's and Romney's approach on the other. As Steve Kornacki notes, the ad plays the Bush card without saying his name. The ad also draws this contrast without discussing what has happened under Obama. Clinton carefully says Obama has "a plan" and that we "need to keep going with his plan." This stops just short of saying the recovery is underway, but it hints that we're moving forward and promises recovery in the future, just as happened under Clinton.
In other words, the ad rebuts one key part of Romney's argument (Obama doesn't have the answer; I do) by reframing this as a choice between the Clinton and Bush approach. But it doesn't directly take on the other part of Romney's argument (you have already shown your approach has failed).
There's ample polling data that not only shows Americans frustrated with the economy, but widespread annoyance when confronted with arguments that the economy isn't that bad anymore. The mainstream still believes the status quo stinks and doesn't like being told otherwise.
But that's partly what makes Clinton's message clever: he's not saying things are fine; he's saying things will get better so long as we don't go backwards and adopt the Romney/Bush policies.
You may be wholly dissatisfied, the ad tells voters, but you sure as hell don't want to embrace the agenda that got us into trouble in the first place.
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I do not trust Billy Bob Clinton now; I have never trusted Billy Bob; and I will never trust Billy Bob.
I just hope that Billy Bob believes it is in the best interests of the Clintons' political interests to have Obama as president for the next four years rather than having Billary taking on an incumbent repuknican president.
Clinton may not be the best, but you have to admit - he's a damn sight better than Vulture/Voucher 2012.
Surprisingly candid of them. I guess when your candidate's character and policies offer little if anything positive on which to campaign, there's not many other choices left...
Vulture/Voucher 2012
Proving Two Rights DO Make a Wrong!
;-)
Grumpy, Clinton was the best and called Mitt Romney's record "STERLING, CROSSES QUALIFICATION THRESHOLD" while he called Obama's runaway spending as "RECKLESS, AND SHOULDN'T BE RAISING TAXES IN A RECESSION"
Um . . . that's not his name. It's William Jefferson Clinton, not "Billy Bob."
Always nice to see our favorite Stepford Wife make an appearance, reminding us of what the term "airheaded bimbo" means as she tries to tell us that up is down, left is right, black is white and day is night.
Cindy, Pres. Clinton did not say that. That is a lie invented by Faux "News".
Clinton did say Romney's business record was "sterling".
More interestingly Clinton could be considered a leader for the "war on women". Adultery, sexual harrassment, and accused rape should qualify him and the Kennedy's for flag rank.
Just a reminder, people. Shooter, immediately above, is nothing but a bratty troll who doesn't actually believe the bull@!$%# he's shoveling. Don't waste your time actually replying to him.
Cindy:
To quote your BS:
Seems what you do is what all the rightwingnut Republicans do: Take things out of context and then LIE!!
Here's a link to Clinton's remarks:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2012/05/31/clinton_no_question_romneys_sterling_business_career_makes_him_qualified.html
Now listen to the WHOLE thing!!!!
As for the rest of your remarks that you "claim" Clinton said:
Unless you can provide a link, I will have to call that for what it is: a rabid LIE!!!
You can stop your BS any time now - we are on to you! We know you don't care a rats A$$ about Clinton, you are just another puppet trying to do what your "controller" tells you to do! BTW, how much do you get paid for each of this little unsubstantiated "blurbs"?
Sorry Shade, but I do believe everything I write, and I always tell the truth.
Shooter,
Now you are being cynical!!!
Shooter raped me
Congratulations Shooter, now that you've been falsely accused of something you are a criminal. Please go turn yourself in to the nearest police officer.
See how stupid of an argument that is? By the way committing adultery isn't a war on women. It is a violation of marital vows, but it is not an act specifically targeted towards women. Adultery isn't gender biased. And Clinton, again, was never charged with sexual harassment. These, again, were allegations put forward. They were not truths.
I also just want to point out that Shooter has claimed he always tells the truth yet on another post he asserted that Clinton was in fact convicted of rape (which he never was). Now Shooter has redacted his statement in his new post, but has not made a correction on the old post to acknowledge the error. So not only does Shooter incorrectly report information (admitted by his change in position), but he insults your integrity and intelligence by assuming that if he doesn't make note of the correction you will blindly follow.
And he calls Obama arrogant.... IOKIYAR
Just a reminder, people. Shooter, three posts up, is nothing but a bratty troll who doesn't actually believe the bull@!$%# he's shoveling. Don't waste your time actually replying to him.
I suspect that Cindy lotsanumbers, the Summa Cum Laude[cough,bullschmidt] NYU grad works on Madison Avenue writing blurbs for book jackets and movie posters.
BREATHTAKING in stupidity. FASCINATING in the breadth of her dishonesty. SHE IS TRULY A WONDER in her ability to turn a quote inside out and pervert it's true meaning. I wonder if she works for the Romney campaign.
Pretty weak if you ask me , considering the lie being generated on the work to welfare program that Bill initiated.
He should be naming names and calling out the Mendacity
Indeed. A full televised press conference detailing the welfare reform law and calling Romney out as a liar, then taking an hour of reporters' questions. That would make the news, and watching the thugs suck air trying to respond would be terrific.
Why would Clinton wish to burn his credibility by looking as if he's working for the Obama campaign when his value is as an elder statesman giving his opinion?
I swear, a third of the clicks I make on Newsvine end up double posting.
Bill Clinton is the most admired and respected politico in the US today and enjoys profound popularity and respect around the globe. He is not a hired hand to be "put to good use" as the headline suggests. The headline is belittling to the international stature and standing of President Clinton.
Calm down. I'd bet Pres. Clinton himself wouldn't object, as he's a pretty easy going guy (albeit a very intense one when he's "on the job" as it were). In particular, I'd bet he wants to be useful in stopping the GOP from winning this November.
@!$%# no, he's getting paid....
There is nothing new under the Sun, sayeth the Preacher.
Neither Presidential plan is novel. Romney wants to go back to the halcyon days of George Bush (and how's that working for ya?) and Obama, implicitly, thinks we were better off under Bill Clinton.
So, the interesting question for the US public is not, "are you better off today than you were four years ago (I don't think the Republicans want to ask that) but rather:
Were you better off at the end of the Bush administration or at the end of the Clinton administration?
Maybe Obama should step down and let Hillary take it.
Way back during Bush the Lesser, anyone could tell that any future Democratic President was going to get "the Full Clinton Treatment" with the vast right-wing conspiracy attempting to outdo itself in the categories of lies, innuendo and hyperbole. Obama is a bracing slap in the face of these people, and it irks them no end that the guy is squeaky clean, something they can barely believe possible. Now Mitt is unabashedly presenting himself as our future Liar-in-Chief, and the Republican'ts are treating truth as a discarded marketing ploy, deemed insufficiently stimulating.
"I did not have sex......with that woman.....Monica Lewinsky."
-Bill Clinton
Eric: Go have sex with yourself, you bloody wingnut wanker.
It was amazing how little people cared about that back then. They care even less now.
Clinton is popular for the same reason Mitt is unpopular: authenticity. Clinton genuinely empathizes with, and cares about people. Romney is incapable of doing either, unless the "people" are at least multi-millionaires.
What? TC throwing insults and nothing else? Wow, that NEVER happens!
It's part of his legacy, it's never going away. Don't forget Clinton also said Mitt's time at Bain was "stellar".
Oddly enough, if nobody cares about Clinton's womanizing, then why is virtually 100% of tonight programming devoted to genning-up the "War on Women"?
On the one hand no one (politician, American people) wants to:
1) acknowledge exactly how badly off WE as a nation were economically.
2) recognize that it's CONGRESS that makes legislation - or NOT.
3) President Obama isn't Superman who can reverse time or turn this economy around all by himself!
And yet WE expect him to produce miracles all by himself. In the face of the obstructionist liars in Congress whose policies got US into this mess in the first place! People, WE all need to vote out the GOTP as though our lives depend on it - because our lives DO depend on it!
Not once has Obama said the economy is good or even where he wants it. He has taken pains and risked criticizm to remind people that we have a long way to go. The real deal is to remind us also of how the republican party has stopped Obama at every turn--even when he turns in their direction!
Ooh, I wish I could read the focus group report on this ad. I'd love to know if the nuances Steve mentions in this post actually came through to people, because this is a masterstroke of political advertising. Really, just perfectly done.
Clinton needs Obama to succeed and set the stage for Hillary Clinton to run in 2016. If Obama can put the economy in better shape in 4 more years, it will pave the way for Dems to build a larger majority in 2014 and a possible Dem president to succeed Obama. If Obama cannot significantly improve the economy, then Dems will be at a disadvantage. This will carry over to state elections, particularly the swing states. It is a monumental task which is going to be difficult without a Dem Congress. I would suggest that if Dems control the Senate, they should abolish the filibuster and holds as their first order of business. That will allow Dems to advance their bills to passage in the Senate even if the House is Republican. It might even help Dems to have a campaign promise to end the obstructions with these procedural devices. This would allow Dems to pass a lot of legislation and send it to the House which would then be the obstructionists. That would help Dems in 2014.
You know, Clinton may want Obama to succeed for about the same reason a lot of us here want him to succeed: We want this country to be governed by a reasonable and intelligent person who has many of our best interests at heart. When I think of the Banana Republic Objectivist Kleptocratic Dystopia that will follow a Romney/Ryan victory, I feel like stocking up on Mormon dehydrated food stores.
In addition to what Daniel pointed out immediately above, I'd also say that I really doubt Sec. of State Clinton has plans to run for the Presidency. She's already hinted several times that she's done with electoral politics, and anyway, she'll be 69 on election day 2016. That's a pretty advanced age to be dealing with the stress of a presidential run. McCain certainly didn't do a good job of it back in 2008.
I have no doubt that Clinton has the best intentions for the country, but I think he is trying to keep the option open for Hillary. We have SCOTUS justices that are a lot older than her. And don't forget Reagan was just as old when he was elected.
It all sounds good to me, four more years Obama then Hilliary Clinton. I think She would make an excellent President.
If they really wanted to put Clinton to good use, they'd have him call a press conference where he details what the truth is about welfare reform and calls Romney out as a liar and then takes reporters' questions for an hour. It would definitely make the national news, and watching the Republicans respond to that would be truly delicious.
Dang! I'd love to see that.
Hey TC! Clinton's truth is he thinks Mitt's time at Bain is "stellar". Maybe he can be asked about that? HA! I'm sure that would make some news and be scrumptious.
Romney was stellar at making profits... Means diddly sh!t when it comes to being a leader and his Mass. record proves that.
Why did NO ONE vote for BO budget? He's a great "leader", he should have got one tiny vote, but no, even Dems thought it too radical....some leader.
This is what's called derailing, Eric, and is a classic sign that you don't have any real point and are just trolling.