Bill Clinton may be shaping up to be the worst surrogate of all time. Not only has he pummeled President Obama’s campaign’s economic message in present time, he also managed to plant this ticking time bomb back in 2010 (h/t Joe Schoffstall):
And [Republicans] say [Democrats] had 21 months, put us back in. The Democrats are saying something like this: Look, we found a big hole that we did not dig, and we didn’t get out of it in 21 months, but at least we quit digging. So, don’t go back in reverse, give us two more years and if it doesn’t work you have another election in just two years, you can vote us all out then. But for goodness sakes, we quit digging, don’t bring back the shovel brigade.”
Clinton made this comment the September before the 2010 midterm elections, so the argument from Democrats will probably be that the economic recovery was set back after the obstructionist Republicans took back the House. Still, the GOP will more than likely hold onto the House even if Obama wins reelection, so what message does that send the public? If Obama is basically conceding that he can’t reboot the economy as long as there’s divided control of Congress, then he’s pretty much saying that the next two-to-four years of his second term would bring no progress either. Considering that Obama ran in 2008 as a bipartisan uniter, that’s an interesting case to make.
Clinton’s line is attack ad gold for the GOP. If they pair it with Obama’s “one-term proposition” comments, it will be doubly brutal.
It makes little sense to suggest that before the mid-term elections in 2010, Bill was being disingenuous and trying to clear the way for Hillary in 2016. In 2012, it is not altogether preposterous, however, to suggest that possibility, though a loss by Obama now wouldn't serve Hillary's purpose in the way it would have in 2008. The thing is that Bill may pull for the Dems in general, but he always pulls for himself first.
Geez, once more a Commentary blogger indulges in wishful thinking. Clinton said nothing more than Obama did in 2009, i.e. that if the economy hasn't shown marked improvement by 2012 he, Obama, should be voted out of office. n So what. No one cares about those quotes, except apparently Ms. Goodman and a few others. Be assured that after Labor Day when campaign really heat up, Clinton (and Hillary) will be out there pounding Romney and working hard for Obama. n Also, the Hillary in 2016 angle is nonsense. She had her chance and Obama beat her. There will be other, newer faces for the Dems in 2016 (as there will be on our side if Romney loses.) The Clinton Era, such as it was, is gone. n