How do You Combat a Combative Former President?

Lately when I turn on the news I wonder who is really running for President, Bill or Hillary. I'm sure the candidates would like to know who they are up against, it might make it easier to figure out a game plan. Never in history have we had a former President of the United States actively campaigning for their spouse. Of course it isn't just any President, but one of the most popular presidents the Democratic Party has ever had. Now, Bill Clinton isn't just making a few appearances and shaking a few hands....he is lashing out and getting riled up. Somehow, these tirades are actually helping his wife's campaign.

I watched the entire clip where Bill Clinton answered the question on judgement in New Hampshire, where he went off on Barack Obama and accused him of wavering in his opposition on the Iraq War. He also accused Obama of using dirty campaign tricks. I watched Clinton get in the face of a member of the media about the Caucuses being held in the Casinos in Nevada, and ranting about how he believes those votes were being weighed five times more heavily than the rest of the votes. I have looked all over, and I have no idea what he was talking about. He was angry, argumentative and vague, things that would usually turn people off. How do you act that way in front of the cameras and have it not negatively affect your cause? Well, when it comes to my buddy Bill, he can fall in a steaming pile of shit and come out smelling like a bouquet of roses. Not only did his temper tantrum not negatively affect the outcome of the Caucuses, but it actually seemed to help, similar to Hillary's tears in New Hampshire. President Clinton defending his wife like a big gray lion there to swat down and rip the throat out of anyone who threatens to get in her way.

When you are a candidate running against the Clinton regime, how do you combat a combative former President? Obama addressed this issue on Good Morning America and raised the question of whether or not it is appropriate for Bill, being a former President, to be doing and saying the things he has been saying about Hillary's opponents. He has a point. When you listen to what Bill says in it's entirety, you'll notice how his words are vague and his explanations are flimsy.

In New Hampshire Bill Clinton blasted Senator Obama for saying he was against the war the entire time. Bill says this isn't true and his reasoning is as follows: Clinton says that Barack Obama stated at the start of the war that he was against it, and then a couple of years later when questioned, he said he didn't know how he would have voted. This serves as Bill's proof that Obama was not against the war the entire time. Come on Bill, you can do better than that!. This isn't support for the war, it wasn't an actual vote and it was probably a statement that was taken out of context. In spite of all this, Bill Clinton has grabbed onto that tidbit and is using it for all it's worth. If you listen, the tidbit is worth nothing.

What the Clintons have learned after their many decades in politics, is that most people listen to the news, form their opinions, and never dig any deeper. So spit out something that sounds credible, put in a few big words, make the words sound sincere and that is all you need. This has worked for them for decades.

Let's compare spouses and their levels of support. Michelle Obama may be a great speaker but we don't see her campaigning for and answering questions for Barack on the news everyday. Why? Because she isn't the former President of the United States. There is going to be some media bias. His words are going to be heard more and weighed more heavily, simply because of his previous position in the White House.

Bill Clinton is yelling about fairness, but how fair is it to have to campaign against the former leader of the Free World when he is distorting your record and statements at every turn? What does the Clinton Campaign have to say? To paraphrase, they might say,

"Oh well, Obama is just mad that he lost in Nevada."

How mature. This is a very unique position the Democratic candidates find themselves in. Should there be limitiations on former Presidents regarding how hard they can campaign for immediate family members or would that be a violation of free speech? At the very least it is an unfair advantage. I can only hope they use Bill's antics to plant some seeds of doubt concerning how involved he will be in Hillary's Presidency. There is the question as to whether she is going to lead or follow. Until then, I will keep watching Bill throw his fits in public. When he's mad, he turns the cutest shade of cardiac arrest red you ever saw!