Are the Clintons Hurting the Party?

The body of a letter I sent to the TPM over the recent debate about the behavior of Bill & Hillary Clinton:

Sorry I'm late to the party over the comments of AK, RA, and whether or not the Clinton attacks are hurting the Democratic party. I agree with AK that the Clintons are hurting the party. Moreover, my republican relatives are now gloating over how Democrats are waking up to what they hated about the Clintons in the 90s (or so they say). Back in the 90s, I defended the Clintons because they were fighting for Democrats. Now, Bill and Hill are savaging Obama (Muslim smears, drug smears, bald-faced lying about his record) and that hurts a rising superstar.

One thing that needs to be emphasized, especially in response to RA's contention that the GOP will fight dirty so the Democrats will have to fight dirty. Besides the blatant immorality, it's not really true. The reason why McCain is popular even among Democrats is because he seems to have a smidgen of truth-telling and honor. Yeah, it may be false, but that's how he comes across. So does Obama. However Romney and Hillary appear to be pandering liars - and that's why they have very high negatives.

Another reason why Obama vs. Hillary is different from Obama vs. GOP - there is no greater uphill battle for any Democrat than to go against Bill Clinton. The only president in recent years who comes close to the ardor the rank and file Democrat feels towards a president would be to JFK (and, of course, to FDR). Obama has to fight against a very popular figure to the people who form the base support! The fact that Obama is doing so well - and he is, when you look at the increasing rising poll numbers, the close elections in states that Hillary was carrying by two-digits only weeks before - is testament to how strong a candidate Obama is. If he can keep winning against these insane odds, than he can beat a GOPer.

And let's look at the converse. Obama can't attack the Clintons because Democrats love 'em. But Republicans hate Bill and Hill. The attacks against Hillary in the general election won't be under-the-radar swift-boating... it will be over the top, full throated attacks 24-7 for months and months. It will be the impeachment battle level rancor and slime without the protection of the Presidency.

The idea that Hillary is better suited to fight against the GOP is false. Especially, as we see, she falls apart into quick-response madness, self-inflicted wounds, and unforced errors against Obama. She'll get destroyed destroyed destroyed when against McCain and/or Romney. Ugh.

Backpost finished 2009-12-18.