Bill Clinton Earns His African-American "Green Card" Back, Temporarily

The card had been revoked during the Democratic primary when he made what many in the black community perceived as racially-tinged comments when Barack Obama won the South Carolina primary, dismissing it by saying Jesse Jackson won South Carolina when he ran for president.

The former president came out in full force for Obama Wednesday while vice president candidate Joe Biden put presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain on blast for everything from the economy to the so-called War on Terror.

Clinton has had a strong following among African-Americans during his presidency, so much so that he has been called America's first black president. He proclaimed not only that he would support Obama, but also that the Illinois senator was ready to be commander-in-chief. The latter was something the Republicans hammered his wife on not saying during her speech.

But Bill Clinton covered nearly all the bases in his support for Obama and how he believes the last eight years under George W. Bush has hurt America economically along with its image around the world. Now comes the big test. Both Clintons will be able to ride the headlines and the convention for all of a couple of days before the Republican convention, where the other party will remind Americans of everything they said against Obama in the primaries. The Clinton's green cards are issued only temporary with the expiration date set for Nov. 4.

It will be up to them to maintain the enthusiastic endorsement for Obama and make the connection between McCain and President Bush until the November election. The Republicans will unleash withering attacks against Obama over the next few months that will make their initial use of Rev. Jeremiah Wright look like a monk prayer service. They will use the words of both Clintons in the primary against Obama.

If the Clintons fade into the woodwork and leave it only to Obama to answer back, McCain will win the election. The Republicans upcoming "love affair" with the Clintons is nothing more than a booty call. It's the ugly boyfriend or girlfriend you take to the private park but never ever around your friends.

The Clintons must strike back hard in September and October at these attempts like they struck back at the convention. Then, and only then, will they get their African-American green card back permanently.