Hillary Clinton Says: No Talking About Bill's Impeachment

There is a new golden rule in politics these days. Thou shalt not talk about Bill Clinton's impeachment. In trying to spin the spat that she and Barack Obama fell into this past week, one thing was made perfectly clear: mention Bill Clinton's impeachment proceedings at your own risk.

Clinton senior advisor Howard Wolfson said Friday that "voters will decide what's off-limits, but I can't imagine that the public will reward the politics of personal destruction." When asked about what is or isn't fair game, Wolfson said he felt references to President Bill Clinton's conduct - or misconduct - would be "under the belt."

In trying to distance her campaign from the Presidency of her husband, Hillary Rodham Clinton is following a now-standard path. During the 2000 presidential election, George Bush ran with the promise that he would "restore honor and dignity to the Oval Office," while Al Gore, Clinton's Vice-President, distanced himself from Clinton's antics, running as a family man.

Hillary Clinton, as well, for the past seven years, has attempted to carve her own place in politics. Recently, however, she has started to harken back to her first eight years in the White House by embracing some of the popular aspects of her husband's two terms in Washington, and referring to those eight years as being somewhat of a joint legacy. But her campaign apparently bristles at any mention of the more embarrassing aspects.

Hillary Clinton may be trying to have her cake and eat it too, according to some political analysts. "She's using him in this campaign, so why can't somebody else use him?" asked a Democrat not currently affiliated with one of the candidates. Like other Democrats, not wanting to incur the wrath of the Clintons, the quote was given anonymously. "She's just made him fair game. He's part of her strategy, so why can't he be part of one of her opponents'?"

Even so, other political followers feel any direct attack on Hillary by way of her husband's impeachment would be foolish. James Carville, an advisor to both Clintons, was even harsher in his assessment, considering such an action to be one of political suicide. "Nothing is off-limits, but it would be awfully stupid," Carville said. "What do you think attitudes among Democrats are about impeachment and Ken Starr? This is not a Washington dinner party here. This is an election, a nominating process, among Democrats."

In addition, such personal attacks may backfire, especially among voters who remember the proceedings led by Kenneth Starr. According to a Clinton official, donations into her campaign's war chest increased after the interview with Obama campaign fundraiser David Geffen was published in the New York Times, and even back during the impeachment proceedings, the former First Lady's popularity was never higher than when the scandal erupted and she was painted as a victim.

Source:

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/24/AR2007022401166.html