Is Bill Clinton Undermining Obama?

Paul Vitello had an interesting piece in the New York Times September 26. Vitello writes that "...Mr. Clinton's answers to questions about the presidential race between Senators Barack Obama and John McCain seemed to some Obama supporters like the damning faint praise of a Democratic holdout."

Vitello cites Clinton's characterization of McCain as "honest" and "trustworthy," and says, "Mr. Clinton has missed few opportunities, while allowing that he disagrees politically with Mr. McCain, of Arizona, to say how much he likes the senator and to praise him for his support of Mr. Clinton's efforts as president to normalize relations with Vietnam and intervene in Bosnia."

Vitello goes on to say that the former president "...went out of his way to praise Mr. McCain's running mate, Gov.Sarah Palin of Alaska. 'I come from Arkansas,' he told reporters, 'I get why she's hot out there.'" The problem seems to arise when one looks for similar support of Barack Obama. According to Vitello, "...no one seems to have heard him say the same for Mr. Obama. Instead, when speaking of Mr. Obama, the Democratic nominee, Mr. Clinton has assumed a professorial stance that sometimes drifts toward emotional aloofness and disregard."

This article by Mr. Vitello reinforces what I have said before, on Gather and in other places: that the Clintons secretly hope Senator Obama loses so that Hillary can be well positioned to run for the White House in 2012.

Think about it. If Obama wins, Hillary is essentially done. She won't be able to challenge a President Obama in 2012 unless something radical happens, like he gets caught with a goat in the Lincoln bedroom or some similar scandal. But if he loses to Senator McCain, then all bets are off. If Obama loses, Hillary will probably be damned near guaranteed the Democratic nomination in the next presidential election.

So, I think Hillary and Bill are doing the bare minimum possible to keep themselves in the good graces of the Democratic Party. Both are out campaigning for Obama, but without the enthusiasm and energy one would expect from a united Democratic Party determined to get Obama into the White House.

I know some may think this theory is a bit out there in left field, but it does help explain the actions of the former president and his off-the-wall comments. It also helps to explain Hillary's tepid campaigning and lack of enthusiasm for countering the effect of Sarah Palin.