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The Billification Of Barack Obama
Kathleen Parker
And the Democrats did heal themselves.
And Bill Clinton did pass the baton to Barack Obama. And Hillary Rodham and her staff did comfort the disappointed. And the people hugged. And the people wept. And then both men texted their wives with the same message: "Smile, mama, it's almost over."
And Michelle and Hillary did smile.
But is it over?
Is the pope pro-choice?
Whatever the Clintons say or do, it is never -- ever -- for the benefit only of someone else. And it is never over.
When it comes to politics, the Clintons are twinnier than the Twin Cities where Republicans will gather next week. For their entire marriage, the two have acted as one organism, both aimed at a common goal: Survival of the Clintons.
Their performances at the Democratic convention, no matter how polished, can't suddenly be viewed outside the prism of that knowledge and our nation's experience. They are nothing if not professional pols, and both surpassed themselves.
But beneath that sea of tranquility and brotherly love being projected from Denver is a roiling mistrust.
The Obamas don't trust the Clintons -- and they shouldn't. The Clintons haven't really surrendered -- and they won't.
History tells us as much.
Watching Michelle Obama as the cameras panned her face during the former president's speech was to be reminded of that history. It was irresistible to wonder what she was thinking. At times unsmiling and barely clapping, she seemed unable to muster her political face. We can imagine her thinking: Remind Obi-Wan to check that baton for razor blades.
It must have been supremely difficult for her to sit and watch as the convention hall welcomed Bill Clinton by exploding into prolonged applause. Barack Obama is The One, not Bill Clinton.
But it was like old times for the former president, swaddled in adoration, marinating in the musk of his minions. Oh, the rapture, the bask. So much flesh.
For his part, Clinton did what he has spent a lifetime doing -- trying to make everyone love him. All the chatter about his statesmanlike qualities in bridging the divide and healing the wounds is Kool-Aid talking. What else was he going to do? Minimize Obama's nomination by comparing him to Jesse Jackson, as he did after the South Carolina primary?
No, he's more clever than that. Instead, he praised Obama's opponent, John McCain, reminding all those disenfranchised women that they still have a choice.
"The Republicans in a few days will nominate a good man who has served our country heroically and who suffered terribly in a Vietnamese prison camp," Clinton said Wednesday night. "He loves his country every bit as much as we do. As a senator, he has shown his independence of right-wing orthodoxy on some very important issues."
But of course, Clinton supports Obama.
A few days earlier at the National Clean Energy Summit in Las Vegas, Clinton praised McCain's energy policy.
"Obviously, I favor Senator Obama's energy positions, and Democrats have been by and large the more forward-leaning actors," Clinton said. "But John McCain has the best record of any Republican running for president on the energy issue and on climate change. I'm very encouraged about where the presidential rhetoric is in this campaign."
Really?
Hillary, too, played her necessary role as unifier. She gave a great speech. And, yes, she moved to suspend the roll call of states and nominate Obama by acclamation. But what else was she going to do? Remind Democrats that Obama isn't ready to take that 3 a.m. call?
Patience is a virtue of age, they say, and the Clintons have learned to wait. If they can survive adultery, public humiliation and impeachment while in the White House, they can muddle through a little setback like Obama's nomination.
Obama is special, to be sure. He is unique. He is often inspiring. He also can lose.
If he does, Hillary will be ready on Day One. That is, Nov. 5, 2008. By the Clinton calendar, 2012 is just around the corner.
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Kathleen Parker's e-mail address is kparker@kparker.com
(c) 2008, Washington Post Writers Group
This news arrived on: 08/29/2008
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Posted Comments:
09-04-2008 17:27
RichFair wrote:
Amazing!
I still find it so hard to believe that the right-wing hates Bill Clinton so much.
Worse yet, that anyone in their right mind could believe that McCain made a good VP choice in Palin, his heartbeat away from being President. If you loved George Bush and all that he has done to this country, then, of course, McCain/Palin is your choice.
As George said, "Fool me once, fool me ... uh... anytime ... again?"
PS: What does Ann C, Bill O, Sean H, & Russ L think about this? They must be thrilled.
Worse yet, that anyone in their right mind could believe that McCain made a good VP choice in Palin, his heartbeat away from being President. If you loved George Bush and all that he has done to this country, then, of course, McCain/Palin is your choice.
As George said, "Fool me once, fool me ... uh... anytime ... again?"
PS: What does Ann C, Bill O, Sean H, & Russ L think about this? They must be thrilled.
09-04-2008 00:49
Sunshine49 wrote:
Politics
I hope that the undecided watched Palin's speech tonight. She proved that even she is more qualified than Obama to run this country. She didn't make any stupid promises to start a bunch of programs that will throw the U.S. into another Depression. She vowed to fight the corruption in Washington and I believe her. She's already proved that she can and will go after special interest and corruption as she did in her own state. It won't matter how many times Obama says "a change you can believe in" because it will stay the same for the people unless you "change" Washington.
An added history note. Kennedy and Johnson got us into the Vietnam war on lies. Johnson escalated the draft after he became President. Then, when Nixon was elected, the Democrats cut off the funding for the war, causing thousands more of our soldiers to be killed. That's what Democrat politicians do. They don't care about the average person. To them we are dispensable as long as it suits their agenda. They'll do anything to make Republicans look bad, including sacrificing the lives of our soldiers. Don't let this happen again! Don't vote for Obama!
An added history note. Kennedy and Johnson got us into the Vietnam war on lies. Johnson escalated the draft after he became President. Then, when Nixon was elected, the Democrats cut off the funding for the war, causing thousands more of our soldiers to be killed. That's what Democrat politicians do. They don't care about the average person. To them we are dispensable as long as it suits their agenda. They'll do anything to make Republicans look bad, including sacrificing the lives of our soldiers. Don't let this happen again! Don't vote for Obama!
09-03-2008 16:01
Hyst wrote:
NO
This Democrat say's NO to M.O.,B.O. & J. B.
09-03-2008 12:51
AnneB-Illinois wrote:
I think you are right regarding the party faithful - the people at the convention appeared to unite. But, don't forget, they were preaching to the choir, the people who will remain Dems regardless, and will vote for their party regardless. There are people like myself, who have voted for candidates of both parties at all levels, who quickly decided that I could not unite with anyone in the Democratic party because of their treatment of Hillary. And, over the last few days, that decision has proven correct. I doubt that there is a Democrat anywhere who could now convince me to vote for them, now or in the future - not after what their operatives have done to Gov. Palin. I chose to believe that most will not believe the vile and despicable articles, comments made by talking heads, reporters trying to make news instead of report it, etc. Hopefully, we are better than that! At least Hillary has shown that women can weather the storms created by the other party and the national media (most of whom should crawl back into the hole they came out of!). Go McCain/Palin! The best team for '08 and beyond!
09-03-2008 09:46
Chris wrote:
Billification....
To Smile:
Have you ever heard the term, "Keep your friends close, but heep your enemies closer."? All the Clintons can do now is to ride it out and see what happens. By moving to have the roll call suspended, she has disenfrancised literally all of her voters in order to look like a "good sport." The whole purpose behind such a move was to avoid a confrontation and make sure the superdelegates wouldn't have to embarrass themselves or her.
Have you ever heard the term, "Keep your friends close, but heep your enemies closer."? All the Clintons can do now is to ride it out and see what happens. By moving to have the roll call suspended, she has disenfrancised literally all of her voters in order to look like a "good sport." The whole purpose behind such a move was to avoid a confrontation and make sure the superdelegates wouldn't have to embarrass themselves or her.
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