Is Bill Clinton Deliberately Sabotaging Barack Obama?

[Drunken Irishman]

19. I don't think it's childish. I think it's human...

People like to be liked. Clinton continues to be a dominant figure in the Democratic Party and really, from 1992-2008, was THE dominant figure in the Democratic Party. That's a long time to be the Big Dog and if Obama wins reelection, I think a part of him realizes that won't be anymore. A reelected Obama instantly becomes the new face of the new Democratic Party, just as Clinton became that face with his reelection in '96. What I mean, is that no one looks to Jimmy Carter as the face of the Democratic Party, even though he's still alive and could almost be called the Wisdom of the Party because of his age. They don't consider him a successful president and though personal opinion of him as strengthened over the years, many Americans still look at his presidency as a failure. It's similar with H.W. Bush, and almost every one-term president whose career wasn't cut short by death (like JFK).

Clinton, by way of winning a second term, instantly became the go-to guy for Democratic Golden Years. We have heard ever since '00 that every candidate in someway needs to be like Clinton. In 2000, Gore lost because he distanced himself from Clinton. In '04, Kerry lost because he couldn't connect like Clinton. In '08, '10 and now '12, Obama has constantly been compared to Clinton.

You don't think Clinton likes that? Hell, I would like it. If Obama loses in November, his presidency will be looked upon similar to that of Bush Senior and Jimmy Carter. Maybe a mix of both. Not necessarily a failure, but hardly anything more than just a footnote in history (once you get beyond the whole first African-American president). If that happens, Clinton will remain the face of the party until either a successful Democrat comes along and wins or he dies and even the latter, his legacy will remain. It's why Reagan continues to be propped up as the ideal Republican, even though two Republican presidents have been elected since his term ended. One did manage to win a second term, but that just exasperated the whole deal and his father is often saddled with an awful economy in the early 90s, even if he did lead us to our first foreign policy victory since WWII.

I'm not saying this is causing Clinton to actively root against Obama. I still believe he wants him to win. But I also believe a part of him, maybe 25% of him, would smile a bit if Obama lost in November because he would know his legacy remained and that he can turn around and say, "see, we shoulda elected my wife..."

That's what I think, anyway.