Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bill Clinton and the Homer Simpson Effect (w. Updates)
Obama’s statements this morning, on Good Morning America, courtesy of Talking Points Memo:
Some observations:
- Remember, in late October, prior to a Democratic candidates debate, when Obama told the New York Times that he would criticize Senator Clinton during the debate? By the time the debate happened, Obama could just sit back and let the other candidates and the debate moderators do his job for him. (That was the debate in which Clinton flubbed the illegal immigrant drivers licenses question, and then played the gender card to very mixed reviews afterward; the beginning of the end of the “inevitable candidate” spin.)
I think a similar dynamic will now set into place here. Now that Obama has said he’ll counter Bill Clinton’s next outbursts directly, he’ll have to take a number behind all the others cutting into line to get there first.
- The Homer Simpson effect: Twice now, right before the New Hampshire primary, and right before the Nevada caucuses, Bill Clinton showed anger in front of the TV cameras. I’m beginning to think that it was staged - feigned anger - in both cases. Yes, it hurts Bill’s credibility with significant parts of the electorate, but he’s not on the ballot. It also generates sympathy for Senator Clinton, much in the way that cartoon character Homer Simpson’s bumbling moments cause viewers to empathize and root for his wife, Marge who in addition to having to deal with all her struggles, has to deal with the problems generated by hubbie. I think a lot of people - with similar grumpy old men in their orbit - can relate to that.
- Will Obama’s statements reign Bill in? If they do, Obama racks up some leadership points. But I doubt it. Can Bill help himself, really, when the TV cameras are turned on? He’s obviously enjoying being back in the game and the limelight. But now the scrutiny will increase on the former president’s every word, and he may not be able to get away with as much from here on out without generating a backlash against his candidate. It should be a fascinating week ahead to watch in South Carolina.
Update: That didn’t take long! This morning (from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution):
With former President Bill Clinton standing not 20 feet in front of her, Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin took what appeared to be a political shot at the former president’s comments about Barack Obama’s candidacy.
Speaking at the 40th annual MLK commemorative service at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Franklin said the country is on the “cusp of turning the impossible into reality. Yes this is reality, not fantasy or fairy tales.”
Clinton, in supporting his wife Hillary’s bid for the Democratic nomination, recently took heat for using the term “fairy tale” to describe Obama’s depiction of his stance on the war.
Franklin has endorsed Obama, who spoke from the same pulpit at Ebenezer on Sunday.
Today, after Franklin’s remarks, the crowd of more than 2000 rose to its feet — except for Bill Clinton, who sat in his front pew seat and clapped politely.
Clinton later addressed the audience, saying, “Mayor Franklin already took care of the political stuff. I wouldn’t have said it quite the way she did but she got it all out there.”
Five seats to Clinton’s left sat another former Arkansas govenor, Republican Mike Huckabee, also seeking his party’s nomination as president. He stood at the end of Franklin’s remarks…
You know it’s a new century when Mike Huckabee joins a standing ovation at Ebenezer Baptist Church and Bill Clinton doesn’t. (Or as Homer would say, “Doh!”)
http://ruralvotes.com/thefield/
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
