Cross-posted at
Clinton Smear Watch.
Conservative gossip-monger and professional Clinton-hater Matt Drudge is gleefully reporting that the New York Times is planning to run a front page smear story on the state of the Clinton marriage.
When the subject of Bill and Hillary Clinton comes up for many prominent Democrats these days, Topic A is their marriage, the NEW YORK TIMES is planning to report on Tuesday Page Ones.
"Democrats say it is inevitable that, in a campaign that could return the former president to the White House, some voters would be concerned and even distracted by the Bill Clinton's political role and his potential for the kind of episodes that led the House to vote for his impeachment in 1998."
Interesting that Drudge doesn't bother to note that Americans were very supportive of Bill Clinton during the impeachment proceedings, and that his poll numbers were
outstanding during that period.
Here's a CNN article from 1998:
Interviews with 852 adult Americans were conducted December 19-20, after the House of Representatives voted to impeach Clinton.
Do you approve of the way Bill Clinton is handling his job as president?
Now Dec. 15-16
Approve 73% 63%
Disapprove 25 33
What is your opinion of the Republican Party?
Now Dec. 15-16
Favorable 31% 43%
Unfavorable 57 47
What is your opinion of both the Republican and Democratic parties?
Favorable Unfavorable
Republican 31% 57%
Democratic 57 30
Should your senators vote to remove Clinton from office?
Yes 29%
No 68
Should Clinton resign now?
Now Dec. 15-16
Yes 30% 33%
No 69 63
Do you approve of the decision to impeach Clinton?
Approve 35%
Disapprove 63
Has the GOP in Congress abused its powers?
Yes 54%
No 41
Who do you want to have more influence over the nation?
Clinton GOP
Now 60% 31%
October 53 39
September 44 43
But of course this is the paper that
invented the Whitewater story, and attacked the Clintons for years when they were in the White House, so it should come as little surprise that they are back in attack dog mode. Drudge expects Pat Healy to file the piece later this evening, and once it is available I will make sure to update this post.
As Drudge might say DEVELOPING . . . (oh wait, he actually did say that).
Update: Here's the NY Times story.