I've been struggling over the last several weeks to decide if Bill Clinton is intentionally sabotaging Hillary's campaign because he really doesn't want to be the "First Laddie" or if he is simply that out of touch with modern reality.
I still don't have the answer but I have come up with a few points that support each side in my internal debate:
The Sabotage Theory
If you were the former President, especially after Monica, and your wife didn't leave you. You'd look like a real ass if you didn't support her run for president. But after having the real deal for 8 years, I don't think the office of "First Laddie" would be appealing. In fact, I think it would suck.
Bill is doing some very cool things in the world. I have a friend working high up in his energy initiatives working to help the developing countries reduce energy consumption. This is important work that will only improve Bill's legacy as time goes on. Not as visible as Al Gore's work yet but serious stuff and I think Bill is enjoying it.
I also believe Bill when he says that he respects Obama's skills as a politician.
So I imagine Bill Clinton thinking:
What to do? What to do?
I know... How about if I act in a way that fits the existing negative narratives to remind voters that there were some things that they did not like about the Clinton years and that Hillary is not me since I know that is what many voters really want when they support Hillary. I need to remind them that a vote for Hillary is NOT a vote for Bill.
Then when I see Bill Clinton – the best Democratic politician of the last 40 years – making dumb mistakes, I have to wonder: "Is he doing it on purpose?" I know I'm not the only one thinking this. I've seen other comments around the blogosphere.
Saying he was against the war was a really dumb statement with a predictable backlash. So is this an intentional sabotage strategy?
Coming down so hard so often on Obama is a really dumb strategy with a predictable backlash. So is this an intentional sabotage strategy?
The Vegas strip voter lawsuit was a really dumb suit which had very little chance of working and a very predictable backlash. So is this an intentional sabotage strategy?
The Out of Touch Theory
An alternate theory is that Bill and Hillary are both so out of touch with modern reality that they thought these tactics would work. At first, this seemed too far fetched. I mean Bill is really smart, Hillary is very smart, how could they not notice this?
But those of us who have been immersed in technology and the internet for decades sometimes don't realize how fast things have changed and how much they have changed since the blogosphere and YouTube. If you don't use email yourself and blog yourself and spend time on the internet yourself, it might not be so obvious how much has changed since it has happened so quickly.
Imagine you were faced with battle where none of the old tried and true tactics worked?
Make some shit up and WHAM the next day it makes CNN, MSNBC, ABC, Fox, hell everyone knows you lied.
Send some surrogates to do your dirty work and WHAM the same day you are getting called for it. Not just by the insiders but by your own supporters.
Send some bullshit to the media through back channels and WHAM it makes the papers the next day.
This is not the game that Bill is used to playing. This is not the game that Hillary is used to playing.
Blowback is immediate, severe, and hard to counter.
Conclusions?
I'm curious what others think is behind the serious missteps in the Hillary campaign and Bill's over-the-top comments of late?
I still go back and forth on this one.