Ronald Reagan left the White House damaged goods. Iran/Contra had pegged him as criminal or incompetent. Nancy whispering "We're doing all we can" made him look like a puppet. He almost certainly could not have been re-elected. He left a massive deficit, a completely ignored AIDS epidemic, and a new age of homelessness in America.
Now he is revered. People feel good about him. He is a critical part of the Republican brand.
Clinton left the White House with extremely high poll numbers. Gore choose the repulsive Lieberman for his running mate, alienating the base of working class people who loved Clinton. Now Clinton is excoriated by the left, instead of remembered for Peace, prosperity, and budget surpluses.
Clinton is a critical part of the Democratic brand, and a part that is widely loved by swing voters. But he is not embraced as an excellent part of the brand.
How did this happen?
At this point, any attacks on Clinton are attacks on the Democratic brand. When Clinton came in office there were bumperstickers that said: Being a Democrat is Back in Style.
The primaries are over. Yet even while shrieking at HRC supporters to feel the love some few can't get over the fact that there was even a fight. Don't support those few. Support the brand. We don't just need a new president. We need Lieberman out of the caucus and 60 Senators.
Indiana is in contention because of the new Dem voters. The ground game that is making that happen, the excitement, and the new voters would be without that extended primary. Or would be far smaller.
Obama and Hillary built excited and motivated ground games in all fifty states because of the primary. And now Obama has both mailing lists and calls them both!
And Bill and Hillary are moving the low information voters who will never swoon over Obama to vote for him.
If this standard applied we would lose the election hands down: YOU MUST LOVE OBAMA.
Clinton says: YOU DON'T NEED TO LOVE OBAMA, YOU JUST NEED TO VOTE FOR HIM. That is the message both Clinton's are selling. And bashing him can turn off critical swing voters, esp the ones who gave him the electoral victories we need. AND it damages the name Democratic for everyone.
Think about Chris Rock. Did he cause anyone who was uncertain to vote for Obama? Or did he appeal to the hard core and potentially alienate the swing voter? Would you rather feel warm and righteous or win a landslide? Because we all know we are on the edge of landslide territory.
A continued lack of respect for our respected Dem President Clinton is UNDERMINING THE DEMOCRATIC BRAND and it HURTS US NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.
This is not about your feelings. This is about the country. This is about winning an election.
Build the whole brand. Elect Obama and sixty Senators and dominate the House. Then we can get something done.
Clinton == Peace and Prosperity
Dems == Peace and Prosperity
Obama == Peace and Prosperity
Reagan == Bush == Bush == Hoover == corruption, poverty, homelessness