Does anyone remember last year's Democratic primary when all of a sudden Hillary became some kind of populist hero among many middle class whites? She did exceptionally well in some conservative parts of America and she got the endorsement of many a Blue Dog.
While there are many explanations for her success, one reason I believe is that a lot of people missed Bill Clinton. I don't think I need to explain why.
Bill Clinton certainly has a lot to do as the UN special envoy to Haiti. Haiti's got lots of issues, and that's why Clinton got the job. But couldn't he take a break to sell Obama's health care plan to the American public?
Bill Clinton has the battle scars of health care reform. He is a New Democrat that has ties to the more conservative, probusiness aspects of the Democratic Party. Bill did quite a bit of campaigning, and something tells me that he is still somewhat popular in Blue Dog districts. Bill could be the link between the Blue Dogs and the progressive Democrats fighting for a public option and all the things that matter in health care reform.
During Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, there was one thing that bugged me about Obama: the lack of a mandate for his health care plan. In this instance, Hillary was more liberal than Obama. The candidate with the support of the DLC dems and the more conservative Dems had a liberal health care plan.
Conservative Democrats screwed the Clintons on health care reform back in 1993. The last thing they want to see is the Ghost of Health Care Past reminding them that they failed to reform health care sixteen years ago.
You can say what you want about Bill, but he's a heckuva debater. He can chew up hecklers and deliver good, substantive speeches. Bill would be a perfect man to see on Sunday talk shows to fight for health care reform. He has the credibility to talk about what went wrong then, and what can go right now. He can deliver this point more effectively than anyone: if Democrats don't succed in reforming health care now, we might not have health care reform for another decade, if at all.
This is the dreaded August recess. It is a long time for politicians to mobilize and destroy health care reform. But it also gives time for Obama and Democrats to try and seize the momentum away from Obama's opponents on health care reform. Obama needs to tour the country to discuss why we need reform and that's what he is doing. But he needs help. And I can't think of a better person to help him out than Bill Clinton.
I wish I could be more substantive and include links, but I'm too lazy.