Becoming Your Old Opponents

Posted by Dan Martin on 02.23.2008

How Hillary and Bill Clinton are now running on what they used to run against.

Maureen Dowd of the New York Times is certainly one of the most talented and biting columnists covering politics today. A column she wrote in early January made the point that, "The people from Hope are arguing against hope." I am not placing myself in or near the same galaxy let alone league as Dowd when it comes to being a political columnist. I do think this point she made can be expanded upon and also shed light on Hillary's struggles heading into March 4, 2008.

Bill Clinton did conclude his 1992 Democratic National Convention speech with the phrase, "I still believe in a place called Hope." This invocation of his fortunately named hometown in Arkansas painted the young Clinton in sharp contrast with the older George H.W. Bush. Bill Clinton and Al Gore were both in their 40's and looked like young business partners as the Bush-Quayle ticket looked like a father and son team at a three legged race. In 1996, Bob Dole's Republican Convention speech centered on the idea of building a bridge to a more decent time in an earlier era. Bill Clinton's speech talked about building a bridge to the 21st century.

The problem for the Clinton's is that in 2008 no one is still on the bridge to the 21st century. The Obama campaign has cornered the market on hope and the future. Hillary is arguing experience and readiness are why she should serve as President. Those might be good arguments. However, if the Democratic contest was solely contested on résumés Bill Richardson and Joe Biden would be in a duel for Ohio and Texas right now. Hillary's experience level is not bad, but holding an elected office for fewer than 8 years does not make her the second coming of FDR either. Stodgy arguments using terms such as "false hope", "fairy tale", and "let's get real" do not inspire.

"False hope" vs. "I still believe in a place called hope" demonstrates how much things can change in 16 years. George H. W. Bush said he did not get "the vision thing" that Bill Clinton was supporting in 1992. Bill quickly retorted by invoking Proverbs 29:18 saying, "Where There Is No Vision, The People Perish." Hillary is echoing the losing side of the Clinton-Bush election. By harkening to the 1990's she is building a bridge that goes backwards.

Bill Clinton had a successful presidency in many ways, but the battles also left scars on himself, his party and on the U.S.A. Hillary and Bill have lived through many changes since 1992. Notably, Hillary's health plan failed to gain approval in 1994 and Bill is now an elder politician who has suffered a heart attack. The political team that once answered questions on MTV in 1992 now look about as current as the #18 song of 1992 "Life is a Highway" by Tom Cochran.

The appeal of the Clintons in the 1990's was offering a new path to U.S. voters. Now, they want to reverse the clock. This might be a good strategy for some political candidates or legacies. However, if the Clinton's have been in the business of pushing vision, hope and the future, they may have found the one political task they cannot accomplish: holding back the future. Barrack Obama is the rightful heir of the Clintons' message from the 1990's. He can take that message in directions they can no longer muster. If Texas or Ohio swings to Obama, the refrain has to be "The King is Dead, Long Live the King!" Even if Obama losses close races in Texas and Ohio, it likely spells Hillary's demise. My guess is the new Democratic royalty not only believes in a place called hope, he is the current resident of that metaphorical place.