Why President Obama needs Bill Clinton now more than ever -- Political enemies must make a pact to defeat Mitt Romney
By: Patrick Roberts | Published Tuesday, June 5, 2012, 10:45 AM | Updated Tuesday, June 5, 2012, 10:45 AM
 |
| President Barack Obama and Bill Clinton |
Make no bones about it, President Obama and President Bill Clinton can barely stand each other.
The body language when the two are together says it all. Clinton, the touchy feely type, rarely embraces Obama, while the President looks like he'd rather be on another planet when Clinton is speaking.
Now, however, Obama needs Clinton desperately.
Last week's economic figures make clear that the home run Team Obama had been expecting in the November election is not happening.
Worse still, Obama may get thrown out because of the economy and the peculiar inability he has to generate passion anything like what he did four years ago.
Enter Bill Clinton.
Back when he was railing against Obama on the campaign trail and being unfairly called a racist it looked like the big ol' southern dog was finished.
Now he is easily the most popular politician in America.
So popular that the Mitt Romney camp have been using him and his better economic record to skewer Obama, and the opinion polls show it is working.
That is bad news for Obama who now realizes he has to keep the big dog on the reservation.
So the current series of fundraisers in New York where they will appear together will be just the start.
Expect Clinton and Obama to be tied to the hip from Labor Day on, when the real battle starts.
-----------------
Read more: Vatican slams book on sexuality written by Irish American nun
“I am neither American nor Irish” growing up Woodlawn with Irish parents-----------------
Clinton is the Democratic Ronald Reagan, the sunny figure who made the economy grow and made people feel better.
Obama's legacy is a lot less convincing than that -- half solving a desperate recession that hangs around like a bad flu that could turn to pneumonia.
Together, however, they can bring back those vital swing voters that Obama needs to win a re-election.
For Clinton there is the ever present issue of Hillary and what she needs to do.
No one is ruling her out as a candidate in four years.
But running in an open election against a Republican incumbent is an awful lot easier.
Which is why it is important for the Clintons that Obama is re-elected.
Obama remarked during his race against Hillary last time that she was "likable enough"
The question now is whether he is likable enough to the American electorate
Ironically, the Clinton machine he defeated now represents his greatest opportunity to make that comeback and win the White House again.
When it comes to re-election for "O" all roads lead to Bill and Hill and their active and enthusiastic support.
What a turnaround.
29 Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Bythebay | Jun 13, 2012, 01:31 PM EDT
IrishandProud,they won the recall election because there wasn't a violation of the constitution which is what a recall is about. Differences of policy opinion do not fit the recall requirement.
peterson | Jun 10, 2012, 09:02 PM EDT
The Clintons have no love for Obama ---Just watch what is about to happen !!
BrianO | Jun 07, 2012, 02:50 PM EDT
pilibo4, "Is feider linn", "yes we can." seems like blind support to me, but I like individual freedom, not statism.
IrishAndProud | Jun 06, 2012, 02:44 PM EDT
Soooo many stories on Irish Central today, yet not a single syllable (as of this moment) about the Wisconsin recall election that the GOP won. Hmmm...one might think they're either ignoring it completely, and/or currently trying to come up with a column that rewrites it favorably toward 'Offaly's favorite son' (which sounds like a white-guilter attempt at political correctness). Of course if the OTHER guy had won in Wisconsin, you can bet it'd be SCREAMED all over Irish Central. Oh, well...liberalism trying to pass itself off as mainstream does tend to act that way. That's why no one watches the old dinosaur networks, anymore.
Bythebay | Jun 06, 2012, 02:16 PM EDT
pilib04, Offaly hasn't designated Obama as its favorite son. That must be another US designation by his supporters.
pilib04 | Jun 06, 2012, 01:25 PM EDT
BrianO, blind support? So, if I disagree with you and support Offaly's favorite son, it's blind support? Your pulling my leg, right? Is feidir linn.
Bythebay | Jun 06, 2012, 12:15 PM EDT
Bill Clinton is not a source that will gete Obama votes. He is unfocused and confused. Clinton did nothing himself, his staff did as well as Hilary. He even thinks Dullahan is an Irish horse! It's a US horse and its Donegal Stables is in Iowa.
BrianO | Jun 06, 2012, 12:57 AM EDT
pilib04, blind support never a good thing.
pilib04 | Jun 05, 2012, 10:32 PM EDT
I continue to support Offaly's favorite son. Is feidir linn.
BippyBellito | Jun 05, 2012, 07:33 PM EDT
Bill Clinton is a pragmatist. He knows what a disaster the Obama presidency is and wants to cut his lowwes. He may go through the motions, but Obama's assault on Catholics has not won him many friends. As a self-respecting Catholic, I could never vote for Obama. He is The Devil incarnate.
BrianO | Jun 05, 2012, 06:55 PM EDT
Clinton is a masterful politician, probably the best in my lifetime, but he is not the economic wizard the press likes to paint him as. The congressional sweep and dare I say newt Gingrich's congress reigned in the Clinton spending machine and Clinton was smart enough to go for the ride. Obama would be smart to make a deal with Clinton but I don't Obama's ideology will permit that.
IrishAndProud | Jun 05, 2012, 06:25 PM EDT
Correction to my last post: it should read "...and that Romney's no Reagan." BTW...did someone darken Obama in that photo with this article? Clinton looks paler than normal, and Obama looks decidedly darker than normal -- and no, it's not just because they're standing next to each other. I've noticed people tend to do this with Obama photo's, sometimes.
mairint | Jun 05, 2012, 06:22 PM EDT
....and you want more of this Obama regime? How stupid can you be? Romney may not have the qualities we would all long for but they will be better than the dictatorship currently residing in the White House. It is been a disaster which millions of Americans are regretting.
IrishAndProud | Jun 05, 2012, 06:18 PM EDT
Clinton also said that the Bush tax cuts should be extended (in addition to all else I posted, below)...he's no friend of Barack. That, plus no president in modern history has ever been re-elected with unemployment this high (it was NEVER this high under Bush), and the collective economic outlook this gloomy. Obama will not be a sudden new exception to that. Now I know some will say Mitt Romney will MAKE Obama an exception to that - and that Obama's no Reagan. That's true...but he's also not Barack Obama - and that alone may be enough to win it for Romney, in addition to all else. Bammy looks to be one and done -- and good riddance.
jamieLM | Jun 05, 2012, 05:58 PM EDT
It's widely known and reported among those who know that Obama and Clinton can hardly stand each other. After the election, see how much time they spend in each other's company. This buddy routine speaks volumes about Obama's confidence in being re-elected. If Obama wasn't so worried, he wouldn't give Bill the time of day and vice versa.
jamieLM | Jun 05, 2012, 05:52 PM EDT
hwy is bytheway concerned about American politics?
Dubnorth | Jun 05, 2012, 02:52 PM EDT
Clinton cannot stand Obama. the author of the recent book "The Amateur" got the title from how Clinton refres to Obama in private. That said he has to be a good litte democrat and support, or at least be seen to support him.
Skibberrean | Jun 05, 2012, 02:38 PM EDT
DITTO.....DEV4....One Adulter and One Marxist, how pathetic!!!
IrishAndProud | Jun 05, 2012, 02:22 PM EDT
Well, well, well...it seems all this big talk from Obama supporters about him easily winning re-election this fall takes an occasional pause to admit reality: the man is in deep, deep trouble and is quite likely headed for defeat (as all the undercurrents indicate). Unfortunately Bill Clinton is not exactly the reliable backer the Obama people hope. He's recently called Romney's business career 'sterling' (or 'stellar') and wasn't exactly known to be a rock-solid Obama guy back in '08, either (remember some of his comments, there?). He's much more interested in promoting Hillary (and himself, where possible) than in helping the rapidly-sinking ship of Barack Obama -- soon to be the USA's first (half-)black, one-term ex-president, with one of the worst records in history.
Bythebay | Jun 05, 2012, 01:57 PM EDT
Bush left a dismal legacy which Obama has tried to correct. Obama won last time by 6% of the vote, hardly a resounding plurality even with Sarah Palin as McCain's VP. Clinton won't help Obama, Clinton is a politician whose time is long gone.
Nicomax | Jun 05, 2012, 01:32 PM EDT
As in many card games, choosing the card to play is usually a difficult decision. In 2008, the Dems chose to play the younger black Jack, than the more experienced red Queen, and now the Jack needs all the help he can get from the Ace of Hearts. In hindsight, many now think the Queen was the card to play, but looking at the other low card in their right hand, may still play the black Jack once again.
dev4 | Jun 05, 2012, 01:19 PM EDT
they should be happy two peas in a pod. one the biggest sleazebag that ever walked the earth,the man who disgraced the office of the presidency and the other hate America clown they deserve each other
AAudio | Jun 05, 2012, 12:24 PM EDT
Obama is going down because he is very smug and is trying to take away religious freedoms. He is going down because he is a fake. He is going down because he is an amateur. I'm not so sure even Clinton can save him. But if he worked with Catholics instead of making them enemies he could save himself.
clonmel21 | Jun 05, 2012, 12:19 PM EDT
Let me get this straight. Obama cannot make it on his own, since his record is so dismal. So he needs the help of Clinton. Now who is running for President? Clinton or Obama. If Obama can't stand on his own why would one vote him back in pray tell. Your article is so foolish.
EamonnDublin | Jun 05, 2012, 11:53 AM EDT
The post headed "FastEddy" (June 5th, 11.25 am) is by me, not Fast Eddy. Sorry about that - I omitted to log in and when you do that the system attributes the next poster's name to your post also! I've put my name at the bottom, as always. Éamonn, Dublin, Ireland.
FastEddy | Jun 05, 2012, 11:37 AM EDT
" ...Political enemies must make a pact to defeat Mitt Romney ..." ... As if, LOL! ... "... government is not the solution, government is the problem." - Ronald Reagan in His First Inaugural Address ... and to say that the burden is on the slick one? LOL, as Clinton has already endorsed Romney! ... LOL
FastEddy | Jun 05, 2012, 11:25 AM EDT
Why would anybody want Obama to continue wrecking the United States? And, by the way, as you know, Obama got 95% of the black vote in the last presidential election: McCain got just over 50% of the white vote. In that situation, who are the racists? Well, it wasn't the whites, so that leaves ......? Éamonn, Dublin, Ireland.
johhnyb | Jun 05, 2012, 10:25 AM EDT
Ah cillowen, we always have to finish up blaming those wicked Brits. It's the national passtime.
johhnyb | Jun 05, 2012, 09:27 AM EDT
So, if the economy is a disaster and Obama can't generate any passion, why does Irish Central clearly think it is so important for Obama to win. Do you think America's economy can stand another few trillion of debt? Just wondering.