Accidental Blogger

I was determined that my next post will not be about politics, at least not the toxic discourse that is currently passing for politics in the Democratic Party, in countless sound bites on TV News, alarmist comments by pundits and sniping among the candidates and their supporters.  But Bill Clinton has spoken again and when BC speaks, it is always "something."  Addressing a group of veterans in North Carolina on Friday, he compared his wife’s candidacy favorably with that of John McCain’s:

"I think it would be a great thing if we had an election between two people who loved this country and were devoted to the interests of the country and people could actually ask themselves who is right on the issues, instead of all this other stuff that always seems to intrude itself on our politics."

Did Clinton mean to signal to the audience that a contest between Hillary Clinton and McCain will be one on "issues," with no extraneous questions about their devotion to America causing distraction, whereas Barack Obama’s presence in the presidential race will muddy matters for voters due to their discomfort with his patriotism?  Sure sounds like it. 

The Clintons were delighted at the prospect of Sen Obama’s campaign disintegrating as a result of the recent controversy about his church and pastor. There is no doubt that a lot of damage has been done. Instead of folding under enormous pressure Obama delivered an outstanding speech on race relations in America. As a bi-racial man of black and white ancestry, Obama spoke with candor, maturity and a level of nuance not usually heard in political speeches. The speech managed to calm many jangled nerves and has salvaged his campaign for the time being. Then along came long time friend and insider of the Clinton administration, Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, an erstwhile presidential candidate himself. Defying all conventional wisdom, Richardson endorsed Obama with enthusiasm and extraordinary cheer. Richardson’s highly publicized support of Obama was a bitter disappointment for the Clintons who saw it as an act of betrayal. Bill Clinton, never a man to take a bruise to his ego lightly, must have been livid. So he lashed out, speaking once more as only the Clintons can – raising doubts about an opponent using vicious innuendos and code words, without naming names and with complete deniability.

I guess if Hillary Clinton doesn’t manage to wrest the Democratic nomination from Obama against all odds, she can always run as McCain’s VP!

Note: The Obama campaign has responded.

Update: The inimitable Maureen Dowd weighs in on the same story (do read). The best line in Dowd’s column?

Some people consider the Clintons to be the “stuff that always seems to intrude itself on our politics.”