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Bill Clinton: Still the One—and a Potential Game-changer for Obama

Despite all the talk that Bill Clinton was not happy with his speaking slot at the Democratic convention or that he still was peeved by criticisms that came his way during the primaries, there was no way that Clinton would allow himself to be outshone as the orator of his party. As Kevin notes, he delivered a helluva speech on Wednesday night.

As soon as the crowd of delegates finished giving him the loudest and longest ovation of the convention (so far), Clinton declared that he was "here, first, tonight to support Barack Obama." With his trademark blending of folksiness and policy-talk, he presented a rock-solid case for Obama. Immediately, it was obvious: forget Hillary Clinton, it is Bill Clinton who has the potential to be Obama's best advocate on the campaign trail in the coming weeks,

The speech combined an effective critique of the Bush years, a sharp attack of Republican notions John McCain has embraced, and an enthusiastic endorsement of Obama as a man "ready to be president" on Day One. And it was laced with memorable lines. His rhetoric soared:

Barack Obama knows that America cannot be strong abroad unless we are strong at home. People the world over have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power.

That last sentence may well be written in concrete someday. And Clinton poked the Republicans with a fine zinger:

They actually want us to reward them for the last eight years by giving them four more. Let's send them a message that will echo from the Rockies all across America: thanks, but no thanks.

Clinton was unequivocal in his support of Obama. And he tied Obama to his own story:

Barack Obama will lead us away from the division and fear of the last eight years back to unity and hope. If, like me, you still believe America must always be a place called Hope, then join Hillary, Chelsea and me in making Barack Obama the next President of the United States.

Clinton had a bad time during the primaries. His standing fell among members of his own party. But with this speech, Clinton might well win over those Democrats who soured on him during the fierce battle between his wife and Obama. More important, Clinton, once again demonstrating his exceptional skill as a politician and a speaker, showed he could be an ace champion for Obama, perhaps even--dare the Obama fans think it--a game-changer. If he wants to be.

Comments

As a "soured" Obama supporter, I can say, no, it did not "win me over."

Posted by: DA in LA on 08/27/08 at 7:40 PM Respond

Come on, be more fawning!
Like, "Greatest oration since Demosthenes did his pebbles in the mouth tricks"!
"Best speech any human will ever give"!
"The bridge to socialism"!

Posted by: Sntauri on 08/27/08 at 7:55 PM Respond

"a game-changer?"

Why change the game? You would think Barack was down in the polls, lower in popularity and hanging by his fingernails by that?

WTF?

Posted by: capt on 08/27/08 at 8:29 PM Respond

I don't know if anything changed, but I agree that Bill Clinton's still got it. Despite everything that's gone on in this campaign, despite all we've learned about some of his unsavory lobbying deals, despite seeing pictures of him going apoplectic... I was watching the speech when suddenly I had one of those ejected-from the-vortex moments where you snap back to reality. "My god," I was thinking, "I really LIKE this guy".

Fortunately, it passed. You're right, he's still got it. It's fascinating to watch his face while he says things that you know for a fact that he doesn't even believe. There are bad liars, good liars, great liars, then there's Bill Clinton. He's in a class by himself. Chelsea probably believed in Santa Claus until her senior year of high school.

-Wexler

Posted by: William W. Wexler on 08/28/08 at 3:39 AM Respond

What's sure, the Clintons have definitively disassociated themselves from the outcome of the election. They have positioned themselves as being "in to win" for Obama and now -- if he botches it up -- they won't be smeared.

Posted by: kathy Giannini on 08/28/08 at 4:46 AM Respond

Bill's got it, he's still slick, but I don't think he's without his dangers; witness the problems Hillary had keeping him on her message during the primaries. He can be a real velvet hammer for the Obama campaign, but can Obama swing him in the direction he wants?

Posted by: Tim J. on 08/28/08 at 5:23 AM Respond

Bill did not disappoint, and he probably gave us one of the better Clintonisms in recent memory.

"Everything I learned...as president...has convinced me that Barack Obama is the man for this job."

Not the person, not the candidate, the man. Another brilliant piece of wordsmithing by the all-time master. There's no way this wasn't an intentional (and clever) way to show support for Obama without abandoning the fact he still thinks HRC is better for the role.

Watching him give speeches is like watching Michael Jordan play basketball - you find yourself conscious that you're never going to see it done this way again.

Posted by: davenow on 08/28/08 at 5:37 AM Respond

I think you're absolutely right David. Bill Clinton didn't just endorse Obama, he made the best case for electing him that I have heard so far.

Posted by: synykyl on 08/28/08 at 10:47 AM Respond

Clinton promoted free trade, globalization, off-shoring, outsourcing and legal and illegal immigration which have cost us over five million good-paying jobs. He gave us the North American Free Trade Agreement (known as "NAFTA," giving you the SHAFTA), which was characterized by Ross Perot as a "large sucking sound" where many of our jobs would be vacuumed up by Mexico and Canada. He repealed the Glass-Steagall Act, which is the main cause behind the credit-crunch and derivative meltdown and which will be the ultimate triggering cause for the destruction of the US and world economies. The Clinton Administration also oversaw the LTCM debacle and the bursting of the fraud-laden dot.com bubble.

Posted by: Ralph N. on 08/28/08 at 9:24 PM Respond