Wednesday, January 23, 2008

More Bill in SC   [Stephen Spruiell]

Bill Clinton yesterday:

Ex-President Bill Clinton, stumping in South Carolina Tuesday in his wife's stead while she campaigned in the West, suggested Democrats wringing their hands over the rancor should lighten up.

"I know you think it's crazy, but I kind of like to see Barack and Hillary fight," he said lightheartedly. "They're flesh-and- blood people and they have their differences — let 'em at it."

Bill Clinton today:

They did not ask about this, and you don't care what your own people care about. They care about what happens to the American people. That's one thing John Edwards was right about in the debate.

For the record, I believe that's a reference to this quote:

EDWARDS: And I also want to know — I also want to know on behalf of voters here in South Carolina, this kind of squabbling, how many children is this going to get health care? How many people are going to get an education from this? How many kids are going to be able to go to college because of this?

To recap: Bill Clinton likes to see Barack and Hillary fight, except when he and Hillary get called out for fighting dirty. Then John Edwards is suddenly right: All this fighting is distracting from the real issues. Oh, and it's the media's fault for focusing on the fighting, even though he "kind of likes to see" it.

Trying to make sense of Bill Clinton's words is like trying to figure out where the stairs in an Escher drawing lead: After five minutes it just gives you a headache and a strong desire to drink.

01/23 04:56 PMShare