June 03, 2004

Clinton and Kerry

Bill Clinton’s memoir is coming out later this month, and the anti-Clinton conspiracy theory, from Dick Morris and others, has been deafening: obviously, Clinton is releasing his book now in order to screw over John Kerry. Because if Kerry wins the election, Hillary can’t run for president in ’08, and we can’t have that!.

Except I don’t buy it, for a couple of reasons. First, the reason Clinton is coming out with the book now is because Hillary’s book, which as you may remember was mega-successful, came out at around the same time last year- it’s going to be the highest-selling book of the year, and people read books in the summer. Also, if Clinton really wanted to screw Kerry over, wouldn’t he release the book in September or October? Clinton’s book will dominate the news for two weeks or so; the election isn’t for four more months.

But the biggest reason of all that I don’t believe the spin is that the two-week hype period will, in the media, will essentially entail a grand re-arguing of the Clinton legacy- and for two weeks, we’ll be in 1998 again. You see, the impeachment of Clinton for lying about sex was a low moment for the Republicans, one that made them look like sex-hating prudes; the book discussion will force them to argue that once again, which can’t help them with swing voters. And besides, the 1998 election was not a good one for the GOP.

And finally, if you buy Mickey Kaus’ theory that Kerry always improves in the polls when he steps out of the limelight for any extended period, perhaps Clinton is doing him a favor.

Posted by Stephen Silver at June 3, 2004 11:17 PM
Comments

Liberals love trying to change the subject of the Lewinsky matter into a "Republican issue." The fact is that the story became news because Clinton was being investigated for lying under oath. Not only was he impeached, but he was disbarred in his beloved home state, Arkansas. By the way, the very state that he and Hillary abandoned for bigger and better things. Don't blame Republicans for Clinton's personal failings and legal troubles. As for his book, who is going to waste $35 on a boring diatribe? Oh, probably the same suckers who bought but never read Hillary's book last year. More money for the Clintons!!

Posted by: Thomas at June 4, 2004 04:49 PM
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