One of our 37th President’s hallmark moves was to bracket his slanders with the phrases, “Some people would say...” and “But I’m not one of them.”
In her Time interview this week, Elizabeth Edwards echoes the Master by attacking Hillary Clinton while pretending to defend her:
"I want to be perfectly clear: I do not think the hatred against Hillary Clinton is justified. I don't know where it comes from. I don't begin to understand it. But you can't pretend it doesn't exist, and it will energize the Republican base. Their nominee won't energize them, Bush won't, but Hillary as the nominee will. It's hard for John to talk about, but it's the reality."
Nixon too always “wanted to be perfectly clear” as he stirred the mud.
Mrs. Edwards’ passionate belief in her husband and apparent freedom to speak her mind freely in the face of her cancer are admirable, but not limitlessly so. Among the many reasons John Edwards is mired in the polls is the impression that he will do or say anything to get elected. Having his wife do a Nixon impression is one of them.
Ah, but isn't it true that a Clinton candidacy would animate the Republican base?
ReplyDeleteI think the Edwards' mistake here is in not just waiting for others to make the point.
Yes, her candidacy has already got the elephants moving a little faster. The REAL problem is that a good part of the Democratic base thinks of Hillary as Republican-Lite.
ReplyDelete