Bill Clinton on the Couch

Political analysis won't do to explain why the former President is sabotaging his wife's dwindling chances for the Democratic nomination. Call in the shrinks.

Yesterday's Bill Clinton super-whopper revival of Hillary's Bosnia sniper fire story on the campaign trail in Indiana can be explained only by premature political Alzheimer's or an unconscious desire to bring her down. (Eight easily fact-checkable lies in less than a minute must be a record, even for the former Slick Willie.)

When he hurt Hillary with his "rolling the dice" comments to Charlie Rose and accused Obama of telling fairy tales about his opposition to the Iraq war, Bill Clinton might have been excused on the grounds of irrational exuberance.

When he gratuitously dragged race into the campaign after his wife's South Carolina loss by comparing Obama's win to Jesse Jackson's, Clinton could have been forgiven for spousal overreaching.

But rubbing salt into the Bosnia wound to Hillary's campaign just as it was healing takes his mischief-making to a new level that can't be explained by the former President's need for attention or diminished political judgment.

It may be too late, but somebody should put Bill Clinton on the couch and help him figure out why he is undermining the woman who stood by him in his time of crisis. No good deed goes unpunished?

Hillary's True Voice

After her first primary victory, Hillary Clinton exulted, "Thank you so much, New Hampshire. I listened to you, and in the process I found my voice."

Make that plural. Since then, the candidate has given us more vocal gymnastics than the legendary Mel Blanc, who did Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote, among others. Her repertoire has been dazzling--and confusing.

There has been the vulnerable Hillary followed by the combative, condescending, sarcastic, victimized, wounded Hillary, not to mention the nasty and negative voices from her discordant campaign chorus.

Now we have the embattled Hillary, apologizing for her Bosnia sniper fire gaffe with something less than graciousness. "So I made a mistake," she said. "That happens. It proves I'm human, which you know, for some people, is a revelation."

Courage, Hemingway said, is grace under pressure.

It must be hard getting up every morning and having to face a growing consensus that she can't win the nomination. But if adversity is the truest test of character, it would be heartening to see Hillary Clinton swallow her disappointment and either soldier on with dignity, if she decides to, or accept the inevitable with grace.

Doing so would be good for the Democratic Party and a rebuke to those who hate her. Her voice is too important to be drowned out in disappointment and negative campaigning.

Win or lose, Hillary Clinton can keep serving her country well.