In Evoking Good of '90s, Clinton Risks Memories of the Bad

[DeepModem Mom]

WSJ: In Evoking Good of '90s, Clinton Risks Memories of the Bad
By AMY CHOZICK
April 30, 2008

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Sen. Hillary Clinton is reminding economically hard-hit voters how much better they had it in the 1990s, but bringing up the past also risks taking them back to the scandals and partisan divides associated with former President Bill Clinton -- memories Sen. Barack Obama has tried to exploit.

The criticism points to an enduring problem within the Clinton campaign. For more than a year, Clinton aides have grappled with how to emphasize the positive aspects of the Clinton presidency while allowing Sen. Clinton to forge her own identity and avoid being a reminder of what people didn't like about the 1990s. "We recognize we can't rest on the laurels of the 1990s," says Clinton campaign spokesman Mo Elleithee. "But at the same time a lot of people from all demographics have fond memories of what their lives were like in the '90s."

The former first lady recently began citing more statistics about the decade. Her stump speech now paints a detailed portrait of a time when the World Trade Center towers were still standing, more than 22 million jobs were created, the budget was balanced and the average American family's income increased by $7,000....The predicament this creates for her campaign was on display during a "Solutions for a Strong Military" event last week in Asheville, N.C. Standing on the stage with retired generals, Sen. Clinton spoke proudly of the relative peace during her husband's administration. "Compared to what we saw during the 1990s, we have fallen backward," she said. Just then, an Obama supporter in the audience yelled, "Yeah, but your husband also got impeached for infidelity," referring to the Monica Lewinsky scandal....

Sen. Clinton's efforts to balance the good times of the 1990s while dodging the bad have intensified as the race has moved into Indiana and North Carolina, which hold their contests next week, and West Virginia and Kentucky, which vote on May 13 and May 20, respectively. These states have low-income, rural demographics -- similar to those found in Mr. Clinton's native Arkansas -- whose members particularly prospered during the 1990s, Clinton aides say. Sen. Clinton "is associated with a decade synonymous with job growth and economic stability," says Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, a Clinton backer.

Phyllis Pate, a 67-year-old retired government worker and Clinton supporter in Lumberton, N.C., says fond memories of the 1990s helped her decide to vote for Sen. Clinton. "Bill got us out of the deficit. She can get us out of the deficit, too," Ms. Pate says.

Sen. Obama, meanwhile, has ratcheted up his criticism that Sen. Clinton represents the divisive politics of the past and has characterized the 1990s as a time when Washington was defined by special-interest influence and partisan bickering. Sen. Clinton fought back Monday. "Frankly, I wear that as a badge of courage," she told reporters at a press conference in Graham, N.C., when asked if the divisiveness of the 1990s should be a concern to voters....

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120951820890054881.html

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1. She could brag about bipartisan coverups that were done to protect GHWBush throughout the 90

She and Bill would really appeal to the right if they talked about their key roles in protecting BushInc from those nasty honest Democratic lawmakers who worked for years to uncover the corruption of Bush's operations.