Let's frame Bill's involvement in the campaign "Is Hillary going to hide behind Bill as president?"

[wndycty]

She can't handle Barack one-on-one, so she calls on Bill. Is that how she will deal with the Republicans in Congress? Al Queda? North Korea? The press?

Seriously, they often say the way you run your campaign is the way you will govern. So is Bill going to fight all of Hillary's battles if she is elected?

[Sparkly]

1. In fairness, the other candidates have their spouses on the campaign trail, too.

:shrug:

[wndycty]

2. Openly lying on their behalf?

:kick:

[terisan]

5. What are the lies? Clinton's statements re Obama's record on war opposition seemed

accurate to me.

[wndycty]

21. Here you go:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4127948&mesg_id=4127948

[terisan]

32. You need to read the transcript and watch video-Obama was praising Reagan/dissing Dems

He had a total misreading of transformational--Reagan was Retro all the way.

[rodeodance]

7. You remind me of Rudy--he uses 9/11 in every sentence and you use lying

---over generalizing but i saw the thread where you lifted your subject line from and lying was in 3 of your posts--right in a row.

[Sparkly]

8. Which argument are you trying to make?

The she "calls on him," or that he's lying about something?

[surfermaw]

9. That is true, wasn't M. Obama billed as Obama's secret weapon in S.C.

[Sparkly]

11. And they're good at it.

I loved it when Elizabeth Edwards, for example, called on the phone while Tweety was interviewing Coultergeist.

[terisan]

3. Do you want to keep spouses of candidates from participating in campaigns?

Should Michelle Obama and Elizabeth Edwards and Elizabeth Kucinich refrain from campaigning?

[TwilightZone]

4. Yes, and Michelle Obama and Elizabeth Edwards should just STFU and go home.

Elizabeth Kucinich, too.

Or does your brilliant suggestion only apply to one of the candidates' spouses?

[Cleita]

6. Oh fer chrissakes. Something that no one is talking about.

This is Bill's third and maybe fourth term. You really don't think he's gonna content himself with teas and lawn parties as his sole role in a new Clinton White House.

[journalist3072]

10. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Elizabeth Edwards call up Harball to confront Ann Coulter?

And when Elizabeth did, someone yelled "Why isn't he making the call?" (Talking about John Edwards)

So let's not even go there, my friend.

All political spouses defend their husband.

Wasn't it Michelle Obama who, some time ago when asked about why more Blacks weren't supporting her husband, said she was convinced "Black America will wake up and get it."

[Sparkly]

13. GMTA

I just referenced that above. I thought that was great!

[Avalux]

12. If she's elected, it will be a co-presidency.

Does anyone think his ego will keep him in the background? :shrug:

[Sparkly]

15. I'm sure she can stand up to him.

:shrug:

[Avalux]

22. I'm not so sure she can stop him from interjecting himself.

I don't know if his involvement in her campaign was mutually decided upon, but if he does the same when she's president, it could make her appear weak as a leader.

[Sparkly]

24. Sure she can.

I see no reason why not.

[OHdem10]

14. Whose talking points?

It is beginning to appear that Obama has now to be protected from
Bill Clinton.

Presidential Contenders have to stand up for themselves and
fight their own fights. The TV Media are beginning to look like
the horrible over protective Mother who keeps interfering in
her child's activities calling everyone in sight a bully.

[Sparkly]

19. Although, that may change the dynamic in a way that Obama wants.

If he takes on Bill Clinton, it's kind of marginalizing Hillary and making her the "little woman" again. (A la Peggy Noonan, "My husband's gonna beat you up!")

It's an unfair double-standard, but it could end up making her look weak and I think she should be ready to respond.

[sandnsea]

16. That will just make women mad

I think he should just say Bill is getting a little over-exuberant, seems to want this awfully badly for his wife. Make it sounds as if Bill is doing this because he can't let go of power. An old man that just can't see his glory days are behind him. He has got to take away the Clinton mystique and the easiest way to do that is to turn him into a tired old man.

[jody]

17. LOL, that's either the stupidest question I've heard all day or the funniest joke. I'll assume the

latter. :hi:

[robbedvoter]

18. Hillary attacks Bush. Bill takes care of the small fish.

[Frances]

20. Hillary is tough as nails

She is the toughest of all the candidates running (Dems, Repubs, Nader, Bloomberg).

[Little Star]

23. Edwards calls on Elizabeth, Obama calls on Michelle, sooooo?

[Hieronymus]

27. LOL

[Rock_Garden]

25. Obama seeks to put the focus on Bill Clinton.

He gives great emphasis to everything Bill Clinton says. Why is this? There are several possibilities. It takes away from going head to head against Hillary on issues. In fact, it takes the focus away from Hillary entirely, and I think that's a conscious decision on Obama's part. It looks like a bait and switch forumula to me. Don't look at Hillary, people; look at Bill. Look at Bill and me, not Hillary and me. The entire thing's a political strategy. In the end, I think it will fail. Voters want to draw contrasts between the frontrunners, but Obama magnifies Bill Clinton's every remark. He's attacking one of Hillary's strengths, in this case the definite advantage of being married to a former President, and attempting to turn it into a weakness. Obama supporters will disagree vehemently, but that's a classic Republican campaign trick.

[creeksneakers2]

26. Why not? n/t

[KennedyGuy]

28. Better question would be..

will Obama continue to hide behind his wife and Oprah?

[hayu_lol]

29. All the wives are very much active in their husband's campaigns...

had to laugh at Michelle Obama before Iowa: "You either win Iowa or we're going home. Pretty definitive decision there.

Michelle has worked hard for Obama. Elizebeth has worked hard for Edwards. Wives generally do these things...more so today that at any other time. With Hillary, Bill is a superstar in the world of politics and foreign affairs. He can't help that--he earned it the hard way. The situation is reversed and it is quite fair for a husband to campaign for the candidate wife.

Bill has to shut up and listen to Mrs Obama, Mrs Edwards, and Mrs Kucinich? Fat chance. Fair is fair. Whats good for the gander is good for the goose.

[madmom]

30. How about framing it: Obama thinks Hillary irrelevant so goes over her head to Bill,

makes as much sense.

[Az_lefty]

31. Yes, they will use each other as they see fit...

the only thing the Clintons care about is themselves. Nothing else matters, nothing has changed.

[Renew Deal]

33. Yep, same old story

They're more important than this country.