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Suddenly, a new perspective Clinton: There's Something About a Man in UniformBy Rick Horowitz Must be sweet, getting to that point where you just don't care how you come across to other people. You can say the most amazing things without the slightest hint of shame or a moment's worry about sounding thoroughly contrived, totally ridiculous. All this and the Oval Office, too -- who could ask for anything more? Yes indeed, ladies and gents: Bill Clinton strikes again. This time it's an interview with USA Today in which the prez declares -- with a straight face, we have to assume -- that military service is a "positive" for a presidential candidate, and "that's the way it ought to be." This from the man who led the league in zigs and zags as he tried to keep himself a civilian during Vietnam, and who was famously fuzzy ever after about exactly how he'd managed it. Suddenly, though, he feels compelled to point out the virtues of a candidate's military background -- a "unique perspective" that "adds to the texture of what you can bring to the office." "So," he says, "I have always seen military service as a plus." We'll assume, too, that the reporter writing down the president's words somehow managed not to fall from his chair convulsed with laughter. He's a better man than I am. That "always" is a nice touch, don't you think? Was I out of the room when Bill Clinton offered this particular opinion back in '92, while he was running against (World War II vet) George Bush? Had I dozed off when he mentioned it back in '96, while he was running against (World War II vet) Bob Dole? I don't think so. If Bill Clinton thought military service was such a "plus" in '92 or '96, he was wonderfully discreet about it. So why now? Why is he suddenly blowing the bugle for our brave men in uniform? Simple, Simon: Al Gore. The prez may not be running again, but he has a horse in this race -- his hardworking, mostly loyal and sporadically animated No. 2. A Gore victory next November would be vindication for Clinton, not to mention protection for some of his policies. Whatever he has to do to whip his boy across the finish line ahead of the pack, he's going to do it, even if it means sounding the slightest bit...hypocritical. Even if it means singing the praises of John McCain, of all people. "I think if, like John McCain, you've made a great sacrifice, it helps, and it should help." How gracious of him! And how clever. It turns out the prez has a horse and a half in this race. There's Gore, of course, but there's also McCain, whose recent rise in New Hampshire is good news for Gore. First, it takes some of the air out of the Great George W. Inevitability Balloon, which could help the veep in a general-election matchup with the pop-quiz king. And second, a strong showing by McCain could help Gore survive the nation's primo primary in good enough shape to make it to the general election. In crucial New Hampshire, as it happens, lots of voters are registered as independents, and they can vote in either the Republican or the Democratic primary. Right now, the two candidates winning the hearts of those independents are McCain and Bill Bradley, who's been giving Gore nightmares lately. But. But the more independents McCain can attract, the fewer are left for Bradley -- and that's just fine with Gore and his chief sideline strategist. A little presidential praise can go a long way. So can a backhanded compliment. "I don't think it should count against Bill Bradley that he didn't serve, or whatever he did, or Governor Bush," said Clinton. Bradley was merely in the Air Force reserves, you see, and Bush in the Texas National Guard, while Gore was an Army journalist and McCain a hero Navy pilot. What Bradley and Bush did, the prez declared, was "perfectly all right and honorable, and I think that it won't count against them." But it won't be for lack of trying. And we'll assume that Clinton never even blushed. Posted
11/9/99. We'll also assume you like finding fresh stuff right here twice
weekly -- so come back soon!
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Rick Horowitz