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Political Hay
American Sins
Only President Obama could make someone who should know better miss Bill Clinton.
I never, ever thought these words would escape my lips, let alone be offered for public consumption, but here goes: I miss President Bill Clinton. With his combination of hangdog looks and haughty pride, he was as transparent as glass to those who closely followed his doings. So, for a political columnist, he was a treasure trove of material, both publicly and privately, which, in a very strange way, evinces a kind of perverted nostalgia.
Sure he dodged the draft and lied about it. And yes, he federalized one of the largest deposits of clean-burning coal in the world — which would have come in pretty handy right now — allegedly in return for payoffs from his Indonesian pals. And he did and still does take credit for the work of others, most notably his Republican opposition in Congress. He was never known as the hardest of workers and was habitually late, even for public appearances. And, as many have noted, his enemies list was long and possibly deadly. And finally, he was most infamously, a profligate womanizer which ultimately led to his impeachment.
But, watching him fill his face with a Big Mac and a milkshake kind of made him one of us; you know, a regular American; albeit one who was expert at coming up with new and creative ways to embrace the seven deadly sins. Not exactly the one you’d want to be the most powerful man in the free world, but, as they say, the devil you know is better than the one you don’t know.
Which brings me to our current president. Unlike Mr. Clinton, who dallied in the fields of sin familiar to man since Adam, Barack Obama has committed what I would call uniquely American sins; or those transgressions that assault our national heritage and history in a manner heretofore unknown in the Oval Office. How has he done this? Let me count the ways.
Yankee ingenuity and fierce independence: While it was FDR who implemented the basic structure of the American entitlement culture and the suddenly popular Lyndon Johnson who brought it to fruition with his Great Society, Barack Obama is the first president to openly advocate that these programs, originally created as safety nets for the poor, should actually be the goal of every American; that cradle to grave government assistance is truly the new American Way. How do we know this? He tells us all the time. There’s his version of the American pin-up girl, the fictional Julia, who cannot survive without the tender mercies of the Nanny State. Then there’s his vastly underreported claim that “We simply cannot return to this brand of ‘you’re on your own’ economics if we’re serious about rebuilding the middle class in this country.”
E Pluribus Unum: For a man of a mixed-race background who was supposed to be, among other things, the first post-racial president, he has sure gone out of this way to demonstrate that his African ancestry is surely his preferred half. From his embarrassing “beer summit,” which he convened after the outcry over his comments about the black Harvard professor and the cop who legally arrested him, to his foolhardy and hasty judgments about the Trayvon Martin case before any charges were ever brought, he has done more to divide this country along racial lines than even his party’s Dixiecrat ancestors.
Americans shall not kowtow before foreign powers: Our founders felt so strongly about this that they enshrined it in our Constitution (Article 1, Section 9, Clause 8): “No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state.” It would have sickened them to think that anyone would prefer the title of “Citizen of the World” to American Citizen, let alone that our president should submissively bow to foreign potentates.
In God we trust: Although many thought Bill Clinton nothing more than a Christian opportunist — after his moral transgressions, he was usually photographed leaving a church with his Bible firmly in hand — at least he was never outright hostile to people of faith as is his Democratic successor, to a frightening degree. Labeling them from the start as “bitter” people who “cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them,” he has been over the top in his disregard for those who worship God. Yet despite claims to the contrary, we are still predominately a nation that continues to do so.
America is great because she is good: This quote, of dubious attribution, has been used by a few of our presidents, but not our current one, who has seen fit to apologize for America all over the world for our supposed transgressions against it. Maybe he should heed the words of one of his supporters, Colin Powell, who once said:
We have sent men and women from the armed forces of the United States to other parts of the world throughout the past century to put down oppression. We defeated Fascism. We defeated Communism. We saved Europe in World War I and World War II… And when all those conflicts were over, what did we do? Did we stay and conquer?… [D]id we ask for any land? No, the only land we ever asked for was enough land to bury our dead. And that is the kind of nation we are.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (36) | Leave a comment
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Appleby| 5.30.12 @ 7:15AM
To me the behaviour of Obama proves more than any piece of paper, however obtained, can do, that he is not an American. I know many, many immigrants who are far more American than he is. I have no idea where he came from -- in fact, nobody does -- but wherever it is, they never learned anything there about America.
I am 100% sure that Obama has never stood in any crowd and shouted "USA! USA!" I'd bet you money that Bill Clinton has -- and I bet he's done it at a NA$CAR race.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 5.30.12 @ 8:50AM
While I believe your comments are accurate about the current POTUS, if Bill Clinton was chanting "USA!USA!", it would likely be because he was trying to gain the favor of a woman who caught his eye.
CJW| 5.30.12 @ 3:45PM
Albert,
Now using CJW instead of just W.
Clinton v. Obama? What a choice. Clinton ignored the terrorrists during the 90's which contributed to 9/11. Obama has ruined the economy with his spending and regulations. Clinton molested and sexually harrassed women in the White House, had his law license suspended, paid $200,000 fine for lying at a deposition, and was impeached. Obama hangs with terrorrists like Ayers, anti-semites like Wright, and bows to every foreign dictator.
Not much of a choice, flip a coin.
Brooksifier | 5.30.12 @ 6:04PM
Bad people have often made good presidents: Lincoln, as Neoconfederates have pointed out, suspended habeas corpus for thousands of real and imagined enemies. FDR was so dishonest, Truman wrote to friends telling them so (if FDR had found out, what could he have done? impeached Truman as veep?).
FDR "would have thrown Eleanor over a bridge to be re-elected."
JFK rutted like a mink in April.
Whereas Carter was/is a very good person-- however he was so incompetent as a POTUS he might have gotten us into a nuclear war had he been re-elected. Carter is far better at building Habitat For Humanity houses than he was at being president. The Bushes are good people, but made second rate presidents.
Brooksifier | 5.30.12 @ 6:10PM
...Geo Washingtons and Reagans are anomalies, exceptions to the rule of mediocrity.
CJW| 5.30.12 @ 8:40PM
Carter is both nasty and incopetent.
Lincoln and FDR were fighting wars and did what they did to win. Both were ruthless and violated laws to win, but I don't believe either was a "bad person" like Bubba.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 5.30.12 @ 9:39PM
Another way to put it, Clinton was too busy chasing tail (or defending himself from the legal complications that would ensue from his habit of same), that most of the damage he did was from neglect of duty. While Obama also neglects his duty to campaign or golf, not being distracted by the thing (s) that distracted clinton, he has been able to implement more of his destructive agenda.
spike59| 5.31.12 @ 6:18AM
"Carter was/is a very good person"
-----------------------------------------
i beg to differ; Carter POSES as a 'very good person', but he's petty, vindictive and dishonest-and was the worst President of all time; that is, until ObaMao
Joellen| 5.30.12 @ 8:51AM
I am sure Lisa is being amusing, but I do not miss Bill Clinton. He and his evil wife defiled the Oval office in ways we need not rehash. He, like Obama, is a consummate liar and he is a rapist. No, Lisa, I dont miss the Clintons, I wont even pretend Clinton and his crowd did some good. Most of them now are in Obama's camp, so that blows that theory out of the water. Let's save the "Imiss ..." for someone of true character and dignity; Clintons, hmmm NOT!
JD| 5.30.12 @ 2:10PM
Nevertheless, relatively speaking, Clinton is preferable to Obama.
SusyQue| 5.30.12 @ 10:05AM
Sorry to say, Bill Clinton is not a person I admire, nor respect. He has disgraced the White House because of his sexual dalliances; he lied on TV to the American public; he was unfaithful to his wife; many dot.coms crashed in his administration. A man weak in character. Character trumps popularity.
Bay| 5.30.12 @ 10:33AM
You make good points in your article but have gratuitously insulted many of African origin who do not identify with the values of the alien that many Americans put in the White House. "..he has sure gone out of this way to demonstrate that his African ancestry is surely his preferred half.." is a unnecessary generalization of African ancestry. Good and bad behavior exists everywhere.
PJ| 5.30.12 @ 3:07PM
African-Americans may not identify with Obama's anti-family agenda, but that will not stop them from voting for him. Look at 2008 & look at the current polls. And read about the meetings Holder is having with black ministers only on how to get their congregations fired-up to vote in Nov.
allen69 | 5.30.12 @ 10:49AM
The shoes will probably be routed towards manufacturer being produced in the direction of expert specifications. In about Two weeks, the new shoes will certainly arrive. Adhering to a expert fitting, wear the http://www.freerunningnike.org.....24_25.html sneakers home with pride.People this is not on Medicare can self-purchase these shoes. Diabetic person shoes are largely with regard to purpose and defense and not design.
Louis Jenkins| 5.30.12 @ 10:55AM
Kind of like driving by an old country style outhouse. Makes one long for yesteryear, except for the smell.
irish19| 5.30.12 @ 11:08AM
What a great analogy!
Gary B| 5.30.12 @ 1:34PM
No kidding. It's perfect.
Albertus Magnus| 5.30.12 @ 12:27PM
Once again, this article misses the true nature of Bill Clinton and his numerous crimes. Bill Clinton took BRIBES from the Communist Chinese Government, distributed by Indonesian Bankers, and laundered through phony doners. In exchange for these BRIBES, Bill Clinton gave away to the Communist Chinese, American military technologies, including nuclear weapons data, computer missile guidance systems, super computers, and computer controlled machine tools, and lots more. The Communist Chinese are now using what they bought from Bill Clinton to build the largest, and one of the most powerful and modern militaries in the World. This Chinese military is being developed as an offensive force, not a defensive one.
Bill Clinton himself laughs off his sexual dalliances as playboy activity. He is happy to play the buffoon as long as attention is diverted away from his treasons and bribe takings. I sure do not miss Bill Clinton. I wish he were in prison where he belongs.
PJ| 5.30.12 @ 3:17PM
Your absolutely correct about Clinton. Yet, at least he "spat" on the Constitution away from the microphone & was reasonably discriminate about it under certain cirumstances unlike Obama who never has shame to do it in front of millions of people.
Occam's Tool| 5.30.12 @ 12:34PM
I miss Ronald Reagan, not a scumbag Liberal verminious cretin.
cuban pete| 5.30.12 @ 2:33PM
OT,
Likewise.
But the Clinton presidency did define the women's movement.
Sexual harrassment does not apply to homely southern girls and as long as you are pro abortion it is OK to get hummers in the Oval office.
Cobalt| 5.30.12 @ 12:39PM
As bad as he was, I don't think Bill Clinton is even in Obama's league when in comes to being a poor POTUS.
Clinton just didn't have the visceral contempt and hatred for the United States, that Obama and Company have.
cicero| 5.30.12 @ 12:47PM
The two characters, Clinton and Obama, are totally different both in character and focus. Clinton just wanted to be president. I don't think he had any real ideology. He just wanted to be president. Even the one achievement that everyone gives him credit for - welfare reform - was forced upon him. I recall when he signed the legislation after refusing 3 or 4 times, just before his reelection vote. He gave a speech at a school in northern Virginia whereat he promised the listeners that, after he was reelected, he would r epeal the legislation. Anything to get their votes. I recal before his first election hearing him talk to audiences about 2d amendment rights. To a Brady group, he spoke of championing gun control laws. To a conservative group, he stood foresquare for 2d amendment rights. This was on one day after another. He would say anything to be president. Of course, the press never called him on it. But then, neither did the Republicans.
Obama has an agenda. He wanted to be in power to forward it. He wants to stay in office so he can continue this agenda. That is the transformation of America into just another ordinary country that can be embarrassed and taken advantage of by the third world.
Both are dangerous. Bill and Hill defaced the fabric of the country. Barack and Michelle hope to tear it.
PJ| 5.30.12 @ 3:21PM
Excellent comment; couldn't have said it any better!
One Mediator 1 Tim. 2:5. | 5.30.12 @ 1:21PM
Now I could relate if your article was about missing GW, maybe. But Clintoon?
Ugh.
NO WAY.
Peppermint Tea | 5.30.12 @ 1:48PM
Clinton wanted socialized medicine, Obama said it was a right and would save money.
Clinton poses with whores, Obama is a whore--collecting money from venture capitalists while denigrating them.
Clinton's wife wanted political control, Obama's wife wants to force you to eat your veggies while she is on vacation.
Clinton raped women, Obama rapes the America.
Clinton was serviced by a Jewish intern, Obama leaves the Top Jew waiting in another room and tells him to give his country back.
Clinton was the first Black President, Obama is the first Gay President.
The press lied for Clinton, the press takes their talking points from Obama.
Under Clinton, I had hoped America would never be so dark again. I was disappointed.
One Mediator 1 Tim. 2:5. | 5.30.12 @ 2:10PM
"Under Clinton, I had hoped America would never be so dark again. I was disappointed".
Exactly. Just when I thought we couldn't go any lower, we have.
Anybody (Republican) but Obama 2012.
Kingofthenet| 5.30.12 @ 5:10PM
Sorry Lisa for the sour grapes, but NO you stand ZERO chance of 'dating' President Obama. You will just have to fantasize about making love to him.
spike59| 5.31.12 @ 6:24AM
hmmm...after reading the column TWICE, i don't see a single reference to 'dating' ObaMao...odd that YOU should make a romantic leap to fantasizing about making love to him; if i were you, i wouldn't act on your fantasy, Queenofthenuts...if you got past the Secret Service, you'd still have to get past Moochelle AND elbow Chris Matthews out of the way
David| 5.30.12 @ 6:35PM
Is anyone else posting here pissed off about having to register with Am Spec? I have been commenting here for years and today they want my name? What the f_ck is that all about? Anyone have any comments about it?
Kingofthenet| 5.30.12 @ 7:10PM
Well at least no one can hijack your name, you will always be David.
chuck| 5.30.12 @ 10:25PM
And it keeps people like Clint from using eight different names.
spike59| 5.31.12 @ 6:25AM
Clint has 1 name for each IQ point...so it may actually be only 7 names
Albertus Magnus| 5.30.12 @ 11:09PM
Actually, you have always been required to enter an email address to post. This just formalizes the process.
Dr. B| 5.31.12 @ 2:28PM
Here's the best analogy I can come up with. Clinton is to Obama as a smelly turd is to explosive diarrhea.
St Reformed| 5.31.12 @ 5:40PM
Bubba, for all his corruption--moral & political---knew which way the political winds were blowing; he sailed with them skillfully. Obama is the archetypal arrogant Leftist, sneering at we petty morals he strides above. A post-partisan & post-racial president? Not. More post-American and, if God is merciful, soon a post-president.