On Friday, we saw the truly bizarre scene of Barack Obama introducing former president Bill Clinton in front of the White House press corps to defend the Obama/GOP tax deal, since apparently Obama is unwilling or unable to carry to water all by himself. But the truly odd aspect of the whole spectacle was Obama citing to some lame excuse about "keeping Michelle waiting" and then leaving the room. Clinton stayed and carried on with reporters for a half an hour as if he had never left the White House (link to full story at bottom).This scene for me immediately conjured up recollections of the lyrics of "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by the Charlie Daniels Band: When Obama finished, Willie said, "Well you're pretty good ol' son -- but sit down in that chair right there, and let me show you how it's done." And that's exactly what Clinton did.
Clinton's half-hour in front of the press, and the ease with which he handled it, harkened back to his presidency. I don't particularly like Clinton, and I think he's a slimeball. But make no mistake: He's one of the very most skilled politicians of my lifetime -- equally at home off-prompter as on.
As a politician, Clinton makes Obama look like a 3-year-old on the first day of preschool. Obama is not particularly skilled on his feet, and he's only good on-prompter when he's actually engaged and interested in speaking (which is only a minority of the time). Far from the "most skilled orator in generations" (as the democrat party tried to make him out a few years ago), Obama instead could use to take some (OK, a lot of) notes on the Slick Willie.
Worse yet for Obama is the complete awkwardness of abruptly exiting stage right and leaving an ex-president to defend, on his own, Obama's tax deal! It was a telling moment, completely typifying the weak leadership skills that we've seen from Obama since Day 1. Obama ran a great and flawless presidential campaign, but (and totally regardless of what you think about his politics) he's been a bumbling, stumbling wreck of a president ever since.
Final note: You may have noticed that I've paid scant attention in this space to the Obama/GOP tax compromise story. That's because (1) it's boring on the whole, (2) it's likely going to be an ongoing saga until the end of the month, and (3) it represents just more of the same "business as usual in DC" from both parties. I'm in favor of extending the Bush tax cuts for all Americans, since even most left-wing economists would agree that you don't raise taxes on anyone in the middle of a bad recession. Taking up the issue again in two years would be fine with me.
But I can't support the current compromise for a different reason -- all of the pork, earmarks and spending that the democrats have tossed in, with the republicans apparently all too willing to accept. Like I said, business as usual in DC. I'm already starting to look forward to 2012, when we Independents can issue a fresh set of pink slip to the slimy politicians of both parties.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/At-Obamas-side-Clinton-backs-apf-4065249916.html?x=0&.v=1
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