Bill Clinton In Rural America

[Dr Ron]

http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=3258

Bill Clinton In Rural America

May 11th, 2008 by Ron Chusid

As yet another example of how the Clintons are dividing the party, Jake Tapper looks at Bill Clinton’s Message to Rural America:

Bill Clinton has the right to say whatever he wants, of course. But he’s a smart man. Brilliant, even.

He can do the math. He must know that it’s quite improbable that his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., will be the Democratic presidential nominee.

So what purpose does it serve for him to barnstorm a state like West Virginia and tell rural voters that Obama and his elitist political/media cabal allies are mocking Appalachia?

He’s using the kind of language Democrats typically use against Republicans — as in, stuff you say when you don’t want voters to vote for the other guy under any circumstance.

This is tough stuff to walk back from.

After providing some examples, he concludes:

And on and on… Ginning up the resentments and the class divide (and maybe other divisions). … His message to these voters: Obama and the media are laughing at you and think you’re stupid!!!

Obama has a clear problem with white working class voters. This kind of rhetoric exacerbates it. Clinton knows that — he’s trying to drive up turnout to maximize his wife’s popular vote argument to superdelegates. He has every right to do so — the race is not over, no nominee exists yet.

But this is what keeps Howard Dean and Nancy Pelosi up at night.

Yes, it is a free country. Clinton has a right to do this. He has the right to engage in class warfare. After all, we do have free speech. He has the right to divide the party and increase the chances that John McCain will be the next president. Most likely presumptive Democratic nominee will bridge the gap with working class voters, but Bill Clinton does have the right to make this as difficult as possible. Bill Clinton has the right to destroy his own legacy. People have the right to do very stupid and hateful things. I just wish the Clintons were better people than this.