I have high respect for Betsy Newmark and Dean Esmay , both of whom give a big thumbs up for the Clinton “Soprano” video posted a couple of days ago. I took their comments at face value, that they constituted detached political analysis rather than any ringing endorsement of Hillary. (Although, interestingly, Dean conceded that it was close to even-money that he’d vote for her in a general election.)
After seeing the video, I had a completely opposite reaction. When I saw it I wanted to scream, “Are you freaking kidding me? Do you think we are idiots?”
Are we really supposed to swallow (pun intended) the nonsense about a warm and caring Hillary looking out for the well being of her shamelessly philandering husband? “Monica-Gate” paralyzed the federal government in protracted impeachment proceedings. The country was immersed into debates about semen stains on dresses and creative ways of enhancing Cuban cigars. Kids in schoolyards were getting a crash course on the merits of oral sex by the antics of the Command in Chief. Half the population was taking an extra bath every night after listening to the network news. This went on for almost two solid years.
All politicians take huge liberties in sanitizing their personal lives. But they do so hoping that their shenanigans won’t ever see the light of day. This entire revisionist “loving husband and wife crap” is WAY after horse has left the barn. The verdict on the Clinton's marriage was in years ago.
To me the video underscored my big problem with the Clintons, one that goes back to1992 when they did the famous “60 Minutes” interview that salvaged their tanking campaign in New Hampshire. My objection, then and now, had nothing to do with policy or extra-marital sex, but it has everything to do with respect for the people they are asking for votes.
They think we are dumber than a fence-post and have an attention span and memory of a three year old.
Yes our country is in peril, and if the Republicans don’t get their act together in a hurry, perhaps I’ll hold my nose and join Dean in voting for Hillary. Perhaps we need a cold-hearted witch who can dispatch her flying monkeys to get things done in this country. And it would be nice to elect someone who can convince Hollywood to look the other way if she decides to nuke Tehran on a hot summer night.
But I’ll never like these people or their approach to politics. They have nothing but contempt for the people they want to represent.