Sheri Mitchell at Your Black Politics blog asks if it is fair that former President Bill Clinton is making history by actively campaigning for Hillary Clinton's bid for the Democratic nomination for their presidential candidate.
Writes Sheri Mitchell:
Should there be limitiations on former Presidents regarding how hard they can campaign for immediate family members or would that be a violation of free speech? At the very least it is an unfair advantage. I can only hope they use Bill's antics to plant some seeds of doubt concerning how involved he will be in Hillary's Presidency. There is the question as to whether she is going to lead or follow.
Is it fair that Hillary Clinton has the assistance of the former president?
Is Bill Clinton's campaign effort for Hillary Clinton any different than a popular president making stops in areas to support fellow party members?
Can another endorsement "cancel out" any effect that Bill Clinton has? Is there another political (or pop culture) figure whose endorsement would overshadow Clinton's? Does Oprah trump Bill Clinton?
Is all fair in politics -- if you have an advantage that isn't against the law, you should take full advantage of it? Should former presidents jump into political campaigns?
I personally don't think Bill Clinton's involvement in his wife's presidential campaign is a huge deal, but it is interesting to see Bill Clinton taking agressive stances against Barack Obama since it could lead to bad feelings between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama supporters.
Comments
Your response raises a question of whether a Hillary Clinton presidency would be her own or would it be an extension of Bill Clinton's presidency by virtue of his force of personality?
Would we have a defacto co-presidency -- a "two for one" deal?
Could that be why Bill Clinton seems to be inordinately fired up because there is a legitimate challenger to Hillary's bid?
Chris_Hedges