"I didn't inhale"

[theredpen]

In the Spring of 1992, I knew very little about this "Bill Clinton" guy who was wowing people with his speeches and rising in stature toward the nomination. Democrats were excited by his enthusiasm, his articulate speeches and his charm. "What a great candidate to topple the lack-luster Bush," I thought.

Then, it happened. In late March, Bill Clinton said one of the stupidest things I've ever heard a candidate say. When admitting that he had smoked marijuana, he said that he didn't inhale. Clinton had already been dogged by questions about his character and this seemed like it was going to push it over the top. Nevertheless, he continued on, gaining support everywhere he went. Of course, he didn't bother going to Texas for any public event, so I never got a chance to see him. After 12 years of Republican rule, and living in a redder-than-red state, I pretty much gave up on the idea that this Clinton buffoon could ever win national election.

Then, in June, I finally saw the guy. It was on the Arsineo Hall Show and he made his entrance playing saxophone with the band. After that, he joined Arsineo for a Q&A in which the subject of "I didn't inhale," was brought up. Clinton said, "I was a little startled by the question and I said something stupid." Arsineo asked what he'd do if he could do it again, and Clinton responded, "I'd just say 'yes'." That's when I knew that the character issues (which turned out to have some merit) and the "I didn't inhale" bullshit weren't going to stick. This guy was a winner — and he won two terms.

Obama is continuing to accrue delegates and he is continuing to rise above the bitter rhetoric and mud-slinging. Americans have a long time between now and the general elections to see and hear from Barack Obama. Reverend Wright is not Obama's "Macaca" moment, it's his "I didn't inhale" moment. It will be endlessly flogged by the enemies of American democracy and soon forgotten by anyone who hears Obama address the important issues — the issues that matter to them.

These issues are also supposed to matter to us. Whether you are supporting Clinton or Obama, we owe it to ourselves to rebuke the politics of personal destruction and support our issues and the candidates who are promoting them.

[Nitrogenica]

1. Great post.

[scheming daemons]

2. GOOD analogy......

....I seem to remember that election turning out good for the candidate that said "I didn't inhale".


You know... the 46-yr-old candidate with no foreign policy experience, but running on a campaign of "Hope".


Remember that guy?



;-)

[againes654]

7. You mean the one that said

when choosing between the candidate running on hope and the one running on fear, you better choose hope!

That guy, what ever happened to him????

[Cha]

3. Oh yes it would be wonderful if all Dems

would reject the politics of personal destruction and not feel like that's the only way they can win. Utterly lacking in self confidence.

Interesting historical piece, thanks, theredpen.

[bhikkhu]

4. Thanks for the background.

That was during one of my tv-free periods and the net was barely up, so information was scanty...

[MagickMuffin]

5. If only Bill had had the vision with his bridge to the 21st century

Like why didn't he try to implicate green jobs back then. He had a VP who had written about "The Earth in the Balance" that I would think would have been valuable to our country.

Whatever happened to that bridge?.?.?

Did he burn it when he left office?.?.?

How can I believe his wife?.?.?

Of course I have no choice but to vote for her if she is our nomination, but I will not like it. Her and her campaign's Scorched Earth tactics have left me numb and disgusted.

[againes654]

6. An excellent post that BOTH sides can relate to

THANK YOU

[skater314159]

8. Thanks for the great post!

:kick:


:dem:

[justgamma]

9. "I didn't inhale,"

I saw him on the Tonight show and he was asked about this. He said that he tried to inhale but he choked. If any nonsmoker tried to inhale a cigarette, I would bet that at least 3/4 of them couldn't do it without choking.

[Window]

10. K/R.

:kick:

[Voice for Peace]

11. Great post, thanks.

Except I didn't think Clinton was an authentic winner. My biggest disappointment came with the presidential pardons. I had a crazy idea, after thinking he cared about African Americans, that he might use his pardoning power to pardon a whole lot of the nonviolent offenders serving sentences for victimless crimes -- like the ones who had inhaled and gotten 5 years.

Instead.. well you know the rest. That was a huge disappointment and said a great deal to me about the man.

[Voice for Peace]

12. Also: K&R

Especially for this:

"Obama is continuing to accrue delegates and he is continuing to rise above the bitter rhetoric and mud-slinging. Americans have a long time between now and the general elections to see and hear from Barack Obama. Reverend Wright is not Obama's "Macaca" moment, it's his "I didn't inhale" moment. It will be endlessly flogged by the enemies of American democracy and soon forgotten by anyone who hears Obama address the important issues — the issues that matter to them."