Et tu, Bill?

Tony Norman

What's up with Bill Clinton? The so-called "genius" of American politics has been co-opted by Republican presidential candidate John McCain's campaign BIG TIME!

Bill is the star of John McCain's latest ad. Clinton is quoted spreading the blame for the fiscal meltdown evenly between Republicans and Democrats going back to his administration.

"I think the responsibility that the Democrats have may rest more in resisting any efforts by Republicans in the Congress or me when I was president to put some standards and tighten up a little on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac," Clinton told ABC News last week. The quote made it front-and-center into one of McCain's ads, followed by a narrator's "unbiased" analysis of Bill Clinton's words:

"Loans soared. Then, the bubble burst. And taxpayers are on the hook for billions. Bill Clinton knows who is responsible."

How does it feel to catch a spear with your heart, Mr. President? This is what happens when you say nice things about your party's opponent during the height of a tightly-contested presidential campaign.

I understand that Bill Clinton was probably feeling more bipartisan than usual last week because John McCain was a guest at one of his foundation events, but fluffing the pillow for the man who is trying to keep your party out of the White House isn't cool.

Last week, Mr. Clinton said nice things about McCain several times. I wouldn't be surprised if McCain's campaign featured those sound bites in upcoming commercials to make it seem as if the former president was campaigning for Obama as a matter of form, but endorsing his Republican opponent by subliminal suggestion.

This is no time to go all "fair and balanced" on the Democrats, Bill. Either you're in this thing to win it - or you're not.