is barack listening to bill?

Although Obama long ago healed any post-primary differences with Hillary Clinton, he has never quite bonded with Bill, which is a pity, because whatever he may think of the last Democratic president's flaws, he ought to be able to see that he has plenty to learn from him.

Perhaps he is getting there. Having realised that he didn't give enough thought to communication in his first eighteen months in office he may now be listening to the master communicator's advice. The Washington Post's Dana Milbank has spotted something interesting. Here's a passage from Obama's current stump speech:

"It's a choice between the past and the future; a choice between hope and fear; a choice between falling backwards and moving forwards. And I don't know about you, but I want to move forward. I don't want to go backward."

Here's Bill Clinton in 1994 at the same point in his electoral cycle:

"Ladies and gentlemen, this election, all over America, represents a choice, a choice between hope and fear . . . between whether we're going forward or we're going to go back. I think I know the answer to that. You want to keep going forward."

This may well be coincidence; the boiler plate of a politician about to take a beating. Here's hoping it's because Big Dog has been whispering into the current president's ear - and that this is a sign of improved relations.

Ps I don't mean to imply that this particular advice - if that's what it is - will do any good. After all, things didn't go so well for Clinton in 1994.

Pps Note the subtle difference between the two passages and the superiority of Clinton's phrasing. Obama tells us something about himself: "I want to go forward." Clinton acknowledges something about his audience: "You want to keep going forward", implying humility and empathy.

Comments

[Will M]

Whilst I agree with everything else you've put here, I'm curious why you think that Obama hasn't really bonded with Bill. There's been little publicly available in either direction, so it's a bit of an assumption...

[Ian Leslie]

Um, I can't remember exactly which now, but various titbits and wind-blown straws have given me that impression.

[Bicycle Accessories]

Excellent work on this article. It make for an interesting and easy read on one of my favorite topics.

[Bicycle Accessories]

I don't usually spend a lot of time online reading blogs or article unless the are about football or cycling. So this was a unexpected bonus to come across this post.

[Will M]

Interested to know what your thoughts are on this given the personal chemistry here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ac9uDLUdSs