Vanity Fair and the new "Friends of Bill" Clinton

Todd S. Purdum, former New York Times staffer and current Vanity Fair national editor, lets loose in the July issue of the magazine with a lengthy profile of Bill Clinton after leaving the White House.  It's getting reduced to sex in some places -- friends worried that he was spending suspicion-raising time with attractive women on the road -- but there's no smoking gun (to stick with political metaphors), and focusing on speculation about a return to form for the former wanderer-in-chief does the article a disservice.

Purdum, who covered portions of the Clinton administration, offers up a deeply reported look at a primal force in politics facing his own dissipation.  Scandal, big-bucks speaking fees, big-bucks pals like Ron Burkle with private planes, but also heart surgery and a clear physical deterioration.  Bill Clinton is no longer the man he once was, though he is still a force -- Purdum describes Clinton as "the smiling, snowy-haired man who is the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral he attends."

Purdum, who is married to Clinton's former press secretary, Dee Dee Myers, writes:

"To know Clinton is, sooner or later, to be exasperated by his indiscipline and disappointed by his shortcomings. But through it all, it has been easy enough to retain an enduring admiration — even affection — for a president whose sins against decorum and the dignity of his office seemed venial in contrast to the systemic indifference, incompetence, corruption, and constitutional predations of his successor’s administration. That is, easy enough until now.

"This winter, as Clinton moved with seeming abandon to stain his wife’s presidential campaign in the name of saving it, as disclosures about his dubious associates piled up, as his refusal to disclose the names of donors to his presidential library and foundation and his and his wife’s reluctance to release their income tax returns created crippling and completely avoidable distractions for Hillary Clinton’s own long-suffering ambition, I found myself asking again and again, What’s the matter with him?"

What's the matter, indeed.

-- Scott Martelle

Comments

[geo]

How many millions of dollars is obama getting from the islamic countries to run for and buy the presidency????????????????????

[Gregory Smith]

I am always amazed that so many concerned, dedicated and intelligent people have been so brainwashed by the amoral humanistic sludge that passes for civics and ethics these days that they can continue to believe B. Clinton was and is anything but a complete failure in every respect save duplicity.

He is a failure as a man, a husband, a leader, a father and a president and has only succeeded in fooling the masses and enriching himself by lies and underhanded dealings.

This is a man who stood on the shoulders of giants and pissed on their heads. He can claim not 1 accomplishment, not 1 original idea and not 1 bit of less than mind bogglingly bad judgment.

The Democratic Party will never enjoy any lasting success until they grow up and abandon this sycophantic love fest for lying amoral individualism hating American hating hucksters in it for their own gain.

[caveman]

He's a brilliant, but rather flawed guy. The terrorists planned and trained for 911 while he was doin what he was doin in the White House. That pretty much erases whatever good he did.

[Dan]

I voted for Bill in ’92--mostly because Bush I was abysmal and Perot was an evil dwarf, but for the last three elections, I voted for Ralph Nader.

Bill wasn’t a terrible Prez, and I always knew the impeachment over fellatio was ridiculous, but he certainly wasn’t a great one.

If FDR symbolizes progress and making the country better, while Reagan represents regress and making the country worse, Bill lies smackdab in the middle, not doing a damn thing once elected, and only fighting when his own skin’s at risk (i.e. during the impeachment).

A mediocre President at best, whose prosperity was so superficial that W merely had to put a feather on its back and it came crumbling down. Plus, he didn’t have a war to deal with. Hill would simply do nothing, and not fight for anyone but herself. She’s not evil, but she is a hack, and just another creature of Washington.

Barack Obama is a fresh face, and represents change, as well as a turn away from the disastrous Reaganist policies that have dominated politics for the past 30 years. He would take action once elected, and actually fight for change, unlike Hillary Clinton. That’s why I voted for him, and that’s why I’ll vote Democratic for the first time since 1992 (I gave Bill the benefit of the doubt, but by ’96, I was fed up with his ineffectiveness and stealth Republicanism). Obama will win in a landslide, and has a chance to be the best President since FDR (the last truly great Prez, Bubba doesn’t even come close).

Obama ’08

[tiddle]

Hillary's "long suffering ambition"??? What's the matter with the media??? Is it a crime that a woman harbors ambition and acts on it??? Would they have said the same with McCain, and Obama, in particular, for being ambitious, albeit having a blank resume from Obama?

I am so disgusted the main media, to try to make a story out of this.

Although I have always identified with the Dem agenda, I'm quite determined that I'm going to do everything that I can to see that Obama loses (should he become nominee), and that Howard Dean and Nancy Pelosi get their butts kicked. BIG TIME.

[tina]

This story is not an Obama plant. The man cheated on her from Arkansas to the Oval Office (literally). After almost losing his opportunity to be president because of his appetite he still was reckless enough to bring about Monicagate. One of Hillary's most loyal supporters, Andrew Young, even spoke about how Hillary had the right network to be president because Hillary had a committee to deal with Bill's bimbo eruptions.

[Tim Stoen]

Clinton Era was good for most Americans (which why I think they should make it mandatory that all Presidents get oral sex while in office) but that does not make him a good president. he turned his back everytime a terrorist hit an American target (USS Cole, Kenya, World trade center 1st time, ect...) They had Osama bid laden is their sites he called it off. Economy was good up to world trade center 2. Hillary herself will promise everyone anything, and when don't deliver blame eveyone else for it, why not Bill did.

[Frank Shifreen]

Bill Clinton( and Hilary) seem to be easy targets, only because of their high visibility. I. Purdom admits that in comparison to the current administration, Clinton's sins are minuscule. Where is the evidence of his current crimes? I only read snide insinuations in the article. He did not declare donors, he did not show records or returns. I would dispute some of those assertions. I do not know what it is with these Clinton accusers. I cannot forget Whitewater. For a $20,000 land deal that went bad, 40 million bucks down the drain, incredible accusations, Hilary almost accused of murder. Even the impeachment seemed predicated on such an insignificant episode. I get the feeling that Purdom expects Clinton to be a saint. He made some mistakes. There have been many scandals in the White House over the years. Clinton is not high up on the scale. Democrats are still being swiftboated
I wish they had given Bush the peach. The last seven years have been hard on me. I would like to sentence Purdom to another Bush presidency for his article.
I am also upset at his lack of compassion for Clinton, his health problems, and other failings. Clinton,despite some flaws, has always tried to do good, during his political life.

[john chater]

Bill Clinton was and is baggage to Senator Hillary's nomiination. He claims the Media disrespects his wife.
What about his affairs with Gennifer, Paula, Monica and others? Only an Jackass would dishonor the Office of President the American people handed him. Thank heavens for the Obama run for President.

[vote4thebest]

Why is it that the democrats are so quick to criticize a living ex-president who provides such a sharp contrast to the Bush's administration? Who else can we name as great ex-president for the democrats who actually delivered? not Carter (his total incompetence)?

Looks like the DEMs want to hold the world record of loosing the white house, even when it is a no-brainer year to win.

[dePaul Consiglio]

The star at every opening isn't just former President Bill Clinton. I'ts also Mrs Bill. But wasn't Bill the original star of the Mr Bill show on SNL on NBC?
And is the Prophet of The Republican Party Ronald Reagan still jealous like the rest of Republican Party America?
The Republican s were always jealous of The Clintons.The Reason?
They couldn't sleep with them. The Cllintons were young good looking and intelligent. Something the Republicans never were. But when the Clinton's caught up with the Republicans over that Lotto Thing back in 1994 that was it fom them. Only Carter and Kennedy knewthe whole story and they lied to Bill and Hillary and picked out Barack Obama for President at the suggestion of James A Baker 3d.
Enjoy the loot.

Regarding
dePaul Consiglio

Vote for America
Into the Future and Back to the Age of The Pioneers

[Buford T Voter]

Innuendo is all one needs to be printed in national media? This former NYTimes reporter cites a friend of a friend who saw Clinton in an elevator and 'Knew he was up to no good'? This article should have been printed in the National Enquirer not one of the best mags in America. Purdum states unequivocally that none of his circumstantial stories have any proof to them at all. One would have to believe this reporter's 'friends' on the inside to be completely honest with him.

This story reeks of every aides craziest rumor put to print and treated as fact. It's a hatchet job with no facts and out-on-a-limb critiques extending even so far as Clinton's Christmas card excerpts.

It's pathetic that this type of journalism is more and more excepted in mainstream media these days. The dumbing down of the population is moving along quite nicely.

[S]

what I find interesting is that many of these 'former Clinton aides' have marched over to the Obama camp and are now supporting him and have no trouble thrashing the Clintons and even implying that they are racists...so much for the loyalty, intent and motivation of 'former Clinton aides'...

Bob Beckel stated last night on Fox that Todd Prudum is a republican operative...and sadly his wife, Dee Dee Myers has not sounded very loyal towards the Clintons lately...perhaps she is looking for a job in an Obama admin...

...perhaps Todd Purdum is trying to start trouble to muddy the waters for Hillary as a possible VP candidate...

...the media has been out to get the Clintons from the beginning of the primary season...

[Alabama Hannah]

Imagine what Bill "The Bard" (Shakespeare) would do to the Bill "The Sleeze" (Clinton) story. It would be greater than Hamlet, King Lear, Richard III, Romeo and Hulliet, and The Merchant of Venice. Hillary would be immortalized for all time as his helpmate, soulmate, partner, antagonist, coach, towel holder, screaming me-me, pimp, etc., etc.. What a play! Is there no one to write such a classic? Guess not!

[Wilford]

Now seems like a great time to jump on the bash-Clinton band wagon, but sensible folks will take the high road. Bill's wife and Hillary's husband are in retirement now. so let them age gracefully. Their thirst for power will remain unquenched. Their dream is officially over. Hillary's husband's street cred is officially gone, and Bill's wife's street cred never actually existed. Please remember: sex addiction is a disease just like herpes or Wilkes-Barre syndrome. The inflicted cannot help it. God bless Hillary's husband? No, no, no...God damn Hillary's husband!

[Barb Warneke]

If Obama is required to give up his church to get public votes, why isn't Hillary required to give up her husband to get votes.( For all the crap he pulled in the white house with his affairs.) Actions speak louder then words. and Bill's actions were worse then the words spoken by the preachers.

[Unaffiliated for a reason]

Didn't Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid tell everyone it would all be over this week one way or the other?

Now will come the articles saying how Hillary was actually the Veep during the Clinton years instead of Al Gore. That way the Obama campaign can get out of naming her vice president gracefully without fears of igniting her "core constituency", who will have forgotten all about this by November. Politics as usual. As long as no one else finds out about it, and journalists have to protect your sources, right?

Isn't politics wonderful?

[Patricia Stewart]

Take a look in the mirror, Todd S. Purdum. You are no longer the man you used to be...
You're no Charles Foster Kane, but you've certainly lost your sled.

[David]

Look at these comments--they prove what the anti-Clintons have said for years. The Clintons are divisive, and they may be the worst thing to have happened to America since Richard Nixon.

[Paul]

Really amazing that some Dems hate Obama so much they'd endure another 8 years of Republican rule. Someone tell me why you hate him -- other than that he beat Hillary.

[CMYCMYCMY]

All of the past presidents have had affairs and cheated on their wives while in the white house, eh? Looks like we need a woman president - this would never happen with Hillary as president in the White House. She would take the job seriously. Obama? I can see him cheating on his wife. Heck, he probably already has.

[Dale Rhoades]

The Clinton's will soon be exiting the world stage and not a moment too soon I might add.

[Labs111]

Who cares if all the crooked politicians cheat on their spouses? The President stopped being a role model for our children with the first term of Clinton. What we need is another real American hero in office like Ronald Reagan was. Clinton made a joke of the position, and between he and his wife they committed more crimes than Al Cappone. They will say and do anything for power and money. All I can say to Mr. Obama is "if you are foolish enough to have Hillary as your VP you will need counseling since you apparently have a death wish". Just remember the JFK/LBJ administration and how LBJ eventually did become President. Hillary would do ANYTHING to be the President, and you are the only person in her way.

[Vegas Girl]

first of all the comment posted by geo

"How many millions of dollars is obama getting from the islamic countries to run for and buy the presidency????????????????????"

Ok - you are officially an idiot. stick to the point, that's what a blog is all about.

[Harold Grantham]

Methinks Rove has begun to work his magic. First slime Bill and then Hillary. Soon it will be Obama and his wife. I have thought for some time that Herr Rove left the White House to be out of the limelight to do his thing. This will be Rove III. And it will be more spectacular than Swift Boat and Win in Florida, if not, then steal it. The Supremes will clean up the mess. And we get the Occupant for eight years.