Journalism Is Overlooking Hillary's Biggest Threat
Much is written these days about the Hillary Clinton campaign, the
tensions within the Democratic Party and the increasing acrimony
between Senators Clinton and Obama over who is best qualified to lead.
Journalists are paying attention as well to the role played by former
President Bill Clinton who consistently acts as his wife's loyal
helpmate and guardian of her campaign. The commentariat mentions how
President Clinton's ego and his powerful defensiveness are constantly
on display.
Journalists accept this at face value, even with a measure of
nostalgia for the good old days of the Clinton White House and, after
all, Bill always makes for good copy.
But in my opinion, journalists are missing the real story: Hillary
Clinton's biggest threat to her campaign is her husband who doesn't
want his wife to win.
Bill is sabotaging Hillary daily, while ostensibly professing his
support. By placing himself in the role of attack dog, questions are
raised (by David Brooks on NPR, among others), about whose
administration would it be - Hillary's or Bill's-- if she is elected.
Brooks sagely anticipates that a Clinton administration would be
filled with warring parties - some loyal to her, others to him. It's a
prospect that many voters dread, so say the polls.
It's a bit of armchair analysis, but a psychotherapist I know well,
tells me that this is an example of projective identification - the
patient (Bill) evacuates his anxieties (no longer being President) on
the therapist (Hillary) in order to regain his dominance and to assure
his traditional role and reputation.
Seems obvious to me.
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