Mike Boudo
There's no "I" in "party" but there is one in "Bill," so--tonight--in his final appearance as the Democrat's alpha dog, Bill Clinton had to make a choice: is he in it to win it for Obama? Or in it for himself?
In the end, his speech was just like Hillary's: if you believe what they said at the convention, then they had to be lying during the campaign.
You knew he would be greeted with loud applause, and that it would make him glow. Because, to Bill, applause is what the sun is to a plant.
You also knew he'd say something good about Barack Obama, even if--during the campaign--he said Obama had virtually no experience and that electing him was quote rolling the dice:
"Everything I learned in my eight years as president and in the work I've done since, in America and across the globe, has convinced me that Barack Obama is the man for this job...he has shown a clear grasp of our foreign policy and national security challenges," Clinton said.
But then, of course, he needed to put his wife's loss to Obama in perspective...his perspective:
"I'm very proud of the campaign she ran...and I'm grateful for the chance Chelsea and I had to tell Americans about the person we know and love," Clinton said.
Finally, there was his own legacy... Which--if had his way--only he would be allowed to write: "Sixteen years ago, you gave me the profound honor to lead our party to victory and to lead our nation to a new era of peace and broadly shared prosperity," Clinton said.
Clinton resurrected his campaign theme song--"Don't Stop Thinking about Tomorrow"--but, apparently, he already has.
Reportedly, he will not be attending Barack Obama's acceptance speech tomorrow night, which is supposed to be the highlight of the convention.
But why should Bill go? He had his highlight tonight.
I'm Andy Hiller, and that's my instinct.
(Copyright (c) 2008 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
