Senator Clinton: Cribbing From The Bush Playbook?

One thing that has bothered me about Bush-style GOP politics is playing the victim anytime someone makes a substantive critique of you or your policies... ie. Bush cultists insisting those opposed to his policies merely suffer from "Bush derangement syndrome" (a fast-spreading disease). We shouldn't tolerate it on our side either, which is why I am tired of Bill and Hillary complaining that the other Democratic candidates are "piling on" if they challenge the inevitability or the positions of the junior Senator from NY.

Senator Clinton has, of course, long been assaulted by her opponents on the right-- a fight she is comfortable with, and bordering on self-parody at times-- but she doesn't seem too comfortable dealing with criticism from an Edwards or an Obama or a Dodd. Maybe she's surprised to see that other candidates are indeed running against her.

Another Bush tactic that I despise, which I wish Hillary had not embraced, is manipulation of the media. From sneaking Jeff Gannon into the White House press corps to paying Armstrong Williams and other pundits to shill for his programs to town hall meetings where only proven die-hard supporters are let in to phony FEMA press conferences, the President has done everything to keep himself in a bubble, and to avoid any opinions that differ from his own.

Now Sen. Clinton has been caught engaging in similar activity. At a recent campaign spot, a college student asked her, "As a young person, I'm worried about the long-term effects of global warming. How does your plan combat climate change?" An excellent question, to which Clinton had a quick answer ready.... because her campaign had given the question to said student in the first place. This leaves one wondering how often the Senator does this.

Is this the greatest scandal ever, or even the worst of this week? Hardly. But it's a political practice that demeans the system, and should not be so lightly dismissed. I'm sure Clinton would be a smarter, more capable leader than Bush. But the bar shouldn't be set that low.