Is Bill Clinton working for McCain/Palin?

Bizarro World welcomes you…

So I found myself watching more video of Bill Clinton tonight. On The View, no less. No, I’m not drunk.

After being less than effusive in his support of Barack Obama in an interview last week I thought he might step it up a little, especially given his surroundings. Well, Joy, Whoopi and Babs must be hitting the Xanax pretty hard tonight. Clinton had another “I like John McCain” moment on a show where you’re supposed to spit on Republicans, call Elizabeth stupid for being one then leave. That’s standard green room prep for the show.

Pay attention as it is once again all about the subtext with what he’s saying. When asked if he thinks some of his wife’s supporters are shifting to McCain/Palin because there is a woman on the ticket, Clinton says yes. He then goes into a very detailed and smooth defense of why that might be. While never saying, “You go, girls!” he doesn’t once say “You shouldn’t do that.” He pays lip service to what might be the “best interest” of the voters because Joy feeds him a line but that’s as negative as he gets. His detailed defense of these voters seems almost like a blessing. He sure as hell never asks them to stay.

When Clinton moves on to the subject of Barack Obama and John McCain, it gets more interesting. He plays the part of a dutiful, if not passionate foot soldier but nothing more. He says he’s voting for Barack Obama “Because I’m a loyal Democrat.” That’s it. Real f-ing Hallmark moment there, huh?

He then points out something that John McCain actually did to help him normalize relations with Vietnam. TO be fair, there’s not a lot of “actual” stuff to talk about with Barack Obama’s record. Nothing that you should bring up in front of the children, anyway. Clinton then tells a story about mentioning to Barbara Walters last year that McCain was the only Republican who could win.

I didn’t watch the whole show, obviously, just this clip. I’m sure he says something nice about Barack Obama somewhere else. But the fact that each time he has a chance to speak about Obama he goes out of his way to praise McCain is what’s interesting. It’s got that whole “I don’t wanna date, I just like you as a friend,” vibe to it. Obama’s standing there at the end of the date wanting so much more and getting, “You’re all right, but that John McCain, he’s somethin’ else!”

Kind of brings back memories of 2000 and all that enthusiastic support he had for Earth Day Al. Good times.