Choosing themes

"History is not another name for the past, as many people imply. It is the name for stories about the past." - A.J.P.Taylor (Historian)

There are two story themes available now about major Democratic figures of the past two decades. Each has some supporting evidence.

The first story goes something like this (I tell it at some length because I believe it is valid):

Bill Clinton fit the Democratic ideals of opportunity for all: born into a poor and difficult family situation, he benefited from public education and rejected the bigotry common in the South.

As a young man, he opposed the VietNam War and supported the Civil Rights movement. He married Hillary Rodham, a bright and independent woman with middle class Chicago roots. They admired each other's intelligence and strength. Their interest in how government could serve the common good, and commitment to public service, were major elements in their mutual attraction.

For leadership roles in government, they had one serious lack. Even as campaigns became more and more expensive to run, they had no personal wealth and few connections to wealth. It gave them a perspective badly needed in the halls of power, but that didn't help in getting them there.

At the time women were still rarely seen in executive positions in government or business, so pragmatism dictated that Bill be the first of the pair to run for office, in his home state of Arkansas. Hillary worked in a law firm, helped campaign and tackled the funding process, looked for investment possibilities. She also worked on social causes close to her heart.

He won the governorship. One of the reasons Bill made friends in the Black community was that he didn't pretend racial issues didn't exist. He frankly acknowledged them (as the Black community always had to do) and worked for racial justice. He made enemies among the segregationists still very active in the state. He lost at the next election, then won again later.

Next he became a presidential contender. It was a hard campaign, and Bill was counted out more than once, but kept bouncing back and ultimately was elected. It was clear that Bill (and Hillary too) could be powerhouse candidates and campaigners for the Democrats for a long time to come. Justifiably alarmed, Republicans continued their fierce campaign against them right over into his term of office.

Right-wing funding was available to promote any kind of negative charge. Old enemies, and old charges from the Arkansas campaigns, were sold to the media. Journalists who promoted the stories were rewarded; those who didn't found career possibilities shrinking. Charges came thick and fast, and little attention was paid to the fact that charges had no substance, because new ones were raised as old ones were refuted.

Individuals working for the Clinton administration were also subject to attacks, both personal and legal, so the pain of unfounded charges was often compounded with the need to expend large sums for legal representation. Vincent Foster, unprepared for this level of assault, was driven to suicide --- and the scandalmongers responded with a new host of rumors blaming his death on the Clintons and himself. Whitewater was raised, refuted, and raised and refuted again and again, at great public cost; after years of exhaustive investigation and millions spent, the Clintons were exonerated.

Despite all this distraction, Bill had an effective presidency. A large part of his effectiveness was in his flexibility on language and tactics and his tenacity in shaking off defeats and pursuing causes, when progress on one issue was blocked, shifting to another, but repeatedly pressing on one or another priority. The national debt, which had been soaring like a rocket since Reagan took office in 1980, reduced its trajectory and soon began to decrease, reducing its effectiveness as a Republican argument against social spending. Despite all the Republican partisan opposition --- which extended even to shutting down government operations rather than compromise with Clinton, and mounting an impeachment on trivial personal grounds --- there were gains domestically and internationally and positive regard for the US increased in most places around the world.

After leaving the presidency, Bill continued efforts to improve world conditions, establishing a foundation to support education, poverty-reduction, and health around the world. Hillary successfully campaigned in New York and became a widely-respected senator. Both were generous in lending support to other Democratic candidates.

When Hillary ran in the presidential primaries in 2008, the Democrats had many highly credible candidates, all of them raising issues which had been badly served by the Bush II administration. It came down to a very close one-on-one contest between two strikingly attractive candidates with very widespread support. In addition to all their other qualities, each would represent a first in US history --- Hillary the first woman, Obama the first with African ancestry, to be a major party's presidential nominee. After a long and close contest, Obama had a decisive lead, and Hillary pledged her vigorous support to his campaign.

Both Bill and Hillary are eloquent and charismatic, able to speak to the aspirations and stir the energies of audiences across the cultural and demographic range of the country.

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That's the first story; here's the second:

Bill and Hillary Clinton emerged from the dirty setting of Arkansas as ruthless power-seekers, and he captured the US presidency by doubtful means. His presidency was full of scandals. Both Bill and Hillary were shameless liars willing to exploit any friend or supporter, loyal to no cause but their own advancement. He was impeached but managed to wriggle out of it.

In the 2008 primary, Hillary --- a mere wife without qualifications, running really to give her husband an illegal third term --- joine with Bill to fight a dirty battle against Obama, refusing to concede when it became clear that Obama would probably win. It was a nasty campaign which dirtied his image and provided much ammunition for the Republicans to use against him in the general campaign.

Bill and Hillary are damaged, destructive figures certainly not able to help Obama in his campaign. A good opinion of them is a sign of collusion, ignorance, naivety, or just plain bad judgement.

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Now, it's obvious why the Republicans would choose to trumpet the second story. But can anyone explain what fratricidal yearning for failure drives so many Democrats to prefer some version of that bitterly false narrative?