Clinton’s Aunt Edna impersonation hurting Dems

Hillary Clinton has long been a hero and icon to the Democratic Party and to many women who appreciate her take charge attitude. From first lady to senator to Secretary of State, Clinton has done a lot for the United States over the last few decades.

She even wanted to be president of the United States and ran twice, losing first in the 2008 primary to Barack Obama and then in the 2016 general election to Donald Trump. Her second loss, in my opinion, came about partially because voters had a choice between her, a Washington insider, and Trump, someone with no political experience to speak of, and in a time when we, the people, were beyond tired of politicians’ gamesmanship and went with the non-politician.

Since 2016, she has kept a fairly low profile, opting to keep out of the liberal chorus decrying Trump’s actions and seeking impeachment. I figured that maybe she was going to just enjoy retirement, play with the grandchildren, figure out how to be a normal person after spending years as a powerhouse, that sort of thing.

I guess retirement fit her about as well as a flannel shirt, because Clinton was solidly back in the public eye last week with political dirt-slinging — casually dressed as a book tour. She lobbed a grenade at her former adversary about the oft-discussed phone call with Ukraine’s president. She also sprayed friendly fire on a fellow Democrat by declaring her a “Russian asset.”

The first attack against Trump was no surprise, consider how vicious the 2016 election was and the fact that they’re both from different parties; that’s politics as usual. Considering he hasn’t stopped using her name in vain every chance he gets in front of cameras or behind his Twitter account, it’s perfectly logical that Clinton would bite back.

Taking pot shots at Tulsi Gabbard, a fellow Democrat who is running for the party’s presidential nomination, Clinton sounded more like crazy Aunt Edna coming down from the attic and spewing conspiracy theories during the family’s Christmas dinner. There have been no public attacks from Gabbard against Clinton before the “Russian asset” claim.

Clinton went on a podcast and painted Gabbard as someone that Russians are grooming to be a third-party candidate in next year’s election, as the presidential hopeful is lagging far behind in the polls. She did so without citing any evidence or producing any proof that Gabbard has had contact with the Russians.

If Clinton had done this while still in office, she’d likely have been laughed off the podium. However, she seems to think that, now she’s Jane Q. Citizen, she can say whatever she likes, and it won’t hurt anybody. The problem with being on the political pedestal for so long is that it’s easier to ascend than to climb back down, and her words still create ripples in liberal circles.

The Democrats are dealing with enough brush fires from presidential candidates in recent months — Joe Biden’s overly hands-on approach of dealing with people, Pete Buttigieg’s questionable inactions on dealing with race problems between the black citizens in his community and the police department, Beto O’Rourke making a public declaration that he’s coming for our guns during a debate. Clinton’s attack on Gabbard just added oil from a leaking tanker.

As expected, Gabbard fought back against Clinton’s claim, saying in an Associated Press story that the former first lady is the “personification of the rot that has sickened the Democratic Party for so long.” In order for Gabbard or any other Democrat to be able to beat Trump, that person is going to need to show he or she is rot-free — shunning the business-as-usual stance that has polarized both of the political parties and caused the wheels of progress in Washington to grind to a halt.

Being rot-free will require the prevailing candidate to stand on his or her own two feet and not having insiders like Clinton speaking either for or against them. If the 2016 election taught us anything, it’s that they’re no longer willing to continue supporting those still in office for years or even decades. Clinton would best help her party by not jumping back into the political arena and instead focus on her book.

The Democrats are trying everything in the book to try to win back the White House in 2020. To do that, they’ll need to look like the sane and intelligent alternative to our current situation, not act like greased-up competitors on a televised celebrity death match.

If Clinton continues to attack fellow Democrats seeking an office she twice failed to win, it will be to the detriment of her own party and guarantee that Trump wins a second term in the White House. While conservatives would delight in that scenario, it would politically cripple liberals of all stripes. So if the Democrats are smart, they’ll have crazy Aunt Edna return to the solitude of the attic before the damage becomes irreparable.

Lee Pulaski is the city editor for the Shawano Leader. Readers can contact him at lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com.