By William Greider. Put aside for the moment all the obvious doubts about Bill Clinton and imagine instead some of the breathtaking headlines that will appear in November if he is elected president. In some ways they are the best reasons to vote for him. New generation takes charge. At forty-five, Clinton would be the first president since World War II whose political outlook was not shaped by that conflict. Since Eisenhower, the country has been governed by old soldiers and sailors from that war.
If Clinton wins, the boomers would finally have one of their own in power. Racial healer wins white house For twenty-five years, the GOP has dominated national elections by skillfully exploiting racial antagonisms.
Clinton, as he has already demonstrated, is adroit in the opposite skill — speaking equitably to whites and blacks by concentrating on their mutual interests. Bush is out. Whatever negative things can be said about Clinton, and I have some to say myself, he is bound to be a big improvement.
His political skills are impressive and so is his grasp of complex policy issues. A new, young president is a chance to start again.
The country, as everyone senses, needs that chance. Those are the Clinton headlines. Unfortunately, as appealing as they might be, they do not answer deeper questions buried in the fine print about what kind of president he may be. I am more troubled by questions about his political character —— what does he really believe in terms of public values?
