Obama and Clinton: the Two Presidents

America has discovered it has two presidents: Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. There exists not a better and more plastic representation of the will of the current occupant of the White House to make a change in his presidency. There exists not a better portrait of the difficulties of the new phase of his first term as the one designed, or rather, sculpted by the (surprise) duet of Number 44 (Obama) and Number 42 (Clinton) in the press room.

The America that watches Washington has not been talking about anything else for two days but about the president who has given way and his seat on the small podium of the briefing room to his predecessor, and then sloping off with the excuse of being already late for the celebration of Christmas greetings with the White House staff (where the first lady was waiting for him). This left “old boy” Bubba (as Clinton has been nicknamed) to speak to journalists and to convince them about the goodness of the tax relief agreement signed by Barack Obama and the Republicans.

The New York Times revealed that not even Obama’s closest advisers knew that a press conference would be held at the end of the meeting with Clinton last Friday. Number 42 and Number 44 appeared in front of the press room’s door (inside which there were few drowsy reporters) and found it closed. Then, Obama asked a clerk to open it. This operation was performed only after press secretary Robert Gibbs, who accidentally caught the president’s request, asked both what their intentions were.

Even Gibbs was unaware of the fact that Obama and Clinton wanted to meet the journalists for a few brief statements. It did not appear a good idea to Gibbs, but he tried to make the best of a bad situation. After sending an urgent e-mail to all the accredited journalists, he finally let Obama and Clinton enter the briefing room.

They brought life to the show that has been shown around the world. After saying a few phrases of circumstance, Obama left the stage to Clinton, who took up the cudgel (with an effective ability of persuasion) for the agreement achieved on tax relief.

The message that Number 44 wanted to convey was really clear: Henceforth, I will behave as did my predecessor when — as president — he had to deal with a Republican majority in Congress. At that time, this pattern was considered worthy by the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party is now rebelling against the deal reached by Obama with the GOP.

Actually, by this move, Barack Obama has conveyed a very different message to his citizens; that of not being able to govern and of needing a public defender for his choices. And, moreover, he is conveying that he has lost the charm and communication skills which, two years ago, pushed him before the wind and drove him to the White House.

Bill Clinton gave him a real lesson on how to “sell” a delicate policy choice, such as the one that Obama made signing the deal with the GOP, to the public.

It is not the first time that Bubba has gone to the aid of Obama. The affront goes back to the primaries, during the days when Clinton told Ted Kennedy that “a few years ago, this guy would have been getting us coffee.” Those days are now far gone. Number 44 has already needed Number 42, and the former Arkansas governor has not skimped on advice to his heir. This act has increased the already strong power and influence enjoyed by Bill Clinton.

Barack Obama wanted to “take advantage” of that consensus. But his move looked more like an awkward own goal rather than the realization of a wonderful goal after an assist to Number 44.

After the duet in the briefing room, America has discovered it has two presidents. But, above all, it has understood that it has a great nostalgia for the one who is no longer formally in charge.