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Clinton advices democrats lay off bush Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/07/25/cap.grape.clinton/http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/07/25/cap.grape.clinton/
Clinton's advice to Democrats falls flat
WASHINGTON (CNN) --What are the chances Democrats will follow the advice of former President Clinton and back off their criticism of the Bush administration's pre-war claim about Iraq's nuclear ambitions?
How about slim to none?
When Clinton talked to CNN's Larry King and said it was time for fellow Democrats to move on -- "Everybody makes mistakes" -- his fellow Democrats didn't exactly follow suit.
A new strategy memo from Democrats helps explain why.
"The president has lost his Teflon, as evident in the rapid deterioration of his position of trust over the last month, indeed, over the last two months," reads part of the memo from Democracy Corps, founded by Democratic strategists James Carville (co-host of CNN's Crossfire), Stanley Greenberg and Robert Shrum.
The memo doesn't explicitly address the controversy of Bush's State of the Union address -- in which he cited British intelligence saying that Iraq was seeking uranium from Africa -- but declares that Bush is "vulnerable" on a number of fronts, including the economy and foreign affairs.
A cover letter accompanying the memo is more direct. "The pillars that were holding up Bush -- trust and foreign affairs -- have been shaken in the aftermath of the State of the Union controversy and the glaring absence of a post-war plan in Iraq," it says.
Not surprisingly, Republicans have their own take on Bush's standing. They point to numerous polls, which show he still enjoys strong support among most Americans and dismiss criticism as evidence that Democrats lack plans of their own.
Ed Gillespie, the new chairman of the Republican National Committee, said in a recent opinion piece that Democrats have nothing but a "passive, reactive approach."
Star power
Sure, sure, the presidential candidates want to tell you how much money they've raised and how big their campaign war chests are.
But don't you really want to know which celebrities are handing out campaign donations?
Well, a review of the latest fund-raising reports filed with the Federal Election Commission provides some insights.
Singer, actress, director and Democratic activist Barbra Streisand is covering her bases. She's doled out contributions to Democrats Howard Dean, John Kerry, John Edwards, Richard Gephardt, Bob Graham and Al Sharpton.
Dean, the former governor of Vermont, appears to be winning a lot of Hollywood support. Among the actors who have donated to his campaign: Paul Newman, Susan Sarandon, Janeane Garafalo, Robin Williams and Ted Danson.
Kerry, a senator from Massachusetts, was no slouch in the Hollywood money chase either, picking up funds from Candice Bergen, Michael J. Fox, Bette Midler and Jerry Seinfeld, among others.
The Hollywood crowd isn't exactly showering President Bush with funds, but, fear not, he has his fans.
Actor Chuck Norris, star of "Walker, Texas Ranger," gave to Bush. Coincidentally, the Bush-Cheney campaign gives the title of "ranger" to any supporter who raises $200,000 for the campaign. Norris, with a $2,000 donation this spring, has not yet made the cut.
Fan club
They were rivals for the White House in 1996 and sparred at times on policy matters, but Bob Dole has a fan in Bill Clinton -- a big fan.
The former president phoned in to CNN's Larry King to participate in a tribute to the former Senate Republican leader on his 80th birthday. And a simple 'Happy Birthday" wouldn't suffice.
Clinton went on at length on how much he admired Dole, citing his perseverance over serious wounds suffered in World War II, his commitment to the "little people in the world," his ability to work with Democrats and Republicans on legislative matters, and his celebrated wit and humor ("clearly the funniest spokesman his party produced in the last 50 years.")
The Democratic leader positively gushed. "I guess I sound like a card-carrying Republican tonight," Clinton allowed. "I love the guy. I can't help it. I think he's great."
-- Written by CNN.com Producer Sean Loughlin with reporting from CNN Senior Political Researcher Robert Yoon
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