Bill Clinton on the Mess in America Today

Bill Clinton has written a new book, out this week, “Back to Work: Why We Need Smart Government for a Strong Economy.”

In the book, former President Clinton blames both the Republican Party and President Obama for creating dysfunctional politics. He said he wrote the book because he loves his country and is “…concerned about our future.” In a phrase that is sure to become a classic during the 2012 presidential campaign, he added, “We’ve got to get America back in the future business.”
The former president criticizes President Obama’s handling of the debt limit and his promotion of nuclear energy.
But, as one might expect, Clinton saves the worst criticism for what he calls the “antigovernment” movement, including the tea party. He says these groups want to reduce the role of government, cut spending and taxes, and scale back regulations in order to stimulate the economy and cut the deficit.
Bill Clinton takes pride in his record in office because in the 1990s he presided over a federal government that actually left a surplus to his predecessor, the first President since Eisenhower in the 1950s to do that. More than 22 Million new jobs and continuous economic expansion were the hallmarks of his success.

Many will add that his partner in this economic success was Newt Gingrich, who was Speaker of the House during Clinton’s term in office, and who worked with the President and a Republican Congress to bring about the economic ‘miracle.’

In the book, President Clinton argues that a public-private / GOP-Democrat partnership is needed to overcome “the mess” America is in.

“I believe the only way we can keep the American Dream alive for all Americans and continue to be the world’s leading force for freedom and prosperity, peace and security, is to have both a strong, effective private sector and a strong, effective government that work together to promote an economy of good jobs, rising incomes, increasing exports, and greater energy independence.” And, he adds, there is much room for real debate between the parties on the major issues of the day, with the opportunity for them to structure bi-partisan solutions.
Clinton criticizes Obama and the Democrats for failing to raise the debt ceiling in November - December 2010, when they still controlled both houses of Congress. He says that this led to a partisan battle over the budget that made the United States look “weak and confused” to the world. He says it also caused Standard & Poor’s downgrading of America’s long-term credit rating, noting S&P's comment that American politics “have become dysfunctional.”
Clinton admits that his campaigning on behalf of Democrats in the 2010 midterm elections was less than helpful because of the Democrats’ failure create a national message to counter the antigovernment wave that swept many Republicans into office. And, the former President rejects the message that the 2010 election delivered - calls for spending cuts and tax increases. “Even though I strongly favor a multiyear plan to bring our budget back into balance, if we cut spending or raise taxes a lot when the economy is still weak, it will slow down economic recovery.”  
In his book, Clinton gives 46 specific proposals “to increase bank lending and corporate investment, to create more jobs that pay well, and to make sure we have enough people trained to fill them.” He calls for an end the “mortgage mess,” lower corporate tax rates and reduce credits and deductions, building a 21st-century infrastructure, encouraging the creation of new green-technology jobs, and providing disincentives to laying off workers.
Clinton’s overall message, as the title of his book states, is the need to put Americans back to work. “It’s heartbreaking,” he writes, “to see so many people trapped in a web of enforced idleness, deep debt, and gnawing self-doubt. We have to change that. And we can.”

It is well to remember that since Clinton left office, he has remained a powerful voice within the Democrat Party, while at the same time becoming popular with Republicans, including many who were his former critics. A recent poll found that Clinton’s favorability rating was 67%, his highest rating since leaving office, with his favorability among Republicans 40%.

Clinton’s message is particularly on point today, when we saw the spectacle of the GOP congressional members of the Super Committee, charged to cut $1.2 Trillion from the federal budget, presenting for the first time a proposal which would actually include a $300 Billion tax increase.

The Democrats on the Committee have been calling for its GOP members to realize that their effort must include tax increases as well as spending cuts. So, what was the Democrat response to the GOP offer?

Democratic Senator Kerry, also a Super Committee member, said the offer represented “a change” in the Republican position, but added, “I would not characterize it as a substantial change yet.”

Other Democrats said the offer represented no change at all because the tax revenue offer was tied to lowering overall tax rates. Another Democrat is reported by the Washington Post as saying, “They either think we’re morons or desperate.”

Instead of backhanding the GOP proposal, the Democrats should, if they want to follow President Clinton’s advice, take the GOP offer and try to fashion it into a proposal the two parties can agree to. With only 2 weeks left until their report is due, one might think they would have tried to compromise. But, as Clinton said, America is in “a mess.”