The latest polls show that Hillary Clinton is far from done. Barack Obama has repeatedly had his chance to put her campaign away. He’s failed to do so. The Clinton campaign is alive and well. Give credit to Jeremiah Wright, Obama’s recent tendency to shoot himself in the foot and the famous Clinton never say die drive.
Years ago, the first President Bush (remember him fondly now? Me too!) was riding high as he headed for reelection. Bush I’s approval ratings were the exact opposite of Bush II’s. Daddy Bush was getting something like a 90 plus percent approval rating following the Gulf War victory.
Mario Cuomo was the nationally known eloquent spokesman of the Democratic Party as well as the well regarded governor of a big important state. Cuomo had presidential aspirations. Democrats were enthusiastic for a Cuomo candidacy. Yet, Cuomo hesitated. He hemmed and hawed and never got into the race. He’ll never know what might have been.
Bill Clinton was the little known governor of a state that let’s charitably say wasn’t at the top of most lists you’d want your state to be at the top of. However, Clinton was young, ambitious and charismatic. He didn’t hesitate. Clinton jumped in. Bush 90 percent approval rating be damned.
We all know what happened. Clinton won and George Bush went home a one term president.
Regardless of your politic persuasion, what should your children learn from the above? Glad you asked!
First, let’s take Hillary’s ‘08 Campaign. She has been knocked down and counted out over and over in this campaign. Yet, she’s still out there fighting day after day. Momentum even seems to have turned her way. Ask yourself, when’s the last time the Obama Campaign got some good news? Guam victory? I don’t see Senator Obama writing home about that one… “Dear Michelle, Hey Honey, I think I got this thing sewed up now that Guam is in my court!!”
The point that’s valuable for kids is that everyone gets knocked out. None of us wins all the time. Not even Derek Jeter or Brett Favre, despite reports to the contrary. Often, it seems like the world is in a hurry to count us out.
Hillary’s campaign teaches us so many things. Belief in yourself for one. Never counting yourself out. Fighting on against the odds. Most importantly, getting back up when you’ve been knocked down. The world is going to floor your kids. As parents, our biggest job is to teach them to get up. We need to ingrain in them that carrying on after suffering a set back or disappointment is the mark of a true champion.
Now, onto Bill. Clearly, Bill Clinton is a risk taker. Sometimes those risks are reckless and damaging to himself, his family and our country. Lewinsky, anyone? Other times, as with his decision to get in the race in ‘92, his belief in himself and his risk embracing nature won him the presidency and in my opinion (at least) gave our country a very good though flawed president.
What should your kids learn? Clinton proves you’ve got to be in it to win it whether it’s the lottery or running for the most powerful job in the world. Bill Clinton lives life like this is his one shot at it. Do you? Not many of us do, but many of us wish we did.
Do you want your kids to completely fulfill their potential? Of course you do. Then, you’ve got to teach the Clinton lesson. Kids have to go out into the world and take chances.
And for you conservatives, here’s the Bill Clinton lesson for your kids that even you’ll agree with. Kids need to learn the difference between a good risk and a bad risk. Even as a Clinton fan, I acknowledge that he had trouble with that one. Ultimately, it’s what kept him from being a great president rather than a very good one.
PS – Conservatives, I don’t expect you agree with my presidential rating of Bill Clinton, but hope you’ll get the underlying point. Can’t we all agree to get along for our kids?
2 Comments
May 4, 2008 at 3:16 pm
[...] Media Matters for America wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptThe latest polls show that Hillary Clinton is far from done. Barack Obama has repeatedly had his chance to put her campaign away. He’s failed to do so. The Clinton campaign is alive and well. Give credit to Jeremiah Wright, … [...]
May 4, 2008 at 3:49 pm
[...] If You’re A Conservative… Life Lessons Your Children Need To … Sharon Cobb wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptThe latest polls show that Hillary [...]