Bill Clinton is an amazing man.
He proved during his tenure in the White House that he is part hot plate, part non-stick skillet - and he can switch between roles as politics dictate.
And, doggone, is the guy smooth. He's a masterful public speaker, able to connect with an audience like few other politicians of his time.
Oh yeah, he's a hypocrite too.
That personality tick manifested itself earlier this month when the former president stumped in Aiken for his wife. A woman asked if he could help her golf group play at the Augusta National.
Cue, the aw shucks Bill.
He laughed as he told them he probably couldn't make that happen. Heck, he hadn't even played there, and he probably never would. See, he wasn't sure his wife and daughter would want him to play at the private club since there are no women members there.
Now, there are those out there who will think that's mighty noble of the former president. It shows how sensitive he is to women's issues. He probably even shed a tear as he thought of the plight of all those millionaire women whose psyches are destroyed because they aren't members of the National.
Come to think of it, I'm fairly sure that there are no Augusta National members in their mid-30s, in debt up to here, and working for a living day in-day out. I'm being discriminated against, dadgumit.
But I digress. Back to Bill.
You may remember Mr. Clinton from Arkansas, even serving as governor there. It was during his days of banging around Arkansas that Big Bill played regularly at the Country Club of Little Rock.
On the Country Club's membership docket were plenty of men. And plenty of women. But here's the thing: None of them were black, red, yellow or brown. Bill's duffer buddies were lily white.
I wonder how much heartburn that caused Mrs. Clinton?
When he wrapped up the Democratic nod for president in 1992 - according to the New York Times - he apparently found his soul and stopped playing there.
And his spokesman, when queried about all the past rounds, simply said: No one ever complained about it before.
Right.
And Bill Clinton had never run for president before. Not that that could have had anything to do with his decision.
Mr. Clinton is the epitome of the Do as I say, not as I do generation. Fast forward a decade from the Monica Mess, and the good husband is out touting the virtues of his wife on the campaign trail.
And, just in case you think I'm targeting Clinton, I'm not. He just happened to hit a nerve.
Honestly, here's my political belief: Once you get on the national level, it's pretty much all the same. Only the faces change. Sure, they all talk a good game on the campaign trail, but once in office, they are all members of the Gridlock party.
After all, standing still is always easier and safer than moving forward.
