Posted on 09/04/2002 8:20:18 PM PDT by mafree
Charisma: "A special quality of leadership that captures the popular imagination and inspires allegiance and devotion."
Look it up. Right next to that definition in the dictionary, there's a picture of Bill Clinton.
At least, there ought to be.
Milwaukee got a taste of true star power Wednesday, as the 42nd president of the United States came to stump for U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Madison) and promote music education.
His first visit to Wisconsin since leaving the White House included a stop at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts to speak to a crowd of Clinton fans and Baldwin supporters, some who paid as much as $500 a ticket for a reception and luncheon.
If a room filled with beatific smiles and hypnotic gazes was any barometer, it was a typical masterly public performance by Clinton.
Which, of course, is the reason Clinton-haters despise the man.
Clinton, live or on television, always has an unrivaled ability to connect with ordinary Americans.
It leaves his enemies snarling.
Mainly, because they realize as long as Clinton keeps pleading his own case in front of captivated audiences, their attempts to reduce his legacy to nothing more than Monica Lewinsky are doomed to fail.
Clinton's charisma was on full display from the second he entered the room in the company of an attractive blond.
(Lucky for him, it was Baldwin.)
When it came time for the slender-looking Clinton to take the podium, the audience saw why even neutral observers consider him one of our most intelligent presidents.
Speaking without notes, he covered a range of topics - everything from his public service duties as a former president to the threat of terrorism to political opponents who fight a war of words not over facts but ideology.
Through it all, he trained his laser-beam stare over the crowd to make direct eye contact with individuals.
It was abundantly clear why so many find President Bush's public appearances lacking. And, why Bush has so much trouble mustering public support for a war against Iraq that few want.
After listening to Pavarotti sing for eight years, you can't help but feel a bit let down when the guy from 'N Sync tries to take the stage.
The room was filled with longtime Democrats, so the reaction to Clinton's appearance wasn't surprising.
What was more interesting was listening to people who never experienced the real thing before.
Like Kit McNally, executive director of the Benedict Center, a non-profit prison reform agency.
"The man is incredible," said McNally, seated at a front table seat. "The thing is, everything he says is really significant, it's so meaningful. It's intelligent, and it's not pandering at all."
Mary Sandberg of Madison was another first-timer to the Clinton magic.
"He just connected with everybody, he's just so fluid, and he talks about the issues in such an emotional way."
Milwaukee native Cynthia Johnson was impressed by Clinton's sincerity about the issues.
As an African-American, she had no doubt why Clinton remained popular with blacks.
"He's always on the right side," she said, in regard to racial matters. "Blacks are used to being denied for so long, it's comforting to know he believes in equal rights for all."
Clinton-haters will scoff at anyone describing Clinton as sincere. And they will point to his famous "I didn't have sexual relations with that woman - Miss Lewinsky" as proof.
They don't get it. Image is important. Under Bush, we have a president who seems more like an errand boy or a privileged child relying on his father's advisers.
For all of his flaws, Clinton oozes the right stuff.
My guess: As the years go by, Clinton's two terms in office will look better and better all the time.
As long as he's the one doing the talking, that's almost a guarantee.
Oh wait. Clinton did make a TV commercial with Cuomo and Cuomo dropped 22 points in the polls, finally quitting the race yesterday. And this happened in New York! Hmmm... So much for Kanes astute observations.
Now that is funny!
Clinton? Slender? Now that is hysterical
Clinton? Intelligent? Now that is ludicrous!
We are the people who went to Boulder. The Clinton lovers are the ones who were drawn to Las Vegas by The Walking Man.
Clinton IS The Walking Man.
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