Mediaite "Seriously, what was the thinking here? This has to be one of the worst PR moves in the entirety of the administration. Obviously, Clinton is probably a more popular Democratic figure right now, but they had to imagine this would hurt Obama. I mean, letting a former president explain your tax bill while you head to a Christmas party? A Christmas party? "
Was Clinton unaware of how this looked? Was Obama? "With Mr. Obama standing largely silently at his side, Mr. Clinton took over the lectern to lend his backing to the tax compromise the White House reached this week with Republicans. And then Mr. Clinton went on, for half an hour, answering questions and holding forth on topics from triangulation to Haiti to the mortgage crisis and the nuclear arms treaty with Russia."
Althouse.
Deja vu all over again -- but worse "Clinton, of course, reveled in his return to the White House podium, outlasting even the long-winded Obama. The problem Obama will soon discover is how to get rid of Clinton since he's comfortable in the White House and has nothing to lose by sticking around. Sure, Obama benefits from Clinton's ability to schmooze Congress and get legislation passed, but it will become apparent quite soon that Clinton is being effective while Obama is in the way. Looking ineffective is not a good position to be in with an election coming up."
Ethel C. Fenig
‘Something Very, Very Weird is Going on in Washington’ "...even Obama’s inner circle were equally baffled by The One’s actions today."
Ed Driscoll in Pajamas Media
Help Me Bubba-Wan, You’re My Only Hope. "Here’s what I saw. I saw a current president who has never looked less interested in doing his job. I also saw a former president who never lost interest in doing that job. Obama’s demeanor and body language suggested that he’d rather be anywhere but where he was, and then he followed through and actually bolted for the door. Clinton’s demeanor was that of a passionate wonk trying to sell a policy he actually cared about, that he thought would be good for the country. It didn’t matter that it wasn’t even his own policy that he was selling."