"It's the American Dream, Stupid!"

Nick Gillespie | July 25, 2006

Sen. Hillary Clinton and a few of her Democratic colleagues from the Legion of Doom World's Greatest Deliberative Body and Goode Tyme Eatin' House have unveiled an "American Dream Initiative" which promises a college grad with gold-plated health care in every two-car garage.

Reuters via China Daily calls the play:

Rewriting her husband's famous 1992 campaign slogan, "It's the economy, stupid," she declared: "It's the American dream, stupid."...

"This plan will make the basics of life in the middle class -- health care, education and retirement -- affordable for those who take responsibility," Clinton said.

"These ideas will make sure every American will get a fair wage, access to college and home ownership and a path out of poverty and into the middle class," she said.

Also in the offing: "American Dream Grants" to states based on the number of state college grads they produce, "American Dream Accounts" for retirement, American "baby bonds" that would cough up $500 per infant, and, I'm guessing, "American Dream Ice Cream," which tastes great but is not fattening, and "American Dream Food Stamps" so it's easier to shop at the sort of upscale grocery stores that the vanishing middle class prefers but can't afford. On top of it all: "New rules to rein in federal spending." More here.

Give Hillary, Sens. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), and Gov. Tom Vilsack (D-Iowa) this much credit: This plan has better theatrics than Rep. Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) bold promise to deliver broadband access at a slower rate than the market is currently doing. But I suspect the rest will ring pretty hollow for most people: Housing prices are steep in key metro areas (largely the fault of existing gov't policy, btw) but the percentage of owners is at or near historic highs. The same holds true for college attendance.

And somehow, however annoying and frustrating the American health care system is, it seems unlikely that Hillary Clinton, of all people, will motivate voters to pull the Dem lever. Indeed, even her line--"It's the American Dream, stupid!"--sounds off. Where Bill Clinton's campaign slogan was clearly designed to keep his team focused, her line seems more directed at recalcitrant voters. Then again, against the current crop of Republicans, this sort of thing might look like genius thinking, especially if the GOP's Napoleon in Elba AEI is campaigning mostly on a weight-loss plan.

Comments

KipEsquire|7.25.06 @ 11:07AM|#

A life on the dole is "The British Dream," not "The American Dream."

|7.25.06 @ 11:10AM|#

Ugh. I think I'm going to be ill.

|7.25.06 @ 11:15AM|#

Uh, I've already got the things Hillary wants to give me. I'm not onboard until she proposes a federal program to clean up the dog shit behind my garage. And if she could do something about those damn weeds that keep growing through the driveway that would be nice, too.

|7.25.06 @ 11:15AM|#

"American Dream Food Stamps" so it's easier to shop at the sort of upscale grocery stores that the vanishing middle class prefers but can't afford.

Can you please clarify something for me? When you say, "vanishing middle class", does that mean former middle-classers are generally becoming wealthy, or are they sliding into poverty?

|7.25.06 @ 11:17AM|#

Proving once again that the only reason that Republicans are scarier than Democrats is that they have power right now.

Hopefully schemes like middle class welfare will keep people like Hillary out of power so we can continue to complain about how horrible the Republicans are.

talboito|7.25.06 @ 11:30AM|#

I'm glad the Democrats are finally doing something to deliver us from the Libertarians.

Those folks are the kiss of death to a political party.

|7.25.06 @ 12:01PM|#

"Can you please clarify something for me? When you say, "vanishing middle class", does that mean former middle-classers are generally becoming wealthy, or are they sliding into poverty?"

smacky,
It's neither. It means they've drank something that's in the water and are becoming invisible.
It's the flouride, I tell. Or perhaps the HFCS.

|7.25.06 @ 12:03PM|#

this is a serious problem being addressed here. did you know that HALF of all americans are earning below the median income?

|7.25.06 @ 12:06PM|#

I prefer "It's stupid, the American dream."

|7.25.06 @ 12:08PM|#

smacky - seriously. I don't have tons of money, carry a little debt, have horrible credit, and things like that (that I take absolute responsibility for, I might add), but I am by no means poor. I would say that I'm middle-class, and most of the people I know are middle-class. That's not to diminish the plight of people who are poor, of course, but I guess my point is that most of the people I know were born into middle-class, and none of us has slide into poverty.

Yes, yes, the top money-earners make me look poor (I just read the ridiculously high average salary of CEO's recently)...but c'mon. I live in the US in 2006.

|7.25.06 @ 12:19PM|#

The middle class is "vanishing". Those who were once thought of as lower middle class are now poor and the upper middle class are now wealthy.

We are both richer and poorer because of this.

|7.25.06 @ 12:52PM|#

That picture is eery. I'd hate to have to look at that for four years.

I'm sure the boomers that failed to prepare for retirement will now look at Hillary as savior. And that is what's stupid.

|7.25.06 @ 12:58PM|#

"This plan will make the basics of life in the middle class -- health care, education and retirement -- affordable for those who take responsibility," Clinton said.

Funny... I thought if you were a responsible adult, all those things were readily available.

|7.25.06 @ 1:00PM|#

"This plan will make the basics of life in the middle class -- health care, education and retirement -- affordable for those who take responsibility," Clinton said.

Funny... I thought if you were a responsible adult, all those things were readily available in the free market. Apparently I was wrong.

|7.25.06 @ 2:38PM|#

Excellent point jcavar.

I'm starting to think that all the celebs (Tom Hanks, et. al.) who gave to Hillary recently did it to keep her in NY.

|7.25.06 @ 2:39PM|#

Excellent point jcavar.

I'm starting to think that all the celebs (Tom Hanks, et. al.) who gave to Hillary recently did it to keep her in NY.

Jennifer|7.25.06 @ 2:41PM|#

That picture is eery. I'd hate to have to look at that for four years.

As opposed to George Bush, who got elected because he's just that damned sexy. And if Cheney weren't the vice-president he'd have a lucrative career as a GQ model, no doubt.

To solve America's problems we clearly need more good-looking people in office. Maybe we should amend the Constitution to require that presidents be under 35.

Take me, Rumsfeld. I'm yours.

|7.25.06 @ 2:58PM|#

I loath the republicans to the point it's a personal hatred but the alternative?
Lets give every child $500 ?
That's what the Democrats are offering me?
How about let's get out of Iran and quit meddling with every country in the world.
Or maybe eliminate the War on Drugs.

Something of worth. Anything.
The Democrats deserve to lose.

Jennifer|7.25.06 @ 3:15PM|#

By the way, I do think Hillary sucks. I just don't think her appearance has a damn thing to do with it.

|7.25.06 @ 3:21PM|#

Who pays for the American Dream taxes? Who hires the people that would have gotten hired without those taxes?

|7.25.06 @ 3:25PM|#

By the way, I do think Hillary sucks.

Take it from me, Hillary definitely does not suck.

|7.25.06 @ 3:48PM|#

After looking at that photo of Hillary, I think I miss Ann Coulter.

|7.25.06 @ 4:20PM|#

Damnit P Brooks, I managed to miss the photo while focusing on the words I guess. Ewwwwww.

Now that I look at it, I'm inclined to think she just inhaled.

|7.25.06 @ 4:28PM|#

Don Coyote: "That picture is eery. I'd hate to have to look at that for four years."

Eight years!

|7.25.06 @ 4:30PM|#

I think Hillary Clinton is very photogenic.

|7.25.06 @ 4:56PM|#

After looking at that photo of Hillary, I think I miss Ann Coulter.

No way! At least Hillary Clinton makes funny faces. That's worth something. Ann Coulter just looks like Skeletor. That's nothing.

Jennifer|7.25.06 @ 5:30PM|#

Reminds me of the joke about the hardcore Southerner who was asked who he hoped would win this weekend's college football game: Yale or Harvard?

"Neither," the Southerner replied. "Y'all're a bunch of damn Yankees and I hope you both lose."

|7.25.06 @ 5:45PM|#

Jennifer,

I miss the tie. It allowed me to root for a specific result when two despised teams were playing. Say FSU-Miami. Or maybe Georgia-Tennessee. Dilemmas indeed. Besides, it was a gut check for wussie coaches. I hate college overtime.

If I were registered Democrat, I'd write in Chelsea Clinton if Senator Clinton were on Florida's primary ballot.