Clinton first lady papers highlight mundane details of official life; journos scour them for anything interesting with no luck

by ryan | March 19, 2008 at 04:59 pm

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The exciting release of the 'Hillary Clinton papers' has proven to be much a do about nothing. The hoopla over NAFTA is meaningless. So what if she supported it back in 1994. I think it's commendable that she can admit that it wasn't ideal and there were items which should be changed. One of the major components in which Bush faltered was the ability to admit err and to adjust his course. The media (and maybe Obama if he's feeling close minded) will try and spin Clinton's position on NAFTA as flip flopping, but that's just what we need in a President, the ability to admit mistakes and take action to correct those mistakes.

The Lewinsky aspect of the papers is no where nearly as exciting as the Starr report, which I eagerly read as a 15 year old. Hillary just went about her business when anything Lewinsky related went down.

The documents clearly indicated that Clinton had a powerful
role at the White House, frequently meeting foreign leaders and
presiding over meetings.

The NAFTA agreement, linking trade between the United
States, Canada and Mexico, was considered a major
accomplishment by President Bill Clinton in 1994.

But now many Americans blame the agreement for the loss of
thousands of U.S. manufacturing jobs.

NAFTA has become such an issue on the Democratic
presidential campaign trail that both Clinton and rival Barack
Obama have vowed to renegotiate it.

The former first lady's records showed first lady Clinton
worked on behalf of the accord.

On January 26, 1998, for example, the day Bill Clinton
declared "I did not have sexual relations with that woman,"
Monica Lewinsky, first lady Clinton had a busy day, including a
round-table discussion with students from her alma mater,
Wellesley College.

Later she went to New York for an education event, and
spent the night at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. The weather
forecast on that day's schedule said, "Mostly cloudy. High 37.
Low 27.