It’s been that kind of year.
As the primary season ends, as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton may be preparing to say a graceful goodbye to the presidential race, her husband has gotten into yet another food fight.
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This time, Bill Clinton’s anger is focused on Todd S. Purdum, national editor of Vanity Fair. He’s written a remarkably unflattering article about the former president that’s now posted on the magazine’s website.
Without having read the piece, Clinton Monday called its author “sleazy,” “dishonest,” “slimy” and a “scumbag.”
Through a spokesman, Clinton later regretted those terms - all captured on video by the Huffington Post - though he did not otherwise make nice.
Clinton’s heated reaction might have been prompted by a sense of betrayal.
Purdum, formerly a reporter for The New York Times, is married to Dee Dee Myers, Clinton’s first presidential press secretary.
(Purdum writes that Myers and Clinton have not been in “regular contact” since she left the White House and that she was not a source for the story.)
On the other hand, it may be that Clinton the press critic had a valid point buried beneath his invective.
The story is, as Clinton suggests, heavily dependent on anonymous sources.
Beyond that, it’s dependent on previously published information.
There is a not a lot new here, it would seem, other than some inside information on Douglas Band, Clinton’s longtime aide and handler. Band, Purdum suggests, is either too strict or too lenient with his strong-willed boss.
Purdum opens with a kind of disclaimer, saying, “Nor, indeed, is there any proof of post-presidential sexual indiscretions on Clinton’s part, despite a steady stream of tabloid speculation and Internet intimations that the Big Dog might be up to his old tricks.”
Having said there is no proof about sexual indiscretions, Purdum manages to mention most of the tabloid speculation, anyway.
He alludes to rumors linking Clinton to Belinda Stronach, the former member of Canada’s Parliament, Eleanor Mondale, the Minneapolis radio show host and daughter of Walter Mondale, and actress Gina Gershon. In each case, however, Purdum does not get beyond the rumor stage.
Gershon has demanded a retraction, though there isn’t that much to retract other than a mention that Clinton aides “winced at” some gossip about Clinton being seen “visiting with” Gershon.
Purdum does more with Clinton’s questionable buddies, guys who like to date younger women.
Chief among these are Ronald W. Burkle, the supermarket magnate, and Stephen L. Bing, the real estate heir. Again, Clinton’s problem here seems to be more guilt by association than actual guilt.
Purdum also looks at Clinton’s financial dealings with Burkle and others, dealings that have been documented in The Wall Street Journal and other publications.
And he details Clinton’s association with controversial figures in Ukraine and Kazakhstan, associations that have benefited the former president’s foundation.
Purdum also reports that Clinton likes to spend time with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the actor, Kevin Spacey. He does not imply that there is any guilt in these associations.
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