WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton will fail to impress Americans fearful of their economic future by saying she would put her husband Bill in charge of the US economy if she is elected president of the United States, former European Union consultant Paolo von Schirach told Sputnik.
"Announcing that Bill Clinton will be in charge of economics in a future Hillary Clinton administration looks like a semi-desperate move," Schirach said on Monday. "But for young voters who were children when he left the White House in January 2001, his legacy does not resonate that much."
The United States is today a very different country from the way it was when Bill Clinton left the White House 16 years ago, Schirach pointed out.
"I would argue that way too much has happened since Bill Clinton left office. Today, millions of Americans are still feeling the aftershocks of the Great Recession of 2008. They are poorer, confused, angry and worried about their future," Schirach stated.
This fear had translated into a widespread visceral "anti-establishment" feeling that transcended traditional party lines, Schirach explained.
"Looking for someone to blame for their unhappy circumstances, millions of voters have concluded that the Washington politicians — Republicans and Democrats — are guilty. Hence their desire to try someone new and different: Bernie Sanders on the left, or Donald Trump on the right," he added.
Bill Clinton would be the ideal person to put in charge of national economic affairs in untroubled times as a reliable "old hand" who knows how things are done in Washington, DC, Schirach observed.
Hillary Clinton has already shown herself to be a weak contender who almost risked being defeated by US Senator Bernie Sanders, a far-left, 74-year-old socialist who has never been taken seriously by anyone, Schirach noted.
"Far too many voters (including women) see Hillary Clinton as ‘same old,’ yet another sleazy Washington machine politician. Her plan to use her (older) husband as a key weapon in the unfolding battle against Donald Trump may actually backfire," he argued.
Betting on the US public’s alleged perception of her husband as an economic genius may fail for Hillary Clinton since Bill Clinton was more lucky than skillful during his eight years as president, Schirach recalled.
"Bill Clinton did very well as president in large part because he was lucky. Oil prices were low, the Cold War was over, (hence reduced military spending), the rise of al Qaeda terrorism was conveniently ignored, and the first phase of the internet revolution was in full bloom," Schirach maintained.
Some middle-aged voters who retain a fond memory of those untroubled years may be impressed, but not enough swing a national election, Schirach concluded.
Paolo von Schirach is Professor of International Relations at BAU International University Editor and President of the Global Policy Institute think tank.
