Sorting through some old papers of mine, I came across a column I’d written for the Reader in March of 1994—close to a quarter century ago. I like to revisit old columns; they remind me of matters that seemed important at the time though I’ve long since forgotten them. And they send a poignant message to the present. The message is, You’re no big deal. We thought we were special too.
Beck’s mention of health care was made in passing. What truly said big government to her was income taxes. The Clinton administration had just raised taxes, the tax code was out of control, and to give you an idea of how unfathomable tax forms were, the Clintons themselves—both lawyers—apparently owed several thousand dollars in back taxes. Beck indulged herself with schadenfreude.
But the point of my 1994 column wasn’t to defend Hillary Clinton. It was to suggest the Tribune was being obtuse.
It’s often observed that Hillary Clinton, being around so long, has picked up a ton of baggage. My old column was a glimpse of first-rate journalists originally heaping some of it on her.
