Bill "gets" it.

Bill Clinton -- while of dubious moral standing -- is a brilliant politician. And in this little exchange, he shows why.

By KAREN MATTHEWS

Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK —

Bill Clinton said Monday he understands why Sarah Palin is popular in the heartland: because people relate to her.

"I come from Arkansas, I get why she's hot out there," Clinton said. "Why she's doing well."

Speaking to reporters before his Clinton Global Initiative meeting, the former president described Palin's appeal by adding, "People look at her, and they say, 'All those kids. Something that happens in everybody's family. I'm glad she loves her daughter and she's not ashamed of her. Glad that girl's going around with her boyfriend. Glad they're going to get married.'"

Clinton said voters would think, "I like that little Down syndrome kid. One of them lives down the street. They're wonderful children. They're wonderful people. And I like the idea that this guy does those long-distance races. Stayed in the race for 500 miles with a broken arm. My kind of guy."

Palin, the governor of Alaska, became an overnight star when Republican presidential candidate John McCain tapped her for his running mate. Her family, including her Down syndrome baby, Trig, her pregnant 17-year-old daughter, Bristol, and her husband, Todd, four-time winner of the 2,000-mile Iron Dog snowmobile race, have garnered intense media interest.

"I get this," Clinton said. "My view is ... why say, ever, anything bad about a person? Why don't we like them and celebrate them and be happy for her elevation to the ticket? And just say that she was a good choice for him and we disagree with them?"

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Bill, contrary to his fellow Dems, understands that negative attack ads only work to the extent that people identify with the attack. Essentially, he indicates that the vast majority of rural, non-coastal Americans are more like Palin than Obama and Biden -- and to scorn Palin, you scorn the potential voter in these areas. The attack is seen as an attack on the very voters you want to curry favor with ... not too smart. Better, according to Bill, to show them courtesy, and then show why you disagree with their political beliefs.

Which puts me in a quandry, I can't stand the Dems political beliefs and can't stand the GOP's socio-theological beliefs. Both want to impose those on the voting public and I can't decide which poses the greater threat to my best interests. For now it may be the economic hypocrisy and lunacy of the Dems ... but "intelligent creation" in the White House is anything but "intelligent." So am I to trade neo-Trotskyite income redistribution and confiscation for the risk that people will be speaking in "tongues" in the White House?

I am tending to think that serious theological craziness will be hard to get through a Democrat Congress, so that may be a more attenuated risk. But Pelosi and her clan of drooling Bolshies just could effect economic changes so startling, that we might not recover for a generation. Or more.