The Clinton Factor in the presidential contest of 2000

This article uses Chaim Perelman's philosophy of associative and dissociati ve techniques to examine the Clinton Factor in the presidential contest of 2000. Three claims, all of which are based on the coverage of the campaign by The New York Times and The Washington Post (from March through December 2000). are advanced in the study The first two arguments focused on ways Ge orge W: Bush, Richard Cheney, and the other Republicans. on one hand, and A l Gore. Joseph Lieberman, and the Democrats, on the other sought to dissoci ate themselves from Clinton's character while at the same rime expressing t heir support for his attitude reward the size of the federal government. Th e third claim argues that Clinton, much to his displeasure,failed to have a well-defined role in 2000, guided by a policy of association, which would enable him to contribute directly to Gore's election. and thereby strengthe n the Clinton legacy.