When Bill Clinton ran for president, he described his relationship with wife Hillary as a "two-fer," meaning that the two would work closely together as a professional political couple. When Bill's presence in the 2008 Democratic primaries began to harm his wife's campaign, many people believed that he should vanish and let Hillary carve out her own image. In some ways, he became less vocal, but no one could have reasonably expected Bill Clinton -- one of the most energetic and verbose presidents -- to remain on the sidelines.
Today, Bill Clinton has returned to the international political scene with a "private" visit to North Korea. Clinton has traveled to North Korea in order to negotiate the release of United States journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee. North Korean officials seized Ling and Lee, who were conducting research regarding North Korean defectors to China. The women have been sentenced to 12 years of hard labor for allegedly committing "hostile acts" against North Korea.
Although Clinton's visit is billed as a "private" matter, the fact that he is a former president and his wife is presently Secretary of State makes that label a bit more complicated. Many international relations analysts believe that Clinton's mission could lead to a thaw in icy relations between the United States and North Korea. If so, the visit is certainly more than a private transaction.
Question: Is there anything wrong with a two-fer? I have always believed that one of Bill and Hillary's strengths is their working relationship.
Note: The Associated Press reports that Clinton has already met with Kim Jong Il. The article, however, provides no details of the meeting.
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