When all five female Democratic senators spoke before the convention Wednesday night, we were disappointed they didn’t follow the lead of Republican senators Lott, Ashcroft, Craig, and Jeffords. The men, you may recall, took off their jackets in San Diego and sang the Oak Ridge Boys’ ” Elvira.” We know just the song the “Madam Senators” should have warbled: ” Sweet-talking Guy,” by the Chiffons.
This stunning girl-group number from 1963 has much to say about Bill Clinton, after all, and the way he betrayed the lady senators’ liberal ideals. “Don’t give him love today, tomorrow he’s on his way,” the song goes — a clear parallel to his betrayal of liberals after the election in 1994 and the hiring of America’s foremost foot fetishist, Dick Morris.
The song cautions: “He’s a sweet-talking guy, but he hasn’t got a dime” — which could serve as a warning to those, like Mario Cuomo, who think a revitalized Clinton will spend a lot of money on new social programs. “Stay away from him, ’cause you know you’ll never win” — a lyric suggesting that while Clinton may win, he’ll do nothing to help congressional Democrats.
