In 1996, the keynote speaker at the Republican National Convention said the following about the incumbent Democratic president.

“Now, think about Bill Clinton. He promises one thing and does another. He hopes we’ll forget his broken promises. But I ask you — have you forgotten that Bill Clinton promised a middle class tax cut, then passed the largest tax increase in American history? I didn’t think so. Have you forgotten that Bill Clinton promised common-sense health care reform, only to impose a huge Washington-run bureaucracy health care system on all of us? And have you forgotten that Bill Clinton promised to balance the budget, first in five years, then 10, then seven, then nine, then went on to veto the first balanced budget in 25 years? Americans know that Bill Clinton’s promises have the lifespan of a Big Mac on Air Force One.”

Read the rest of Charlie Pierce’s piece at Esquire.