If you win elections on the theory that government is always bad and will mess up a two-car parade... a real change-maker represents a real threat. So your only option is to create a cartoon, a cartoon alternative, then run against the cartoon. Cartoons are two-dimensional; they're easy to absorb.

The quote by William J. Clinton critiques a particular political strategy where candidates campaign on the idea that government is inherently ineffective or harmful. Clinton is referring to politicians who argue that government can’t accomplish anything well, suggesting that such a perspective is overly simplistic and does not reflect the true complexities of governance. He points out that when a candidate focuses on this idea, they are creating an exaggerated, one-dimensional view of government—what he describes as a "cartoon" alternative. This approach makes it easier to attack the idea of government because the argument is reduced to a simplified caricature, making it more digestible for voters.

Clinton's comment also highlights the danger of running against this cartoon version of government, which oversimplifies and distorts the issues at hand. Instead of offering real solutions or acknowledging the complexities of running a government, candidates who use this approach avoid addressing nuanced questions and instead create an enemy that is easy to criticize. By presenting a two-dimensional version of reality, they can easily claim victory, even though the issues they are addressing are much more complicated and multifaceted in reality.

The origin of this quote comes from Clinton's understanding of political strategy and his experiences in American politics. As a former president and someone who faced both praise and criticism, Clinton recognized the power of simplified narratives in political campaigns. His own campaigns often balanced the idealism of reform with the pragmatism of governance, and he was aware of how opponents could exploit simplistic portrayals of government to rally voters.

Ultimately, Clinton’s words reflect a warning about the dangers of oversimplification in political discourse. While creating a "cartoon" alternative might make it easier for a politician to win, it does a disservice to voters by ignoring the complexities of governance. Real change-makers must engage with the deeper, more complicated issues of government rather than relying on easy, simplistic narratives to score political points.