When I checked in with CNN about this, CNN opted to have Carville answer the complaints. It seemed that Carville saw at least a grain of merit in the case being made here. At one point, he said: "I think that I'm gonna be cognizant that if I criticize one of the Democratic candidates," then he might mention that "I'm gonna vote for Hillary." On the other hand, Carville also said that if he brought up his voting plans every time he said something critical of her rivals, it would make for "horrible TV."

Carville also said he thought the case that he was an adviser to Hillary was overstated. "I'm not an adviser to her campaign," he said. "I'm not being paid by her campaign...I don't get paid. I'm not an adviser." Asked if he never advised the campaign in any way, Carville said: "Do I ever consult? No. I have a lot of friends [in the Hillary campaign]. I talk to them. But I have a lot of friends in the Obama campaign. And Edwards."

Here's Ryan Lizza's piece 'Hillaryland' from last year.

In contrast, Hillary's team likes bright lines, and one way they maintain them is by firmly establishing an in-crowd. Joe Lockhart, the White House press secretary and face of the Clinton administration for two and a half years? Out. (They suspect he's a John Edwards man, though an Edwards aide says he isn't.) James Carville? In. (He's personally close to Hillary and speaks to her regularly.)

And here's another piece on Clinton dining with the 'White Boys'.

Sen. Hillary Clinton has dinner with tonight with several of her husband's top political advisers - James Carville, Paul Begala, Joel Johnson and Joe Lockhart.

All four have substantial presidential campaign experience, and none will play a formal role in the campaign.

The subject of the dinner could not be determined, but the guest list offers a clue, as does history: Clinton convened a similar dinner shortly before she announced her New York Senate candidacy in 2000.

The "White Boys" - as this group of Bill Clinton top aides informally bills itself, tongue in cheek - are unique assets for Clinton. That they won't be part of the formal hierarchy of the campaign, which will be managed by Patti Solis Doyle, poses some rare challenges.

Between the four of them, they're friends with just about every important Democratic strategist and office-holder in the nation. They're personal friends with Bill Clinton. And they have access to - and regularly speak with - charter members of the national political media.

As informal advisers, they'll be in a position to provide Clinton with information and perspective from outside the campaign structure. But they'll also be free to talk about the campaign to others.

One Clinton insider (we hate to use the term, but this person really is an insider) said that Clinton wants all four to know that she's open to their advice. She may also use the occasion to subtly caution her friends from public backbiting or using their status as advisers to speak on background to reporters.

Carville was the senior consultant on Clinton's 1992 campaign; he was a close adviser through the Clinton presidency. He leveraged his celebrity into a Hollywood career, a CNN gig, numerous teaching engagements, popular books, overseas consulting for international presidential candidates, and even a restaurant. Democrats sought his advice and feared the sting of his rebukes.

So here are two separate publications discussing Carville's role as an advisor close to Clinton.  And the Hotline 'White Boys' piece discusses Carville's potential role as someone who can carry message for the campaign to others.

I don't care that Carville is a Clinton supporter, and that he gives her advice.  It's dumb he pretends otherwise.  The reality is simple - CNN should have a variety of non-Clinton supporting analysts in addition to James Carville and Paul Begala.  And the channel should identify him clearly as who he is.

Otherwise, how are we going to know that Carville is being a neutral political analyst and not a Clinton partisan when he delivers on message digs at Obama on the Situation Room?

BLITZER: Some people suggest, James, that she is simply too scripted, she's too cautious, and she should loosen up a little bit, move away from talking points, and just talk to the voters out there, which she certainly is capable of doing.

CARVILLE: Yes, she is. And she -- she -- you're right.

And I -- I -- I think that she does -- she -- she does -- she weighs what she says very carefully and very judiciously. I would point out that, when she made the joke about the evil men, everybody in the press, you know, came up, and she shows a -- shows a little side of her.

I think, as the campaign goes on, you're going to probably see more and more of this. Remember, we're in -- very early in this -- in this game. I hate to call it a game, but we're very early in -- in this process. And, you know, Senator Obama had a little slip yesterday.

There is going to be a lot of slips coming here along the way. And -- but I -- I think, as this evolves, that some of her warmth is going to come out. She does quite well in these -- in these settings with voters. And I think her campaign would like to continue to get her one on one with voters, and let the -- and let the cameras record that.

What will we tell the children?