New Clinton ad…Scarin’ up some votes February 29, 2008
“One of Clinton’s laws of politics is this: If one candidate’s trying to scare you and the other one’s trying to get you to think, if one candidate’s appealing to your fears and the other one’s appealing to your hopes, you better vote for the person who wants you to think and hope.”
(h/t to RollaMO)
By now, you’ve probably heard of the newest Clinton ad:
“It’s 3 a.m., and your children are safe and asleep,” the announcer says. “But there’s a phone in the White House, and it’s ringing — something’s happening in the world. Your vote will decide who answers that call.”
The mother looking in on her children, worried about their safety, is a clear play for the so-called “security mom” vote. Should Barack Obama ultimately win the Democratic nomination, it’s hard not to picture John McCain’s campaign running an ad very much like this one.(TPM
David Plouffe, Obama campaign manager responded:
“We don’t think the ad is going to be effective at all. Senator Clinton already had her red phone moment — to decide whether to allow George Bush to invade Iraq. She answered affirmatively. She did not read the National Intelligence Estimate. She still, curiously, tries to suggest that it wasn’t a vote for war, but it most assuredly was…
“This is about what you say when you answer that phone. What judgment you show…She, John McCain and George Bush gave the wrong answer.”
Then Sen. Obama at an event today said:
I do want to take a moment to respond, because the press is, I’m sure, curious, to an ad that Senator Clinton is apparently running today. It asks a legitimate question. It says, who do you want answering the phone in the White House when it’s 3:00 a.m. and something has happened in the world. It’s a legitimate question. And we’ve seen these ads before. They’re usually the kind that play upon people’s fears and try to scare up votes.
I don’t think these ads will work this time because the question is not about picking up the phone. The question is, what kind of judgment will you exercise when you pick up that phone. In fact, we have had a red phone moment; it was the decision to invade Iraq.Senator Clinton gave the wrong answer. George Bush gave the wrong answer. John McCain gave the wrong answer. I stood up and I said that a war in Iraq would be unwise. It cost us thousands of lives and billions of dollars. I said that it would distract us from the real threat that we face, and that we should take the fight to al Qaeda in Afghanistan. That’s the judgment I made on the most important foreign policy decision of our generation.
I really don’t think I have to add anything. Bill Clinton just endorsed Obama. Again.
What I am loving about Obama is that he has squarely stepped into the presdidential space. You can see he is reaching his stride. He is confident and un-nerved at whatever is thrown his way. He has real swagger…not that manufactured cowboy ish. Real Grown Man Swagger.
I’m having Bay of Pigs flashbacks and Kennedy being smart enough to negotiate. I’m having Jimmy Carter flashbacks and seeing peace brought to nations.
(I watched a lot of the History Channel last week - I admit.)
This is what I posted in a comment on Dkos this morning on this topic:
His response to the Clinton ad that shows you how he will be as President. It’s his responses to ALL the completely ridiculous, inane, worthless questions he’s been asked during this campaign and at the debates. Never wavering. Calm. Steadfast with the occasional hint of self-deprecating humor. Laser focused on his goals. Never condescending or insulting. Just…a leader.
You know,every time Bill seems to endorse Obama,I keep waiting for Ashton Kutcher to jump out of the crowd at a Hillary rally , tell her she’s been “Punk’d” and that Bill’s the one that set her up in this whole “running for President” prank. And yes, I referenced the MTV show Punk’d,I have insomnia,try not to judge to garshly.
Obviously that should have said “harshly”
Have you seen the Obama response ad?
And here is a parody response ad created by CT Bob.
@TBM: Okay, that was funny. I know I laughed when I saw the ad and thought, “Six rings? My voicemail kicks in after 3!”
@Kelli, I had to look up the show. Yeah…I can totally see that happening.
@Bobina, I agree. I like his responses. They’re fast, on topic, and usually more scathing because they’re so understated. His response team should earn some sort of campaign award.
@Dawn: I’m amazed to learn the History Channel shows something not Nazi related. Who knew? HAHAHAHA
@babz, he is very presidential. Unflappable. Could you imagine what the media would have been like if he had meltdowns like Clinton did last week?
My initial response would have been “Shame on you, Hillary, for doing something right out of the Karl Rove play book!”
As satisfying as that would be, Obama has played this beautifully.
BTW, I have been busy posting about an ad that has been targeted to Texas, and I don’t know how many people outside of Texas are aware of it. In the ad–paid for by the Hillary campaign–Hillary is basically claiming that Ann Richards is endorsing Hillary from the great beyond.
[…] — faboo @ 7:13 am Tags: ads, Barack Obama, fearmongering, Hillary Clinton I my post on the Clinton’s fearmongering ad, I mentioned something that Bill Clinton had said. Check out this mock campaign ad someone […]
@wcharles, yes everyone was talking about the Richards ad. I don’t know how they thought that was a good idea. I really, really don’t. I mean, the least they could have done was ask Richards’ kids if they would do a commercial. But to make such a stupid ad, when two of the 3 kids were against it is just disgusting.
Here is a most interesting link:
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/14751.html
Hillary top staffers were asked for examples showing that HIllary has been “tested” as she claims in the ad, and none of them had an answer.