This morning First Read covered Hillary Clinton’s last-ditch negative campaign spot, questioning Barack Obama’s readiness for the job of commander-in-chief. Here’s their write-up:
*** Goin’ negative: We were about to write this morning about our surprise that Clinton hasn’t run a negative ad against Obama in either Ohio or Texas. But then we saw the new Clinton ad in Texas that appeared on TODAY. It goes: “It’s 3am and your children are safe and asleep. 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. Whether it’s someone who already knows the world’s leaders…knows the military…someone tested and ready to lead in a dangerous world. It’s 3am and your children are safe and asleep. Who do you want answering the phone?” Does it remind anyone of that LBJ Daisy ad? Ok, that’s a little extreme… But it sure does raise the specter of fear.
It’s also being compared to the “red phone” ad Mondale put up against the insurgent Gary Hart in 1984.
But it actually reminded me of something else entirely, and much more recent: a campaign mailer put out by AFSCME in support of Clinton in New Hampshire not two months ago. Politico’s Ben Smith was the first to post it; here it is, cropped for clarity/focus:
You could say AFSCME tested the message in a small market before the campaign took it wider. Nothing wrong with that unless it was actually an AFSCME-backed 527, which the campaign would be forbidden from coordinating with. Then again, lifting an argument two months later is hardly a smoking gun.
As to its potency, the AFSCME mailer received a bit of negative coverage in the blogsosphere, but not enough to backfire. This time the stakes are even higher, and the campaign itself is making the risky argument.
If it works, it will no doubt join the ranks of those controversial-but-effective spots (add Reagan’s “Bear in the woods” and 43’s “Wolves” ads in there, too). If it doesn’t, as I expect, it will be quickly forgotten and everyone can get on with blaming Mark Penn for everything.
FEAR TACTICS-
The Republicans have jammed fear down our throats for 8 years, it is why we are at war. It is why Obama is willing to go into Pakistan (if Pakistan won’t do it themselves) without permission to get rid of Al Qaida. It is the reason we have The Patriot Act.
This message says something different to me.
History:
When 9-11 happened, Bush didn’t and couldn’t respond right away. When Katrina happened he waited days before making a comment or visiting.
I FEAR Bush’s lack of response - lack of concern.
Present:
On Super Tuesday, when tornados were hitting the midwest, Clinton responded in her speeches that SAME night. Clinton thanked the voters for battling the storm and gave understanding and sympathy to those who lost homes and loved ones. It took until Wednesday for Obama to notice.
When the motorcycle driver in Clinton’s motorcade was killed, Clinton stopped campaigning right away to be with his family.
It isn’t fear that makes me want to know who is answering that call at 3 am. It’s compassion and the belief that America deserves better.
Have a Heart - Clinton ‘08
The following is fictitious ad text that might have been the Obama response to the Clinton ad if I had produced it.
Its 4am and the phone ringing at 3am has long since been answered.
It was answered by:
Someone who cares
Someone who was there and ready to answer the call when the phone rang
Someone with the judgment and clear thinking to ask the right questions, consult the right people, and if necessary make a sound decision in the heat of a moment gone astray from sanity and reason; a decision made not in fear but always with a focus on and a desire to do what’s best for country. A decision made not based on poll numbers, but on the clear, present, detected, and analyzed danger.
This is Barack Obama. I answered the hypothetical call at 3am presented in this ad and senator Clinton’s and met the challenge presented with the help and participation of my fellow Americans. I did this based on love of country, and preparation for the job at hand as a seasoned organizer of people organized and united to do great things.
This is a parent, I am glad there was someone there to pick up the phone who truly weighed the importance of my children and not how their response to the crisis at hand was going to play in the media.
That ad is one of the worst political ads I’ve ever seen.
This is so funny! I can’t beleive that Clinton would be so foolish as to put a person who likes Obama in her 3AM commercial. I am really not sure she is cut out to win this race.
-Peter
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