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Hillary: Barack Obama Won't Keep Your Kids Safe
February 29, 2008 10:23 AM
Entering a proud tradition of Democrats trying to scare the beejesus out of voters by implying the rival candidate may be responsible for a nuclear holocaust, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, began airing a new TV ad today.
Watch it HERE.
The ad has already been compared with LBJ's ground-breaking fear-mongering ad "Daisy," which you can watch HERE...
...as well as Walter Mondale's 1984 classic "Red Phone," which you can watch HERE.
Noted the Mondale ad: “The most awesome, powerful responsibility in the world lies in the hand that picks up this phone.
"The idea of an unsure, unsteady, untested hand is something to really think about.
"Vote as if the future of the world is at stake, because it is. Mondale. This President will know what he’s doing, and that’s the difference.”
The Clinton ad isn't quite that stark, but it makes the same point.
And what do you think?
- jpt
UPDATE: ABC News' Teddy Davis reports that on a conference call this morning, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said that "Sen. Clinton has already had her red phone moment," referring to Clinton voting wito authorize the use of force in Iraq. Plouffe also criticized Clinton for not reading the National Intelligence Estimate pertaining to pre-war Iraq, saying that she did not do "her homework."
UPDATE 2: The Obama campaign just sent around its candidate's prepared remarks at a VFW Hall in Houston, Texas, which includesthe following:
"I just want to take a moment to respond to an ad that Senator Clinton is apparently running today that asks, 'Who do you want answering the phone in the White House when it’s 3am and something has happened in the world?'
"We’ve seen these ads before. They’re the kind that play on peoples’ fears to scare up votes.
"Well it won’t work this time. Because the question is not about picking up the phone. The question is – what kind of judgment will you make when you answer? We’ve had a red phone moment. It was the decision to invade Iraq. And Senator Clinton gave the wrong answer. George Bush gave the wrong answer. John McCain gave the wrong answer.
"But I stood up and said that a war in Iraq would cost us thousands of lives and billions of dollars. I said that it would distract us from the real threat 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, and that’s the kind of judgment I’ll show when I answer that phone in the White House as President of the United States – the judgment to keep us safe, to go after our real enemies, and to provide the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States with the equipment they need when we do send them into battle, and the respect and care they have earned when they come home. And I’ll never see the threat of terrorism as a way to scare up votes, because it’s a threat that should rally this country around our common enemies. That’s the judgment we need at 3am. And that’s the judgment that I am running for President to provide."
February 29, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (91)
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Has it crossed anyone's mind that Obama clings to those very same coattails as Hillary?
Upstart Obama had no other coattails to cling to, and certainly did not have his own.
As adversary of Mrs. Clinton, he has grabbed onto former President Clinton's coattails as surely as if they belonged to him; though they were not offered, and presumably, would not be if Bill Clinton wanted his wife to win.
The minute the Democratic Party put up Hillary, they created a presumptive head of state along the lines of the Clinton regime. When Obama came into the race, it was as near a mutiny of the ship of state (from Democrat's prospective) as could possibly be entertained. That so many have drifted from Hillary supporters to Obama supporters is far more telling of how the "mutiny" is going, who funds it, how it began, and what the stakes are for the Democratic Party.
Whether they should resolve the "mutiny" by collaborating and creating a Clinton-Obama ticket is a monumental question based upon the dynamics of the mutiny and how it began, what would be gained/lost during an administration, and how the world would see such a compromise, not to mention the status of the party for coattail hangers-on like Obama who challenge such huge machines - to influence the President, the party, and the nation. The stakes are huge for the Democratic Party to get it right for its own legitimacy and future survival.
The premise has been that changing horses midstream is never good, but with Obama's momentum, horse-changing seems to be a historic byproduct of this campaign, for whatever reason, which could well threaten the moral authority of the Democratic Party, or its legitimacy.
How's that for waffling? An entire political party in every state now waffles. What an epic! And what an opening for Republicans.
All for a tenacious little turtle with teeth who won't let go until sundown with a very hard shell.
Obama will go down in history either way for his effort because of the Princess and the Pea effect created in the Democratic Party. But is that enough to elect a President on?
Posted by: pat | Mar 9, 2008 12:49:56 PM
Attn;My fellow REPUBLICANS in Texas,on 03-04-08 cross over and vote for that WITCH Hillary Clinton so she can win. Let her and that lier Obama hit each other all the way to the convention,it helps us in the long run!!!! PS,Dear kids oh I mean colleage students can you give me 3 or moore acomplishments Oboma has made in his 2 years as a senator,Wait that may be too hard, at least 1.
Posted by: Patrick Castronovo | Mar 3, 2008 7:34:45 PM
Only in America - would a political candidate - remind us of the horror of 9/11 - for the sake of winning a nomination.
Only in America - could people believe that speeches - are more important than the ideas being talked about - when someone gives - a speech.
Only in America - could two families run the White House like personal dynasties - for almost twenty years.
Only in America - could an unknown man stand up, present new ideas - and be laughed at and mocked by his competitor - for presenting new ideas. Some Americans - thought that was funny.
Only in America - could people be so afraid to change or begin fixing what is so wrong - that they cling to the past - and to those two families - or their friends.
Only in America - would one citizen laugh at another citizen - because the second citizen wanted to try something different.
Only in America - could you find a man running for office that has already said - that he will likely make mistakes. He has also said - that he will admit them.
Only in America - would you find a man who said that he will listen to other people's opinions - before he makes a final decision.
Only in America - would you find people willing to try one more time - to do something new, different, and hard - for the sake of improving our country - and remembering - what we used to stand for.
Only in America - will supporters of the potential new leader watch every move that he makes as president and honor his triumphs - while calling him out - on his mistakes.
Only in America - will you find people that have hope for a better tomorrow - and the strength to pursue that hope through actions - instead of just words.
Only in America - will you find people who refuse to believe that repeating yesterday's mistakes - is the best that we can do.
Only in America - will one find people who are brave enough to make a change, smart enough to know that change will be hard, worried enough about our country to put ourselves on the line, and willing - to listen - to new ideas.
Mr. Obama has raised us all up - from the moment that he began - speaking. The crowds of formerly 'invisible' Americans listen to Mr. Obama - because we know that our voices have not been heard - for a long time now.
I am not young, inexperienced, stupid, naive, or uneducated.
Thank you, Mr. Obama, for reminding us what we are supposed to be about - as a nation. And thank you, Mr. Obama - for reminding us that we are supposed to be working - together.
A Middle-Aged White Woman
Posted by: redcat | Mar 1, 2008 4:23:22 PM
Obama has very little experience in serious foreign policy issues and he never talks about about any issue in detail. Obama was not in the senate when the vote for going to war if necessary was taken. Obama did not have the same information that the senators did. The vote for the war was only to give George Bush the authority to go to war as a last resort. If the CIA information had been correct and Iraq would have had nuclear weapons it would have been a mistake not to have voted for the war. Hillary is the "ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES AND GET IT DONE" candidate.
Posted by: onenibble | Mar 1, 2008 3:17:54 PM
Katherine, a fear-mongerning ad can take many forms. Fear mongering can be extremely subtle and does not require the obvious images that you mentioned. But it is fear mongering none the less. Just having an ad with a couple sitting at a table talking about every day life and then just happening to slip in the name "Barack Hussein Obama" is fear mongering. It subtly conjures up an image of Sen. Obama being muslim. Which he is not!
Now as for this particular ad, I personally think Sen. Clinton made a huge mistake. As was mentioned earlier, the ad portrays Sen. Clinton as letting "the" phone ring 6 times before answering. That does not show good judgment! Do you want to elect a person who is so busy "thinking" about us that she ignores "the" phone call?
Posted by: James Danley | Mar 1, 2008 9:29:22 AM
Having lived in Illinois for my whole life,I can straight up tell you Obamma is full of it.His message of change has brought none to his home state.His message of reaching across the aisle has not happened.His message of changing the political system,well,we have one of the most corrupt state governments in the country,nothing has changed.If he cannot bring about any meaningfull change for real people in a state,how can he possibly do so on a national level? Sure his ideas sound good,but to put into actuall use is a different story.Universal healthcare is a disaster waiting to happen.Look at Canada,50% of their paycheck is gone in taxes,and the taxes put on everyday goods you buy will shock you.A case of beer for example is 40$.Both Hillary and Obamma are good at promising young voters the world,but in reality,all you get will be higher taxes and more welfare.No,I am not that happy with McCain as a choice either,but he seems to be the only one that will let me keep my money in my pocket.
Posted by: tony | Mar 1, 2008 8:55:28 AM
Wait a second, I just want to add something:
Do people REALLY think that there will not be a crisis in the world during the next Presidential term??
I think that is very naive, maybe all this dreamy hope talk has made people delusional. There will not be instantaneous world peace, people. We cannot have a naive idealistic President who is selling false hope to people.
Also, are people REALLY as scared about this ad as Obama is? Obama, you need to try to be BRAVE, ok? It's just a realistic ad concentrating on Hillary's experience.
If Obama gets scared from a 30 second TV ad, how the HECK can he be President?
Hillary 08!
Posted by: Katherine | Mar 1, 2008 6:26:22 AM
I think the ad is excellent. Hillary 08!!
A 'fear-mongering" ad would be images of fire bombs and crying, praying people, and NYC buildings falling down, and nuclear weapons, and mechanical marching soldiers, and then contrasting that with bright sunny Americana images of waving flags on porches and children laughing and running on their bright green safe front lawns.
Posted by: Katherine | Mar 1, 2008 6:14:28 AM
it's easy to say you voted against the war when you didn' actually vote...
and how come, if he loves or country so much, he didn't join the army... or the air force?
GIVE'EM HELL, HILLARY!
Posted by: questioner | Mar 1, 2008 1:54:27 AM
Not only is Hillary the best candidate, but do not forget that Bill brought a hell of a lot of good to our country. He was was a strong President who made wise decisions which birthedg an era of a profoundly enriched economy, but also took a strong stand on protecting our country:
FROM THE DRUDGE REPORT
"As to the Clinton administration and terrorism...
"The Clinton Administration caught, tried, convicted, and imprisoned the people responsible for the first WTC bombing -- something Bush still has to accomplish.
"By the way, Clinton ALSO issue a presidential directive authorizing the assassination of Osama bin Laden.
"The Clinton administration put a stop to their planned terrorist activities including plots to kill the Pope and blow up US jetliners, along with planned attacks against the UN headquarters, the FBI building, the Israeli embassy in DC, the LA ad Boston airports, and the Lincoln and Holland tunnels. These were foiled because the Clinton administration took the warning seriously, unlike Bush who ignored all the clear warnings that lead up to 911.
The Clinton administration tripled funding for counterterroism for the FBI. It closed down al Qaeda cells in over 20 countries. It created a national security post to coordinate counter terrorism activity."
I value his opinions still... and this is the "baggage" that Hillary must carry, we should be grateful.
Jack Kennedy was no saint, yet we revered him.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt had an affair while in office , yet he remains historically one of our most productive, prestigious leaders.
And notice that Eleanor Roosevelt emerged as powerful universally respected luminary...... as did, to a lesser extent, Jackie Kennedy.
I think Hillary handled this scandal in a dignified manner and how it was resolved between the two of them is none of our business... except to note that they both tremendously respect each other.
And if Bill wants to be Hillary's sounding board..... that's a bonus!
so:
VOTE FOR HILLARY
and
HILLARY, GIVE THEM HELL!!!!!
Posted by: questioner | Mar 1, 2008 1:16:57 AM
JD I said she lived in a state that was attacked,not she lived in New York city but hay its easy to get confused.As to Obama since Miss Cleo seems to have left her powers to him,and hes the only one besides Bush and his cronies who knew it was all a lie,that there were no wmd maybe he was in on it or he really does have clarivoyant powers you think?
Posted by: girlinvt | Mar 1, 2008 12:03:31 AM
Hillary might want to rethink her denigration of Barack Obama because should she, by some fluke, come out ahead of Obama, she will need the Afro American community to stand by her. As it is, Hillbilly is burning bridges that she doesn't understand she will need to cross in the future. GO OBAMA!!!!
Posted by: don't fall on your face | Feb 29, 2008 11:30:52 PM
Hilliary is desperate and deserves to lose. ANYBODY can beat INSANE McCain!!!
Posted by: cba | Feb 29, 2008 11:08:46 PM
SO
Interesting Point.
Rolling the dice in 2000 gave us GWB, the son of a fmr president.
I'd hate to do the same thing in 2008. One is not entitled to be the President. The Presidency should not be an inheritance right.
I'd hate to see Hillary ride her husbands coat tails to win the nomination. Reminds me too much of GWB.
Posted by: Inspector 71 | Feb 29, 2008 9:12:34 PM
It is dangerous ground Sen. Clinton is walking on, for though the same advertisement "worked" for Mr. Mondale in his campaign against Gary Hart, in the general election he was decimated and vaporized from the public forum and consciousness forever. Sen. Clinton now runs the same risk, one which holds a substantially greater risk, given the fact that her husband may also suffer an equal fate. But, so is the nature of politics...
Posted by: H. Aslan Aslani-Far | Feb 29, 2008 8:26:10 PM
Hillary, I support you but if people want to roll the dice with a community organizer from the street of Chicago, it is their prerogative.
In 2000, people wanted George W. Bush and he gave them what they deserve. Unfortunately, we all suffer the consequences. We are in for a rough ride in the next few years.
Posted by: SO | Feb 29, 2008 7:25:06 PM
Besides being a rerun, that ad is just weird. I'm thinking '3 am' and there's Hillary in a suit and pearls? New York may be The City that Never Sleeps, but come on....
Mostly the ad reminds me to vote for the person most capable of preventing a crisis from developing in the first place - not waiting until it reaches the 3 am red phone stage. That would be Obama.
Posted by: Tom J | Feb 29, 2008 7:13:09 PM
girlinvt,
Hillary has never lived in a U.s. city attacked by Iraq.
As a matter of fact, NO ONE HAS, since Iraq hasn't ever attacked America.
Nice try though.
and to the poster, "untested", that claim has already been debunked by Canada. The Obama campaign did not contact anyone in the Canadian government.
(I just realized that alot of the pro-Hillary posts on this thread are being posted by the same person, under different names.)
Posted by: jd | Feb 29, 2008 6:46:47 PM
Obama is from a state that has not faced one attack by terrorists,unlike Clinton whos state lost 3000+,Will I blame her for acting on the infomation available at that time info she recieved in an emergancy meeting of 75+ senators on Sept.02 no I will not the blood of 4000 dead American soilders and almost 250,000 civilian Iraqs rest squarly on the lies supplied by a man who is our President.Bush is the sole reason we are in Iraq yet has he been impeached for his lies no its easier to blame A Clinton, or any other of the 88 senators who voted for it.THANK GOD FOR GIVING THE U.S. THE GREAT ALL KNOWING OH SO WISE OBAMA SO WE WILL NOW KNOW HOW TO THINK!
Posted by: girlinvt | Feb 29, 2008 5:09:31 PM
Hey all you Obama supporters.
Anyone interested in buying the Brooklyn Bridge?
Posted by: Pee Vee, Long Island | Feb 29, 2008 5:04:54 PM
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