Political Punch
Power, pop, and probings from ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper

« Previous | Main | Next »

Clinton Plays the Bin Laden Card

April 21, 2008 5:46 PM

I've been on the road all day, so I haven't seen Sen. Hillary Clinton's new TV ad until just now.

It features, to my knowledge, the first image of Osama bin Laden to be used in a TV ad this political season.

The image comes alongside other historical images presidents have had to deal with -- headlines about the Stock Market Crash of 1929 and the Cold War, images of Pearl Harbor and soldiers and Katrina, Nikita Khrushchev and Fidel Castro...and OBL.

Previous Republican TV ads featuring bin Laden have met with condemnation from Democrats. In 2006 and in 2002.

What do you think? Above board or fear-mongering?

- jpt

April 21, 2008 in Weblogs | Permalink | Share | User Comments (76)

User Comments

Feed You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

In all HRC ads, Obama's name is never mentioned, but in Obama's ads, he goes personal, calling HRC a liar and untrustworthy.

Now, compare that with HRC ad using Osama image and you Obmanites, tell me which ad is negative?

Can you imagine what the media will be saying about HRC if she were to call Obama a liar and untrustworthy?
Obamanites will be all bent out of shape.

Posted by: SO | Apr 23, 2008 2:18:10 PM

So? Why is it okay for Obama to use any image in his campaign but not okay for Hillary to use any image in her campaign. What has Osama got to do with Barrack Obama?

Why is MSM and Obamanites this jittery about everything?

I hope those of you have daughters experience what the MSM and Obamanites are doing to Hillary.

HRC is the stronger candidate, Period.

Obama will not withstand the general election. You will see.

Posted by: SO | Apr 23, 2008 2:12:40 PM

I was SHOCKED when I saw this "Bin Laden ad" Hillary ran in PN, which the media is so stirred up about. It's a flash of a second of Bin Laden, along with scenes from Pearl Harbor, and numerous other challenging moments in our history, and in the ad it is asserted that Hillary is ready to meet whatever challenges we face. Holy crap, how's that negative? Because Axelrod says so? Talk about distortion! It's like Bush not being able to pronounce a word (nucular) or his operatives using terms like "cut and run," and the media adopting those pronunciations or slogans and relentlessly parroting them back to us - cause he calls them cutsie nick names? Solders have to die cause the media likes being called cutsie names?!?

Yes, this is all starting to remind me too damn much of the media's adoration of George Bush, with his little pet names and affable personality. By the time they looked up from sucking face with him, he'd lied us into a war, raped our economy, giving our treasure to his cronies, and had been playing fast and loose with our civil rights.

I'm not looking for a Prom King or the Senor Class' most likable. I'm hiring someone to run the country.

I don't CARE about who's "in like" with Obama. I'm really sick of getting what they deserve.

Posted by: Teri B. | Apr 23, 2008 10:26:34 AM

I have seen the ad and I do not get the problem. The ad is about threats: Pearl Harbor, gas crisis, economy, stock market crash, etc, and Bin Laden. If you are going to produce an ad about threats how can you not include Bin Laden? Obama supporters are calling this ad negative. By what stretch of the imagination is this negative? This is simply a variation on the 3am phone call theme. Hillary's selling point is her perceived experience, and ability to handle a crisis. This ad is just drawing people's attention back to that selling point. What's the big deal?

Calling the ad negative is just Obama spin.

Posted by: David H | Apr 22, 2008 12:16:42 PM

Is she playing the game how low can you go? Because if so she is the clear victor. If she really cared about this country and the democratic party she would stop this negative behavior.

Posted by: Tiffany | Apr 22, 2008 10:40:39 AM

Waving your wand at a potential adversary is, at the very least, undiplomatic behavior for a potential head of state and government. She reminds me of GWB's comments on Saddam stating "We'll take him out." I am her constituent and have voted for her as US senator. She is a good senator. Let's keep her in office in that role.

Posted by: Publius | Apr 22, 2008 9:19:23 AM

Al Gore is the only Democrat qualified to be in the White House.

And, he will be.

Remember 1968...

Posted by: Jayhawk | Apr 22, 2008 8:29:33 AM

We can get out of all the wars we are in by surrendering at once.

There is only one candidate I know who is qualified for that job.

Obama Can - 2008

Because surrender is always cheaper than victory.

Posted by: M. Simon | Apr 22, 2008 7:14:41 AM

She could've done it a lot tougher. For an example, see the scene in Scrooged about Bill Murray's proposed TV ad. That's a good example of over-the-top fear-mongering.

Posted by: M. Green | Apr 22, 2008 7:09:12 AM

Its amazing, Obama does not want to offer any constructive comments or now participate in any debates. Its easy
not to comment when you have most of main stream media in your pocket.
Against the odds
Go Hillary Go 08

Posted by: PJM | Apr 22, 2008 6:39:10 AM

The point is that a US president has had to deal or try to deal with all these issues. On the stump now he is constantly talking about how we are at a pivotal point in our history....that it's a terrible time and we need leadership.

I'm not sure why he minds the visuals.

I do know that whatever ad she uses he will complain and whine about it.

Posted by: Jackie | Apr 22, 2008 5:23:03 AM

Bill Clinton once said, "No one ever wins by looking back at the past but by looking forward to the future." Apparently Hillary was asleep when he said that.

I wonder how Hillary intends to pay off her over 10 million in debt without dipping into her own money. Perhaps she just does not intend to pay these people at all. After all, they are just everyday working people.

Posted by: rhbate | Apr 22, 2008 12:51:30 AM

Very well done Hillary! Should have done it much earlier, but it is still not too late. Got my vote for sure.

Posted by: Ken | Apr 22, 2008 12:05:54 AM

I have watched this election from the sidelines and had decided not to vote until today.The Clintons dishonesty and crude behavior has convinced me that we cannot allow them to rule again.However much they have tried to taint Obama by the use of cleverly divisive words make me afraid about the future under the Clintons.I will vote for Obama

Posted by: ELI | Apr 21, 2008 11:22:29 PM

completely above board. the question the ad poses is 'who is ready?' it is in keeping with her campaign's message.

Posted by: rachel | Apr 21, 2008 11:08:50 PM

McCain seems like he's placeholding until Hillary flips to the GOP and runs as his veep.

Posted by: kravitz | Apr 21, 2008 11:02:38 PM

I was uncommitted until this story. Ms. Clinton has gone beyond what I find acceptable. See has lost my considerations.

Posted by: RCHnpdx | Apr 21, 2008 10:37:16 PM

I know what the Clintons would bring back to the White House - scandals. One scandal after another - Bill has been influence peddling since leaving office. His library donors will be sleeping in the Lincoln Bedroom, again...

Why couldn't ABC News have asked ONE question about Bill's influence peddling during the recent debate?

Posted by: memorykeeper | Apr 21, 2008 10:31:37 PM

I love Hillarys add. It has showen the things that have happened to America. She it trying to make you think, being president is a very serious job. And you have to be prepared for anything at anytime. If you think this is fear mongering then you better get out of your fantasy world. bad things happen. This is the reality of life.

Posted by: ellie | Apr 21, 2008 10:20:57 PM

We cannot afford to get into another war but Hillary won't hesitate to nuke Iran. What????? We don't need this.

Posted by: lisa | Apr 21, 2008 10:15:22 PM

Post a comment





 

POLITICAL VIDEOS