In Focus: Suffer the Children — Hillary’s New Ad in Texas
Hillary's latest "ringing phone" TV spot has aired in Texas. It won't help her chances there, says Michael Weiss.
Hillary Clinton’s latest political ad ranks somewhere between a Slomin’s Shield commercial and LBJ’s apocalyptic “Daisy” reel. It features a ringing phone and the peaceful, dozing faces of children with a narrator informing us that it’s 3 a.m. and “something’s happening in the world” (a terrorist attack? a nuclear explosion? Bill ejected from Scores again? we shall go to the grave unsatisfied). Whom do we want answering the phone in the White House–someone “tested,” familiar with global leaders and the military, or the guy who’s already sewn up the Democratic nomination?
It’s a bit of a groaner, what with its too nebulous sense of foreboding and dread.
Jennifer Rubin at contentions says: “The problem is that the answer to the question it poses is . . . John McCain. After all, are Hillary’s national security credentials and expertise that much greater than Barack Obama’s?”
Eric Kleefield at TPM Election Central is a shade more impressed: “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.”
The ad is less “Daisy,” more Mondale, argues Steve Kornacki at The Politicker: “Mondale, the ‘experienced’ and ‘prepared’ candidate of the establishment that Hillary is, saturated the primary airwaves with an ad that showed a blinking red phone… bluntly arguing that Hart lacked the experience and seasoning to respond to an international crisis as president.”
Mark C. Eades at Terra Incognita wants “Barack Obama answering the phone.”
Michael Weiss is the New York Editor of Pajamas Media.
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5 Comments
1. concerned:A very thought provoking ad I think and primary voters should consider before casting their votes next Tuesday.
The latest Obama ad showing General Tony McPeak endorsing him questions his good judgement. McPeak was a very eccentric and controversial general when he had command in the Pacific as well as when he was the Joint Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Ask any of you friends who served in the military during the 90’s.
Feb 29, 2008 - 11:01 am 2. Bill Bradley:President Bush made McPeak commander of the US Air Force for the Gulf War.
Feb 29, 2008 - 11:17 am 3. David Thomson:“…it’s hard not to picture John McCain’s campaign running an ad very much like this one.”
The Democrats should be terrified of this theme. It will only help John McCain to win by a landslide. This election is now the Arizona U.S. senator’s to lose. He will will probably win by a minimum of six points on election Day. A 20 percent blowout similar to what happened to George McGovern in the 1972 race is very possible.
Feb 29, 2008 - 11:23 am 4. Fat Jolly Penguin:Isn’t it strange how most of Hillary’s (excuse me, Clinton’s) ads have a vaguely threatening undercurrent? Maybe it’s just me.
Feb 29, 2008 - 1:57 pm 5. Ray Smith:Actually we need a calm, level headed person like Fred Dalton Thompson answering the phone. Too much “fire in the belly” is a bad thing!
http://www.thompsoncoalition.com/
Mar 2, 2008 - 11:25 am