Audacity of Truth

The Politics of Boo!

Posted February 29th, 2008 in Foreign Policy | Permanent Link

Let’s try a new tactic: Fear. Here is Hillary Clinton’s new ad:



Boo! There are a few things I don’t like about this. First off, the blue tones aren’t doing anything for me. Secondly, it takes six rings for the President to get to the phone? And it’s not like she was sleeping because, Point Three, she’s all dressed and already in make up!

Per Politico.com, here’s what the Obama campaign had to say:

The ad has echoes of a famous “red telephone” spot that Roy Spence, now a Clinton adviser, made in 1984 for former Vice President Walter Mondale when he was seeking the Democratic nomination against Gary Hart.

He’s right. Check it out:



Back to the official response:

Plouffe said dismissively: ‘Senator Clinton has already had her red phone moment, and it was the [2002] decision whether to allow George Bush to invade Iraq. She answered affirmatively. She did not read the National Intelligence Estimate, so she didn’t do her homework either.’

Oh snap. The Obama camp then made their own rebuttal video, playing up this strength:



So of course the obvious questions comes up, this time via Slate’s John Dickerson:

What foreign policy moment would you point to in Hillary’s career where she’s been tested by crisis?

And the answer? Silence. Cold, cold silence. Click here for a listen.


Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.