As Chris Matthews pointed out this morning, it is all about fear.

Honestly, I'd rather have a president who was calm, collected, and had good judgment, as opposed to a president who has a history of poor judgment, and generally gets angry and erratic when the pressure is on. On, and I wouldn't want a president who would pick up the phone and blame the media for everything.

It's been reported that the Republicans have been learning from the Clinton campaign's tactics in this presidential race, so this ad is very helpful to them.

Some one who did not vote for a Reckless and Catastrophic War, and who does not claim that they were duped by George W. Bush. That is who I want answering that phone call!

How clueless can the Hillary campaign be? People would certainly not want someone who voted for the biggest foreign policy blunder in American history to answer that phone.

It's just like her sympathy for the maimed veterans. She put them there. Don't exploit them for your campaign.

Or put another way:
"Vote Hillary or your children are gonna die!"

Way to look like a Republican.

Wouldn't it be great if instead of Hillary at the end it was Mark Penn on the phone?

The poor woman is channeling SNL again.

...someone who is so experienced, she doesn't even need to read the NIE before voting to give George Bush the authority to invade another country?

Outrageous ad! The soft music does not hide the playing on terror fears that we've experienced for the last 8 years. Who is behaving like Karl Rove in this election?

I thought I could still vote for her if she won the Dem nominee. However, if she's going to run like a Republican, I'll oblige her and vote for the real republican McCain (or more likely Nadar) in the unlikely event she wins the nomination. Shameful ad that proves all her critics right: she'll do or say anything to win. I use to think she would make a good president, but she constantly demonstrates to the contrary. Because of this ad, I donated more money to Obama. And I just bookmarked Nadar's and McCain's website. I've voted Democrat all my life (including Bill twice), but I will never vote for a Clinton again with this sort of Republican-like fear-mongering.

My first response was, "Jesus Christ Hillary, have you no shame left", but then it dawned on me that Obama will in fact see very similar ads as this one in the general, if not from McCain directly, then from his surrogates.

Basically, Hillary's campaign has become an extension and a potential launching pad for McCain's. In that respect it hurts. But provided Hillary doesn't continue long past the 5th, she's actually giving Obama a chance to refute and define himself against some of McCain's potentially more damning character attacks.

And the best part for Hillary at least is she's got the ultimate get out of jail free card. After this is over, just apologize, blame everything on Mark Penn and say how much she's found her voice once again, and won't give it up this time. Perfect way to exit the race with some grace with giving Obama a platform to further define himself in the minds of voters.

At least that how I'm choosing to read this in my rose-colored glasses, TGIF mode.

If Obama were a more traditional pol, I could see them running an ad featuring all of her public meltdown moments during the campaign and closing with: do you really want her answering the phone in a crisis?

I know he won't, but still.

Is is just me or does this ad also say that Hillary sleeps in a suite, jewelry & makeup?

God, what a ridiculous ad this. Does she not realize that most American people are beyond this kind of fear tactic? We're on to people who try to sway us with fear - it doesn't work anymore. What are we going to choose - fear or hope? I think the American people are ready to go with hope. This ad just shows how much a candidate of the status quo she is, how much of a change agent she is NOT. Good luck with this one, Hillary.

Wow, I could make a great parody of this ad. Hillary answers the phone and its Bill on the line with loud music and female voices in the background. "Hi Babe, I'm gonna home be a little late tonight." Let me count the ways.

Does anyone else have a negative mental image of what Hillary would look like if woken up in the middle of the night? Calm cool and collected are not the adjectives that come to my mind.....

Doesn't she understand that trying to pawn off fear and desperation only makes her look fearful and desperate?

Not presidential.

First, news of such a call wouldn't reach George Bush until after he's had his coffee and morning constitutional, and even then, you'd have to wait 7 minutes for him to snap out of a shocked stupor.

Hillary would immediately start calculating the political ramifications, perhaps ahead of actually figuring out what to do.

McCain would have bombers and fighters scrambled before stepping into his slippers.

And we're supposed to think Obama would wake up bleary-eyed, confused, just wanting to get back to his dreams? Gimmie a break.

If you didn't know anything about this ad, the state of the campaign or the Constitution, a person might fairly conclude that the ad was proposing that viewers support a third term for President Bush.

I think folks in Senator Clinton's campaign are completely detached from reality. Not that he needs it or that I can really afford it, but I'm going to Obama's website NOW and sending him another $50. And I am doing it solely because of this outrageous, indefensible ad.

Hillary approves this ad about protecting children, while she also approves of continuing the use of cluster bombs in civilian areas which maim and kill children abroad. Schizoid, anyone?

Good job advocating for McCain's presidency, Hillary.

Seriously, WTF?!?

I am a constituent of Senator Clinton. I just called her office to complain at this conduct by my Senator.

Clintonites -- I'd like to hear how you feel about your candidate spending 100s of thousands of your dollars to run this ad.

This is a joke. It's really not a Hillary ad because it helps Obama too much in that my first reaction was I certainly don't want someone answering that phone who voted to go to war in Iraq (and took five years before she realized it was a mistake to be regretted.)

Any of Hillary's lines against Obama could be used against Hillary by McCain. You want a president with experience? Foreign policy credentials? A tough fighter? McCain has Hillary beaten on all fronts.

Can we agree that this is not exactly an "argument" for her candidacy. In these the waning moments of the Clinton campaign it may be the only strategy available to her, but to call this blatant emotional manipulation an argument is to show how seriously our political dialogue has deteriorated.

Why is that mother fully dressed at 3 am? And does Hillary really wear a necklace in the middle of the night? Geez.

Rapid Response Ad from Obama Campaign:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag8gOXZulXg

Who Do You Want Answering The White House Phone At 3 a.m.?

President Obama.

Great photo of Senator Obama playing hoops with the troops in Africa here.

So, like what is she implying? That Obama wouldn't answer the phone? Talk about Rovian tactics.

Obama supporters, get a grip.

For all of you who think this ad means that Hillary = Karl Rove, please tell me, what kind of ad do you think Hillary SHOULD be running against Obama? Do tell.

looks like hillary's campaign thought highly of bill kristol's advice to "use the politics of fear."

so am i the only one who saw this ad as somewhat racialized? white kids safe and protected in their beds drums up images of a scary black man trying to break into the house.

Has anyone in the Clinton campaign wondered if perhaps the reason the "experience" argument hasn't worked is because it's factually false, on a very basic level?

The fact is, Hillary Clinton was not the President. She has a Senate record. That's it. Her claims as co-President are subject to doubt, and completely unverifiable.

Perhaps it's not so much that this is a "change" election, but instead that thinking Americans never really bought the "35 years" Clinton resume-padding to begin with.

I know I never did. She was the First Lady. An important role, but claiming "executive experience" based on that position is sort of silly.

Eric, how exactly is this an argument against Obama's national security credentials? Is he not going to answer the phone at 3:00 AM and if he does, will he have to open his address book to figure out who he is speaking with? No. What this ad is, is the desperate attempt of a dying campaign to scare people to its side.

Some quick observations:

1. You will not see Obama standing in front of a mic screaming that HRC is using Rovian tactics. He'll be calm and explain why he thinks these kind of ads are bad for the American people, who will once again see a leader who will handle problems appropriately.

2. This, along with the Clinton's possible TX lawsuit, will be their story of the day. Fear and threats will define their last weekend before their potential last primaries. Obama's story will be his raising $50+ million dollars in 29 days, thus wiping out the little good news HRC has had for some time.

3. I suspect Obama will get a nice jump on March fundraising after his camp sends out word that Clinton is trying to scare and sue it's way to victory.

4. Keith Olbermann is gonna come down hard on Clinton. Can't wait to see it.

Thanks -- that's an excellent ad and only reaffirms my confidence in the quality of the Obama campaign and its ability to take on and defeat McCain.

"No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear."
— Edmund Burke

"People react to fear, not love — they don't teach that in Sunday School, but it's true."
— Richard M. Nixon

It's 3am in the morning. A phone is ringing in the White House...

*** Hello?! Hi honey. Sssh! Try to be quiet. She's sleeping in the other room. Yeah... of course I care for you! It really turned me on too. I'm still smoking the cigars... You think you're being followed by a reporter? You *have* taken the dress to a dry cleaners, right? They're just poking around... if we all stick together, then nobody will ever find out, right? What? You need some money? Maybe I can get you a job in the State Department, though it would be helpful if you were to write some kind of statement that I can keep on record, where you deny everything... ***

I'll see that Obama donation and raise you $50, vicissitudes!

It's the last day of the month for Obama... let's put him so out in front that Hillary has no option but to admit the inevitable.

Ultimately, her concession will be for the good of the party, so that we can start to bring the party back together... some of her supporters need to wise up and see that Obama and Hillary are practically identical, policy-wise, rather than threatening to vote McCain.

And, let's not kid ourselves, the worst thing she has to look forward to is being the first female Senate Majority Leader. That's win-win, especially considering the influence she would have on all legislation.

Clinton couldn't handle a threat from a chain smoking, coke snorting black junior senator whose name rhymes with Obama. Now I'm supposed to believe she knows best how to handle a global emergency? Pull-eeze.

This ranks right up there with Clinton's claim that she is best equipped to handle the right wing smear machine.

Instead of playing drinking games with John McCain on the taxpayer's dime and schmoozing with Alphonse D'Amato at private luncheons, maybe Clinton should have paid more attention to people like me.

I will say this for Clinton - her plagarized version of this ad is way better than McCain's. Are we really supposed to be worried about these clowns?

Merle,
Unfortunately I have to agree with you.

Those innonence sleeping baby faces strike more fear in our hearts than that 'out of date, key striking of an urgent message' that McCain scrolls up the screen in his ad.

I suppose that is a gender difference? She is reaching out to strike fear in the heart of moms while McCain was reaching out to men as decision makers and protectors of the homeland?

It also may be an age difference as McCain would be reaching out to the time when urgent news and death notices came in the form of telegrams.

The generation gap that Hillary fell into with her 'change you can xerox' comment...the genration born in the 80s knows nothing about xeroxing anything...they just copy/cut and paste.

"Now one of Clinton's laws of politics is this: If one candidate's trying to scare you and the other one's trying to get you to think, if one candidate's appealing to your fears and the other one's appealing to your hopes, you better vote for the person who wants you to think and hope."

-Bill Clinton

If Hillary still had a chance of winning the nomination without going nuclear (i.e. - trying to seat the Florida and Michigan delegates, and even this probably wouldn't make a difference) this ad might be semi-excusable.

The fact that she doesn't, and is willing to attack the all-but-certian Democratic nominee with this line of attack makes Andrew Sullivans claim that the Clintons are soulless sociopaths almost beleivable

And, on a small point, aren' all the kids in that ad white? Which America is HRC living in?

counter ad:

Hillary and Bill sleeping in the same bed (for once). Phone rings, a semi-awake Hillary turns on the light, answers.

Hillary: Hello? The president of the United States? Calling for me? Yes, operator. (pause) Good evening Mr. President, how may I be of service?

We hear someone speaking on the other end, but can't make out the words.

Hillary: So we need to invade? Right now? Because you THINK they may have model airplanes outfitted with biological weapons? (pause) A slam dunk, huh? (pause) Well, OK, sounds good to me. You can certainly count on my vote, sir. (pause) Goodnight.

Bill: (semi-awake) Wazzup, Hill?

Hillary: Nothing important, go back to sleep. Turns out the light.

The part of this ad that I like the best is the fade away with Hillary answering the phone. My only question would be which one of the 'all hat no cattle' gang that couldn't shoot straight is she is talking to? It wouldn't be Texas Terry McAuliffe would it? That old veteran cowpuncher of yesteryear? Maybe it's Hopalong Penn. Maybe she's asking him for a rebate. No. I know who it is. Its The Lone Ickes. It has to be! Who else would answer the phone at 3:00AM? She's probably reminding him about what happens to guys like Webb Hubbell. Of course it is possible that someone is calling HER at 3:00AM. But who would call Hillary at three in the morning? Maybe its AMEX. Or some 'blue-collar' franchise deli in Iowa that got stiffed. Or her husband saying he's got a job that just won't end and he'll be a little bit late tonight. It could be anyone when you think about it. I won't say it could be Chelsea-O confused about the time-zone differences from Hawaii. The general public is not allowed to go there. You know family first! Did they take the photo 20 seconds before she starts crying or twenty seconds after? Or maybe this isn't one of the crying spots. Is there a best time to call? Before a cry? After? Do you mean to tell me that after raising 35 cool ones in February they still can't afford call answering? Who do we want to be there to answer the phone? Don't any of these people have message machines? Actually I can say I would prefer to have Barack Obama answering the phone on my behalf. The reason for this is simple. Of all the qualities that make him appealing, the one that is most often overlooked but most important is his ability to listen and respond without sounding like a sound-bite script. You know, the sorts of responses that are crafted to dazzle people of limited intelligence. When Obama answers a question, whether you agree or disagree with what he has said, it is clear that he has listened to what what asked. George McGovern had the same quality which is a rarity in American politicws. He answers questions directly and he rarely if ever begins an answer with a complaint.
And by the way, speaking of complaints, I thought Hillary was the children's advocate. Why is she now exploiting children to convey her latest message meant to appeal to people's fears and stupidity?

What is it about the Clinton's years, that gave our country 8 great years, you people hate so much? BTW, what changes is Obama going to make, anyone know?

This ad is so disturbing. I certainly would never wish someone who airs this ad to answer that call. But just think how much this hurts the Democratic Party. If she has to concede to Obama, she's going so far that I don't see how she turns back and say: I support him for president. And if Obama has to concede, how could he endorse someone who has attacked him that way? Really, the Clintons may think they're more important than the party, but breaking it into peaces is not the way you win the White House.

Here is my complete point by point analysis of her ad, my response, and a preview of Hillary's next fearmongering ad:

http://thepersonalispolitical.tumblr.com/post/27622528

Geez, Hillary - how long are you gonna let that phone ring?! Pick it Up! Something's happening in the world!

Who would I want to answer that phone? Someone who will pick it up on the 3rd ring or sooner.

Kid Zemo

Who do I want answering that phone? Anybody except Hillary Clinton. I can't belive she thinks we would be more comfortable with her answering that phone. I want some one who wont have their polster on the extension giving political advice about a strategic decision. She has proven that is the way she makes decisions about war and peace.

I really thought some Hillary supporters were just paranoid but you guys really do exclude our comments. At least I feel better knowing there are a lot of other progressives out there that support Hillary but our voices have been muted. Do you sleep well at night?

OK, this is the only rational explanation for the way Hillary is running her Campaign:

She has already conceded, and now is trying to help Obama by "vetting" him against Republican attack ads.

After he win the Presidency, she'll get a high post in the cabinet, and point fingers at McCain and say "got you!"

But, seriously, can ANYONE, especially Hillary supporters, understand this strategy of taking up Republican talking points?

Anyone?

Vote McCain: Because with a 71-year-old prostate, he'll be up at 3 anyway.

Just to be clear, as an Obama supporter, I love this ad.

I'm trying to think of best case scenarios for Hillary:

1. The ad stirs up controversy, so it gets played for free by the news networks. This could actually end up hurting her, but, hey, no such thing as bad publicity right? Right?

2. She actually scares up some votes and wins Ohio and Texas. Oh, boy, we just proved to the Republicans that scare ads work on Democrats, and we'll lose in the general.

I'm not one of those people who think that Denver is going to be a repeat of Chicago, 1968 or anything, but the uglier this campaign gets, the more likely that we'll have a unified front against McCain in the general. Just food for thought.

Three things I noticed about this ad:

1. The announcer's voice is like a giant roll of warm, Charmin tissue.

2. The swelling, emotive violins playing a subtly military style theme.

3. The mother who looks like she just got home from work, at 3:00 am.

The ad’s question spurs questions. What about civil defense responses, including orderly evacuations and orders to take shelter? What about massive retaliation, possibly resulting in MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction), when a detected event may or may not be an attack underway against the USA ? What if the call requires a decision whether or not to launch a strike against al-Qaeda leadership when resulting civilian deaths are highly likely? What specifically in a candidate’s education, training, and professional experience makes that candidate the better choice for making such decisions quickly?

> After all, New York was attacked and
> Hillary is the Senator of NY, so I
> think she should agree to defend our country.

So, New York was attacked by a team with no Iraqis on it from an organization that had, at that time, very few Iraqi members and was hunted mercilessly by the dictator of Iraq wherever it appear in his nation. Hillary voted to give George W. Bush authorization to attack Iraq and this protected New York.... how?

sPh

It is three o'clock in the morning. President Clinton II answers the phone at at the White House. She says, "Hello!" The person on the other end of the phone line explains the situation. President Clinton says, "Why do I always get the first question?"