Clinton Won by Dealing from the Bottom of the Deck

[K Gardner]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/democratic-scorecard-the_b_90258.html

<snip>

But the real answer is to be found deep in our lizard brains. Clinton won by dealing from the bottom of the deck -- and the bottom of the barrel -- and playing the fear card. And, as happened in 2002 and 2004, Be Very Afraid proved to be a very effective campaign pitch.

After her New Hampshire comeback, Clinton famously declared: "I found my own voice."

For this latest comeback, she found Karl Rove's voice.

People aren't currently stocking up on Cipro and duct tape but, as the cable channels' hyped up reaction to the Times Square explosion showed, these are still jittery times. And appeals to voters' lizard brains still move the needle.

After an 11 state losing streak, Hillary Clinton didn't suddenly transform into a more compelling candidate. Only a spookier one.

So we got the 3 a.m. phone call, making no real argument about preparedness to lead, only the shadowy insinuation that bad things will happen to your kids if you vote for Obama. Trailers for slasher movies have less of a creep-you-out factor.

We got Hillary's ready-to-lead scorecard: "I think that I have a lifetime of experience that I will bring to the White House. I know Senator McCain has a lifetime of experience to the White House. And Senator Obama has a speech he gave in 2002." This scorched earth pronouncement led Air America's Rachel Maddow to tell Keith Olbermann, "That's what you say when you want to be John McCain's vice-presidential choice. That's not what you say when you're trying to become the Democratic nominee for president." Olbermann's take: "Unbelievable."

<snip>

After Tuesday's success, you can be sure the Clintons' march through the mud will continue over the seven weeks until Pennsylvania. Bill Clinton understood the potency of playing to voters' lizard brains -- it's why he started rolling the fear dice back on the Charlie Rose show. How to counter this kind of fear-mongering without kicking off a round of Mutual Assured Destruction for the Democrats is the Obama campaign's greatest challenge.

[nomorewhopper]

1. interesting read

[billbuckhead]

3. Next she'll be copying Michelle Obama and saying.................

white people will come to their senses. :sarcasm:

[TwilightGardener]

2. You never know which of her multiple personalities is going to manifest itself next.

Her Presidency would be a nightmare. I wonder if John McCain is actually more stable than she is.

[lapfog_1]

4. I think Obama should have done a complete parody of the ad

and had a clinton double answering the phone next to the bed...

when she answers you hear the voice on the other end saying "get out!... the call came from inside the house!"

And the cut away shot is Obama sitting at the desk in the Oval Office with a big smile and a phone in his hand.

[andym]

5. Hope trumped by Fear

One of the reasons that "Hope" is such a strong message this cycle, is that there is a great desire to put the fear associated with the last 7 years (since 9/11) behind us.

However, fear will beat hope every time, if there seems to be enough danger out there. Tragic news events or terrorist attacks will put hope on hold for a while. But the desire to hope will be even stronger, it just can't emerge unless there is a general sense of safety.

The 3am call ad plays on fear and the danger in the world. The only way to deflect it, is to project a strong sense of an ability to maintain safety. Safety coupled with hope is a winning message.

[K Gardner]

11. I agree with this completely.

[Mme. Defarge]

6. K&R!

[Cha]

7. Describes hilary accurately with

all the gory history.

"Trailers for slasher movies have less of a creep-you-out factor."

Like it's been said..this isn't about winning for hilary it's about taking out Obama so she can run in 2012 against mccain.

Rec'd

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

8. So what if you cheat? As long as you win, right Hillary?

[tabasco]

9. She turned on the slime machine and then accuses her rival of being like Ken Starr.

Hillary really is a closet republican.

[Window]

10. I can't stand Hillary.