Hillary Clinton Ad Features Osama Bin Laden: Campaign AdWatch

Today's polling indicated a slight upward trend for Senator Hillary Clinton in Pennsylvania, with most numbers tacking above the margin for error. Still, there might be something to the rumors that tomorrow's primary is expected to be a tight contest, and the clearest sign that the Clinton campaign is taking that seriously is that they've released a new thirty-second ad called "Kitchen," which "detail[s] how tough the job of President is...asking voters who they think is ready to step in and handle it." And, hey! Look who makes a cameo appearance! None other than stock footage of Osama bin Laden, presumably on loan from the defunct Giuliani campaign.

And now, for the rebuttal, please welcome President William Jefferson Clinton:

UPDATE: And in a rebuttal to the rebuttal, we have campaign newbie, Geoff Garin, who says: "It states the reason why Hillary Clinton is the right choice to be president now...the premise of this ad and this campaign is that we're at a moment where we need a president who's got the strength and the knowledge to take on very tough challenges...To say that she is the best choice on those things, there's nothing negative about that."

Indeed, the most "positive" thing about the ad may be its efficacy. As Talking Points Memo notes, "Dropping a last-minute bomb in order to sow doubts about Obama among the late-breaking undecideds -- and doing it in the guise of an ad only mentioning Hillary -- worked in Ohio and Texas. Camp Hillary is hoping that the tactic will deliver a second time."

MORE UPDATES: And, so, this little spat escalaltes to "Defcon: OMFG!" From Obama spokesman Bill Burton:

When Senator Clinton voted with President Bush to authorize the war in Iraq, she made a tragically bad decision that diverted our military from the terrorists who attacked us, and allowed Osama bin Laden to escape and regenerate his terrorist network. It's ironic that she would borrow the President's tactics in her own campaign and invoke bin Laden to score political points. We already have a President who plays the politics of fear, and we don't need another.

So, uhm...Hillary Clinton is to blame for Osama bin Laden being at large? Really? That's what you're gonna go with, Burton? Can't wait for this primary contest to end in that bring-the-party-together "Dream" ticket!

UPDATES GALORE: The Obama campaign has produced an ad in response to today's Clinton ad. Man, when this primary is over, just think about how "bitter" all the out-of-work political ad people are going to be!

Comments

[clbrune]

At least the author did post the bizarre response from the Obama camp ("Yes, Hillary let Osama escape from Tora Bora! It's all her fault!!").

Surprised even that acknowledgment of something less than perfection in Obama is posted here.

Thank you.

[donaldw6]

But then again, nothing could be more true and to the point. Hillary voted to authorize military action in Iraq, and Bush promptly yanked said military away from Tora Bora and sent them straight to Mesopotamia. Meanwhile, Osama has apparently collected himself and his followers with little resistance.

It's not entirely her fault, no, but she helped. She enabled. And look where we are now.

[IntelligentDesign]

This telling rant by Hillary goes a long way in explaining her absolute refusal to apologize for Iraq war resolution vote - she's not one bit sorry for that vote, she's damn near proud of it.

[neocon43]

Why should she be?Iraq is becoming a free and democratic society.By election in November Obama will have no ideal what to do.Does he cut and run from success and progress.That will not fly with American people.Electoral map is looking better by the day for republicans.

[CaIndy]

Success and progress?? Thats funny... the Iraqi people will never believe in an American placed government... never... and even if we didn't hand them, we had a huge part in putting that government in place... and now they welcome Iran with open arms?? They are helping to broker peace deals... Sadr turning loose his militias like a mad man? But we have to wait on Iran to tell them when to stop fighting... boy, we are in big trouble!!!

[ZHarris]

Leave a little in the pitcher of kool-aid...

[Agent86]

Can I have some of whatever you're on?

[Earl]

Yeah, they all get to use half of their daily hour of electricity for essentials, and then fritter away the other half watching al Jazeera. Sewage in the streets - piece of cake! Bombs and bullets? Never you mind your silly little head on those things. Yep, Iraq is looking great!

[eej]

I'm afraid she'll attack some country for no good reason just to prove how tough she is.

McCain will certainly attack some country.

Obama is the only real choice.

[ltyr2002]

Bin Laden is no longer a threat, now that Obama is going to be president. Obama will convince Bin Laden that it's better to be peaceful and cooperative, through Barak's undeniable people skills.

That's what real change is, a nifty guy with smooth speeches and a hip way about himself, surrounded by swooning sychophants. That is what is needed in our next president. Private sector experience? Not important; he'll lead the economy through intuition. Military experience? Not important; he was always against the Iraq war, that's all you need to know. Executive experience? Not important; he's run a great campaign, and according to some pundits that is proof in itself that he'll be a terrific president. Open the borders AND raise taxes AND give health care to everyone, even illegals, that should fix things!

Osama couldn't possibly fail to be swayed by all these terrific reasons to fall under Obama's spell.

[BlueStateMan]

I guess you weren't paying attention (no big surprise) when Obama said he'd consider sending a taskforce even into Pakistan if BinLaden were to be found there.

Taxes HAVE to be raised (on those making more than 2 million a year) to keep what's left of our country from falling apart.... or do you think we should continue borrowing & spending like all of those "other" people you so detest.

You're a simpleton with a simple vision of the world.

Back to the margibns with you.... & take all of the other neocons with you.

[ltyr2002]

I watched him put his foot into his mouth on that Pakistan comment live. Yes, I watched the actual debate. And he regretted saying that later as it caused an international fuss with Pakistan, you might recall.
I do not in fact believe in borrowing and spending (despite your projections as to who I am and what I think). I was against the Iraq war from day one as well. Are you going to vote for me because of that??? :)

Of course not. And why? Because you have no reason to think I can run the country effectively as I HAVE NO RECORD for you, my future employer, to examine! And you would be right in questioning my qualifications, fancy speeches and good looks notwithstanding.

No, Obama is a bad set of ideas, promoted by an unproven greenhorn who acts like his shit doesn't stink, and brags about how little time he's spent doing anything controversial.

I do not like the guy, and his supporters are proof he should not be trusted.

[CaIndy]

well lets see... under this "mandated" healthcare plan by HRC, how will illegals get healthcare> She says everyone will have healthcare under her plan... I see it now, my hard earned tax dollars are going to pay for it...

military experience?? I guess dodging sniper fire qualifies her to know the real threat to our troops so she will pull them out in 6 months...

executive experience?? last time I checked she had none either... how soon we forget that it was her HUSBAND that was the Gov of Arkansas... and the President... not her... so if all we have is judge both by their campaign, I would say she fails miserably!!

But, I guess since she was around Bill, that gives her all the experience in the world... tell me, if your Dr. told you that he couldn't perform your surgery but bc his wife was always around he would let her do it, would you allow that???

[ltyr2002]

Are you assuming I support Hillary? You assume too much!

[gd7277467]

May I touch You ?

[mammaboy]

There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission. If we wish to make it louder, we will bring up the volume. If we wish to make it softer, we will tune it to a whisper. We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical.

[donaldw6]

Now here's a real right-winger! I didn't think you folks trusted the internets.

We've been swapping sound bytes with Osama for far too long. I've been waiting for years to get the mastermind of 9/11, and we're finally going to do it, and I bet that'll even make even you happy.

Oh, and sorry about all those plans to organize and do something useful like dealing with health care costs. Makes you sick, doesn't it?

[ltyr2002]

Despite your ham-handed ridicule, I will explain that the article we are posting about on Huffington Post is about Hillary playing the "Osama Card", as though the very idea of her raising the issue of the terrorist is just a cynical ploy to scare people away from Obama.

Well perhaps she wants to point out the very real fact that Osama is still alive, still plots to kill YOU and me, and might get a chance to do it again, and she thinks she's ready to fight him and his organization.

The Obama Post, as it should be rightly called, simply refuses to let Hillary make her case (and I'm not a supporter of hers). This entire website seems bent on annointing this fellow as Elvis reborn, Jesus and MLK all rolled into one, ready to fix the universe, even though his record is as bare as a spinster's cupboard!

Whatever! Delude yourself.
I will not take pleasure is saying "I told you so" in four years should this huckster get elected. But as someone who really loves the country, I will hope his time in office is successful for the country and the world, though I'm not naive about his prospects.

[3443649]

I am beginnig to believe that no matter who should win the presidency. Things pertaining to a vibrant and progressive nation, have been destroyed to a point by the bumbling, stupidity and thievery of our established government and the power brokers of oil and industry,. That a recovery for this country to anything other than a third world rating is impossible. Yes there is hope and faith and talk and dreams. But that will not feed mankind. And neither will the most sincere effort of whatever party wins the upcoming elections. The suicidal tendency of the collective government via the processes noted above, are too entrenched to do other than continue on the path to oblivian. The ignorance of the collective population are no less guilty of aiding and abetting in this. and yes I too am guilty.

[shinybear]

The Obama campaign is not claiming that electing him President will save this country but it will be a step.

This country will be saved by new social movements like those mobilized by the Obama campaign.

And this country will come back economically in the form of new American small businesses also as described by Mr. Obama. Rebuilding from the ground up.

It's time we cut the monster corporations loose and start working together again.

It can be done- this has happened to this country and every other country time and time again.

[mammaboy]

It's so nice to hear from a voice from the past...repeated over and over and over.....

[EyeballKid]

At this juncture, I stopped listening to both candidates. I already know what I want to do when it comes to my turn to vote in a primary. I want HRC to go away. Far away. She's been poison. She is destructive, like Bush. She is more like Bush than McCain is like Bush. And I would never vote for McCain. It's as clear as it can be made that HRC wants to destroy Obama's bid for the nomination at all costs. She wants to keep Obama out of the White House at all costs.

A large percentage of the US public already knows this. That's why they contribute to Obama's campaign. Obama knows that his contributors know that he's their hope, that HRC is Bush in a pants suit, and that HRC's campaign is right out of the Atwater-Rove script. She's cynical, deceptive, and ruthless. With her, there is no hope for preparing the US and the rest of the planet for massive changes in our living patterns in the next few centuries. Big changes. Inevitable changes. But HRC only wants to destroy Obama. That's her focus, and it's energy that's horribly misdirected.

[clbrune]

You're a fool if you think either democratic candidate is as bad as mccain.

Bill Clinton turned around 12 years of reagan/bush destruction.

W Bush destroyed all those gains.

Whoever the next president is, he or she will face an uphill struggle, to say the least.

[HuffyPuff]

I quite agree with you. Unfortunately, most of the Obama camp, at least on this post, regards Hillary as as bad or even worse than McCain. I understand that many of the Obama supporters are young and passionate. I remember my own young and passionate days (actually demonstrating against the VN war). However there is something to be said for experience and seasoning. Obama seems to understand the need to heal and bring people together. I hope is supporters will do that...otherwise I fear we will find out just how bad McCain will be.

[IntelligentDesign]

Annie get your nuclear weapons!

[mammaboy]

Nah. We're so post hegemony we're southern Canada.

[RanTheMan]

Politics of fear. Evidence of desperation.

When chimpanzees and gorillas hurriedly flee an impending threat, they leave behind what is known by some zoologists and primatologists as "fear scat".

I'm just sayin'.....

[kevenseven]

I utterly understand.

God permitting, this will be over in 24 hours.

[RanTheMan]

From your keyboard, k7....from your keyboard....

[BlueStateMan]

"god" who?

[CaIndy]

unfortunately, I don't think it will be...

we will have to endure the CLINTON madness for a few more weeks!

[neocon43]

It will be over in August on the floor of the convention.Double digit win tomorrow night for Clinton with the assistance of operation chaos!

[AnnieinOR]

amen!

[cmfrey]

I really don't get it. Her ad features real events that have happened that real presidents have had to deal with. It's about leadership and capability. There's nothing fear-mongering about it. This is not the same as the Republican smear ad of Max Cleveland morphing into Bin Laden. She not saying if you don't vote for me then all of this crap will happen. If you are afraid to deal with reality, then how will you get anywhere? I Think and Hope Hillary can pull this off. And if she doesn't secure the nomination, I will vote for Obama.

[RanTheMan]

Yup. You REALLY don't get it.

Showing images like the ones in this ad, are designed solely for one reason: To evoke a fearful response from the viewer. To instill fear that the same events might occur if the viewer votes for the opponent of the candidate sponsoring the ad.

It's sleazy, and typical Hillary of late.

[AjicNYC]

and outspending your opponent 4 or 5 to 1 with smear tactics, of false accusations isnt sleezy???????????

[kevenseven]

Yer growing on me.

[donaldw6]

I posted this way back in the thread. It's short, so here it is again:

"It's the Science of Propaganda, and marketers know they can run a certain ad to certain consumers and win so much percentage of the market share. As long as they can appeal to subconscious responses, they've got you by the nads.

"You awake, Pennsylvania?"

In other words, it's manipulation using the Politics of Fear. You understand that advertising is frequently subconscious manipulation, right? It's appealing to the lizard brain, it's been used throughout the history of politics in the media to frighten people and get them to vote for the one who says they will protect them. You love Hillary, so you won't listen to what I'm telling you. But it's true.

[AjicNYC]

funny though, If you were to Obama at the end of that ad , I wouldn't feel like he is the one that would protect me. It doesnt really work for him , Does it?.

[CaIndy]

sorry... as an Independent... my vote is heavily courted this year!!! I was an Edwards supporter but so far have yet to throw my full support behind a candidate... I can tell you... if I wanted to see ads like this, I would be leaning towards the GOP....

[BlueStateMan]

Be careful, Indy.......

If you lean too far to the right, you might fall in to a ditch. ;)

[neocon43]

Hey Indy.look at what Obama is going to do with capital gains.he is increasing from present 15% to 27%.That is a killer for 70% of people who invest in the stock market.Also wants to increase payroll taxes.This is a catastrophe waiting to happen.

[phen]

This is a backwards ad.

Imho, rural white men would rather have a black man as commander in chief than a woman, statistically speaking.

This is really an ad for Obama.

[eej]

It sounds like you're just the kind of person this ad targets. You've fallen for it.

[Viper]

The majority of all Democrats per results and polls are drinking the Kool-Aid!

The Kids are with the majority.

The Kids are not responsible for electing for BUSH OR.

Iraq OR.

Osama Bin Laden still free OR

the huge trade deficits OR

huge budget deficits OR.

Katrina/New Orleans OR

$4 gas OR.

the illegal immigration problems OR

the healthcare crisis OR.

Medicare going broke OR.

a crumbling infrastructure OR

a dollar now worth 60% less OR.

the highest percentage of citizens in jaill than any other country OR

absurd trade agreements such as NAFTA OR.

outsourcing OR

the loss of almost all MFG OR.

the U.S. being 37th in Health; 51st in literacy OR

Given how well Hilary is at getting things done for the past 35 years per her campaign... pls tell me which one of these problems she has help to fix? What has she been doing, her and McCain with all of their experience and service, I'm simply not aware of any thing major that has been solved by either one of them in the last 35 years, the period of time when the U.S. began this decline!!!!

I'm 58, voting for Obama because he has not been on the scene for 35 years. He may not have solved any of these problems, but he was not part of the problem either while America slowly ruested. Anyone who was in Washington for the past 35 years, shut up and go home!

Regards

[IntelligentDesign]

Hillary becoming scarier by the minute - at this rate I expect her to accept the endorsement of the lord of darkness himself by this Wednesday - hell hath no fury indeed.

[emmav70]

Thank God for sensible people like you !

[KOisGod]

F'in right!

She is part of the PROBLEM, not the solution.

Unless of course you believe her, that IF she gets to be president, she'll deal with AND solve every issue plauging humanity.

Though I doubt it.

[neocon43]

You left out one big item Obama do to this country.That is further ruin the moral fiber of this country.If you want to see gridlock in Congress wait till Obamas plans are put forward.You can have all the hope you want and that will be hopelessness!

[JuneCleaversBeaver]

You are a fine one to talk about the deteriorating moral fiber.

How many lies have you posted here? How many mothers have you claimed were killed on 9/11, in hurricanes, etc?

[CaIndy]

Well neocon, we don't need a DEM president... bc Hillary is far more polarizing and nothing she puts forth will make it either...

have we forgotten the percentage of Americans that just don't like her?

[nomobull]

we have a president who lies out of booth sides of his mouth. a congress that help take us into an unjust unnecessary war.members of the gop being caught with hookers and with other men in public bathrooms. and you worry that obama will destroy the moral fiber of our country. not to mention a candidate running for president who has two of the most bigoted so called men of god not God supporting him. and proud of it. are you kidding me or yourself.

[JuneCleaversBeaver]

Dem voter surge could cut Clinton margin
~Jeanne Cummings

"An historic spike in Democratic voter registrations in Pennsylvania could help Barack Obama cut into Hillary Clinton’s vote in Tuesday’s primary, robbing her of the big victory margin she needs to justify continuing the primary fight.

"The changing party demographics also are contributing to an overall bluing of the Keystone State that could dim Republican John McCain’s hopes of competing there in the fall.

"A county-by-county analysis by Politico suggests that the hard-fought primary between Obama and Clinton has accelerated an ongoing partisan shift in Pennsylvania that could soon move it out of the battleground presidential states and ripple across congressional races this fall, as well.

"According to the Secretary of State’s office, since January about 217,000 new voters have registered for the April 22 primary, the vast majority of whom signed up as Democrats.

"In Philadelphia, by far the state’s largest city, more than 12,000 new Democrats were added to the rolls in the final week before the March registration deadline, compared to just 509 Republicans.

"That statewide Democratic surge has been accompanied by a flood of party-switching. More than 178,000 voters have changed their party status since January — and the Democrats have captured 92 percent of those voters.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20080421/pl_politico/9735

[Aleka4]

I'd say most of the party switchers are operation chaos.

Ugh. 178k is more than they did in TX for Hillary.

[Tedderdog]

Being a democrat from Colorado it seems that those of you living out East are utterly unaware of the depth of hatred for Hillary here in the middle of the country. A Hillary victory in the fall is simply not possible, states like Colorado which are newly democratic and still of strong republican history will vote for McCain in a heartbeat. Pa needs to step up and end this thing.

[mammaboy]

Hmmm. I don't know if Colorado has passed the requirements to be a state--its human rights requirements are a bit lacking. Hey though, be happy your territory has reached theme park status.

[Skinar]

Hillary Cinton as President? And then what? Invading more countries?

And she's not going to find Osama Bin Laden either, that ad is a piece of bovine fecal matter.

Lastly, for any women who are voting for Hillary JUST because she's female, please consider your supposed 'feminist' viewpoint which I"ve heard implies that all people are equal regardless of gender. Hmmmm. Voting for someone simply BECAUSE if their gender sounds contradictory to those 'feminist' principles. Which tells everyone a heck of a lot about those 'principles'.

Nope, Hillary is one of the MOST divisive political figures in modern times, she's right up there with George W. Bush in that category. If you want more years of this horrendouse climate in Washington then vote for Hillary. She'll guarantee you that that atmosphere will continue, she's said as much herself. She's 'The Fighter'. More bad Karma for America.

[Brutus1]

So all those African Americans that are voting for Obama because he is African American is because.....Hmmmmm, let me guess. That tells a heck of alot about their principals. Oh no, that's different, of course.

[StillIRise]

Senator Clinton started this campaign with over 50% support from the African American community. Senator Obama was not their first choice, in spite of the fact that he is black. As has happened throughout the campaign, as the electorate became more familiar with Senator Obama, his support increased, among both black and white voters. Black voters who were initially reluctant to support Senator Obama, again because he is black, also became more confident in his ability to win the election and rallied behind him. Most African Americans, including myself, support Senator Obama for the same reasons that most white Americans support him, and base their support on the same principles that white Americans base their support on: his experience, the integrity of his character, his vision for America, and his potential to make that vision a reality for all of us! I know this may be difficult for you to accept, but black Americans are just as informed, thoughtful, and intelligent in choosing a candidate for the President of the United States as their white counterparts. Think back, if you can, to Jesse Jackson's and Al Sharpton's run for presidency. I don't recall very much support for either of them from the black community, even though both men are very clearly, even ostensibly, black!

Still I Rise

[Sabreen60]

Another out-of-hand comment. How many African Americans do you know and how many have told you they are voting for Obama just because he's Black. I'm really sick of being denigrated by people such as you. If African Americans just wanted a Black candidate they would have voted in huge numbers for Jessie Jackson. Or they would have voted in huge numbers for Obama when he first entered the race. But that didn't happen. What if I said the reason why Obama is not winning in small towns in PA is because the whites are all racists? How would like that?

[PhDiva]

I'm an African American with a Ph.D. I vote with my considerable intellect, not with my skin. It's amazing that there are still white people who think Black people are so stupid, that we could only vote based on race. Millions of Black people voted for Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, who are White, and very few Black people voted for Al Sharpton and almost none for Alan Keyes, who are Black. So even a simple historical analysis proves you wrong. But you're the idiot who isn't capable of analysis.

You're just another racist who thinks that black people shouldn't be allowed to vote to vote at all. If you had your way, we'd still be in chains. Have fun voting for McCain, and have even more fun while he continues to diminish our military, our safety, and our wealth.

[RainAndWind]

I agree with most of your post. Especially the part about Hillary being divisive. I wonder if people realize what that might mean---for 4 years.

[thatvisionthing]

"...she's not going to find Obama Bin Laden either..."

Remember Benazir Bhutto on David Frost last fall said Osama had been murdered. Right after that she was put under house arrest, and later assassinated. 9/11 official story a sham, MLK assassination official story a sham, who knows what else might turn out to be "perception management"? That guy in the black beard looked like an Osama imposter. Just wondering.

[IntelligentDesign]

Apparently her daddy taught her more than how to shoot a gun behind that shed, looks like he gave her a few pointers on lobbing nuclear weapons as well - what a guy, what a gal.

[Brutus1]

I was listening to an Obama rally on C-Span today. He's lost his magic. He's boring now. It's very sad.

[Tedderdog]

It is boring, Hillary needs to bail.

[eej]

They both sound and look very tired. Understandably. Hillary's dragon lady makeup on Olbermann tonight and her strained cackling were downright scary.

[Taschend]

It tickles me to see that Hillary is framing herself as the best candidate to be in the kitchen. It's almost funny.

[Brutus1]

It tickles me Obama thinks he can win. Actually, it's hillarious.

[CaIndy]

It tickles me that you think Hillary can win!

[TimRivers]

NEWS FLASH! OBAMA IS WINNING! So much for your "hillarity"!

[jbcowan]

Wasn't she the one who said she wouldn't stay home and "bake cookies" ?

My guess is she can't cook either !