Clinton Can Ask the Question, but She May Not Like the Answer

CLINTON CAN ASK THE QUESTION, BUT SHE MAY NOT LIKE THE ANSWER
[SOURCE: AdAge, AUTHOR: Bob Garfield]
[Commentary] In an act of political desperation leading into Tuesday's make-or-break Texas and Ohio primaries, Sen. Clinton has released a campaign ad that pundits and partisans will declare a reprise of LBJ's notorious "Daisy." The Clinton ad plays to the electorate's fear of apocalyptic calamity. No countdowns, no mushroom cloud, but you get the idea. If President Clinton answers, the fighters are scrambled and allies convened. If President Obama answers, he gives an inspiring speech. The Obama campaign responded with charges of fear-mongering -- or, in the front-runner's clever phrasing, "trying to scare up votes." That she is, but playing to voter fear is not what's the matter with this commercial. on the brink of electoral doom, she is pulling a Rudy. Mayor Giuliani, too, pushed all his chips onto the "experience" square and let 'em ride. Alas, Giuliani got to Florida and discovered, to his surprise, that his 9/11 leadership did not translate into votes. Perhaps Republicans wondered whether being a take-charge victim made him fitter than his opponents to protect us. And that is the problem with the Clinton ad. Unless Gennifer and Monica strap on a bomb vest, what exactly in her experience as a senator and first lady equips especially her to deal with crisis? Nothing springs to mind, does it? Which is why she is at risk asking voters whom they prefer to pick up that red phone. Surely the senator learned this at the Rose Law Firm: Never raise a question if you don't already know the answer.
http://adage.com/garfield/post?article_id=125448