Hillary’s Hot-Line

Hillary Clinton’s are-you-skeered? ad designed to generate a late surge in Texas and Ohio plays on familiar fears. The ad shows a little girl asleep in the middle of the night while frightening critters threaten her—perhaps from under the bed—who needs a strong mommy to intervene. It’s a curious cross between Lyndon Johnson’s 1964 nuke-the-daisies moment and a leaf out of W’s constant referencing of 9/11. It’s also pathetic to think that our national fate hangs on a message this puerile.

I can’t imagine it will work, but it’s good advance practice for what the Republicans will soon throw at Obama if he becomes the candidate. The Obama camp’s prompt reply ad was a good laugh, too, reminding people that it’s important what you say on the line, not just how fast you get hold of the receiver.

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Although Hillary’s cascade of tribulations are entirely deserved, it’s also true that Obama has had a pretty smooth ride in areas where the news media could have shown more skepticism. I was surprised to learn that Obama hasn’t held a single hearing as chair of his Foreign Relations subcommittee, which gives the criticism about being all talk and soft on specifics a little credibility.

Still, the nuances of policy and even of platforms aren’t really the point any more. We’re examining the candidates for character and for vision, and those factors won’t change much from here on out. McCain’s a known quantity, and Hillary C is too. Obama’s the novelty, and the people have made it clear they want something new. It doesn’t have to be perfect.