Guest Host Blogger Matthew Sawh: Barack's Opportunity Knocks

Published Sep 16 2008, 07:56 AM by Steven Stark

The total collapse of Lehman Brothers and, Bear Stearns and the near-collapse of AIG have brought the economy to the center of the national stage. This presents a wonderful opportunity for Hillary, Bill and Barack all at once.

Senator Obama should ask the Clintons to appear in an ad together on his behalf. I have tried to capture the verbal tics of each Clinton in this suggested script focusing on the economy:

Obama Ad Suggestion: 'Sense on Cents'

[Sitting around a kitchen table while the old music reminiscent of the 1994 Harry and Louise ads plays in the background as a slightly aged kitsch couple; Bill and Hillary are sitting at their kitchen table]

Bill: You may not have liked everything I did in the Nineties

Hill: Even I didn't like *everything*, Bill [nudging the camera slyly, hinting about Monica]

Bill: But, you know, one thing almost everybody liked about my administration was that we had a great economy. That was because we had the courage to change from the failed trickle-down policies of Republicans like George Bush. Now we've heard that word 'change' being bandied about in this campaign a lot.   We've done it.

Hillary: If John McCain were really the change candidate, where was he in 2006 and 2007 when we needed him on crucial votes like health care for children? As I remember the past two years, things did change, but, not for the better.

You know, I believe very strongly that we need an experienced president. But, as Bill said in 1992, you need the right kind of experience.   Senator Obama has fought for the same ideals and ideas which I have committed my life to and, Senator McCain has consistently fought for the Bush agenda.

Bill: John McCain is ten years older than I am. Now, I'm still young, but, how much change can a seventy-two year old who has spent 26 years in Washington bring?   How can the man who can't even check his e-mail lead the global economy?
.
Bill and Hillary: Take it from the two people who know what it takes to clean up after a Bush: Vote for Barack

Bill: He'll bring us back to Hope.

Hill: Bill, don't push it
-----------------------------------

How this helps Bill: This bolsters Bill's credentials in the face of critics who believe he played the race card in discussing his candidacy after South Carolina and, it would be quite a fence-mender to the African-American community. Concurrently, he would get to talk about his well-deserved record of economic growth in the nineties and, in-so doing, polish his legacy a bit.

How this helps Hillary: This elevates Hillary Clinton as heir to the Clinton legacy. The link which was asserted by Team Hillary was never conclusively sold to the public. More importantly, it extends the Clinton legacy as a single entity into the future. In other words, it positions her extremely well to be both the change that people are seeking and, to be the voice of reasoned and tempered experience. That's why that last line is so key. It re-establishes her as the voice of reasoned experience as she was in the primary. It fortifies her against blowback from the GOP quoting her primary speeches and, it is an olive branch to the Obamicans.

How this helps Obama: The fact is that only one president most Americans remember has the standing to make an effective ad. George W. Bush has no standing to do so. There is no GOP counterpunch here. The race then becomes one about a former president rebuking a current presidential candidate. There will be some tongue wagging from the Broderites, but it will work. How better to make this about the economy and McCain's lack of economic preparation?

The reason the Paris and Britney ads were so effective was because it was a novel concept and, it raised the specter of the two subjects the media most loves: celebrities and, a political fight. A sizable percentage of journalists don't have the policy expertise to walk the American people through the issues so, they walk them through the fights. We also know that the corporate media is always concerned with ratings. How better to play to both factors?

A Column Worth Reading

39 Million Watched McCain Last Night, Exceeding Obama's Total

16 Comments

gordon marshall said:

You'd be a good marriage counselor, Matthew; and you're a creative writer. But skip Madison Avenue!

September 16, 2008 1:08 PM
LorenzoJennifer said:

Very creative, Matthew! May I offer some suggestions? Would add a line for Bill, "When I left the White House in 2001, our nation was at peace and there was a surplus in the federal budget." Hillary may add, with a chuckle, "Bush began and has ended his presidency by handing out tax refunds." Gotta give Hillary a chuckle line to offset most voters' image of her as being chilly, formal and distant. Would take out any reminder of Harry and Louise as that was used to attack "Hillarycare" back then. For background music, whatever happened to Celine Dion's "You and I" having been chosen by Hillary Clinton as her campaign song? Was it ever played during any of the primaries? Elevator music, to be sure, so maybe an intro from Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop (thinking about tomorrow)" would more effectively revive viewers' memories of the Clinton years. After intro, cut the lyrics and slow down the music as background. "Check his e-mail" not a good line as I understand McCain has gnarled fingers from his POW years and cannot use computer keys as a result. Would suggest a walk-on appearance by Barack Obama at the end. He enters, faces the camera by himself and says, "My name is Barack Obama and I have approved this message." He then joins the Clintons at their table in good will and in conversation as the scene concludes.

September 17, 2008 9:28 PM
LorenzoJennifer said:

Rewriting the edit on the morning after. In the interests of historical accuracy, rewrite Hillary's line to: "Bush began and is ending his presidency by handing out tax rebates." Bill could chime in with, "Dollar signs at the start and at the finish."

May I say, Matthew, I've read all your guest columns and I commend you on your political knowledge and writing skills.

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Guest Host Blogger Matthew Sawh: Barack's Opportunity Knocks

16 Comments

gordon marshall said:

LorenzoJennifer said:

LorenzoJennifer said:

sheridan said:

KarrieTamsin said:

jonn said:

bobi said:

girle said:

boy said:

viki said:

nike said:

xxx said:

boobs said:

job said:

kate said:

ClolveFlefliz said:

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