Barack Obama has accused fellow Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton on Friday, February 29 of using fear in order to scare people into voting for her with the newest television ad from the Clinton campaign. The television ad shows children asleep with the narrator asking who would be more qualified to answer a call at 3 o’clock in the morning to talk about a national security emergency.
Obama was quick to attack the ad.
“The question is not about picking up the phone. The question is: What kind of judgment will you make when you answer?” Obama rhetorically asked. This ad is the latest of harsh attacks on Obama before the March 4 contests. Texas and Ohio are considered as “must win” states for Clinton.
Recently in Waco, Texas, Clinton attacked Obama on national security and military issues. A Clinton campaign aide explains that Texas is a major military state and that national security will be a top issue.
In attacking the ad, Obama would attack Clinton, US President Bush, and GOP frontrunner John McCain.
“We’ve had a red phone moment. It was the decision to invade Iraq. And Senator Clinton gave the wrong answer. George Bush gave the wrong answer. John McCain gave the wrong answer,” Obama said attacking all three.
In a state that is big on military issues, Clinton is presenting herself as the candidate with the judgment and experience to take command on day one.
The narrator in the ad said: It’s 3 a.m. and your children are safely asleep. Who do you want answering the phone?”
Obama responded to the ad by saying: “We’ve seen these ads before. They’re the kind that play on peoples’ fears to scare up votes. Well, it won’t work this time.”
Obama referred to the October 2002 vote by the US Senate allowing President George W. Bush to invade Iraq the following year. Both rival Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton and Republican frontrunner John McCain voted to give Bush the authorization. That has been the ammunition in regards to Iraq that Obama had capitalized in attacking Clinton in the Democratic race.
As an Illinois state senator, Obama said he voiced his opposition. He said that this war would cost a lot of money and a lot of lives.
In that regard, Obama said: “I said that it would distract us from the real threat we face and that we should take the fight to al Qaeda in Afghanistan. That’s the judgment I made on the most important foreign policy decision of our generation, and that’s the kind of judgment I’ll show when I answer that phone in the White House as president of the United States.”
“That’s the judgment we need at 3 a.m. And that’s the judgment that I am running for President to provide,” Obama continued.
Obama also took the chance to address military issues. He would address war veterans and their families in Houston, Texas. He said that the veterans are suffering the most by the bad decisions made by the current leaders. Obama said that it is the job of the president to keep the people safe. In that regard, Obama said that keeping people safe also means being smart about where to deploy military.
He would also say that he promised that the health care and services for veteran will be improved if elected US President. Obama made note that he does have a military heritage while not serving in the military himself.
In that regard, Obama said: “My grandfather enlisted after Pearl Harbor and marched in Patton’s Army. My other was born at Fort Leavenworth, and my grandmother worked on a bomber assembly line. After his service, America stood by my grandfather. He went to college on the GI Bill, and bought his first home with help from the Federal Housing Authority. Then he moved his family west to Hawaii, where I was born. Today, he is buried in the Punchbowl Cemetery, where 776 victims of Pearl Harbor are laid to rest.”
Regardless, this latest ad could give Obama more ammunition to use against Clinton in future contests.