Posted by Jed Lewison on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 3:16 PM Pacific

Your input needed on two short videos about Hillary Clinton and Iran

Iran is Hillary Clinton's Achilles' heel, both politically and substantively. It reminds Democratic primary voters of her support for Iraq, and of her tendency to parse words in apparent attempts to mislead the public.

Over the past few days, I've created two short YouTube videos (each about one minute long) that demonstrate this weakness. The videos are currently in draft form, and if you've got a moment, I'd like to ask you for your thoughts and suggestions on them. In addition to your feedback on the videos themselves, I'd like to ask for your ideas on how we can wage an online campaign to distribute them to as many primary and caucus goers as possible.

The first video shows how closely Hillary's rhetoric parallels that of Bush and Cheney, and questions how she can stand up to their war policies at the same time that she echoes their war propaganda. (It's 76 seconds long.) The second video shows that although she opposes RUSHING to war with Iran, her carefully chosen words don't mean she opposes GOING to war with Iran. It shows that she used the same rhetorical framework in 2002 with Iraq. (That video is 52 seconds long.)

Here are the videos. The first two the "release candidates" and the second two are alternates. Please provide feedback on what you like and don't like, plus suggestions for different text or other ideas you have.

Video #1: "Trust" -- (76 seconds, YouTube link):

Video #2: "Rush to War" -- (52 seconds, YouTube link):

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Alternate versions (do you like these better?)

Video #1a: "Trust" (71 seconds, YouTube link):


Video #1b: "Rush to War" (62 seconds, YouTube link):

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As I mentioned above, I need your help on two fronts.

First, I'd like to hear your feedback on the videos themselves (I'm planning final copies by Thursday at latest).

Second, and perhaps more important, please share your ideas and proposals on how to wage a guerrilla campaign to distribute these videos without spending a dime.

Through other efforts, I've already had about 10,000 videos related to 2008 played, but I think these could go to another level.

Here are some thoughts I've already formulated on principles:

  • The campaign should not cost a single dollar. I've spent a lot of time on these videos, but I haven't spent a penny on them. (Of course, if someone wants to step up and pay for advertising, who would we be to complain? Seriously, though, this is about what we can do as independent volunteers. As some people know, I started hillaryattacks.com a few weeks ago. That cost $17.18 for the URL -- nothing more. Through it, I've distributed about 10,000 videos. Not a bad ROI.)

  • This effort should include supporters of all Democratic candidates. Although we each have our favorite candidates, many if not most of us agree that Hillary would not be our second or even third choice.

  • Don't spam.

Here are some thoughts I've already formulated on tactics:

  • I will create a web page showing how to embed the videos into other web pages or comments.

  • Whenever posting the videos, if practical, provide a direct link to the video on YouTube so that it is easy for people to play them.

  • Send these videos to friends and family, and encourage them to forward them on to their friends.

  • Enlist online volunteers of other all Democratic campaigns to spread the word.

  • After the effort is underway, let reporters know about it. If we can get some earned media, it will multiply the distribution exponentially.

As you can see, my list of ideas is a bit short. That's why I'm writing this -- to ask you for your help, both in coming up with strategy and tactics, and also in actually spreading the word about this campaign.

Since time is short, I'll be posting the final versions of these videos by Thursday at the latest, though I will aim for tomorrow (Weds, 12/12).

Perhaps it is a bit of a long-shot to successfully pull off a widespread political advertising campaign without spending any money, but it's worth a try. If it works, we'll have written an interesting chapter in guerrilla marketing -- that's for sure.

Thanks for taking the time to read this -- I look forward to seeing what you have to say.

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It's worth stressing that my concern about Hillary is related to the primary. If she wins the Democratic nomination, I will strongly support her in November. In my personal view, we can't afford another Republican administration. I know that many people disagree with me on this point, and I respect that disagreement. Still, as a Democrat, I think it's an important point to make.

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In order to keep everybody on the same page, please provide your feedback at DailyKos, if at all possible. I've written a diary there with all the information that is here.

Your input needed on two short videos about Hillary Clinton and Iran

Iran is Hillary Clinton's Achilles' heel, both politically and substantively. It reminds Democratic primary voters of her support for Iraq, and of her tendency to parse words in apparent attempts to mislead the public.

Over the past few days, I've created two short YouTube videos (each about one minute long) that demonstrate this weakness. The videos are currently in draft form, and if you've got a moment, I'd like to ask you for your thoughts and suggestions on them. In addition to your feedback on the videos themselves, I'd like to ask for your ideas on how we can wage an online campaign to distribute them to as many primary and caucus goers as possible.

The first video shows how closely Hillary's rhetoric parallels that of Bush and Cheney, and questions how she can stand up to their war policies at the same time that she echoes their war propaganda. (It's 76 seconds long.) The second video shows that although she opposes RUSHING to war with Iran, her carefully chosen words don't mean she opposes GOING to war with Iran. It shows that she used the same rhetorical framework in 2002 with Iraq. (That video is 52 seconds long.)

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