Playing the Fear Card
STORY CITY, IOWA -- With just six days left until the Iowa caucus Clinton has a new campaign strategy: to scare Americans straight.
Over the last couple of days Clinton has been tugging at Iowans' fears trying to convince them that Americans live in a big, bad, scary world. During a campaign stop in Story City, Clinton told supporters "we never know" what threats Americans might face.
"If every one of us were to list problems that we think might be on the horizon, I doubt that we will list the ones the next president will confront. Because the fact is we don't know, we never know," Clinton said in a somber voice.
Clinton was in the midst of discussing the tragic death of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and the current volatile situation in that country when she reminded the audience that Americans know all too well the dangers of that region "we have suffered and experienced what it means right here at home," referring to the 9/11 attacks.
"We are now facing consequences of years of instability in Pakistan," she continued. "There are years of instability and a very negative approach toward democracy and what it means."
"We have been so fortunate as the longest living democracy around. To have peaceful transitions of power, to survive civil wars, world wars, great depressions and so many other difficult challenges. But there is no guarantee and it's time to pick a president, to pick a president who is prepared to deal with everything we know awaits."
"That's why as we pick a president we pick someone who is ready on day one, to handle whatever is on that desk or whatever is coming in the door."
The mood in the room was quiet and serious as Clinton spoke.
Interestingly, while she warned Iowans about the unknown, just two days ago in Cumming, Iowa, Clinton tore into President Bush for governing through the use of fear.
"There are two overriding issues that just constantly upset me and outrage me: This administration has tried to govern by fear and it has engaged in an almost fatalistic approach to America," Clinton said with her voice gradually getting louder.
"We know what they have done with fear," Clinton went on to say about President Bush, "They have used it for partisan political gain they have used it to try to push through their policies and try to win elections."
Clinton ended, while receiving a standing ovation, by saying, "They have played on and preyed on fear."
Perhaps when speaking in Cumming, Clinton had not been dealt the fear card yet; in Story City she most certainly played it.