Lessons Learned from Hillary

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton welcomed her traveling press corps aboard her campaign plane Wednesday with a humorous riff on the standard flight attendant speech familiar to commercial air travelers.

"Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, and welcome aboard the maiden flight of Hil Force One," Clinton said over the plane's intercom as it taxied down the runway en route from Las Vegas to Reno, Nev. "My name is Hillary and I am so pleased to have most of you on board," she said.

"FAA regulations prohibit the use of any cell phones, Blackberries or wireless devices that may be used to transmit a negative story about me. "In a few minutes, I am going to switch off the 'Fasten Your Seat Belt' sign. However, I've learned lately that things can get awfully bumpy when you least expect it—so you might want to keep those seat belts fastened.

"And in the event of an unexpected drop in poll numbers, this plane will be diverted to New Hampshire.

"If you look out from the right, you will see an America saddled with tax cuts for the wealthiest and a war without end. If you look out from the left, you will see an America with a strong middle class at home and a strong reputation in the world.

"Once we've reached cruising altitude, we'll be offering in-flight entertainment: my stump speech.

"Once again, thank you for joining us on Hil Force One. We know you have choices when you fly, and so we are grateful that you chose the plane with the most experienced crew. And so we are grateful that you chose the plane with the most experienced candidate."

Conservatives can learn two important political techniques from this:

1. Earned media is alive, well, and more effective than ever! How much did this cost the Clinton campaign (aside from the two minutes it took to write this script by one of "Hil's" interns)? Absolutely nothing. But the result: a link on Drudge and thousands of web hits. Well done, Hil.

2. To build a majority, one must define the other side. When Hil asked reporters to look to the "left" and the "right" she defined the sides of the campaign. Reagan was a master at this. He said the other side believed America's best days laid behind us while he advocated the opposite. While defining our own side is important, we should first focus on defining the radical left.
These lessons may be coming from good-ole Hil but, remember, political technology is philosophically neutral. Time for us to learn these lessons ourselves!