Clinton
Watch This: GOOD Magazine Breaks Down Fundraising for the First Billion Dollar Race for the White House
Fundraising flunkies and compliance junkies:
Check out this great motion piece breaking down the who’s got the bucks and where the cash comes from in the first $1,000,000,000 campaign.
Brought to you by the great folks at GOOD Magazine.
Talking Shop: My Appearance on Wilshire & Washington’s BlogTalkRadio Show
Shameless self-promotion alert!!!
Tonight I bellied up to the pundit bar and appeared as a guest on the BlogTalkRadio edition of the excellent blog Wilshire & Washington.
Maegan Carberry, who I met on the Obama campaign invited suckered me into a rough Q&A by herself and Variety Editor-At-Large Ted Johnson.
I don’t know who keeps telling people that I know what I’m talking about (It’s me.), but I can’t say I dislike the attention.
For a refresher course on my past punditry, take a look at the clips below from my appearances on KNBC Los Angeles’ NewsConference…
Here’s my thank you card, Senator Clinton…
At least it’s not another damn sweater!
Presidential Debates and the Special Olympics…
…What are places where everyone is the winner, Alex?
Wait! Before you think Edwards ran away with the debate, here’s a clip saying how great Obama was:
And since everyone was the winner yesterday, here’s a clip that the Clinton campaign has put out:
So, in three clips from three campaigns – all culled from the same news segment – we have three winners. Rashomon, anyone?
BONUS!!! Here’s a clip from Fox News where Edwards is the winner!
Since he has clips from two networks, does that make Edwards the real winner here?
InfoMania on Presidential Vids
InfoMania – a series of “pods” on Current_ – takes a look at campaign videos in this segment that I saw on thre tube a day or two ago.
As the year – and primary season – head down the stretch, I expect a lot of these video roundups.
I may even have to make one of my own.
PWNED! What Gravel was up to during the Vegas debate
Former Senator Mike Gravel was excluded from last week’s debate in Las Vegas. The video above shows how he handled the situation – by holding an event where he yells at the television. Thanks to Tivo, you don’t even have to miss any of the debate while he gives his responses.
Actually, this event was a nice way to deal with the situation.
Now, it wasn’t a surprise to the Alaskan that he was being left out of the party at UNLV. So, ahead of the debate his campaign also produced the video below, which takes a humorous look at what he’d be doing. To wit, he’d be pwning people at Halo III.
Edwards Hammers Away at Clinton (and in New Orleans)
Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards launched his campaign from the 9th Ward of New Orleans. From time to time over the course of the campaign he has returned there to work in the community with supporters from One Corps – the citizen activism off-shoot of his campaign. While the Clinton campaign was offering debate watching parties with Bill, and the Obama team had “Dinner With Barack,” Edwards gave away the chance to join him in working up a sweat rebuilding homes in New Orleans.
Edwards has shown that he knows his way around a hammer. Perhaps that is why he received the endorsement of the Carpenters union, eh?
But, in the days and weeks that have now passed since the Democratic Debate in Philadelphia, Edwards has been doing other hammering as well – with rival Hillary Clinton held with tongs against the anvil.
Entitled “The Politics of Parsing,” the video above is one of the most effective web videos of the campaign to date. While I evangelize day in, day out about using video to let voters get to know your candidate; there is also necessity the use it to help them get to know your opponent. Edwards campaign put this video out on the heels of the well-covered brouhaha near the end of the Philly debate. It makes their case with sound and titles and visually reinforces the point.
Feeling that they’d scored a hit, the campaign followed up with a flashback to the YearlyKos event a while back. On the 2008 candidate panel, Clinton raised a few electronic eyebrows among the Kossacs by stating – in no uncertain terms – that she would continue to take contributions from lobbyists, because they “represent real people.” That was a line perfectly teed up for both the populist Edwards and the reformer Obama.
After their initial hit on Clinton’s “positions” on the issue of drivers licenses for illegal immigrants, and the follow up with her clear defense of Washington lobbyists, Edwards campaign closed the circle with a video news clipping of Edwards concisely answering the question Clinton danced around.
This series of clips – which were woven into a fundraising push – demonstrate the power of narrative continuity across multiple pieces. While each stood up well as episodic clips, the story they told as a thought-out series was even stronger. And notice none of them included the candidate giving the stump speech for the umpteenth time!
Five Candidate Pile-Up: Hillary Clinton’s “Politics of Pile On” Video
Following up on last nights Democratic debate in Philadelphia, Senator Hillary Clinton’s campaign released this video where a bunch of mean male Senators gang up on her. Not included in the video: the portion of the debate where the near-perfectly disciplined Clinton got banged around a little on the issue of drivers licenses for undocumented workers.
UPDATE: Hillary didn’t have her drivers license answer in that clip, but – staying mean – the Edwards campaign put it out there:
The Ultimate First Rule: Never, ever, allow video cameras into fundraisers!
It may have made it to this blog before, but my maxim when shooting on the campaign trail is “film them everywhere but the bathroom and fundraisers.”
These are two places where folks really shouldn’t see their leaders. We all know they have to go both places. But what goes on there often stinks.
Now, I’m not saying that all fundraising is bad. But, even if nothing untoward is going on, someone will try and say so.
The someone this time is the Hillary Clinton Accountability Project, a group pushing the agenda of former Clinton backer Peter Paul.
Look at the footage in this clip. There were cameras in private clutches feet away from the principals. Look what it became.
Let this be a lesson to anyone left out there who’d still let someone with a video camera into an event.
If it’s a star-studded affair like Paul’s event for Clinton, shoot the stage program. Have multiple cameras. Make a nice piece to send around for donor servicing, or additional fundraising. When the song and dance act is over, make sure the lens caps are on and the batteries and tapes are collected.
Lest you become the star in the next “Peter Paul Production.”
NOTE: The only case to go to trial stemming from the Peter Paul/Hillary Clinton brouhaha wholly exonerated the fundraiser who put the event together. This entire mess has bothered me for a long time, as I’ve worked with the fundraiser in question – a great guy, who didn’t deserve to get run through the Right Wing’s shredder as they tried to “get” Hillary.
You Say Tomato, I Say Tomato: Edwards Supporter Provides Context for the Michelman Clip on HillaryHub.com
An oft-cited benefit of internet (and YouTube) politics is the ability for John and Jane Public to fact check what is coming from the campaigns.
Yesterday, HillaryHub.com (from the Clinton campaign) posted video of Kate Michelman talking about the importance of Hillary being in the race:
Nice things to say all around, from Michelman…
But’s it’s not all she said. An Edwards supporter posted the full clip:
In the full clip, Michelman makes it clear that she supports John Edwards.
So there’s just a little example of a campaign trying to forward a message (Clinton pulling pro-Hillary lines from an interview) and the people pushing back with a little context (the Edwards supporter posting what Michelman really was trying to say).
There will be a lot more of this in all directions and from all sides.
Ps. To the Clinton campaign – you’ve mispelled Michelman’s name in your YouTubization of the Hardball segment.
While Michael Moore Breaks the Cuba Ebargo, Patrick Ruffini Breaks The Clinton YouTube Embargo (UPDATED)
UPDATE: OKAY, OKAY, OKAY!!! I TAKE IT ALL BACK…AT LEAST THE PART ABOUT HOARDING HILLCAM TO THEIR SITE. THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN POSTED THE HILLCAM STOPS ON THEIR YOUTUBE ACCOUNT. YOU CAN FIND THEM HERE, HERE, AND HERE.
Following up on this morning’s piece on the HillCam, I thought I’d drop in this post from Patrick Ruffini:
When I first posted the Clinton Sopranos parody video to YouTube, I could hardly imagine it would become the second most viewed video that day, with over 250,000 views. Other versions trailed narrowly behind, fetching at least 700,000 extra viewers. All told, over a million watched the video on YouTube.
That’s not what the Clinton campaign intended. They wanted to have this moment all to themselves, so they didn’t post it to their YouTube channel, instead roadblocking people to HillaryClinton.com where there would be no conversation, no comments, and no pesky video replies. While on the site, they also wanted people to sign up and donate.
You’d think only a Clinton supporter would post such a funny and flattering video of the two, but I saw this as an opportunity to divert traffic from the Clinton web site and perhaps reduce their online take from the video. It was successful, to the tune of a quarter million people who watched it on YouTube instead of HillaryClinton.com.
Now, they’ve done it again with their “HillCam†video of Hillary and Bill trekking through Iowa. And again, they’ve offered a high-res Quicktime download. And again, I’ve posted it to YouTube for them, so Democrats won’t have to go to Hillary’s site to get it. (Patrick Ruffini: Stop the Clinton YouTube Embargo)
I can understand why the Clinton campaign would try and drive traffic to their site using the excellent Sopranos video. They had something completely golden on their hands, and knew it. They leveraged it into something. It was a gimmick, not unlike the Edwards gimmick-video where Trippi and Prince baked a pie. This wasn’t about getting to know Hillary…it was novelty for novelty’s sake…or for the sake of getting email sign-ups.
Somehow, I feel the HillCam should be treated differently. If they really wanted to let people get to know Hillary, why hoard it all to their site? Wouldn’t they want as many people as possible to get to know her…on YouTube, Revver, Blip.tv, Brightcove and anywhere else?
It’s not about sharing the Clintons with you, it’s about what you will give them for it.
Thanks to HillCam, You can know the Clintons so much better
Earlier this week – impatient person that I am – I complained about the lack of releases from the Clinton campaign’s HillCam. It was no sooner than I had hit “Publish” that they started dropping clips, which you see in the playlist above.
I was so caught up watching the Dodd headquarters feed on DTV, that I didn’t get around to my reviews of the now-lively HillCam.
In three installments of the we’ve learned the following:
- There are a lot of white people in Iowa (born in Nebraska, I didn’t need HillCam to know this)
- Politicians go ga-ga over babies
- Politicians will will always stop to listen to firefighters (Rudy Giuliani is exempt from this rule)
- Bill Clinton is comfortable around a fast food counter
Not exactly groundbreaking revelations.
It’s also good to see in the second video that former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack has a new gig. I hear he makes the best blizzards in the midwest!
Before dropping out of the race to serve Derby’s and Dilly Bars, Vilsack had an excellent and very personal vLog – it’s recreated in the player on the ’08 Videos page
The moment I was really hoping to see (based on media reports from Iowa) was nowhere to be found:
CLEAR LAKE, Iowa — Former Gov. Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann, had a little time to kill before the start of the Independence Day parade here, so they decided to go say hello to the other presidential candidate and her spouse taking part in the festivities.
“Mr. President, how are you, Mitt Romney,” the Republican said after finding Bill Clinton working the three-deep crowd gathering along Main Ave. “This is my wife, Ann, and my son, Josh.”
After introductions were made, Romney observed that “this is kinda fun.”
“How many times you done this before?” he asked.
“Once or twice,” Clinton deadpanned.
“I bet that’s right,” Romney responded with a laugh.
Romney then began to explain to the former president that son Josh had taken it upon himself to visit all 99 Iowa counties in a massive Winnebago dubbed the “Mitt Mobile,” but Clinton seemed to already know.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, appeared Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the scrum that had quickly developed when Romney approached Bill Clinton.
“Nice to see you!” Sen. Clinton exclaimed to Romney.
Introducing Josh, Romney began to tell Sen. Clinton about his son’s plan to drive around the state.
“He’s been driving around,” Sen. Clinton shook her head knowingly, like her husband, already aware of Josh’s travels.
Proving he had been listening to how many stops Josh had made, Bill Clinton then piped up, “He’s halfway home!”
“Well, it’s a good deal,” Sen. Clinton offered
“How many counties have you hit,” Romney asked, “45?”
“About 50,” Josh quickly responded.
“Well, he’s over halfway,” Sen. Clinton said, demonstrating her knowledge of Iowa’s 99 counties. “You’ve got this built-in campaign team with your sons, boy I tell ya,” she added, good naturedly.
“There’s nothing like it,” Romney replied. “If we had known, we would’ve had more.” (The Politico)
That interaction would have been worth watching! And could have appeared on both the HillCam and MittTV…and everyone loves a crossover episode!
The Clinton Campaign’s HillCam Head Fake
After seeing the enticing trailer above, I waited with anticipation all weekend to see what secrets the HillCam would reveal. On the heels of their big Sopranos splash, where will things go next/
The Clinton campaign is offering supporters an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the Clintons’ 4th of July trip through Iowa next week, with a new addition to the campaign trail–The HillCam.
The HillCam will follow Hillary and Bill Clinton as they travel from Des Moines to Davenport, capturing their spontaneous moments. Taking supporters beyond the headlines, the HillCam will offer an unvarnished look at the Clintons’ first joint-campaigning of the 2008 race. (Hillary for President)
While I was absolutely looking forward to seeing the Clinton’s behind the scenes – which I’ve had the privilege of witnessing a bit on past campaigns – I was more curious whether the HillCam footage would actually produce anything “spontaneous” or “unvarnished.”
So far, Senator Clinton’s best videos have been highly scripted affairs. The trio of song contest videos (I Need Your Advice, Song Contest: Round Two, Sopranos), which culminated with the excellent Sopranos clip made up a very contrived narrative arc. Not that contrived is always a bad thing, mind you. The videos were strong – but were completely void of spontaneity.
Another well-received video was Bill Clinton extolling his wife’s virtues. It was personal, in that way only Bill Clinton can achieve. It was anything but unvarnished.
So, that’s why I was – and still am – looking forward to the HillCam. I want to see if the campaign will let their guard down and really show private moments. I guess I’ll have to wait – as there is still no sign of life from the HillCam…other than the trailer – again, not exactly unscripted.
I’m not the only one sitting in front of his computer disappointed. Over at TechPresident, Joshua Levy is feeling let down, as well.
Meanwhile, where is HillCam? Last week I wrote about Hillary Clinton’s new project, HillCam, which promised a “behind-the-scenes look at the Clintons’ 4th of July trip through Iowa next week.” So, it’s Tuesday, July 3rd, and there’s no sign of HillCam… it isn’t even mentioned on her home page. What’s going on? (TechPresident)
So, like Levy I keep a watchful eye for the HillCam…curious what it will show. Will Clinton continue the video-roll her campaign is on?
Clintons = Sopranos? How long until this clip breaks 1,000,000 views?
Due to the amount of candidate emails I get…I have to admit I often don’t read them. So, I guess I’m a little behind the times to post the Clinton campaign’s spoof of the last episode of the Sopranos.
As for her “winner” of the song contest…
The Greatest Singer in the World, Celine Dion! (I’d post an SNL clip on YouTube…but things are touchy between those camps!)
In general – and this is just my pet peeve – I have a problem with campaign songs by non-American acts. While this rule thankfully removes U2’s “Beautiful Day†from consideration – put it to bed, people! – it also strikes my personal choice, were I running for office…Elvis Costello’s “(What’s So Funny ‘bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding.†You take the good with the bad, I guess…
But – Canadian or not – Celine Dion is…
Just. Plain. Wrong.
That alone is enough to keep me away from any future Clinton rallies.
I was personally holding out for Show Me What You Got, by Jay-Z.
Presidential Fundraising Videos, Before and After
Here are two examples of another use of online videos for campaigns.Fundraising.
In the first of these two videos you’ll see Bill Clinton asking for money on behalf of his wife’s campaign. (Hat tip to Jeff Jarvis at PrezVid)
The second video comes from Al Franken, thanking donors for contributing to his campaign. (Hat tip to…me! Saw this when I kicked a few meager bucks to Al this morning.)