April 13, 2015

Hillary's Everyday People campaign begins with a roadtrip to Iowa in a van — with spontaneous (-looking?) stops along the way.

Politico reports: 
While she has no planned pit stops on her road trip — which was her own idea — the candidate stopped by a gas station in Pennsylvania on Sunday. She later tweeted a picture of the stop, saying, “Road trip! Loaded the van & set off for IA. Met a great family when we stopped this afternoon. Many more to come. -H”

Clinton asked top aides whether a road trip was feasible about a month ago, one of her staffers said. Instead of a motorcade, she is traveling in a three-car caravan, the smallest possible arrangement given the former first lady’s security constraints.
I'm calling it her Everyday People campaign, because "everyday" is the word that jumped out of Hillary's announcement video, which I summarized yesterday like this:
There are a whole lot of people in it saying this and that about their lives, but take my word for it, Hillary Clinton shows up in the end and says something about her life... that's she's running for President:

There's some connection between "everyday Americans" and Hillary Clinton. That's the idea to be planted in your head. It's just an ad. It could just as well be a Coca-Cola ad. Good people, going about their everyday lives, and then The Product! There's no sense or reason to any of it, but why should there be?
She said "everyday Americans," but I'm saying "Everyday People," because: 1. The connection being made is from the lofty, elite Hillary to the common people, and there's no stress on the distinction between American people and people elsewhere, and 2. When I hear "everyday" used as an adjective, I think of the song "Everyday People" by Sly and the Family Stone: "I am no better and neither are you/We are the same whatever we do/You love me. you hate me, you know me, and then/You can't figure out the bag I'm in/I am everyday people...." Seems fitting!

So here she is tweeting "Road trip!" like a freewheeling young person, when the truth is that she hasn't driven a car since 1996. She can't really be spontaneous and everyday, but that's the image she wants you to see (and you can't figure out the bag she's in). "Instead of a motorcade, she is traveling in a three-car caravan..." Do everyday people understand the motorcade/caravan distinction?

Having written about the new ad, I was drawn in by a headline at Vox: "Hillary Clinton’s announcement video is surprisingly bold, fascinating filmmaking." Despite the headline, most of the analysis of Hillary's video — by Todd VanDerWerff — is like mine (though VanDerWerff shows more enthusiasm):
The first things we see in "Getting Started" aren't anything we'd associate with campaign imagery. They are, instead, a bunch of people going about their daily lives. And that goes on for most of the ad....

We're meant to be pleased that they're taking control of their lives — everybody in the ad has some big goal they're working toward — but also think that we could just walk up to them and start having a conversation. Like we could with all of these people!...

[The ad] subtly reinforces [Hillary's] connection to everybody else in the video. They're all part of the same movement, the same goal. The woman who's moving so her daughter can go to a better school has a dream that is no better or worse than Clinton's ambition of running for president.
VanDerWerff's article veers deeply into film-studies material about the placement of the figure in the frame and the colors and shapes. The headline is misleading because this sort of thing is only "fascinating" to people who are into that sort of close inspection. It would be more accurate to say: Come on, let's get film-studies geeky about Hillary's video. Or really: ... about Hillary and Rand Paul's videos, because much of the article is about 2 Rand Paul videos. I had not seen either of those, and they really are very different from Hillary's video... and different from each other. But that's material for another post, so I will stop here.

51 comments:

tim maguire said...

Do everyday people understand the motorcade/caravan distinction?

Sure, a motorcade is what politicians travel in, a caravan is what gypsies (sorry, Roma) travel in. The caravan is closer to the fun and free "road trip!" meme that Hillary! wants us to use and Politico is doing what it can to keep it going.

Laslo Spatula said...

Yes, America, get into the back of the Van.

Ass, Gas or Cash, No One rides in the Van for Free.

Well: Cash, mainly.

I am Laslo.

Anonymous said...

If the lead vehicle of three is a dark colored Chevy Suburban with tinted windows, oversized tires, antennas and 4 guys in blue suits with shades on and the third vehicle looks the same, it doesn't matter, it's a motorcade...

It wont fool the farmers in Iowa.

Eric the Fruit Bat said...

If I were a neurologist, I'd do my level best to say "diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks" as often as humanly possible.

rhhardin said...

I want to meet the little people.

Laslo Spatula said...

“Better to sleep in an uncomfortable bed free, than sleep in a comfortable bed unfree.”
― Jack Kerouac, On the Road

Maybe appropriate.

We'll sleep in the bed the voters make.

I am Laslo.

rhhardin said...

If life gives you motors, make motorcade.

Jane the Actuary said...

From the article:

“We know at some point she’ll get OJ’ed like the White Bronco,” said one campaign aide, anticipating a highly-watched drive. “But it’s worth the risk … If she gets mobbed or we have a circus-type scene, that’s one day in an 18-month campaign, and we can deal with it.”

Really? Mobbed? The only interest I have in this is whether she'll actually be at the wheel. But I suppose she could be mobbed -- by journalists creating the news.

SomeoneHasToSayIt said...


Why is she not already in jail?

I am not Laslo.

exhelodrvr1 said...

I want to see a picture of her in the middle of Utah, parked on an off-ramp, with her peeing on the side of road. With the Secret Service in a protective circle around her.

Ignorance is Bliss said...

Laslo Spatula said...

We'll sleep in the bed the voters make.

Hopefully the voters won't shit the bed. Again.

MadisonMan said...

Not impressed with the campaign at all, but it has so little to work with.

Who pays the tolls?

Sustained driving is exhausting. She'll look kinda tired at the end of the trip.

Anonymous said...

MadisonMan said...
Sustained driving is exhausting. She'll look kinda tired at the end of the trip.


On a good day she looks tired. This way she'll have an excuse :)

Guildofcannonballs said...

Fox31 in Denver has this figured out.

Put on the screen "GOP takes aim at Hillary" and then tell us you looked and you found some tweets that "attacked" Clinton. Then show two pics of Hill with reglur 'Mericans 5 times each, will little to say.

Just keep flashing the pics and quoting or paraphrasing Scott Walker being mean by tweeting 'Hillary designed as SOS the failed policies Obama is "executing."'

Rand Paul was being mean selling the Hillary Hard-drives too.

What's with these mean GOP?

America's Politico has it written right: Lie big that Hillary is likable, then repeat repeat repeat the GOP hates women/science/equality/diversity.

Tank said...

Let's say you live along the route of this little con ride. Think of the fun you could have with one of those commercial drones. Is there a law against hovering over a "caravan?"


The con ... is on !!!!

pacwest said...

The Magical Mystery Tour!

sparrow said...

Hillary would be perfectly likable if she wasn't seeking power.

Guildofcannonballs said...

Laslo trades ass gas for rides?

Interesting. Dr. Snugglefarts approves I presume.

Along with former President of the United States of America, Bill Clinton.

But Hill, not so much.

Laslo Spatula said...

Hillary is banking on the idea that America will go through the Kübler-Ross model with their ideals, finally ending at Acceptance.

The first four stages are denial, anger, bargaining and depression: these provide the overwhelming exhaustion needed for Stage Five.

We'll probably be there when she hits Utah.


I am Laslo.

exhelodrvr1 said...

And the van can swing by Chelsea's house, for a joyous visit with the grandchild at the end of a long day of driving.

Michael K said...

I would think this campaign would be the signal for a new edition of Unlimited Access Gary Aldrich's book about the Clinton White House and how Hillary treated the real "little people" around them.

There are a couple of Hillary books out now and they kind of agree about her.

Browndog said...

In a remarkable news story in Sunday’s Washington Post, “The making of Hillary 5.0: Marketing wizards help re-imagine Clinton brand,” reporters Philip Rucker and Anne Gearan reveal that “two of corporate America’s branding wizards” are being consulted to help develop a brand, slogan, logo and the like for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. These consultants, who have worked for corporate behemoths such as Coca-Cola, Southwest Airlines and Wal-Mart, specialize in making what is old look new again.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2015/02/24/the-insiders-clinton-inc-brings-in-the-corporate-branding-wizards/

She's the real thing!

Levi Starks said...

Real people, who have real jobs, responsibilities, children, can't just spontaneously decide to go on a road trip. It's something college kids who are still living with the benefits of their parents resources (health insurance thanks Obama), folks who've figgured out how to live entirely off the public dole, and the really rich can do. I've worked at the same job for 20 years, and I get 20 days of vacation, and I have to have my vacation scheduled and approved by April 1st. Not very spontanious Huh?
Of course Hilary is if I'm correct past the social security full retirement age, so she could go on a permanent road trip if she desires.
I just hope she's careful what motels she stays in, because I'd hate to see her bring bed bugs into the Whithouse with her.

Paul said...

Being 'Dollar Bill's' wife means she has Secret Service protection (when they are not drunk or whoring around) and thus any stops are vetted before they get there.

It's all phony, just as all Clinton's are.

Bob Boyd said...

Her slogan is "It's your time"

Aside from the obvious PMS joke, I think this slogan is aimed primarily at women voters.
It's also kind of subliminal. Every time we see Hillary's face we're supposed to think "It's your time."

JAORE said...

"...two of corporate America’s branding wizards” are being consulted to help develop a brand, slogan, logo and the like for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign."

Sort of like "New Coke". Except people really liked the old Coke.

traditionalguy said...

When does she hold up her favorite hunting Rifle? Soon, the whole trip being about her image. And when will she stop at a McDonalds and a Cracker Barrel?

I hope Breitbart sneaks in for some real video.

Browndog said...

@MarkHalperin

There's literally nothing on Earth funnier now than conservatives on Twitter who think @HillaryClinton is enjoying a honeymoon w/ the media

6:12 PM - 12 Apr 2015

______________________________

@chucktodd

So hard in this new media age to do anything that looks spontaneous to political world. This Hillary road trip idea has done just that

6:11 PM - 12 Apr 2015

Michael said...

Does your Granny tweet, or tweat as she calls it? Do you follow her? Do you cringe?

How about when she comes into the hipster bar and wants to lean in and have a conversation?

Her tweets are lame. She doesn't get it at all, not in the least, and yet she tweets on laying her lameness down. Over and over.

Plus she texts. With emoticons.

Bob Boyd said...

Look for Democrat politicians to start criticizing Hillary from the left as not Progressive enough. The idea is to help her image as a centrist.

Of course they'll endorse her completely down the road.

Tank said...

Browndog said...
In a remarkable news story in Sunday’s Washington Post, “The making of Hillary 5.0: Marketing wizards help re-imagine Clinton brand,” reporters Philip Rucker and Anne Gearan reveal that “two of corporate America’s branding wizards” are being consulted to help develop a brand, slogan, logo and the like for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. These consultants, who have worked for corporate behemoths such as Coca-Cola, Southwest Airlines and Wal-Mart, specialize in making what is old look new again.


If we had real journalists, this is the first thing they would ask about, if they ever got to actually ask an un-preapproved question.

madAsHell said...

Sustained driving is exhausting. She'll look kinda tired at the end of the trip.

It's a Potemkin motorcade. She'll be in a nice hotel, and helicopter in as necessary.

Bobber Fleck said...

The Hillary campaign will provide precious moments of spontaneity that are well planned and carefully scripted.

Her spontaneity is always the best money can buy.

rehajm said...

two of corporate America’s branding wizards” are being consulted to help develop a brand, slogan, logo and the like for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. These consultants, who have worked for corporate behemoths such as Coca-Cola, Southwest Airlines and Wal-Mart, specialize in making what is old look new again.

Heh. Which campaign slogans from those companies could they recycle for Hillary? A few to ry:

Want to Get Away
Make It Real
Grab Your Bag, It's On
We Sell For Less Everyday
Ice Cold Sunshine
Without a Heart, It's Just a Machine
No Reason

YoungHegelian said...

"I may not be smart enough to secure my mail server, but I'm smart enough to stay in a Holiday Inn Express!"

HRC, Road trip 4/2015

Will said...

Hillary's caravan will stop in Council Bluffs, but then sneak across the river to Omaha for the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting so she can rub elbows with her people in the NetJets and big Money set..

AllenS said...

Yeah, sure. As if she just pulls in somewhere along the way so she can use the bathroom to pee.

Will said...

Hillary Tour Name just leaked:

On-the-RAGBRAI Screech & Cackle Call

Will said...

Hillary campaign manager for Jefferson County just announced..

Rhubarb Lady!!

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/08/01/crazy-rhubarb-lady-video_n_3689151.html

Hard-nosed and primed to get all up in your face when caught stealing your stuff

Darrell said...

Felony Clinton is a fitting candidate for the Democrats.

ken in tx said...

Will she take a turn driving the van? Does it come back after 20 yrs, like riding a bike? Will she need a driving coach? There might some interesting traffic maneuvers during this trip. Will there be groupies? Anti-groupies?

Skeptical Voter said...

Well i'll give her this. She may actually be riding in that van, and the trip may be longer than 10 miles.

When Obozo was taking a "bus tour" through the Midwest, Air Force One would land somewhere within 10 miles of the next burg to be besieged with Obozo's bus tour, and he'd get in the bus, ride 10 miles, and get out and dispense his "charm". He'd then go back to the plane, fly on to the nest stop etc, get in the bus again.

Now I'm not saying that Ol Shrillary has a lot of miles on the chassis (but you can look at the face and guess that) but she may be putting a few more on while doing this "spontaneous" road trip.

SteveR said...

I've done more than a few road trips and there will be nothing on this charade that will be anything like a real road trip.

I am not Laslo either

Anonymous said...

If you're a Democrat, are you happy about this Hillary coronation, or would you prefer to have some more choices?

I bet most Democrats are happy about the coronation.

SteveR said...

I bet most Democrats are happy about the coronation.

The only thing that matters is not electing a Republican, so if she's the best way to get that, they are happy.

SteveR said...

I bet most Democrats are happy about the coronation.

The only thing that matters is not electing a Republican, so if she's the best way to get that, they are happy.

Brando said...

"If you're a Democrat, are you happy about this Hillary coronation, or would you prefer to have some more choices?

I bet most Democrats are happy about the coronation."

I don't know about that--would a Republican be happy if Jeb Bush used threats and strong arm tactics to keep any other viable candidate out of the race, and in this hypothetical Jeb Bush had a track record of incompetence and corruption and sold out key Republican constituencies at several turns?

I think Democratic turnout in the general will depend a lot more on what the GOP does than on Hillary.

Known Unknown said...

Will the van ever be parked down by a river?

Known Unknown said...

So Hillary is cribbing from Toyota?

Pat said...

Given that the choices were roadtrip or toga party, I think that Hillary made the smart choice

RecChief said...

I don't believe for a moment that she doesn't have planned stops.