It isn’t just the Repubs that worry about smear campaigns. Hillary Clinton knows first hand just how toxic things can get during a run for the White House - and how long viral attacks can fester before they break out into a full-blown case of impeachment. So as shocking as Rudy Giuliani climbing into bed with Pat Robertson is (now that is a visual image Rudy does not want popping into your mind come next November) the strange-couple pairing that got our attention last week was one mentioned by Mark Hosenball over at Newsweek.
Apparently Bill Clinton had a lunch last July with Richard
Mellon Scaife. Yes that Richard Mellon Scaife. The same one who funded the
Arkansas Project.
Mellon Scaife is a charter member – if not THE charter member – of what Hillary
famously called a “vast right wing conspiracy.” But after an amiable two hours
sharing stories with Bill, Mellon Scaife wrote a “very generous” check to
the William Jefferson Clinton Foundation to help fight AIDS. Mellon Scaife’s
magazine Newsmax later called Clinton, “"part Merlin and part Midas—a
politician with a magical touch." Well, they don't call him Slick Willie for nothing.
There is a radical difference between Hillary and Rudy’s odd-couple moves. Mellon Scaife remains staunchly Repub. Bill wasn’t dealing with the element of AWARENESS. He wasn’t trying to link the names Clinton and Mellon Scaife in voter’s minds as a viral defense - though I’m sure he hopes bridges he builds now will act as firewalls if a full blown media attack develops in the future. Clinton was focusing on the story element ANTAGONIST – using story to convert an opponent into an opportunity. It is an emotional, rather than intellectual exercise. We discuss techniques for doing this extensively in Elements of Persuasion. Judging from results, no one does it better than Big Dog Bill.
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