For Which Party's Nomination is Hillary Running?

After getting criticism for borrowing from the Republican play book with her "3 AM" ad, you'd think Clinton might be a little more cautious. But days before the pivotal Pennsylvania primary she's doing it again. CNN reports Hillary Clinton launched a television ad there that includes images from the attacks on Pearl Harbor, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and Osama Bin Laden.

The GOP's use of fear as a campaign weapon has always disturbed me. Despite the fact I am a fiscal conservative and consider myself a very moderate voter, I am rarely tempted to consider a Republican candidate for president because I can't shake the feeling they strive to manipulate voters with fear. (Fear is rarely a good place from which to govern or lead.)

The way Hillary is campaigning is really turning me off. A month ago I scoffed at Democrats who said they would vote for McCain if "their candidate" (either Hillary or Barack) failed to win the nomination. Now, I'm beginning to understand those feelings.

I won't go so far as to say I'll vote GOP if Hillary someone manages to climb past Obama, but I am beginning to understand sentiments such as those voiced by Michael Moore today on his Web site:

Over the past two months, the actions and words of Hillary Clinton have gone from being merely disappointing to downright disgusting. I guess the debate last week was the final straw. I've watched Senator Clinton and her husband play this game of appealing to the worst side of white people, but last Wednesday, when she hurled the name "Farrakhan" out of nowhere, well that's when the silly season came to an early end for me. She said the "F" word to scare white people, pure and simple. Of course, Obama has no connection to Farrakhan. But, according to Senator Clinton, Obama's pastor does...

This sleazy attempt to smear Obama was brilliantly explained the following night by Stephen Colbert. He pointed out that if Obama is supported by Ted Kennedy, who is Catholic, and the Catholic Church is led by a Pope who was in the Hitler Youth, that can mean only one thing: OBAMA LOVES HITLER!

Finally, I want to say a word about the basic decency I have seen in Mr. Obama. Mrs. Clinton continues to throw the Rev. Wright up in his face as part of her mission to keep stoking the fears of White America. Every time she does this I shout at the TV, "Say it, Obama! Say that when she and her husband were having marital difficulties regarding Monica Lewinsky, who did she and Bill bring to the White House for 'spiritual counseling?' THE REVEREND JEREMIAH WRIGHT!"

But no, Obama won't throw that at her. It wouldn't be right. It wouldn't be decent. She's been through enough hurt. And so he remains silent and takes the mud she throws in his face.

Hillary keeps using fear and attacks to try to save her floundering campaign. I continue to believe this isn't good for the Democrat's chances in the general election. Hillary seemed on track to become the first female president of the United States, if not in 2008 then perhaps in 2012, but I feel she's doing herself a great deal of damage among the Democratic faithful with the way she's chosen to manage her campaign.

Some are suggesting an Obama/Clinton ticket, but the way she's running for president, perhaps we may see a McCain/Clinton ticket instead.