The New York Times-20080125-Clinton-s Multibillion-Dollar Energy Program
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Clinton's Multibillion-Dollar Energy Program
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign began broadcasting this spot, Serious, on Wednesday in California. The state, whose primary is on Feb. 5, is the ultimate prize for Democrats, assigning 441 convention delegates.
PRODUCER Clinton media team.
THE SCRIPT Mrs. Clinton says at a rally: We've got to get serious about ending our dependence on foreign oil. We could create millions of new jobs through new energy. Let's start investing in what I call the Strategic Energy Fund that would put $50 billion to work. And where would I get the money? I would take away the tax subsidies from the oil companies. They don't need your tax dollars anymore. An announcer says, If you are ready for change, she is ready to lead. In closing, Mrs. Clinton says, I'm Hillary Clinton, and I approve this message.
ON SCREEN After the 30-second advertisement starts at the rally, it moves to stock footage with images typically associated with energy, employment and the environment, including cars on a crowded highway, a gasoline pump, a warehouse, a rocky coast, wind turbines, solar panels and a field. Aspects of Mrs. Clinton's plan flash across the bottom of the screen as she names the components. The spot ends at the rally, with the audience applauding her call to end oil subsidies. Vote February 5th appears in the closing shot, next to Mrs. Clinton nodding.
ACCURACY Over all, Mrs. Clinton's plan appears feasible, but it would face an uphill battle. Of creating five million jobs through alternative energy, Prof. Daniel M. Kammen of the Energy and Resources Group at the University of California, Berkeley, said that a little bit less than half than that was feasible. We'd have to scale up a lot of energy programs faster than we've seen it right now, Professor Kammen said. Political realities could also prevent rescinding enough oil tax breaks to finance her $50 billion Strategic Energy Fund. Congress's effort to include a smaller cut in subsidies in the last energy bill did not succeed. The commercial aims squarely at the many Californians who prize environmental protection and alternative energy. The state's media markets are enormously expensive, and it is unclear whether Mrs. Clinton can afford to run the advertisement for long or if the environment will trump Iraq or other issues as the highest priority. It is probably a good bet that the spot will have wide appeal for people across the state. SARAH WHEATON
