Taegan Goddard argues that Hillary Clinton’s release of seven years of tax returns just after four yesterday was smooth.
Tactically, it’s a perfect time to release them — especially if there’s any controversial news in the documents.
1. News coverage will continue to focus on the 40th anniversary of the Martin Luther King, Jr. assassination.
2. There are still more than two weeks until the Pennsylvania primary.
3. It buries the story about chief strategist Mark Penn’s conflicts of interest.
4. Many people are more interested in watching the Final Four and first weekend of baseball season.
5. It’s Friday.
Certainly, she learned something in all those years in the White House. Controlling the timing of news is a time-honored strategy of political communication. Ronald Reagan’s time elevated it to a high art and the Clinton administration built on that legacy.
My guess is that, if there’s anything really interesting in there — aside from the fact that they’re filthy, stinkin’ rich ($109 million ain’t bad for seven years) — we’ll hear about it. It’s the Obama campaign’s job to make sure we do.
