FUD

FUD stands for fear, uncertainty, and doubt. Here's a good definition from Wikipedia:

Fear, uncertainty and doubt (FUD) is a tactic of rhetoric used in sales, marketing, public relations, and illiberal democracies. FUD is generally a strategic attempt to influence public perception by disseminating negative (and vague) information. An individual firm, for example, might use FUD to invite unfavorable opinions and speculation about a competitor's product; to increase the general estimation of switching costs among current customers; or to maintain leverage over a current business partner who could potentially become a rival.

I haven't heard the term used often in politics, but it should be used more, especially this campaign season -- and most recently in relation to the recently floated "nuclear" option diaried by turneresq.

I 100% agree with turneresq's conclusion about this "nuclear" option being a very remote possibility indeed -- the "nuclear" option is an absurd plan indeed. Moreover, even if they somehow got it passed, there's no guarantee it would work.

So what's this all about? I think the Obliterator-in-Chief's goal here is to stoke FUD. Her strategists know that according to the rules everybody agreed to at the start of this campaign, Barack Obama has this nomination locked up. So their goal is to create mayhem to try to "reboot" the process and reopen the debate about Michigan and Florida.

In the context of this campaign, FUD is our enemy. By every available objective metric, we are winning and we will win. About this, there really is no significant uncertainty -- so long as we keep on moving forward.

My advice: put the FUD out of your mind. Keep your eyes on Obama, keep focused on the campaign at hand. Don't get distracted by temper tantrums or efforts to stir the pot.

I'm not saying the remote possibility of a "nuclear option" is totally irrelevant. In fact, it would be completely irresponsible for reporters and observers to ignore it entirely. But would be an equally large mistake to overstate its importance.

So just take the news in stride, file it away. If it comes to pass -- which I don't think it will -- we've already got everything we need to fight it: us.

And we will win.

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Update: bws suggests focusing on this Fudd instead. :)