The ad-- or ads-- Obama ought to run
The "sex education" ad is going to destroy somebody's campaign. If Obama responds forcefully, the destroyed campaign will be McCain's. Because McCain's ad is as disgusting as they get, and I just don't see how most Americans will go for that filth once they hear the truth. However, if Obama doesn't hit back, and hit back hard, it will be his campaign that is destroyed.
Throw the ad right back in McCain's face. Say Obama is trying to protect our children from pedophiles and as a father of two he is particularly concerned about teaching kids how to spot someone who has intentions of doing something bad to them. I think just about 99.9% of Americans are on Obama's side on this one. And McCain-- you're a scumbag. (That's optional for the ad, but some variation on that word is recommended).
But don't just play defense. Put out an ad that shows McCain saying "Good question" after a Republican woman asked him "How do we beat the b*tch?" in reference to Hillary Clinton. Show the joke he made about Chelsea Clinton and Janet Reno. The "c**t" reference might be a bit much for TV-- but once America sees how McCain has talked about women in the past (the very recent past), they'll dig around for more examples. And more examples they will find. Jokes about rape, for instance.
Only one thing is off-limits for Democrats: lies. Republicans have no problem lying in order to win an election. And I guess a lot of Americans don't care. But there has to be a reason for winning other than winning. So, for the sake of America's future, and to end the deceitful and dirty right-wingers' strangehold on our political narratives: hit as hard as you can before they hit you.
So, Ad #3: Show New Orleans drowning. That's Bush-McCain. Show Abramoff being hauled off to jail. That's Bush-McCain. Show the devestation in Iraq. That's Bush-McCain. Show the gas prices at the pump. That's Bush-McCain. Show the homeless vets on the street. That's Bush-McCain. Show Karl Rove's face. That's Bush-McCain. Every awful image you can think of from the past eight years of Republican rule-- show it. And if you're the 25% who think Bush is doing a heckuva job, McCain's your man. That's where this election has to be by mid-October. Bush-McCain.
Throw the ad right back in McCain's face. Say Obama is trying to protect our children from pedophiles and as a father of two he is particularly concerned about teaching kids how to spot someone who has intentions of doing something bad to them. I think just about 99.9% of Americans are on Obama's side on this one. And McCain-- you're a scumbag. (That's optional for the ad, but some variation on that word is recommended).
But don't just play defense. Put out an ad that shows McCain saying "Good question" after a Republican woman asked him "How do we beat the b*tch?" in reference to Hillary Clinton. Show the joke he made about Chelsea Clinton and Janet Reno. The "c**t" reference might be a bit much for TV-- but once America sees how McCain has talked about women in the past (the very recent past), they'll dig around for more examples. And more examples they will find. Jokes about rape, for instance.
Only one thing is off-limits for Democrats: lies. Republicans have no problem lying in order to win an election. And I guess a lot of Americans don't care. But there has to be a reason for winning other than winning. So, for the sake of America's future, and to end the deceitful and dirty right-wingers' strangehold on our political narratives: hit as hard as you can before they hit you.
So, Ad #3: Show New Orleans drowning. That's Bush-McCain. Show Abramoff being hauled off to jail. That's Bush-McCain. Show the devestation in Iraq. That's Bush-McCain. Show the gas prices at the pump. That's Bush-McCain. Show the homeless vets on the street. That's Bush-McCain. Show Karl Rove's face. That's Bush-McCain. Every awful image you can think of from the past eight years of Republican rule-- show it. And if you're the 25% who think Bush is doing a heckuva job, McCain's your man. That's where this election has to be by mid-October. Bush-McCain.
Advertisement
I did an analysis of Democratic versus Republican ads you might find interesting. My perspective is not as a politico, but as a marketer.
WHY CAN'T DEMOCRATS MAKE A DECENT TV AD?
http://www.oldestliving.com/2008/09/ugh-why-cant-democrats-make-decent-tv.html
September 10, 2008 1:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree that Democrats as a rule run lousy ads, but Hillary's 3 a.m. ad seemed pretty bad to me too. It recycled an ad from Mondale in 1984-- not exactly cutting edge. It only showed white children-- ugly for Democratic primary purposes. One of the children is now a huge Obama supporter-- you want people talking about your ad, but not that way. And fear-mongering-- I guess that's one way to do it, but there's the whole moral hang-up.
I believe Obama should run two types of ads. I posted elsewhere about an ad that doesn't show Obama at all, or McCain, or discuss issues, but is stirring, new, patriotic in a not-too-obvious way with rapidly moving images of American places and people set to energetic, interesting music, one that packs an emotional wallop so people feel *positive* about what an Obama administration could bring. Ads for certain products do this without saying anything specific.
The other type of ad I talk about above. I'm not a marketer though. But my older brother is, and since we grew up together, that gives me marketing experience-- right?
September 10, 2008 1:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
You make great points, though I would disagree on the race point you bring up -- I don't think the people Hillary was targeting with this ad would notice its Caucasian centric focus. It wasn't an ad about thinking, it was an ad about feeling and identification.
I hope you are right about the positive side of the equation, but I'd like to see some biting Dem ads just as insurance. ;-)
September 10, 2008 2:38 PM | Reply | Permalink