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The talkingpointsmemo 527
No, I'm not really advocating for TPM to start a 527, but I just read (and feel) all this frustration with the Obama campaign for not being ruthless enough*, and I thought we should blow off some steam by posting the 527 ads we'd like to see on the air.
Post your script for a hard-hitting 527 commercial in the comments. Maybe some iMovie maven or liberal millionaire will read your comment and make your dreams come true.
Here's mine:
Throughout the commercial, the red line of a heartbeat monitor shows in the foreground and the sound of a human heart is heard beating in the background.
Image: McCain speaking
McCain: I understand because of my age that people are going to be looking at my VP pick more carefully. That's why, first and foremost, I'll be looking for someone who is ready to step in and be president on day one.
Image: Charlie Gibson and McCain.
Gibson: Do you agree with the Bush Doctrine?
Palin: (blinks) In what respect, Charlie?
Gibson: What do you interpret it to be?
Palin: His world view?
Gibson: I'm talking about somebody who's a head of state, who can negotiate for that country. Ever met one?
Palin: I have not.
Heartbeat starts beating faster and louder.
Image:Still image of Sarah Palin with headlines scrolling past
Voiceover: John McCain picked Sarah Palin for purely political reasons, without properly vetting her. Now they've got Palin hidden away, trying to give her a crash course in world affairs (headlines and quotes about her lack of experience) in the economy (headlines and quotes about her Fannie Mae gaff) and how the federal government works (headline that Palin didn't know what a VP did)
As the following advisors are mentioned, their individual images pop up around Sarah Palin until they are obscuring her face. The hearbeat gets faster and faster.
Voiceover: The McCain campaign has assigned George Bush's speech writer to write Palin's speeches. (pop) McCain hired the ad-man who smeared his own family in 2000 to coach Sarah Palin for interviews and on the duties of the president. (pop)Karl Rove's protege is running McCain's campaign. (pop) McCain hired lobbyists for big oil...insurance companies.. (pop).big banks.. (pop).and for foreign governments like Saudi Arabia (pop), Russia (pop), and Columbia (pop) to write his policy.
Image: Sarah Palin is almost entirely obscured by the McCain campaign staff. Heartbeat is pounding frantically.
Voiceover: If something happens to John McCain...
Suddenly the heartbeat line goes flat and a long beeeep is heard through the end of the commercial
Voicover: Who do you think will be running our government?
Screen goes black with just the flat red line and the beeep.
Comments (13)
Ugh. Sorry for the double post.
* I still believe Obama is running his campaign with great precision and intelligence and don't think I am qualified to second-guess them. I think it would be a mistake for him to sink to the level of McCain in his baseless, personal smears. But I also think it is not just Obama's responsiblity to get the message out about what a bad choice McCain would be. We all have a stake in this.
September 12, 2008 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
mcSham campaign in a nutshell:
1. They're lying.
2. They're crying ... wolf.
Everything they do fits into one of these two categories.
We need: Lie Counters and Crying Wolf Counters.
Label and Count. Label and Count. That's our attack!
So, I would do a vid with a couple of workers sorting stuff. Saying... Yup, another mcCain lie. Oh boy... another lie by Palin. (etc. as they simply put the lies into the Labeled Boxes.
Along with... Yup... Crying wolf again! (etc.) And putting that into the box.
Use whatever brief images that could sort. Or you could do it like pin the tail on the pig or the elephant... except with little tacks or something for the lies and the cries of "wolf."
September 12, 2008 12:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
I like it!
Maybe you could do a split screen with Lying on one side and crying wolf on the other.
What examples would you use? I would want to see McCain saying that Palin knew more about energy than anyone in America in the lying side...Jebus.
September 12, 2008 12:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
I like it!
Here's one I'd like to see in the lying column: McCain saying Palin probably knows more about energy than anyone in the country. Jebus.
September 12, 2008 12:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
evil, evil tpm software.
September 12, 2008 12:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
I already posted this elsewhere, before I was aware of this thread, so forgive the cross-posting
My ad:
Open on an idyllic, suburban neighborhood.
ANNCR: John McCain and Sarah Palin will make sure you never have to worry about jobs, or healthcare, or education, or mortgages again. Ever.
CUT TO: Mushroom cloud
Then go to a black screen for several seconds, silent except for the faint sound of wind.
September 12, 2008 1:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
brutal.
That reminds me of that famous Steve Martin skit, "I believe," in which he says, "I believe that Ronald Reagan will return this great country to what it once was....a barren wasteland, covered with ice."
September 12, 2008 2:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
My first, lets call it: Actions Speak Louder
Show footage of McCain speaking against Palin's bridge to nowhere.
VO: He was against Palin
Show footage of McCain speaking about Palin stopping the bridge to nowhere. Flip the image to the opposite of the first clip.
VO: Before he was for Palin.
Show footage of Palin for the bridge to nowhere.
VO: She was for the bridge.
Show footage of Palin speaking about stopping the bridge to nowhere. Flip image.
VO: Before she was against the bridge.
Flash an image of McCain/Palin with the word change underneath. Then add in rapid succession:
Changing: their minds
their records
history
Flash Obama with the word change underneath then add in rapid succession:
Changing: healthcare
unilateral government
war
taxation
End with: Make it happen
September 12, 2008 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Awesome. I love the
You could also add, "He was for Bush... before he was against Bush." and "She was for earmarks...before she was against earmarks."
September 12, 2008 3:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
One more for the road:
VO: If Sarah Palin is a pit bull what does that make John McCain?
Show images of McCain with unsavory characters like Bush ending with an old crummy image of a dog scratching himself behind the ear.
VO: When you lie down with dogs you'll come up with fleas.
Show image of Obama looking into the camera saying, Lets clean up our communities and our government!
September 12, 2008 2:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
One more for the road:
VO: If Sarah Palin is a pit bull what does that make John McCain?
Show images of McCain with unsavory characters like Bush ending with an old crummy image of a dog scratching himself behind the ear.
VO: When you lie down with dogs you'll come up with fleas.
Show image of Obama looking into the camera saying, Lets clean up our communities and our government!
September 12, 2008 2:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
OK. Now this ad just released today by the Obama campaign makes me think they really do read TPM. Or maybe I'm just flattering myself about the similarity. Nonetheless, I think we should keep the suggestions coming.
September 12, 2008 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't have a script, but I think there should be a series of ads showing McCain with a Pinocchio nose, growing longer of course with each lie. And an ad of him telling the truth, when he said he doesn't know much about the economy. The nose could get shorter with that one. The tone would be one of mockery, not outrage.
September 13, 2008 9:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
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