DNC launches strongest attack ad yet - Abramoff + Reed + McCain = same old corrupt politics

[grantcart]

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/08/dnc_new_web_spot_links_mccain.html


Here is the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvXcY-u7MJM

Here is the script

Script

VOICEOVER: "On the campaign trail, John McCain claims that he fought to expose Jack Abramoff and his corrupt cronies..."

MCCAIN: "And I led the investigation."

VOICEOVER: "It was a scandal that rocked the country, linking all the way to the Bush White House and Republicans in Congress, sending two former Republican Congressmen to prison.

"But, now, desperate to raise campaign cash to run more negative attack ads, John McCain is cozying up to Jack Abramoff's cronies.

"Ralph Reed, a key business partner of Jack Abramoff helped the convicted former Republican lobbyist launder 2 million dollars through a front group to finance a gambling campaign.

"Now, Ralph Reed has signed up to raise money for John McCain. Reed has even been appointed to McCain's Victory 2008 Team.

"Ralph Reed's murky connections to Jack Abramoff run so deep, it cost him a race for Lt. Governor in Georgia.

"While most people now see Ralph Reed as a tainted man raising tainted money, John McCain sees him as a source of campaign cash.

"John McCain - more of the same old politics."

[BlooInBloo]

1. NICE!

[depakid]

2. So where are they going to run it?

[RNdaSilva]

3. Maddow said today...

that the DNC, and Obama's camp, are targeting certain states with these types of ads. I guess it would make sense not to waste money on "sure" wins...stick with the national ads.

[Major Hogwash]

4. Wow, looks like Obama ain't wearing any gloves anymore.

Mue-hah-ha!!!!!

Gotta love it.
He waited long enough.

I was reading your journal last week and noticed your comment about North Carolina, Texas, and Arizona.
Very interesting observation, grantcart.

[Neshanic]

13. Yes that's real gut puncher ad I'll tell ya. Not.

[bklyncowgirl]

5. Sweet, tie the slimey little bastard around Straight Talk Johnny's neck

This needs to get on TV.

[Gabi Hayes]

6. what about THIS? this is worse, I think, than the fact that Reed is fundraising for him:

One of the projects on which Reed aided Abramoff was an effort financed by the Mississippi Choctaws to shut down other casino games in Alabama. The issue lingered well into 2002. And Abramoff's reach extended all the way into the state's gubernatorial election, when he wrote an aide about the legislative favors the Choctaws wanted in return for their support of then-candidate Bob Riley.

The latter revelation McCain covered up. That email, which the Senator had access to during his investigation, never made it into his Abramoff report. McCain claimed it was not his prerogative as chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee to "involve" himself "in the ethics process ." And others felt the same way. The report passed the committee by a bipartisan 13-0 vote.

But the implications of McCain's decision were far reaching. Riley was able to beat the incumbent in that election -- a governor by the name of Don Siegleman, who was weighed down by seemingly politically-motivated leaks that federal prosecutors were looking into corruption charges -- by a mere 3,000 votes.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/13/mccain-fundraiser-revives_n_118747.html

[AlinPA]

7. Will it be on the Tee Vee?

[InNeedOfUserName]

8. Gezz, weak ad...should have closed with...

...The KEATING FIVE!:P

[ErinBerin84]

9. k & r

[blondeatlast]

10. Dynamite ad but the background music's a touch too loud. Still, well done, well done. nt

[blm]

11. What a difference Dean makes at the DNC. McAuliffe's DNC couldn't attack corruption

because McAuliffe has made many millions off the same deals as Bushies.

[Neshanic]

12. Uh, ok I guess if you were out of Ambien. Is it a policy to have our "attack" ads look

and feel like a documentary on garden slugs?

Come on! Get some better ads. This deserves it, not the same old tired shit with the same interchangable voice, the same tired old graphics, the same tired old narrative. GET THEIR ATTENTION!

Great that we have all the info and pieces but we produce the same old shit! Will someone get some creativity? It's not like there are not any in our ranks that could make this ad a blockbuster.

Content 10. Presentation -10.

[grantcart]

14. yes your right - if ads are only going to be viewed a single time

Isn't the power of advertising however in the subtle implanting of the idea with each repetitive exposure?


Maybe somebody with advertising experience could advise whether this kind of presentation is more effective with repeated exposures.

[ContinentalOp]

18. Yes, I work in advertising. You need to have a simple, compelling message...

and communicate that message clearly. The message here is that "John McCain cozies up with Jack Abramoff's cronies." Or even McCain has connections to Jack Abramoff." The average voter doesn't need to know how they are connected who gave money to whom, who Ralph Reed is, etc. You just need to repeat the mantra "John McCain is in bed with Jack Abramoff's crooked cronies."

The Republicans don't make ads explaining the subtle details of Obama's relationship to Rezko. They just say things like "Obama's mentor was convicted felon Rezko" or something like that. You just make the claim and let your opponent get bogged down in all of the subtle details trying to explain it away. By that point the explanations only make the connection stronger.

A more effective ad might go something like this:
"John McCain has decades of experience in Washington D.C."
"Remember the Savings and Loan scandals of the '80s? McCain was there" (use unflattering b&w photos from the period that look like mugshots)
"Remember Jack Abramoff and his Washington cronies? So does McCain. (show photos of Reed with McCain, etc)
"If you want a well-connected Washington candidate with decades of experience navigating Washington's complex backroom deals, John McCain is your man."

Anyway, this is a moot point because apparently this is a web-only ad so people will only see it once.

[ContinentalOp]

19. Ooh, I just thought of a better ending for my ad

Get a line in there about McCain's connection to lobbyists. Then at the end show a shot of McCain shaking hands with people in suits. Cut to what looks like a reverse angle of the same scene with a bunch of lobbyists lined up dressed in suits and carrying briefcases, talking on cellphones. The guy at the front of the line smiles and waves, holding his phone. "John, call me." :D

[ContinentalOp]

15. I could only get halfway through this ad before my brain went numb ad I had to turn it off.

I hope they don't pay to run this on TV. What are they thinking?

[L. Coyote]

17. There is a new brain store at the corner.

They call it a Java Hut :rofl:

[L. Coyote]

16. ***** VIRAL Alert ***** for this VIDEO.

Give this VIDEO a million hits by passing on the link widely!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6640013