Kasich SuperPAC Unveils Anti-Trump Ad (Update: Kasich Releases a Second Salvo)

 

Ever since The Donald descended from that Trump Tower escalator, Republicans have insisted that someone has to take him out. We’ve heard this cry from movement conservatives, political consultants, the squishy “GOP establishment,” conservatarian ideologues, and the vast majority of activists who don’t support the curiously coiffed billionaire.

Worry no longer, Republicans, for your savior has arrived. John Kasich’s SuperPAC, New Day for America, has released a 45-second collection of Trump quotes that’s sure to scuttle his quixotic campaign before voters in Dubuque and Dixville Notch get the chance to weigh in. So lie back in your La-Z-Boy, sip on your skinny half-caf grande chestnut praline latte, and enjoy the demise of Donald Trump’s political career:

Wait … that’s it? Those are, like, the same Trump quotes we’ve seen 134,282 times so far (more if you’re on Twitter). I could have uploaded this myself and I’m lousy at making videos. I’d even use a better font and add some of those cool “swoosh” transitions between clips.

Perhaps I shouldn’t worry, because the SuperPAC assures us that this is part of a larger, multichannel messaging effort:

As entertainment seekers make their way into the Columbus Convention Center this evening, New Day For America will be sharing important information reminding them that Trump can’t be trusted. A plane and banner with that message will circle the convention center from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and the video below will be part of a digital buy in Ohio and New Hampshire.

A plane and banner. Why not increase the budget by a C-note and toss in a sign spinner and one of those dancing inflatable guys?

Here’s a marketing tip for the rest of the GOP field. Donald Trump’s fans don’t support him in spite of his irreverent statements; they support him because of his irreverent statements. They like that Trump was seemingly born without the internal filter that all of us non-billionaires have spend a lifetime cultivating. When Trump blurts out the rude, weird stuff that never would have made it past the first few synapses in our brains, they laugh and applaud. I’d get fired if I said that, they think, but this guy gets away with everything. Tact is for losers; Trump’s a winner.

What do you think of the ad, Ricochetti? Is Team Kasich’s clip reel the beginning of the end for Donald Trump or would they have been better off spending their meager budget on nine holes of golf at Mar-a-Lago?

Update: Shortly after clicking “publish,” the Kasich campaign unveiled a far harsher ad against Trump.

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  1. 6foot2inhighheels Member
    6foot2inhighheels
    @6foot2inhighheels

    I’ve said since the beginning, he is a gift to the Republicans, if they have the sense to realize it.   Talk about taking the guesswork about what will fly with the electorate -Donald does all the work for you!

    • #1
  2. EThompson Member
    EThompson
    @

    Here’s a marketing tip for the rest of the GOP field. Donald Trump’s fans don’t support him in spite of his irreverent statements; they support him because of his irreverent statements. They like that Trump was seemingly born without the internal filter that all of us non-billionaires have spend a lifetime cultivating.

    Boy howdy, the initial introduction to your post had me fooled as to the direction of your commentary but am somewhat heartened to read you may be coming around to my way of thinking.

    • #2
  3. Marion Evans Inactive
    Marion Evans
    @MarionEvans

    The Blue Danube for music, seriously? You’re going to take down Donald Trump with a waltz?

    Is Kasich trying to appeal to the Austrian-American voter born in the 19th century? Instead how about a recent song from a hot band, with punchy lyrics?

    • #3
  4. Xennady Member
    Xennady
    @

    I don’t support Trump because of his irreverent statements. I support him in spite of them.

    I’d much rather have a Donald Trump who seemed to have read his own proposals, knew something about foreign affairs, had some knowledge of how the government should work as well as how it does work, and also had some grounding in conservative intellectual thought and history in general.

    But I’ll take him as he is, because I have even less faith in any of the GOP establishment approved candidates like Marco Rubio or Jeb!!!!

    I’ve been stabbed in back by these people so many times that I figure I should be able to get disability benefits, or at least affirmative action as a member of the pincushion-American community.

    Failing that, I’m enjoying mightily the hysterical flailing of the establishment as it runs up against someone who can’t be locked down by the requirement to go into hock to the GOP donor class.

    PS: Kasich’s ad is awful.

    PPS: Kasich’s second ad is hilarious. Trump is now going to round up his opponents, like Pastor Niemoller warned us would happen if we voted for candidates unapproved by the GOP central committee.

    Save us Johnny Kasich you’re our only hope against the Trumpian menace. Sad.

    • #4
  5. Xennady Member
    Xennady
    @

    6foot2inhighheels:I’ve said since the beginning, he is a gift to the Republicans, if they have the sense to realize it. Talk about taking the guesswork about what will fly with the electorate -Donald does all the work for you!

    Except the GOP can’t take the advice, because accepting it would put the party in direct opposition to the party’s donor class, which will not abide the opposition to their interests.

    What happens when an irresistible force hits an immovable object?

    I dunno, but I figure I should get some popcorn to eat while I watch.

    • #5
  6. Koblog Inactive
    Koblog
    @Koblog

    Mona and Jay nod approvingly with Kasich….

    • #6
  7. James Gawron Inactive
    James Gawron
    @JamesGawron

    Jon,

    I have a great slogans for Kasich.

    MORE OUT OF TOUCH THAN JEB!

    THE CHARISMA OF KUCINICH!

    WHO CAN YOU TRUST TO LOSE HIS HOME STATE?

    KASICH 2016 BECAUSE STUPID IS REALLY HOT!!!

    Regards,

    Jim

    • #7
  8. Umbra Fractus Inactive
    Umbra Fractus
    @UmbraFractus

    Leave it to Kasich to make me, of all people, feel sorry for Trump. That I think the guy’s a jackass is well established, but producing an ad which basically calls him a Nazi? Really?

    • #8
  9. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    The first ad is a hot mess, up until the “how stupid are the people of Iowa” crack. That could hurt him bad. Senate candidate Bruce Braley, by the grace of God my former Congressthing, dinked Chuck Grassley for being nothing more than a farmer. In Iowa. His poll numbers took a nosedive that he never recovered from. Not only did he lose the Senate race, his former seat flipped to the Republicans.

    I don’t know how many LIVs have seen that bit, but the more that do, the more his lead will slip.

    • #9
  10. PsychLynne Inactive
    PsychLynne
    @PsychLynne

    I think it’s important to remember the ads aren’t aimed at us.  I’m guessing they’re aimed at the people who are amused by Trump, but aren’t ardent supporters of him…or anyone else.  Viewed from that perspective, I think they are pretty effective.

    On the side, I’ll say this.  I hate Kasich’s moral preening, inability to argue policy choices without bringing Jesus into it, and accepting the Medicaid expansion.  All that said, he’s done some pretty amazing stuff with healthcare in Ohio by getting permission for flexibility from the Obama administration.

    See Forbes:  http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertlaszewski2/2015/10/14/ohio-governor-john-kasichs-medicaid-expansion-successful-governance-is-very-hard-work/

    • #10
  11. Mike LaRoche Inactive
    Mike LaRoche
    @MikeLaRoche

    Good grief, those were lame. I never thought I’d see Godwin’s Law in a Republican presidential primary.

    • #11
  12. Roberto Inactive
    Roberto
    @Roberto

    Xennady:But I’ll take him as he is, because I have even less faith in any of the GOP establishment approved candidates like Marco Rubio or Jeb!!!!

    No one, absolutely no one in the GOP, in media or elsewhere in politics appears to appreciate this point or how much it relates to Trump’s rise.

    Currently, just 19% say they can trust the government always or most of the time, among the lowest levels in the past half-century. Only 20% would describe government programs as being well-run. And elected officials are held in such low regard that 55% of the public says “ordinary Americans” would do a better job of solving national problems

    Among both Democrats and Republicans, large majorities say they can seldom, if ever, trust the federal government (89% of Republicans, 72% of Democrats)…

    Just 22% of the public say that most elected officials put the interests of the country ahead of their own interests; 74% say they put their own interests ahead of the nation’s.

    Politicians attempting to criticize Trump for insulting the electorate, flip-flopping or for making seemingly false statements does nothing but generate absolute gales of laughter because well, look who’s talking.

    • #12
  13. Vance Richards Inactive
    Vance Richards
    @VanceRichards

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.: Update: Shortly after clicking “publish,” the Kasich campaign unveiled a far harsher ad against Trump.

    That one sounds like they are trying to compare Trump to Hitler. I guess if we follow that analogy that would make Kasich whoever the heck came in 14th in Germany’s 1932 election.

    • #13
  14. Ball Diamond Ball Member
    Ball Diamond Ball
    @BallDiamondBall

    Thank heavens they recruited well-known, respected, uh, wait — who is that guy?  Yeah, a guy with nothing to lose, recycling the MSM’s stories into a Godwin crack.

    This is the first political ad I have seen that is effectively targeted at today’s electorate.

    • #14
  15. genferei Member
    genferei
    @genferei

    The second ad is truly appalling. Suppressing Jorge Ramos? Calling for all Hispanic immigrants to be rounded up? Nonsense on its face.

    Are we sure this isn’t something Trump is putting out to discredit his discreditors early?

    • #15
  16. Ball Diamond Ball Member
    Ball Diamond Ball
    @BallDiamondBall

    Naw, this ad is a masterpiece of Republican fail. If they were trying to convince Obama voters not to vote for Trump in the Republican primary, mission accomplished!
    Maybe the Kasich consultants will count this in the same fashion as “jobs saved or created”, and charge Kasich for each democrat who doesn’t flock to Trump.

    • #16
  17. Umbra Fractus Inactive
    Umbra Fractus
    @UmbraFractus

    Why do I suspect we’ll see Webb/Kasich (or the reverse) running as the “Bipartisan Party” fairly soon.

    genferei: The second ad is truly appalling. Suppressing Jorge Ramos? Calling for all Hispanic immigrants to be rounded up? Nonsense on its face.

    I noticed that too. Nice job criticizing Trump for the one thing his critics gave him credit for.

    • #17
  18. Quinn the Eskimo Member
    Quinn the Eskimo
    @

    Not shrill enough.  Needs Wagner and morphing images of Trump and Hitler.  And swastikas.  And the sound of storm troopers marching in unison.

    Probably changes no minds either way, but lines the pockets of the people who made it.  If it does change minds, it makes people marginally more pro-Trump.

    • #18
  19. karenwtn Inactive
    karenwtn
    @karenwtn

    To add some balance here, I thought both ads were good and the second one powerful. He has said these things and, if elected, will feel empowered to do them or at least try. He has no substance in foreign policy. When asked by Hugh Hewitt what he would do in a certain situation he said that he did not want to say because he wanted to be unpredictable to his foes. He’ll thus be unpredictable to us as well. This makes me very uncomfortable. I could never vote for him and I’m a conservative. I’m not saying I would vote for Hillary but I sure would not work the phones for him like I did the last several elections. I would probably write in Marco Rubio.

    • #19
  20. Quinn the Eskimo Member
    Quinn the Eskimo
    @

    karenwtn: He has no substance in foreign policy. When asked by Hugh Hewitt what he would do in a certain situation he said that he did not want to say because he wanted to be unpredictable to his foes. He’ll thus be unpredictable to us as well. This makes me very uncomfortable.

    That is a better argument and would be a better ad.

    • #20
  21. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    Does anybody know of even one former Trump supporter who has changed his/her mind and turned their back on Trump?  There are people on Ricochet who have said they were a big backer of Scott Walker until they found out Walker supports ethanol subsidies, then it’s all over.  People who really liked Rick Perry, but then one issue was enough to turn them off.  There’s a loyalty towards Donald Trump that transcends issues and policies, and these ads are not going to change anything.

    • #21
  22. wmartin Member
    wmartin
    @

    Randy Weivoda:Does anybody know of even one former Trump supporter who has changed his/her mind and turned their back on Trump? There are people on Ricochet who have said they were a big backer of Scott Walker until they found out Walker supports ethanol subsidies, then it’s all over. People who really liked Rick Perry, but then one issue was enough to turn them off. There’s a loyalty towards Donald Trump that transcends issues and policies, and these ads are not going to change anything.

    Immigration is the main answer to that question, I think. As David Frum pointed out recently, Trump has built up credibility on the issue because he has actually lost money due to his position, so Republican voters assume sincerity.

    • #22
  23. wmartin Member
    wmartin
    @

    genferei:The second ad is truly appalling. Suppressing Jorge Ramos? Calling for all Hispanic immigrants to be rounded up? Nonsense on its face.

    Are we sure this isn’t something Trump is putting out to discredit his discreditors early?

    On immigration, the anti-Trumpers should be asked to explain why Trump is a fascist but Dwight Eisenhower was not.

    • #23
  24. Mark Coolidge
    Mark
    @GumbyMark

    wmartin:

    genferei:The second ad is truly appalling. Suppressing Jorge Ramos? Calling for all Hispanic immigrants to be rounded up? Nonsense on its face.

    Are we sure this isn’t something Trump is putting out to discredit his discreditors early?

    On immigration, the anti-Trumpers should be asked to explain why Trump is a fascist but Dwight Eisenhower was not.

    The funny thing is that Trump is most vulnerable on immigration but the mainstream Republicans don’t dare attack him on that front.  Just show his 2012 remarks about Romney and that his current plan is to expel the illegals and then let most of them back in with an amnesty!

    • #24
  25. GFHandle Member
    GFHandle
    @GFHandle

    Update: Shortly after clicking “publish,” the Kasich campaign unveiled a far harsher ad against Trump.

    Weaker because so over-the-top. Will a Trump supporter fail to be offended by the suggestion that he or she is a Nazi?

    Kasich keeps doing the sanctimony thing.

    But maybe the ad is meant more as a depth charge–not effective on the surface but eventually lethal.

    Alas, Trump could use this as his “unfair” claim that justifies the third party run–why not if he’s only in it for the fun of it?

    • #25
  26. Franco Member
    Franco
    @Franco

    kasich should be differentiating himself from the other pseudo conservative losers. Focusing on Trump won’t help him one bit. So it’s clear Kasich isn’t in the race to win. He’s there to block. He’s taking one for team GOPe. They want him out. Then they feel they can take out Cruz and Carson without much trouble.

    • #26
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