An Interesting Point to Highlight...
Cobalt Blue ·
Sep 21, 2011 at 4:07pm
I just watched the Rick Perry ad that Mollie posted on the Main Feed. Without commenting on the effectiveness of the ad as a whole, I was struck by the following frame, presented in the context of how much Perry contrasts with our current president:
This can't be an accident. Rather than assuming this is some sort of dog-whistle to Birthers though, I wonder if this is a mischievious attempt to get the Left in a lather about how Rick Perry is implying Obama is not a "real" American. Such offense would likely be accompanied by pugnacious self-righteousness ... just the ticket for alienating independents even more.
Other thoughts about why the producers thought it necessary to emphasize that Rick Perry is, in fact, American?
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Comments :
Dec '10
Re: An Interesting Point to Highlight...
In context it is benign enough, but isolated as you have it I can see how it may prove controversial. Perry seems to have the ability to cross the line even more easily than Palin. The question is whether or not people will buy the sweet and innocent act each time he does it. This really could be a fantastic year for political spectators.
The way he's poking at Obama kind of reminds me of the way I play with my cat when he has twitchy tail.
Jul '11
Re: An Interesting Point to Highlight...
Exactly - and this could prove to be a very effective technique against Obama - constantly tweaking him in such a way that is not obviously disrespectful, and otherwise getting under his skin (like mockingly refering to "Winning the Future" in his announcement speech), could really bring out Obama's very unlikeable peevishness... especially in his weakened condition.
Edited on Sep 21, 2011 at 11:20amMar '11
Re: An Interesting Point to Highlight...
I love it. I bet years ago that before the end of Obama's first term, the Left would start to question his birthplace. If he digs in, it may yet happen.
Re: An Interesting Point to Highlight...
I think the message is simple: Perry is proud to emphasize his Americanness. In contrast, we all know that Barack and Michelle Obama were not proud of their country until their elevation to the White House.
The contrast is a smart one, I think. It's meant to appeal emotionally to the patriot in all of us.
Jul '11
Re: An Interesting Point to Highlight...
my emphasis in the following...
Diane Ellis, Ed.: I think the message is simple: Perry is proud to emphasize his Americanness. In contrast, we all know that Barack and Michelle Obama were not proud of their country until their elevation to the White House.
The contrast is a smart one, I think. It's meant to appeal emotionally to the patriot in all of us.
Aye, but while the "we" in "we all know" may apply to the Ricochet "we", it does not apply to many of those who don't follow politics as closely. By explicitly highlighting Perry's American-ness they're indirectly casting doubt on Obama's. It has the potential to corrode much of Obama's soft support from middle America, or what's left of it. But the approach could backfire if they get more explicit about it; as KP says, they're walking a fine line.
May '10
Re: An Interesting Point to Highlight...
In context, it seems to suggest that "American" rightfully means more than merely having been born with our borders. American is a culture, which Obama has rejected.
Jan '11
Re: An Interesting Point to Highlight...
Yes, it is!
Oct '10
Re: An Interesting Point to Highlight...
Diane Ellis, Ed.: I think the message is simple: Perry is proud to emphasize his Americanness. In contrast, we all know that Barack and Michelle Obama were not proud of their country until their elevation to the White House.
The contrast is a smart one, I think. It's meant to appeal emotionally to the patriot in all of us. · Sep 21 at 12:14pm
Agreed, Somehow this may also ring an economic bell.
Re: An Interesting Point to Highlight...
There may be one other dimension to this. In this advertisement, as in his speech declaring his candidacy, Perry put distance between himself and any loose talk about secessionism he may have engaged in while running for re-election in Texas. In that speech, he deliberately made it clear that he is first and foremost an American.
Here he kills two birds with one stone.
Edited on Sep 21, 2011 at 6:44pmMay '11
Re: An Interesting Point to Highlight...
The concern with most observers of Obama is not that he wasn't born American but that he hasn't, in the way he governs and acts, really been an American President. It will not be hard for any candidate to appear more authentically American than he.
Edited on Sep 21, 2011 at 4:39pmJul '11
Re: An Interesting Point to Highlight...
Cobalt Blue: my emphasis in the following...
Aye, but while the "we" in "we all know" may apply to the Ricochet "we", it does not apply to many of those who don't follow politics as closely. By explicitly highlighting Perry's American-ness they're indirectly casting doubt on Obama's. It has the potential to corrode much of Obama's soft support from middle America, or what's left of it. But the approach could backfire if they get more explicit about it; as KP says, they're walking a fine line. · Sep 21 at 12:53pm
I don't buy this argument. This man must be defeated, and we must play our own game. Against an incumbent that means going on offense and staying on. I don't think we can avoid making somebody mad by any strategy we use, and there are real questions about Oboy's Americanism in the minds of millions of "us." Further, I reject the notion that Ricocheteers are substantially different from our fellow citizens, other than we're verbally involved. Many are involved who aren't in the conversation, and they'll show up in November, on our side.
Jun '11
Re: An Interesting Point to Highlight...
Cobalt Blue
Exactly - and this could prove to be a very effective technique against Obama - constantly tweaking him ...Edited on Sep 21 at 11:20 am
Yes...nothing takes Obama off his game more than puncturing his ego. I'll bet Perry could get him ambling around the debate stage a la Gore.
Dec '10
Re: An Interesting Point to Highlight...
These frames caught my eye too, CB. The best thing Perry has going for him in a match-up with Obama is his obvious love for America and Americans. Perry's enthusiasm for retail politics is evident even to his detractors.
I don't think conservatives are the only Americans who feel the estrangement from Obama. He just doesn't care much for our kind, and it shows. Perry is smart to play up the contrast.
Jul '11
Re: An Interesting Point to Highlight...
Agreed. The way it's played in this ad is smart - it shows a contrast without openly attacking Obama personally, an important point since many people still tell pollsters that they personally like him. This fact is why I, somewhat clumsily, stated above that there's a potential for some backlash if such insinuations become too transparent.
As an aside, watching this I immediately recalled the "Country First" slogan John McCain used at the 2008 convention and how Democrats called foul about it, saying that the implication was that Obama didn't feel likewise. Given McCain's "maverick" status and war record, I found the left's cries totally disingenuous, but watching this I found myself thinking that it was a deliberate, yet deftly handled, swipe. He should keep it up - we want a candidate who's willing to fight.
Edited on Sep 21, 2011 at 7:41pmJul '11
Re: An Interesting Point to Highlight...
I think we're in greater agreement than my comment above may indicate - I don't care about making the other side mad, my concern was in leveling personal attacks (this ad is not one) that tend to be counterproductive. There's plenty to beat Obama with on substantive issues, and the GOP needs to stay on offense, like you say.
We'll have to disagree about how representative Ricochet members are of the voting public though - polls consistently show far more tolerance of him by the general public than we see here. It's not a fluke.
Edited on Sep 21, 2011 at 7:43pmDec '10
Re: An Interesting Point to Highlight...
I agree completely with your approach, CB. It is very important that we not attack the person of the president, just his political philosophy. Having said that, I keep wondering if there isn't some way to use the collapse of the European model to our benefit. There is no discernible difference between what American Democrats want to do and what European social democrats have "succeeded" in doing to their societies. How can we capitalize on that? ;-)
Sep '10
Re: An Interesting Point to Highlight...
Oboy? Really?
Jul '11
Re: An Interesting Point to Highlight...
Sure...anybody actually think of him as a man, as in manliness? Boy sounds right to me.
Cobalt is right re: the Ricocheteers not being representative of the electorate...I doubt that 40% here would think positively about him. But there are so many people angry and upset, from all parts if the opinion spectrum, that we may be surprised at the support we'll have by November next year.
Sep '10
Re: An Interesting Point to Highlight...
Just a little surprised that someone would call the President "boy" and expect to be taken seriously. The moderators here should consider policing that up. It's just not productive.
Even Pat Buchanan apoligized for this recently:
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2011/0803/What-were-two-Republicans-thinking-calling-Obama-tar-baby-and-boy