Winning Over the Middle
J. D. Fitzpatrick ·
April 16, 2011 at 9:15pm
I've put a few resources into developing a political ad aimed at winning swing voters to conservative ideas. Here's a mock-up of the ad. I'd like to eventually go with full-scale animation and a few other features, but for now, this is what I have.
I have a few more ideas for scripts. But I'm curious--what do Ricochet members think of this one? (Apart from "Don't quit the day job ...")
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Comments:
Feb '11
Re: Winning Over the Middle
I like how it is positive and upbeat, how it does not run down people who work for the government but makes it clear that those people are supported by other workers' tax dollars... of course, government workers are also supporting themselves with their taxes, but I have no idea how you could represent that as nicely as you have done so far.
Nov '10
Re: Winning Over the Middle
As a slow learner, I've always been a big fan of simple visual representations of complex ideas. This is pretty good. With slicker animation and narration, I can see this making many people think. Go J.D.!
May '10
Re: Winning Over the Middle
For starters, get it up to sixty or down to thirty. Then be ready to answer the question, "After you've kicked X workers out of their government job who will hire them? Aren't you just adding to unemployment?"
Aug '10
Re: Winning Over the Middle
Well done. Bravo. So simple that any child can understand it. The adults are what we have to worry about.
May '10
Re: Winning Over the Middle
If you're serous about this, then you can do what can be described as "the controversial subject limited buy." Advocacy groups do this all the time. You buy cable spots on systems around Metro DC. If they are good, the ideas get picked up by politicians who see them. If they are really good, then the people that oppose you try to get the cable systems not to run them. And sometimes a Washington news bureau will pick on that and run it on their news. That gets you national exposure at a local cost.
Sep '10
Re: Winning Over the Middle
Very nicely done!
Oct '10
Re: Winning Over the Middle
Right. It seemed to me that the best I could do was hint that a flourishing private sector can absorb public sector employees. Maybe in an extra 15 seconds I could emphasize that lower taxes allow us to spend more money and thus employ more people in the private sector. However, that might also be better as a separate ad.
This ad also attempts to promote privatization by using the phrase "return govt workers to the private sector." Maybe that's a little too subtle, but I have a feeling that the change in rhetoric could play well on the political scene--sort of like "peace through strength."
Oct '10
Re: Winning Over the Middle
Yes. If we want to return to limited government, we must stop demonizing those who are an obstacle to it. I have another script for public sector unions that I am mulling. It ends with the members of the public sector unions shaking hands with the private sector workforce.
OK. I am serious about this. But I think I'll need to find a way of plugging into an advocacy group. I got my wife on board with this expense only by promising not to make any campaign contributions for the next two years.
Nov '10
Re: Winning Over the Middle
The visual is powerful, and I like the simple drawings and pleasant-voiced narrator. This communicates to me just the way it is.
Jun '10
Re: Winning Over the Middle
I love the simple annimation......I would just have the narration a bit faster with a professional actor & have a better music background.
It's so clever ---- and it's hard to take a complex topic like this and make it short & clever. You did a great job!
Aug '10
Re: Winning Over the Middle
Excellent!
I too like the simple animation.
Aug '10
Re: Winning Over the Middle
The only flaw that I detect is that all the government workers are working.
:-)
Edited on April 16, 2011 at 10:13pmNov '10
Re: Winning Over the Middle
Yeah, I'm with the majority here. The concept is good; the visual is great; it just needs a bit more polish.
Oct '10
Re: Winning Over the Middle
Q1) Why does the girl decide to "escape" the comfort of life up top?
Q2) Is there a way to make the point stronger that too many workers are being supported by too few?
Q3) I know you want to keep it positive, but I couldn't help but wonder, why aren't some of the government workers beating the people on bottom?
Re: Winning Over the Middle
Simple and elegant. It will drive the left crazy.
Sep '10
Re: Winning Over the Middle
It's a brilliant metaphor, clearly executed. Outstanding!
Sep '10
Re: Winning Over the Middle
AngloCon:
Q3) I know you want to keep it positive, but I couldn't help but wonder, why aren't some of the government workers beating the people on bottom? · Apr 16 at 12:45pm
In almost all cases, people don't choose government employment in order to be a burden on society, they do it because it was the best job offered. Government workers vote and you don't want to alienate them by accusing them of being aggressive parasites.
Nov '10
Re: Winning Over the Middle
I like it. You could do a whole series. A few similar scripts jumped into my head, but I think you're more likely than me to produce servicable versions of them. In William Boetcker's 1916 definition of conservatism (which I quote below) there are several points that could be made effectively in this fashion.
If you can make this one fly your first follow-up ad could target the neomarxist narrative of racial and class grievance at the heart of the left's rhetoric. Boetcker's fourth point (bolded) sums up the problem nicely.
You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer
You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatreds.
You cannot establish security on borrowed money.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away a man’s initiative and independence.
You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.
One point per ad, each ad's tag line a quote from this definition -- a dynamite series.
Oct '10
Re: Winning Over the Middle
K T Cat
AngloCon:
Q3) I know you want to keep it positive, but I couldn't help but wonder, why aren't some of the government workers beating the people on bottom? · Apr 16 at 12:45pm
In almost all cases, people don't choose government employment in order to be a burden on society, they do it because it was the best job offered. Government workers vote and you don't want to alienate them by accusing them of being aggressive parasites. · Apr 16 at 1:05pm
That's why I said "some." I was describing a visceral reaction rather than making a suggestion. Tax day has left a dent this year. All that said, it is true that we'd like to attract public sector votes to libertarian/conservative causes. And I applaud J.D.'s effort, while trying to offer something to consider with questions 1 and 2. Speaking of which, a few massive filing cabinets marked "CFR" and "USC" might be the answer to question 2 without taking on the workers personally.
Nov '10
Re: Winning Over the Middle
I like it, and I'm just thrilled that someone is doing something like this. As I said in another comment, I would love someone to listen to Pat Caddell's suggestions and actually run with them, making ads that speak to some of the points he has made in the podcasts. It frustrates me greatly that he's basically out there making great strategy for the Republicans and no one is listening.