Pass the Popcorn

 

For the past 20 years, political ads have followed the Clinton formula:

{cue scary music and harsh narration}

[Opponent’s name] is a lying liar… who wants to take us back to the stone age… and will bring Armageddon…

{cue strings and gentle voice}

But [candidate’s name] cares for people… has a strong record… will bring prosperity for working families.

This election cycle, though, the mold has been broken, and I love it. First came Joni Ernst’s “Squeal” ad:

http://youtu.be/p9Y24MFOfFU

Then came Terri Land’s “Really?” ad:

And now, Tom Cotton’s “At Ease” ad:

This new generation of Republican ads are well-produced, with humor and a light touch, and are (dare I say) fun to watch. Pass the popcorn!

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  1. user_240173 Member
    user_240173
    @FrankSoto

    What do we really know about Son of Spengler?  Can we really trust the son of a man who believes in ghosts to post on Ricochet?

    Say no to Spengler.

    • #1
  2. Son of Spengler Member
    Son of Spengler
    @SonofSpengler

    Frank Soto:

    What do we really know about Son of Spengler? Can we really trust the son of a man who believes in ghosts to post on Ricochet?

    Say no to Spengler.

    • #2
  3. Misthiocracy Member
    Misthiocracy
    @Misthiocracy

    I suspect these are, at least in part, thanks to the radical reduction in the cost of filming in high-definition.

    In the Clinton era, campaigners had to figure out a way to shoot a decent-looking advertisement on a low budget. Shooting video of the candidate talking to the camera using 1990s vintage video cameras would have looked terribly amateurish, so instead they went with static images and voice-overs.

    Now, thanks to low-cost HD, ad directors can afford to create full motion video at a much lower cost.  This allows for more creativity.

    • #3
  4. user_222359 Inactive
    user_222359
    @KirstenWeiss

    I think it’s a good trend. Republicans have been (successfully) painted as mean, scary, evil and racist. Humor really is the best medicine.

    • #4
  5. Seawriter Contributor
    Seawriter
    @Seawriter

    You should read and hear the pearl-clutching at NRO over the “ineffectiveness” of Land’s advertisement.  It makes me shake my head and wish they would get out of New York City and Washington D. C. a little more.

    • #5
  6. Hustler46060 Inactive
    Hustler46060
    @Hustler46060

    You on thin ice, Cotton!  That is the best.

    • #6
  7. Nanda Panjandrum Member
    Nanda Panjandrum
    @

    Love this – and appreciate you – SoS (no matter what Frank says…).

    • #7
  8. Troy Senik, Ed. Member
    Troy Senik, Ed.
    @TroySenik

    Misthiocracy:

    I suspect these are, at least in part, thanks to the radical reduction in the cost of filming in high-definition.

    That’s part of it, but I think you also have to give credit to the candidates themselves. Every time I hear someone blame a candidate’s defeat on staffers, I always remind them that it was still the candidate who hired these people in the first place and the candidate that chose whether or not to listen to them. In other words, things don’t happen on a campaign unless the candidate allows it.

    A lot of pols never break out because they’re too timid to do anything other than paint by numbers for fear that someone somewhere will be alienated. It took guts for all three of these candidates (and especially Ernst) to go with something other than the family-with-golden-retriever-in-a-meadow ad. That’s a good sign

    (BTW, to Seawriter’s comment, I don’t get the criticism of Land’s ad either. Yeah, she’s a little stiff, but it’s not painfully awkward — I think the message more than makes up for the delivery.)

    • #8
  9. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Thank you, thank you, and thank you.  Not watching TV, I usually miss all these ads, including the good ones.  I absolutely love the Terri Lynn Land ad.  I would also note that she has won statewide office here in Michigan multiple times; whereas, Gary Peters has only won his millionaire/billionaire Congressional district.  I’m hoping for that seat to swing to an R.

    • #9
  10. Jon Gabriel, Ed. Contributor
    Jon Gabriel, Ed.
    @jon

    Political ads in 2014 are impacted by the relatively new need for “virality.” If a relatively unknown candidate in flyover country can get a 30-second spot to go viral, that means A LOT of money. I might not be able to vote for Ernst, Land or Cotton, but I can send a donation their way in just a couple of clicks.

    • #10
  11. skipsul Inactive
    skipsul
    @skipsul

    Love it!  These are great!  More please!

    • #11
  12. Seawriter Contributor
    Seawriter
    @Seawriter

    Troy Senik, Ed.: I don’t get the criticism of Land’s ad either. Yeah, she’s a little stiff, but it’s not painfully awkward — I think the message more than makes up for the delivery.

    The delivery adds to the authenticity. If you live in the real world and not NewYorkCityWashingtonDC like so many of the NRO staff, that is.

    Seawriter 

    • #12
  13. Jimmy Carter Member
    Jimmy Carter
    @JimmyCarter

    Why do women shake Their head “no” when stating something positive? It makes it appear as if They’re lying.

    Ernst does it several times:

    “My Parents taught Us to live within Our means… [head shaking “no”]”

    Land does it immediately. I guess because She doesn’t have too many lines, so She had to get it in:

    “Congressman Gary Peters…. [head shaking “no”]”

    Anybody? They all do it.

    • #13
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