Illinoisan running against Blagojevich's hair

Rod Blagojevich's hair is visual shorthand for corruption in this new campaign ad (posted below) from Andy McKenna, a Republican candidate for Illinois governor in 2010. We see the state capitol in a giant Blagojevich wig, and various other disgraced Illinois politicians wearing the same. The kid above is also apparently very corrupt. It's a smart way to employ one of the world's best-known political haircuts, though McKenna might be taking it a bit too far. He's on record criticizing Illinois' "hair-brained" financial schemes, and said of current Gov. Pat Quinn: "He's Rod Blagojevich with just a little bit less hair."

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Previously on AdFreak:
Ox battles rat in Georgia politican's ad/fable

Published on November 9, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under Hair care, Nudd, Political ads

Ox battles rat in Georgia politican's ad/fable

Just when you think political ads can't get any worse, along comes this four-minute travesty starring a rat (a stand-in for the villainous Democratic former governor, Roy Barnes) and an ox (representing the ad's strong though perhaps somewhat dumb creator, John Oxendine). Via The Awl, which believes the ad "is not just stupid, it is powerful stupid." A commenter over there adds: "This is the most Aesopian campaign ad ever!"

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on October 16, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (4)
Filed under Nudd, Political ads

Avaaz.org stirs the pot again with latest ads

Avaaz.org gets provocative and goofy all at once with its new ads, which feature Dick Cheney, Barack Obama and Osama bin Laden. The Cheney ad wonders if the former vice president is "Al Qaeda's best recruiter." Obama, looking presidential, naturally, is quoted from his inaugurual address. And bin Laden idiotically dons an "I love Guantanamo" T-shirt. The mission, according to Avaaz: "Close Guantanamo. End to torture. Investigate all abuses." This group always aims to incite (as opposed to lending "insight," some might say), but I suppose a sharp edge is required to slice through the clutter these days. Is it just me, or does the issue seem weirdly dated, a vestige of the George Bush era already lapsing into history? I had kind of thought Guantanamo was already closed. All the more reason for campaigns like this, I guess, lest we perpetuate mistakes that aren't yet "history."

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Published on September 18, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under Barack Obama, Gianatasio, Political ads, Politics

Let the Wilson v. Miller campaign ads begin

In light of Rep. Joe Wilson's heckling of President Obama last night, and the subsequent flood of campaign donations to his electoral opponent from last fall, Rob Miller, it looks like the first congressional campaign of 2010 is under way. Wilson, a Republican, defeated Miller, a Democrat, last November for the 2nd congressional district seat in South Carolina, but Miller is reportedly jonesing for a rematch—all the more so now, presumably. Here are a couple of their campaign commercials from their tussle last fall. In Wilson's spot, above, the voiceover complains: "Rob Miller is running a shameful campaign, attacking Joe Wilson. Miller doesn't share our values." One of Miller's spots is below.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on September 10, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under Barack Obama, Nudd, Political ads, Politics

NOM airing first anti-gay-marriage ad in NY

This new ad from the National Organization for Marriage—its first TV spot opposing attempts to legalize same-sex marriage in New York—is a fairly typical cut-and-paste negative ad. Inveighing against same-sex marriage, it uses smiling-bride-and-groom wedding photos, images of kids piling out of yellow school buses and a somber message about the Death Star blowing up our planet should same-sex marriages occur (not really the last one, but it does use some classic scare tactics). One of the most skewered phrases in the spot (the quote is blown up for maximum horror and derision) is "a teachable moment." That's what the administrator of the Creative Arts charter school in San Francisco called it when some first graders were allowed to attend a same-sex wedding. Turns out the wedding was for their teacher, the trip was suggested by one of the parents in the class (the rest were free to opt out), and the kids were not at the ceremony but lined up outside the doors to throw flower petals on their teacher. Seems to me that's all kids that age want to do—throw flower petals at weddings—any and all weddings. All the kids seemed very excited about it. One of the students, 6-year-old Nolan Alexander, told a reporter that marriage is "two people falling in love. It means that you stay with someone for the rest of your life." Um, clearly that kid needs more education.

—Posted by Barbara Lippert

Published on May 29, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (8)
Filed under Gay rights, Lippert, National Organization for Marriage, Political ads

Errol Morris launches 11th-hour Obama ads

Oscar-winning director Errol Morris has launched a late-in-the-game ad campaign for Barack Obama, called "People in the Middle for Obama," that's designed to sway undecided voters the Democrat's way. The ads are done in typical Morris style: interviews with ordinary people against a white backdrop, with music playing softly in the background. The interviewees are all middle-of-the-road voters who claim to be more concerned with issues than partisan ideology—and who've sided with Obama. According to the press release, the campaign is "designed to be spread over the Internet to other undecided voters who may benefit from hearing the factors that helped people like themselves make up their minds."

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on October 28, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (6)
Filed under Nudd, Political ads

AdFreak launches blog for Election '08 ads

For those interested in chewing more fat carved from the old lipsticked pig of politics, check out CampaignFreak, our new Campaign 2008 advertising blog. From now until the election in November (and possibly beyond, unless we prove too lazy), most of our thoughts, observations and petty rants about political ads will appear over there. Also, the site will double as a gallery of sexy Jessica Alba bondage pics, so what are you waiting for?

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on September 11, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under Campaign '08, Nudd, Political ads

Get Moore for less with free film download

Michael Moore has announced that his next film, Slacker Uprising, will be released as a free online download through Brave New Films. The film documents Moore's 62-city tour during the 2004 election where he urged young voters to vote Democratic (view the trailer here). According to the press release, this is the first major film to be released this way. Go film! Way to catch up to the music industry and the publishing industry! Speaking of publishing, Moore was recently in the news for saying that people need to stop reading books (including, much to his publisher's irritation, Moore's own book) and instead use whatever time they have to focus on the election. Apparently, Moore does feel it's OK for people to spend their free time watching his free movie. You can hit up SlackerUprising.com on Sept. 23 for the download, or you can buy the DVD if you feel a little guilty about them giving away the $2 million film for free. Photo from Erik R. Bishoff's Flickr page. 

—Posted by Rebecca Cullers

Published on September 10, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1)
Filed under Cullers, Digital, Political ads

Sarah Palin footage both sides might enjoy

Following the surprise announcement of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as John McCain's VP pick, you can bet the Democrats are feverishly at work on a response ad. I'll personally be surprised if they pass up this footage of Palin firing an assault rifle. Then again, I'd be just as surprised if the GOP didn't use it. (In fact, I first found the scene at the 25-second mark of this "Palin for VP" video on YouTube.) Obama's camp might use the shots to offset the maternal image that could lure Hillary supporters. McCain's people might see it as a great symbol of Palin's lifelong support for the NRA. Guns and military regalia always make for an interesting divide in political races. Conservative Margaret Thatcher got a popular boost from riding around in a tank, but liberal Michael Dukakis was hammered for similar footage—proving that an anti-military legislative record trumps actual service in the U.S. Army. Then, of course, there was Bush's iconic flight-suit moment, which became a divisive image largely because of its role as a prelude to "Mission accomplished." So what do you think? Will the Democracts go the boring route and talk about things like ethics investigations, or will they come out guns a-blazin'?

—Posted by David Griner

Published on August 29, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (16)
Filed under Campaign '08, Griner, Political ads

Pickens puts his mouth where his money is

The problem with T. Boone Pickens' campaign to make America less dependent on foreign oil (a campaign that's riled up NBC's networks) is its reliance on T. Boone Pickens. I keep accidentally typing Slim Pickens while writing this—it's driving me nuts! If T.B.P. wants to run for president, just run! Run like that other drawling rich guy Perot, and lose in the election like he did. Look, I'm not a billionaire, so I can't afford to buy ads on TV just to see my own face on the screen. But if I were a billionaire, I'd drive my yacht into my mansion and keep my big yap shut. Yes, the yacht would be inside the mansion—deal with it! You're a billionaire, Pickens, so just uncap your oil well and buy us some gas. C'mon, Slim, gimme some money! (Wow, Frosted Flakes really do give you long-lasting energy! They sure fueled this rant. Hey, maybe we can get a more efficient fuel from corn. See, Pickens, we're on the same page!)

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Published on August 28, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (4)
Filed under Energy, Environment, Gianatasio, Political ads, TV

Twin Cities urged to be nice to Republicans

While all political eyes are now on the Democrats in Denver, the Twin Cities are getting ready for the Republican conclave next week in St. Paul. And Minneapolis agency Campbell Mithun is getting into the act with a campaign developed with Hungry Man Productions, and launched via the UnConvention Web site, that urges the locals in this traditionally Democratic state (or, more precisely, Democratic-Farmer-Labor state) to be gracious hosts. Republican delegates who check out the Web site's video and the posters may wonder how sincere the welcome is. But after the treatment their party is getting in Denver, anything short of open hostility may seem like a warm embrace.

—Posted by Mark Dolliver

Published on August 27, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (5)
Filed under Campaign '08, Campbell Mithun, Dolliver, Political ads, Print

Jack Daniel's also feeling the political spirit

I may have been a tad hasty in my earlier post on Captain Morgan's options for a running mate. Perhaps Jack Daniel's would be his best bet, though no candidate with an apostrophe-S on the end of his name has ever been elected to high office in the history of our great nation. Boston agency Arnold, always eager to join a party of any persuasion, has crafted a series of posters that mix the Jack Daniel's brand imagery with Mad Men-era political design. The tagline is, "Socialize liberally. Drink conservatively." One poster reads: "Drinking champagne is a perfectly acceptable way to celebrate being elected president. Of France." (Of course, Sarkozy also got to make love to Carla Bruni, but imagine how much hotter it would've been with some Jack on hand. On second thought, don't.) Another poster proclaims: "Jack supports all parties." Somewhere, JFK has a big smile on his face, and a full glass in each hand. See eight more posters after the jump.

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Click to read more ...

Published on August 26, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (3)
Filed under Alcohol, Arnold, Campaign '08, Gianatasio, Jack Daniel's, Political ads

Harry, Louise still obsessed with healthcare

They're back! Harry and Louise, the not-so-dynamic advertising duo who helped torpedo Hillary Clinton's healthcare reform bid in 1993-94, return in spots set to air during the Democratic and Republican conventions. Their new mission is getting Congress to make healthcare a top priority. Maybe if they'd kept their mouths shut the first time around, we'd have socialized medicine like they do in Canada, where nobody minds waiting 10 months for an appendectomy because of all the mood stabilizers they can get for free. I kid. Canada's great. Anyway, the original Harry and Louise campaign, funded by a group of health-insurance providers, was credited with initiating a boom in public-policy advertising. Today, the landscape's so fragmented and cluttered, they can't possibly have the same impact or appeal. Ask another '90s duo whose recent reunion was ignored en mass: Mulder and Scully. Maybe they were pitching healthcare reform in the recent X-Files movie. No one saw it, so we'll never know for sure.

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Published on August 19, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under Campaign '08, Gianatasio, Political ads, TV

Gore's global-warming ads still feeling cold

Al Gore's Alliance for Climate Protection is back with a new ad in its "We" campaign, created by The Martin Agency. From the press release: "The tone of this spot is much different than what you've seen in the campaign so far." True enough. Where the earlier stuff was soft and ineffectual, and roundly panned by most media observers, this commercial is just whiny and oddly worded. Bidding politicians to "use the wind" is an unfortunate turn of phrase in at least two ways. The line "We demand that we repower America" is just confusing. Stop forcing the word "we" into every sentence! There's no "we" in America, by the way, just a "me" and an "I." Think about that next time your hemp-powered buggy runs out of juice 20 miles from home. Also check out this earlier ad from the campaign, where "we" all behave like the monolith-worshiping apes in 2001: A Space Odyssey. In the spot, "we" all appear to be moving giant power switches. Does that make Gore an emissary from a technologically advanced, extraterrestrial civilization? You know, in his mind—and some others—I think it does. Wake up, people: The man's from Tennessee.

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Published on August 19, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (2)
Filed under Environment, Gianatasio, Political ads, TV