I used to laugh when George Bush said he was a "unifer," not a "divider." Not anymore. In the midst of two divisive primaries - one national and one local - George Bush has managed to unify all Democrats with respect to at least one idea: George Bush sucks.
Woody Myers takes the Prez to the wood shed in new radio ads today that play off his earlier TV bio ads.
You remember those? I thought they were very good bio spots, showing Dr. Myers' medical credentials and his fight for Ryan White at a time when AIDS had people holding their urine all day at work to avoid using public toilets. Dr. Myers was definitely ahead of his time both medically and politically (though some might rightly point out that fighting for Ryan White is substantially different than fighting for the guy who dresses up like a cheetah at the San Francisco GLBTG Pride Parade).
BUT the part about the TV ads that bothered me most was a split-second clip of Oprah Winfrey from when Woody was on her show to discuss White. That clip was as unflattering as any public image of Oprah, except for when Sofia got hit in the eye in The Color Purple. Had the image not flashed so quickly, maybe we could have visualized the woman that is now the media scion and not the flash of extra thick mascara that was more fitting for the Thriller video than a talk show. I'm surprised Oprah didn't try to BUY all the television stations running the ad to prevent anyone from seeing her again in her "80's hair."
But I digress.
Here's how you know how bad things are for the President. When I tell you the title to Woody's radio ad is "Mess," I don't even have to go on. You KNOW what it's about. Here's the script anyway (with my additions in parenthesis and asterisks next to each place on which I have a comment):
President Bush (struggling to get out a coherent sentence as usual):
America’s economy is getting stronger everyday…. I believe we’re making really good progress in Iraq…. You’re predicting $4 a gallon gasoline, I hadn’t heard that.
Voiceover:
George Bush has created one fine mess in the last 7 years and it’s going to take some strong Democrats to clean it up.
Dr. Woody Myers is running for Congress to get out troops out of Iraq as quickly and safely as possible and start investing in America again. Dr. Woody Myers is one of our nation’s preeminent internal medicine physicians*, Indiana’s first black Commissioner of Health, and he knows how to clean up George Bush’s mess. Money to create jobs here in America, not more in Iraq; tax cuts for the middle class, not the super wealthy**; and instead of doing the Iraqi’s job in Baghdad, finally stop the violence on our own streets. Dr. Woody Myers, Democrat for Congress. To fix George Bush’s mess, we have to send our best***.
* - Woody Myers is no idiot. Polls consistently show physicians are one of the most trusted vocations, with 85% of people saying they'd trust a doctor to 27% saying they'd trust a lawyer. (Right now David O. is somewhere saying, "CRAP! I KNEW I shouldn't have gone back to Harvard Law School! Boy, did I shoot myself in the foot on that one!") In fact, I'm surprised Dr. Myers doesn't have more subtle physician references in the tag line of this ad, such as "The Medicine Washington Needs," or "Woody Myers - Ready to Operate." How about countering Andre Carson's constituent service ads with one of his own -- "Woody Myers - Always on Call - For You!" The possibilities are endless.
** - Woody Myers is no idiot. Most people have a habit of giving meaning to every word in a sentence under the belief that the writer meant to include it or he/she wouldn't have. Myers knows he has to win some white AND black suburban voters who are on the ascend financially, and their definition of "middle class" might be more "classy" than "middle." Thus, when Woody Myers puts the qualifier "super" before wealthy, it arguably signals to you that Woody Myers is okay with tax cuts for just the "regular" wealthy. If you're a two-income, two-kid, two-professional family making $120,000, don't worry your head! Woody probably isn't angling to take back your tax cut. Even if he is, though, you'd never know because when you make $250,000, "super" wealthy is NEVER what you make.
That's the real genius in all good advertising. Not what it says, but what it lets YOU infer. Take "fresh roasted coffee." Sounds delicious, doesn't it? But unless you work for Juan Valdez or are a coffee-addicted weirdo, I bet you can't describe the actual process of fresh roasting. That's the magic. They give you a phrase that sounds good and let you put your aspirations and own interpretations into it. Good political ads are the grown up version of those kiddie books where you get to choose the ending.
Ending A: "Daddy, lookie - I picked more student loans and got to go to college!"
Ending B: "Look Daddy, I picked more student loans, and when everybody defaulted because we were giving them away like free drugs in a crackhouse, we had to cut social security!"
On leaving enough "unsaid," Woody does quite well, and radio doesn't restrict your imagination by providing images. You get to fill in ALL of your own blanks as to what the meaning is, including this final comment:
*** - "To fix George Bush's mess, we have to send our best."
I've always called this kind of ad a "pillow soft negative." Dr. Myers doesn't mention or criticize anyone, but anybody with a pulse knows what he's really implying. And if you had doubt, his website has a GREAT tagline from a PR perspective. "Experience. Change. We Deserve Both." He doesn't have to even say it, because we know EXACTLY what Dr. Myers is thinking, "Andre Carson is greener than the bubonic chronic at a Snoop Dogg Girls Gone Wild Gala." Well, he's either thinking that, or "Andre Carson is not sufficiently experienced to hold this prestigious post of high public esteem and trust." One of those, I'm sure.
To sum up, thumbs up to Dr. Myers' radio spot. Even if you disagree about Andre's experience, how can you not feel good about a man who shares your revulsion for our current President's politics?
On the ad front, has anybody heard from David O in any medium? David O. must be waiting to use the funnel philosophy of campaigns championed by Joe Hogsett. You save every dime and then own the networks the last week when people are either paying attention of their own accord or forced to pay attention because you're every other non-Viagra ad running.
Let me know if you see or hear him. No slight intended to David O. if he's already out. I've been listening to a lot of NPR lately.
1 comment:
Don’t believe one optimistic word from any public figure about the economy or humanity in general. They are all part of the problem. Its like a game of Monopoly. In America, the richest 1% now hold 1/2 OF ALL UNITED STATES WEALTH. Unlike ‘lesser’ estimates, this includes all stocks, bonds, cash, and material assets held by America’s richest 1%. Even that filthy pig Oprah acknowledged that it was at about 50% in 2006. Naturally, she put her own ‘humanitarian’ spin on it. Calling attention to her own ‘good will’. WHAT A DISGUSTING HYPOCRITE SLOB. THE RICHEST 1% HAVE LITERALLY MADE WORLD PROSPERITY ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE. Don’t fall for any of their ‘humanitarian’ CRAP. ITS A SHAM. THESE PEOPLE ARE CAUSING THE SAME PROBLEMS THEY PRETEND TO CARE ABOUT. Ask any professor of economics. Money does not grow on trees. The government can’t just print up more on a whim. At any given time, there is a relative limit to the wealth within ANY economy of ANY size. So when too much wealth accumulates at the top, the middle class slip further into debt and the lower class further into poverty. A similar rule applies worldwide. The world’s richest 1% now own over 40% of ALL WORLD WEALTH. This is EVEN AFTER you account for all of this ‘good will’ ‘humanitarian’ BS from celebrities and executives. ITS A SHAM. As they get richer and richer, less wealth is left circulating beneath them. This is the single greatest underlying cause for the current US recession. The middle class can no longer afford to sustain their share of the economy. Their wealth has been gradually transfered to the richest 1%. One way or another, we suffer because of their incredible greed. We are talking about TRILLIONS of dollars which have been transfered FROM US TO THEM. All over a period of about 27 years. Thats Reaganomics for you. The wealth does not ‘trickle down’ as we were told it would. It just accumulates at the top. Shrinking the middle class and expanding the lower class. Causing a domino effect of socio-economic problems. But the rich will never stop. They just keep getting richer. Leaving even less of the pie for the other 99% of us to share. At the same time, they throw back a few tax deductible crumbs and call themselves ‘humanitarians’. Cashing in on the PR and getting even richer the following year. IT CAN’T WORK THIS WAY. Their bogus efforts to make the world a better place can not possibly succeed. Any 'humanitarian' progress made in one area will be lost in another. EVERY SINGLE TIME. IT ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT WORK THIS WAY. This is going to end just like a game of Monopoly. The current US recession will drag on for years and lead into the worst US depression of all time. The richest 1% will live like royalty while the rest of us fight over jobs, food, and gasoline. So don’t fall for any of this PR CRAP from Hollywood, Pro Sports, and Wall Street PIGS. ITS A SHAM. Remember: They are filthy rich EVEN AFTER their tax deductible contributions. Greedy pigs. Now, we are headed for the worst economic and cultural crisis of all time. Crime, poverty, and suicide will skyrocket. SEND A “THANK YOU” NOTE TO YOUR FAVORITE MILLIONAIRE. ITS THEIR FAULT. I’m not discounting other factors like China, sub-prime, or gas prices. But all of those factors combined still pale in comparison to that HUGE transfer of wealth to the rich. Anyway, those other factors are all related and further aggrivated because of GREED. If it weren’t for the OBSCENE distribution of wealth within our country, there never would have been such a market for sub-prime to begin with. Which by the way, was another trick whipped up by greedy bankers and executives. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. The credit industry has been ENDORSED by people like Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGenerous, Dr Phil, and many other celebrities. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. Now, there are commercial ties between nearly every industry and every public figure. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. So don’t fall for their ‘good will’ BS. ITS A LIE. If you fall for it, then you’re a fool. If you see any real difference between the moral character of a celebrity, politician, attorney, or executive, then you’re a fool. No offense fellow citizens. But we have been mislead by nearly every public figure. WAKE UP PEOPLE. THEIR GOAL IS TO WIN THE GAME. The 1% club will always say or do whatever it takes to get as rich as possible. Without the slightest regard for anything or anyone but themselves. Reaganomics. Their idea. Loans from China. Their idea. NAFTA. Their idea. Outsourcing. Their idea. Sub-prime. Their idea. High energy prices. Their idea. Obscene health care charges. Their idea. The commercial lobbyist. Their idea. The multi-million dollar lawsuit. Their idea. The multi-million dollar endorsement deal. Their idea. $200 cell phone bills. Their idea. $200 basketball shoes. Their idea. $30 late fees. Their idea. $30 NSF fees. Their idea. $20 DVDs. Their idea. Subliminal advertising. Their idea. Brainwash plots on TV. Their idea. Vioxx, and Celebrex. Their idea. The MASSIVE campaign to turn every American into a brainwashed, credit card, pharmaceutical, love-sick, celebrity junkie. Their idea. All of the above shrink the middle class, concentrate the world’s wealth and resources, create a dominoe effect of socio-economic problems, and wreak havok on society. All of which have been CREATED AND ENDORSED by celebrities, athletes, executives, entrepreneurs, attorneys, and politicians. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. So don’t fall for any of their ‘good will’ ‘humanitarian’ BS. ITS A SHAM. NOTHING BUT TAX DEDUCTIBLE PR CRAP. In many cases, the 'charitable' contribution is almost entirely offset. Not to mention the opportunity to plug their name, image, product, and 'good will' all at once. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. These filthy pigs even have the nerve to throw a fit and spin up a misleading defense with regard to 'federal tax revenue'. ITS A SHAM. THEY SCREWED UP THE EQUATION TO BEGIN WITH. If the middle and lower classes had a greater share of the pie, they could easily cover a greater share of the federal tax revenue. They are held down in many ways because of greed. Wages remain stagnant for millions because the executives, celebrities, athletes, attorneys, and entrepreneurs, are paid millions. They over-sell, over-charge, under-pay, outsource, cut jobs, and benefits to increase their bottom line. As their profits rise, so do the stock values. Which are owned primarily by the richest 5%. As more United States wealth rises to the top, the middle and lower classes inevitably suffer. This reduces the potential tax reveue drawn from those brackets. At the same time, it wreaks havok on middle and lower class communities and increases the need for financial aid. Not to mention the spike in crime because of it. There is a dominoe effect to consider. IT CAN'T WORK THIS WAY. But our leaders refuse to acknowledge this. Instead they come up with one trick after another to milk the system and screw the majority. These decisions are heavily influensed by the 1% club. Every year, billions of federal tax dollars are diverted behind the scenes back to the rich and their respective industries. Loans from China have been necessary to compensate in part, for the red ink and multi-trillion dollar transfer of wealth to the rich. At the same time, the feds have been pushing more financial burden onto the states who push them lower onto the cities. Again, the hardship is felt more by the majority and less by the 1% club. The rich prefer to live in exclusive areas or upper class communities. They get the best of everything. Reliable city services, new schools, freshly paved roads, upscale parks, ect. The middle and lower class communities get little or nothing without a local tax increase. Which, they usually can't afford. So the red ink flows followed by service cuts and lay-offs. All because of the OBSCENE distribution of bottom line wealth in this country. So when people forgive the rich for their incredible greed and then praise them for paying a greater share of the FEDERAL income taxes, its like nails on a chalk board. I can not accept any theory that our economy would suffer in any way with a more reasonable distribution of wealth. Afterall, it was more reasonable 30 years ago. Before Reaganomics came along. Before GREED became such an epidemic. Before we had an army of over-paid executives, bankers, celebrities, athletes, attorneys, doctors, investors, entrepreneurs, developers, and sold-out politicians to kiss their asses. As a nation, we were in much better shape. Strong middle class, free and clear assets, lower crime rate, more widespread prosperity, stable job market, lower deficit, ect. Our economy as a whole was much more stable and prosperous for the majority. WITHOUT LOANS FROM CHINA. Now, we have a more obscene distribution of bottom line wealth than ever before. We have a sold-out government, crumbling infrastructure, energy crisis, home forclosure epidemic, 13 figure national deficit, and 12 figure annual shortfall. The cost of living is higher than ever before. Most people can't even afford basic health care. ALL BECAUSE OF GREED. I really don't blame the 2nd -5th percentiles in general. No economy could ever function without some reasonable scale of personal wealth and income. But it can't be allowed to run wild like a mad dog. ALBERT EINSTEIN TRIED TO MAKE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND. UNBRIDLED CAPITALISM ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT WORK. TOP HEAVY ECONOMIES ALWAYS COLLAPSE. Bottom line: The richest 1% will soon tank the largest economy in the world. It will be like nothing we’ve ever seen before. The American dream will be shattered. and thats just the beginning. Greed will eventually tank every major economy in the world. Causing millions to suffer and die. Oprah, Angelina, Brad, Bono, and Bill are not part of the solution. They are part of the problem. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE HUMANITARIAN. EXTREME WEALTH MAKES WORLD PROSPERITY ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE. WITHOUT WORLD PROSPERITY, THERE WILL NEVER BE WORLD PEACE OR ANYTHING EVEN CLOSE. GREED KILLS. IT WILL BE OUR DOWNFALL. Of course, the rich will throw a fit and call me a madman.. Of course, they will jump to small minded conclusions about 'jealousy', 'envy', or 'socialism'. Of course, their ignorant fans will do the same. You have to expect that. But I speak the truth. If you don’t believe me, then copy this entry and run it by any professor of economics or socio-economics. Then tell a friend. Call the local radio station. Re-post this entry or put it in your own words. Be one of the first to predict the worst economic and cultural crisis of all time and explain its cause. WE ARE IN BIG TROUBLE.
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