Despite predictions to the contrary, Franken starts with an issue ad that is right on point.
This ad shows why Franken is in position to win this race despite months of the MN GOP throwing everything and the kitchen sink at him. Voters are tired of the GOP slime machine. Franken’s message of change will have deep resonance with Minnesota voters who were sick to death of President Bush’s disastrous policies two years ago and have only grown more disgusted with the Republican party since then. Voters want change and ads like this one will show them that Al Franken can deliver it.
I’m told that the ad buy is “significant” and statewide.
Well, its better than that horrible ad with Franken listening to people talk about sinking home prices.
I don’t know that the fact we are building schools and roads in Iraq is much of a hook - the money actually spent on schools and roads is money well spent. I am more concerned about the money that has disappeared or that is being wasted by Halliburton. And more than the money, I am concerned about the 4000 troops that have died and all the troops that are still there.
I’ll give it a C-.
Fairly good ad from an academic standpoint. Good starting hook, but it tails off.
Dan-
The listening tour video wasn’t an ad, IIRC.
Nicely done… it fits nicely into the overall feeling Minnesotans have about what is going on in Iraq. Republicans stand for spending more money in Iraq, Democrats need to get that money back to spend in America.
And anyone who assumes that the money going to Iraq for “good” causes is actually resulting in schools and roads being built in Iraq needs to read more international websites and publications. Plus you need to count how many of those schools and roads get blown up a few days after opening.
Hey I’ll vote for more money spent in America on Americans.
“And anyone who assumes that the money going to Iraq for “good” causes is actually resulting in schools and roads being built in Iraq needs to read more international websites and publications. Plus you need to count how many of those schools and roads get blown up a few days after opening.”
That is exactly my point. I WISH Franken had talked about how the money in Iraq is being wasted. Instead, Franken just talked about how money is being spent on schools and roads, which doesn’t seem so bad. That is why this ad sucks. If anything, the ad makes it looks like things are going swell in Iraq - hey look, we’re building roads and schools! Are Franken’s media people complete idiots?
Whatever the listening tour video was, it was horrible.
Dan it is an old advertising trick to let the viewer put in their two cents… the viewer thought is “Where are those schools and roads when all I see on TV is shit blowing up? If those things were getting built wouldn’t the Bush administration be pumping those successes?” At that point you have top of mind on two fronts… tax money spent not here and “what the hell is going on over there?”
While I agree that TV spots should never be subtle, they don’t need to be blatant to get the idea across.
How do you think that ad would play to a Schoolboard member in outstate who is pinching pennies till they squeak?
I think that the ad would have played a lot better if it made a better case that we should be spending the money here rather than there. I think a lot of people (even penny pinching schoolboard members) believe that we have an obligation to fix the mess we made in Iraq. So when you are talking about building schools and roads, I don’t think there is a negative reaction at all.
The problem, as you point out, is that the money isn’t going to repair schools and roads - a lot of its getting wasted and the infrastructure of Iraq isn’t getting better. The first part of the ad is basically Franken repeating Bush administration talking points.
Wow - if you count the cute little girls in the scene where he is reading a book to a boy - there are a grand total of four females in this ad! In addition to the background girls, a woman sits at a table with her husband - Al has his back to her. The one frame where he actually looks at a woman is where he is talking to one who apparently is part of the medical profession. Al just recently figured out that the 14th Amendment is not exactly working for women. He also just received a ton of press about the Playboy article and about the rape skit….all of this together with this ad does make me wonder if Al actually sees women as equal to men and deserving equal representation….
Same old same old old boys stuff…..
Seriously? Counting girls in an advertisement?
And you do realizer there was no ‘rape skit’….right? I mean, I’m sure you must.
Demure, I really think you need to talk to a professional about your fixation. It is beyond reason to read those kind of implications into that ad.
I have yet to see a single woman in a position of responsibility or power in a John McCain or a Norm Coleman ad, yet I would make none of the supposition you just made about Al Franken. Not trying to start a fight but hey, Republicans are not exactly a Feminist outfit, so exactly who are you suggesting people support?
Furthermore;
1) one of the ‘cute little girls’ is a grown woman.
2) the construction worker may well be a woman.
3) Al does not have ‘his back turned’ to the woman.
4) I see no proof that the woman and the man is married.
5) there are almost certainly many women in the long shots of Iraq.
6) Really…you need a hobby.
No I need a major party that values women - not just men. And we all know what happens when women point these things out - thanks for illustrating this so clearly.
Women are only fifty some percent of the population [and the voters] - why would a campaign want to appeal to them?
It is kind of fascinating that this is Franken’s first major ad - and that it comes out a little over a week since he stood before delegates and said it “kills me that people think I can’t represent women” -
As a comedian Franken catered to a male audience…it appears as a senate candidate he is catering to a male audience as well.
Amuseinc - why is it you so frequently argue along the lines of well the Republicans are worse so you should support the Democrats? Things are so hot for women who earn roughly 70 cents on the dollar compared to men…at some point you have to realize both major parties are selling your demographic out and the only way to try to bring about change is to offer constructive criticism…even though you know people will not address your arguments but will simply attack you. Deep down don’t you wish your candidate showed more respect to women in this ad?
Yeah, this ad isn’t all that great. Took me too long to figure out the point he made, and I agree with Dan it needs to be splled out better.
Franken’s post-endorsement bounce puts him down just 12 points according to the latest poll, so this better be a huge buy if he doesn’t want to be embarrassed in Nov.
“Deep down don’t you wish your candidate showed more respect to women in this ad?”
Actually, deep down, I wish that Republicans and Ciresi’s people would find some new nits to pick.
I do find it interesting that Demure has spent a lot of posts going after Al Franken with not a single criticism of Norm Coleman. Why is that? You would think that his being the son of a criminal oppressor of women would cause some suspicion of his dedication to Feminism.
I think Al Franken has shown great respect for all people and refuse to play divisive games. This is especially true when you look at Norm Coleman’s voting record. If I made more than $200,000 a year I would feel like Coleman was representing me. Otherwise not so much.
amuseinc - you think people should be judged/evaluated by what their parents have done? Rather Biblical - don’t ya think..
Kind of Kersten-like come to think of it….
Come on Publius. Admit it. There are more effective DFL candidates then Al Franken.
Minnesota voters are so turned off by the GOP slime machine that Coleman is beating Franken by 12%, and Ciresi, who has been out of the race for months, out-polls Franken. Good work, Team Franken.
Actually, Demure One, I think Coleman should be held accountable for his failure to have the committee he chaired, the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, investigate the sweatshops, the forced prostitution, and forced abortions on a place where the American Flag flies, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mairianas Islands.
Yes, Demure One, forced prostitution and forced abortions.
When Coleman had a chance to investigate atrocities connected to Jack Abramoff, he didn’t.
So you go, girl, and vote for Coleman. After all, what’s overlooking a little forced prostitution, between friends?
About as much as I think people should be judged by their jobs or humorous writings. What I find absolutely “funny” for an avowed feminist is your complete lack of concern for women prostituted and abused by the man’s father for undoubtedly many years.
I also note no defense from you about having never had a single post that criticizes Norm Coleman.
They say that on the internet you never know who is behind the screen name… even a dog can have an opinion on the web.
Demure are you sure you are not a Republican plant… of the male persuasion?
You do realize you never directly address my basic point - women have a very thin presence in Franken’s ad. You cool with this? Especially given Franken’s statement about how it kills him that people think he can’t represent women.
You want to play the paranoid game - fine…why does the Democratic party so consistently run such ridiculous campaigns? Are they controlled by the Republicans and programed to attrit so that we the people can never ever get ahead? That would explain your very weak line of argument throughout this post…..hmmmm….