postmodern attack ads don't always shoot where you point 'em
July 24, 2013 3:47 AM Subscribe
What rhymes with Alison Lundergan Grimes?
US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell recently released an odd yet sublimely catchy attack video targeting his 2014 opponent for Senate, Kentucky Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes.
Media commentators reacted with bemusement. DailyKos saw in the video a major blunder:
The catchy Autotuned tune repeats the phrase 'What what rhymes with Alison Lundergan Grimes?' But the mocking answers aren't vocals in the song, just on screen which no one is reading. The video has you repeating Alison's name over, and over, and over, along with the tune. This is a backfire of epic proportions. Instead of mocking her, the video does Grimes a huge favor. Up till now she had little name recognition and a not-easily-remembered name. Not anymore. No highly paid political admakers could have done a better job of imprinting Grimes' name into voters' brains if they had tried. And the clips of her are flattering - she comes across as very likeable.
In other news from the same race, a Tea Party-backed opponent is throwing his hat into the ring this week to challenge McConnell for his seat as well.
US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell recently released an odd yet sublimely catchy attack video targeting his 2014 opponent for Senate, Kentucky Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes.
Media commentators reacted with bemusement. DailyKos saw in the video a major blunder:
The catchy Autotuned tune repeats the phrase 'What what rhymes with Alison Lundergan Grimes?' But the mocking answers aren't vocals in the song, just on screen which no one is reading. The video has you repeating Alison's name over, and over, and over, along with the tune. This is a backfire of epic proportions. Instead of mocking her, the video does Grimes a huge favor. Up till now she had little name recognition and a not-easily-remembered name. Not anymore. No highly paid political admakers could have done a better job of imprinting Grimes' name into voters' brains if they had tried. And the clips of her are flattering - she comes across as very likeable.
In other news from the same race, a Tea Party-backed opponent is throwing his hat into the ring this week to challenge McConnell for his seat as well.
also I'm totally hoping for a Grimes remix
posted by threeants at 3:52 AM on July 24, 2013 [11 favorites]
posted by threeants at 3:52 AM on July 24, 2013 [11 favorites]
Holy...what? "Left wing mime"? What? Also, who was like "Yes, this font. This is the font we will use!"?
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 3:57 AM on July 24, 2013 [19 favorites]
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 3:57 AM on July 24, 2013 [19 favorites]
Does a left wing mime just wordlessly illustrate how happy everyone would be if there was universal healthcare and funding for public schools?
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 4:02 AM on July 24, 2013 [54 favorites]
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 4:02 AM on July 24, 2013 [54 favorites]
In the presidential election of 1844, Henry Clay's slogan was "Who the Hell is James K. Polk?"
Guess who won.
(It probably didn't help that his fallback slogan was "The country's risin' / for Clay and Frelinghuysen".)
posted by kyrademon at 4:08 AM on July 24, 2013 [30 favorites]
Guess who won.
(It probably didn't help that his fallback slogan was "The country's risin' / for Clay and Frelinghuysen".)
posted by kyrademon at 4:08 AM on July 24, 2013 [30 favorites]
Maybe Mitch wants to lose so he can finally get that host sweet lobbyist money that the other ex-Senators get.
posted by Renoroc at 4:32 AM on July 24, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by Renoroc at 4:32 AM on July 24, 2013 [5 favorites]
I feel like you guys are ignoring something important. "Line" and "mine" do not rhyme with Grimes.
posted by to sir with millipedes at 4:33 AM on July 24, 2013 [10 favorites]
posted by to sir with millipedes at 4:33 AM on July 24, 2013 [10 favorites]
Yes, you'd think a giant Dr. Seussean tortoise would be able to put together a better rhyme scheme.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 4:36 AM on July 24, 2013 [20 favorites]
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 4:36 AM on July 24, 2013 [20 favorites]
They did such a good job with the chorus, but what the hell's going on at 0:24?
posted by SharkParty at 4:38 AM on July 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by SharkParty at 4:38 AM on July 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
• Let's say her name fifty times
• Incumbents are past their primes
• Don't pay your ad team in dimes
• Mitch just bit down on some limes?
I think I've run out of rhymes.
posted by sysinfo at 4:45 AM on July 24, 2013 [10 favorites]
• Incumbents are past their primes
• Don't pay your ad team in dimes
• Mitch just bit down on some limes?
I think I've run out of rhymes.
posted by sysinfo at 4:45 AM on July 24, 2013 [10 favorites]
What rhymes
with Alison Lundergan Grimes?
Good times!
Mitch, you callous and blunderin' slime.
posted by fikri at 4:59 AM on July 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
with Alison Lundergan Grimes?
Good times!
Mitch, you callous and blunderin' slime.
posted by fikri at 4:59 AM on July 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
I am on the fence about theories like "name recognition". So it doesn't matter at all what her actual policies are, but that we remember her name? Are modern politics so cynical?
posted by Napierzaza at 5:13 AM on July 24, 2013
posted by Napierzaza at 5:13 AM on July 24, 2013
She should just change her name to John Wellington Wells.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 5:18 AM on July 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 5:18 AM on July 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
If nobody remembers her name, nobody can look up her position on policies.
posted by lydhre at 5:23 AM on July 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by lydhre at 5:23 AM on July 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
Holy...what? "Left wing mime"?
That's "left wing MIME"
It's a specification which allows the mail server to be configured to automatically delete mail with attachments sent by older relatives.
posted by ennui.bz at 5:32 AM on July 24, 2013 [52 favorites]
That's "left wing MIME"
It's a specification which allows the mail server to be configured to automatically delete mail with attachments sent by older relatives.
posted by ennui.bz at 5:32 AM on July 24, 2013 [52 favorites]
Wait... wait.. "rhymes."
Oh. My. God! The word "rhymes" itself, actually rhymes with "Grimes!"
We are somewhere down the rabbit hole now, people...
posted by Naberius at 5:36 AM on July 24, 2013 [4 favorites]
Oh. My. God! The word "rhymes" itself, actually rhymes with "Grimes!"
We are somewhere down the rabbit hole now, people...
posted by Naberius at 5:36 AM on July 24, 2013 [4 favorites]
I am on the fence about theories like "name recognition". So it doesn't matter at all what her actual policies are, but that we remember her name? Are modern politics so cynical?
Looks like it does work. I wouldn't be surprised if it's works because people are basically never going to vote for someone that they haven't heard of, whereas some percentage of the population is going to vote for a person they have heard of, without any detailed knowledge of their policies.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 5:36 AM on July 24, 2013
Looks like it does work. I wouldn't be surprised if it's works because people are basically never going to vote for someone that they haven't heard of, whereas some percentage of the population is going to vote for a person they have heard of, without any detailed knowledge of their policies.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 5:36 AM on July 24, 2013
The Lesser Left Wing Mime has been on the endangered list since their nesting grounds were destroyed twenty years ago. True fact!
posted by blue_beetle at 5:37 AM on July 24, 2013 [11 favorites]
posted by blue_beetle at 5:37 AM on July 24, 2013 [11 favorites]
We are somewhere down the rabbit hole now, people...
Alice in Wonderland times?
posted by pracowity at 5:39 AM on July 24, 2013 [25 favorites]
Alice in Wonderland times?
posted by pracowity at 5:39 AM on July 24, 2013 [25 favorites]
This race makes me sad that I live across the river now, and can't vote against McConnell (though it didn't work so well the last 2 times)
posted by DigDoug at 5:44 AM on July 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by DigDoug at 5:44 AM on July 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
The font and color choices make this look like the opening titles of a mid-'90s WB sitcom, as envisioned by Tim & Eric.
posted by Strange Interlude at 5:46 AM on July 24, 2013 [14 favorites]
posted by Strange Interlude at 5:46 AM on July 24, 2013 [14 favorites]
If this song had been made by Grimes's campaign it'd be a slightly hamfisted (though catchy!) attempt at viral stardom. The context totally makes this.
posted by chrominance at 5:59 AM on July 24, 2013
posted by chrominance at 5:59 AM on July 24, 2013
It's like an hour later and I still can't stop singing "what rhymes with Allison Lungeren Grimes" quietly under my breath.
I think the real goal of the ad is to make people associate "Allison Lungeren Grimes" with crazy people muttering on the street.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 6:00 AM on July 24, 2013 [7 favorites]
I think the real goal of the ad is to make people associate "Allison Lungeren Grimes" with crazy people muttering on the street.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 6:00 AM on July 24, 2013 [7 favorites]
So Mitch McConnell is as adept at marketing as he is at governing, huh?
posted by Benny Andajetz at 6:05 AM on July 24, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by Benny Andajetz at 6:05 AM on July 24, 2013 [5 favorites]
SharkParty: I'm pretty sure she says "I am a butt plug, I picked the right party."
posted by 256 at 6:06 AM on July 24, 2013
posted by 256 at 6:06 AM on July 24, 2013
That is so damn catchy. I kind of hate you right now, threeants.
posted by Lemurrhea at 6:08 AM on July 24, 2013
posted by Lemurrhea at 6:08 AM on July 24, 2013
I would also like to take this opportunity to nominate "left-wing" as the most meaningless and misused term in the English language.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 6:12 AM on July 24, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by Benny Andajetz at 6:12 AM on July 24, 2013 [5 favorites]
I love how the thought here is that someone saying that they are a "life long Democrat" is, in the eyes of the McConnell campaign, damning enough to belong in an attack ad. I think people are probably going to figure out that she's a Democrat when they look at the ballot.
Yeah, I mean I get that the President is not popular in Kentucky, but I don't understand how showing a candidate merely saying the phrase "Democratic values" is supposed to be a slam dunk in a state whose House of Representatives is controlled by Democrats.
posted by threeants at 6:14 AM on July 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
Yeah, I mean I get that the President is not popular in Kentucky, but I don't understand how showing a candidate merely saying the phrase "Democratic values" is supposed to be a slam dunk in a state whose House of Representatives is controlled by Democrats.
posted by threeants at 6:14 AM on July 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
What does it say about me that this post has me humming this?
(which, really, is the tune they should have used!)
posted by HuronBob at 6:21 AM on July 24, 2013
(which, really, is the tune they should have used!)
posted by HuronBob at 6:21 AM on July 24, 2013
What does it say about me that this post has me humming this?
Yeah, that campaign song didn't end up so well for the incumbent, J. Jacob (Jake) Jingleheimer-Schmidt (R-MN) when he ran against John J. "Jingleheimer" Schmidt in 1954. I mean he had the name recognition clearly, but ballot placement killed him and the song only confused matters.
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 6:27 AM on July 24, 2013 [24 favorites]
Yeah, that campaign song didn't end up so well for the incumbent, J. Jacob (Jake) Jingleheimer-Schmidt (R-MN) when he ran against John J. "Jingleheimer" Schmidt in 1954. I mean he had the name recognition clearly, but ballot placement killed him and the song only confused matters.
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 6:27 AM on July 24, 2013 [24 favorites]
So it doesn't matter at all what her actual policies are, but that we remember her name? Are modern politics so cynical?
I don't get it either, but it must work, right? Otherwise why spend a bunch of money to fill median strips with signs that just say: "CANDIDATE NAME" over a clip art American flag?
posted by JoanArkham at 6:30 AM on July 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
I don't get it either, but it must work, right? Otherwise why spend a bunch of money to fill median strips with signs that just say: "CANDIDATE NAME" over a clip art American flag?
posted by JoanArkham at 6:30 AM on July 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
This race makes me sad that I live across the river now, and can't vote against McConnell
You could always engage in some of that voter fraud that Democrats are apparently so enamored of.
posted by TedW at 6:31 AM on July 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
You could always engage in some of that voter fraud that Democrats are apparently so enamored of.
posted by TedW at 6:31 AM on July 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
...Prince's Sign O' the Times?
...A Variety of Molds and Slimes?
...Orwellian Thought Crimes?
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 6:36 AM on July 24, 2013 [4 favorites]
...A Variety of Molds and Slimes?
...Orwellian Thought Crimes?
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 6:36 AM on July 24, 2013 [4 favorites]
I think I've run out of rhymes.
Don't sweat it - I've got your back.
What rhymes with Alison Lundergan Grimes?
Celebrate good times.
Ancient mariner's rimes.
Wall Street keep committing crimes.
Republicans get caught with rentboys sometimes.
They'll write about this campaign in the New York Times.
Optimus is the last of the Primes.
Caprioskas are made with limes.
Guys in Ghostbusters get covered in slimes.
When I get a message my iphone chimes.
Now I, too, have run out of rhymes.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 6:38 AM on July 24, 2013 [18 favorites]
Don't sweat it - I've got your back.
What rhymes with Alison Lundergan Grimes?
Celebrate good times.
Ancient mariner's rimes.
Wall Street keep committing crimes.
Republicans get caught with rentboys sometimes.
They'll write about this campaign in the New York Times.
Optimus is the last of the Primes.
Caprioskas are made with limes.
Guys in Ghostbusters get covered in slimes.
When I get a message my iphone chimes.
Now I, too, have run out of rhymes.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 6:38 AM on July 24, 2013 [18 favorites]
So it doesn't matter at all what her actual policies are, but that we remember her name?
You step into a voting booth because you figure it's your duty to vote, but there are names, names, names to choose from, and you can't remember which ones did what. Probably you never knew. You may vote along party lines, in which case the names don't matter, but otherwise you need to pick names. Which names rings a bell? Which names gives you a good feeling? Which names feel oddly familiar and safe to you? Your lizard brain is telling you which names are the right names, but you have to listen.
posted by pracowity at 6:47 AM on July 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
You step into a voting booth because you figure it's your duty to vote, but there are names, names, names to choose from, and you can't remember which ones did what. Probably you never knew. You may vote along party lines, in which case the names don't matter, but otherwise you need to pick names. Which names rings a bell? Which names gives you a good feeling? Which names feel oddly familiar and safe to you? Your lizard brain is telling you which names are the right names, but you have to listen.
posted by pracowity at 6:47 AM on July 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
In the presidential election of 1844, Henry Clay's slogan was "Who the Hell is James K. Polk?"
Guess who won.
Easy, it was James K. Polk, the Napoleon of the Stump.
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:50 AM on July 24, 2013 [10 favorites]
Guess who won.
Easy, it was James K. Polk, the Napoleon of the Stump.
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:50 AM on July 24, 2013 [10 favorites]
“I'm saying you're what's wrong with America, [McConnell]. You coast through life, you do as little as possible, and you leech off of decent, hardworking people like me. Heh, if you lived in any other country in the world, you'd have starved to death long ago.”
- [Alison Lundergan] Grimes
posted by blue_beetle at 7:05 AM on July 24, 2013 [12 favorites]
- [Alison Lundergan] Grimes
posted by blue_beetle at 7:05 AM on July 24, 2013 [12 favorites]
Optimus is the last of the Primes.
Hmm... well, that depends a lot on how you define "last." And, perhaps, also where you think the story ends, as Transformers' chronology is extremely convoluted. However, I think the lay fan might say that Rodimus is the last of the Primes...
As a native Kentuckian, with family still in the state, I fervently wish that Mitch McConnell would be defeated. Although, from the Kentucky point of view, he's perhaps not all bad - he is quite good at bringing pork home to the state, which is hilarious, given the whole debt hysteria that is the driving animus of the Teapublicans.
As someone mentioned upthread, Democrat is not a dirty word on the state level (they have usually had Democratic governors in Kentucky). I don't think the state is quite as reactionary and conservative as other states, even ones nearby like Indiana. Because you have so many people on government assistance, particularly in the Eastern part of the state, you can't totally paint government intervention as immoral there. I think most of Kentucky's conservatism stems from its generalized xenophobia. It's a fairly poor and isolated state, similar to its neighbor West Virginia. It's easy to be suspicious of outsiders there, even if it just means the people from the next county over.
posted by Slothrop at 7:09 AM on July 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
Hmm... well, that depends a lot on how you define "last." And, perhaps, also where you think the story ends, as Transformers' chronology is extremely convoluted. However, I think the lay fan might say that Rodimus is the last of the Primes...
As a native Kentuckian, with family still in the state, I fervently wish that Mitch McConnell would be defeated. Although, from the Kentucky point of view, he's perhaps not all bad - he is quite good at bringing pork home to the state, which is hilarious, given the whole debt hysteria that is the driving animus of the Teapublicans.
As someone mentioned upthread, Democrat is not a dirty word on the state level (they have usually had Democratic governors in Kentucky). I don't think the state is quite as reactionary and conservative as other states, even ones nearby like Indiana. Because you have so many people on government assistance, particularly in the Eastern part of the state, you can't totally paint government intervention as immoral there. I think most of Kentucky's conservatism stems from its generalized xenophobia. It's a fairly poor and isolated state, similar to its neighbor West Virginia. It's easy to be suspicious of outsiders there, even if it just means the people from the next county over.
posted by Slothrop at 7:09 AM on July 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
Can anyone explain why on earth McConnell is releasing attack ads more than a year before the Senate elections? Seriously, who will remember this crap in a year?
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 7:10 AM on July 24, 2013
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 7:10 AM on July 24, 2013
Can anyone explain why on earth McConnell is releasing attack ads more than a year before the Senate elections? Seriously, who will remember this crap in a year?
As of today? Everyone.
posted by blue_beetle at 7:11 AM on July 24, 2013 [10 favorites]
As of today? Everyone.
posted by blue_beetle at 7:11 AM on July 24, 2013 [10 favorites]
People got paid to make this.
posted by cjorgensen at 7:12 AM on July 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by cjorgensen at 7:12 AM on July 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
I'm Frank Lundergan Grimes, and I approve this message.
posted by Frank Grimes at 7:13 AM on July 24, 2013 [17 favorites]
posted by Frank Grimes at 7:13 AM on July 24, 2013 [17 favorites]
His thoughts were red thoughts: "Can anyone explain why on earth McConnell is releasing attack ads more than a year before the Senate elections? Seriously, who will remember this crap in a year?"
Grimes is considered a credible threat. If McConnell can destroy her now, it's in his interest to do so, before she can get going.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:14 AM on July 24, 2013
Grimes is considered a credible threat. If McConnell can destroy her now, it's in his interest to do so, before she can get going.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:14 AM on July 24, 2013
Can anyone explain why on earth McConnell is releasing attack ads more than a year before the Senate elections?
He also has a negative ad up against his primary challenger, Matt Bevin.
posted by Gelatin at 7:21 AM on July 24, 2013
He also has a negative ad up against his primary challenger, Matt Bevin.
posted by Gelatin at 7:21 AM on July 24, 2013
Also lots of weird thinly veiled stuff in this:
Why make her say 'me' 50 times (like no other politician has ever said me) or say her own name (like no other politician has ever said their own name)? Because women are totally vain.
Why have her saying that weird line at the end thanking her inlaws? Because she includes her maiden name as part of her name, and that's weird. Also vain. See above.
Why paste her head on Ellen DeGeneres' body dancing with the President? Two for the price of one: connect her to the President and imply that she's gay.
It's basically a junior high school student council campaign ad.
posted by hydropsyche at 7:25 AM on July 24, 2013 [26 favorites]
Why make her say 'me' 50 times (like no other politician has ever said me) or say her own name (like no other politician has ever said their own name)? Because women are totally vain.
Why have her saying that weird line at the end thanking her inlaws? Because she includes her maiden name as part of her name, and that's weird. Also vain. See above.
Why paste her head on Ellen DeGeneres' body dancing with the President? Two for the price of one: connect her to the President and imply that she's gay.
It's basically a junior high school student council campaign ad.
posted by hydropsyche at 7:25 AM on July 24, 2013 [26 favorites]
Easy, it was James K. Polk, the Napoleon of the Stump.
Incidentally, Polk was from Columbia, Tennessee, the "Mule Capital of the World". I leave you to your own conclusions about the nickname.
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 7:27 AM on July 24, 2013
Incidentally, Polk was from Columbia, Tennessee, the "Mule Capital of the World". I leave you to your own conclusions about the nickname.
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 7:27 AM on July 24, 2013
I think the real danger for McConnell isn't so much name recognition in-state, as nationwide. This will go viral among politics addicts, some of whom will have money to spare to send to whomever they feel can go up against a high profile Republican senator. I bet this ad will bring, over the course of the campaign, at least a million dollars in campaign funds for Grimes.
posted by Kattullus at 7:31 AM on July 24, 2013
posted by Kattullus at 7:31 AM on July 24, 2013
You know who else rhymes with Alison Lundergan Grimes?
That's right...
No, wait. That's not right.
posted by drlith at 7:34 AM on July 24, 2013 [4 favorites]
That's right...
No, wait. That's not right.
posted by drlith at 7:34 AM on July 24, 2013 [4 favorites]
I am on the fence about theories like "name recognition". So it doesn't matter at all what her actual policies are, but that we remember her name? Are modern politics so cynical?
Hamburger?
I'm not sure I understand the ad at all. What's it supposed to be implying ... crimes?
I currently see 1 Google News result (July 2, Salon) for Alison Lundergan Grimes. Let's watch.
Lots of things can rhyme with Grimes.
Lundergan can have loose rhymes.
NOTHING rhymes with Alison.
Don't try or you will fail my son
posted by mrgrimm at 7:49 AM on July 24, 2013
Hamburger?
I'm not sure I understand the ad at all. What's it supposed to be implying ... crimes?
I currently see 1 Google News result (July 2, Salon) for Alison Lundergan Grimes. Let's watch.
Lots of things can rhyme with Grimes.
Lundergan can have loose rhymes.
NOTHING rhymes with Alison.
Don't try or you will fail my son
posted by mrgrimm at 7:49 AM on July 24, 2013
The Rules of Negative Campaigning
1. You don't repeat your opponent's name.
2. You don't repeat your opponent's name.
3. Only two candidates to a race.
4. One race at a time.
5. They race in suits and ties.
6. The races go on as long as they have to.
7. If this is your first race, you have to go negative.
posted by fifthrider at 7:51 AM on July 24, 2013 [8 favorites]
1. You don't repeat your opponent's name.
2. You don't repeat your opponent's name.
3. Only two candidates to a race.
4. One race at a time.
5. They race in suits and ties.
6. The races go on as long as they have to.
7. If this is your first race, you have to go negative.
posted by fifthrider at 7:51 AM on July 24, 2013 [8 favorites]
This ad has all the hallmarks of an out-of-touch GOP operative saying "I hear that there autotune stuff is popular with the young 'uns".
posted by plastic_animals at 7:55 AM on July 24, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by plastic_animals at 7:55 AM on July 24, 2013 [5 favorites]
Is it just me or does this ad make her look really, really likeable? That seems to be the ad's biggest fault to me. It made me want to learn more about her (of course, I'm also a "left-wing mime" so there's that).
Can anyone explain why on earth McConnell is releasing attack ads more than a year before the Senate elections?
For a powerful incumbent like McConnell, there are two ways to go at this stage: 1. ignore your opponents, be above the fray, and just get lots of good press from the stuff you do in office, because incumbents have a big megaphone just by virtue of already being in the office. 2. psychological warfare against your opponent. Use your power and money as an incumbent to run them in the ground when they're still finding their footing.
The problem for McConnell (partly of his own making) is that the office he currently holds is as a leader in the U.S. Senate, so he can't point to all the great things he's doing there (because Congress), so he can only really go with option 2.
And to be fair, this is a very silly and poorly-conceived video, but it probably costs them very little money and, because it's so early, the stakes are pretty low (although the points about raising Grimes' profile are probably true). When it gets closer, I have no doubt that McConnell will have much better ad-makers working their dark arts.
posted by lunasol at 7:55 AM on July 24, 2013
Can anyone explain why on earth McConnell is releasing attack ads more than a year before the Senate elections?
For a powerful incumbent like McConnell, there are two ways to go at this stage: 1. ignore your opponents, be above the fray, and just get lots of good press from the stuff you do in office, because incumbents have a big megaphone just by virtue of already being in the office. 2. psychological warfare against your opponent. Use your power and money as an incumbent to run them in the ground when they're still finding their footing.
The problem for McConnell (partly of his own making) is that the office he currently holds is as a leader in the U.S. Senate, so he can't point to all the great things he's doing there (because Congress), so he can only really go with option 2.
And to be fair, this is a very silly and poorly-conceived video, but it probably costs them very little money and, because it's so early, the stakes are pretty low (although the points about raising Grimes' profile are probably true). When it gets closer, I have no doubt that McConnell will have much better ad-makers working their dark arts.
posted by lunasol at 7:55 AM on July 24, 2013
Mitch McConnell: Horizontal. Nickel/Copper alloy, Monel. Floral and Faunal. Periodontal.
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 7:56 AM on July 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 7:56 AM on July 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
This kind of thing has me wondering if I'm actually wired into a simulation designed to Evaluate Subjects' Gullibility Under Conditions of Increasingly Implausible Scenarios.
I hope that on the day I simply refuse to believe, they'll allow me to wake up and experience what the real world is like.
posted by itstheclamsname at 8:05 AM on July 24, 2013 [6 favorites]
I hope that on the day I simply refuse to believe, they'll allow me to wake up and experience what the real world is like.
posted by itstheclamsname at 8:05 AM on July 24, 2013 [6 favorites]
"Mitch McConnell: Horizontal"
Unfortunately, given the incumbency advantage, Grimes' best chance is if McConnell dies (or she can convince a majority of voters that he did).
posted by klangklangston at 8:11 AM on July 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
Unfortunately, given the incumbency advantage, Grimes' best chance is if McConnell dies (or she can convince a majority of voters that he did).
posted by klangklangston at 8:11 AM on July 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
"And this is on the Internets you say? How many virals is it? Brazillions you say? That's a lot of virals! Computers are really great for getting to the youth" -- Mitch MConnell
posted by NiteMayr at 8:12 AM on July 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by NiteMayr at 8:12 AM on July 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
Unfortunately, given the incumbency advantage, Grimes' best chance is if McConnell dies (or she can convince a majority of voters that he did).
Yep, even a republican clearly decending into mental illness is a sure winner in Kentucky!
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 8:23 AM on July 24, 2013
Yep, even a republican clearly decending into mental illness is a sure winner in Kentucky!
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 8:23 AM on July 24, 2013
Alright liberal Mefites, be honest. The Republican Party has been infiltrated by double agents, hasn't it?
I mean a Tea Party that is a silly parody of what liberals think Republicans believe, whose only function appears to be to hand seats to Democrats in marginal districts by splitting the conservative base, while electing embarrassing representatives in districts that could never be blue anyways. And now ads that are clearly designed to benefit the opposition.
You guys planned this, didn't you?
posted by vorpal bunny at 8:25 AM on July 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
I mean a Tea Party that is a silly parody of what liberals think Republicans believe, whose only function appears to be to hand seats to Democrats in marginal districts by splitting the conservative base, while electing embarrassing representatives in districts that could never be blue anyways. And now ads that are clearly designed to benefit the opposition.
You guys planned this, didn't you?
posted by vorpal bunny at 8:25 AM on July 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
You guys planned this, didn't you?
Oh god do I wish, but more so I wish that your theoretical scenario was going to come true too! Sadly, people will vote for these whack-os and they will mostly win no matter how embarrassing they will be.
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 8:36 AM on July 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
Oh god do I wish, but more so I wish that your theoretical scenario was going to come true too! Sadly, people will vote for these whack-os and they will mostly win no matter how embarrassing they will be.
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 8:36 AM on July 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
James K. Polk, the Napoleon of the Stump.
I thought Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson was the Napoleon of the Stump.
Sorry.
posted by Herodios at 8:37 AM on July 24, 2013 [7 favorites]
I thought Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson was the Napoleon of the Stump.
Sorry.
posted by Herodios at 8:37 AM on July 24, 2013 [7 favorites]
McConnell Ad Spoofs 'Obama's Kentucky Candidate'
I get it now. She says her name a lot, and it's a name that sounds fancy/elite. That's it, right?
You guys planned this, didn't you?
I think it's more like gritted their teeth and held their tongues as best possible while the tea party types kept getting more and more ridiculous, hoping one day surely (surely!) the idiocy must backfire.
posted by mrgrimm at 8:55 AM on July 24, 2013
I get it now. She says her name a lot, and it's a name that sounds fancy/elite. That's it, right?
You guys planned this, didn't you?
I think it's more like gritted their teeth and held their tongues as best possible while the tea party types kept getting more and more ridiculous, hoping one day surely (surely!) the idiocy must backfire.
posted by mrgrimm at 8:55 AM on July 24, 2013
We are somewhere down the rabbit hole now, people...
Alice in Wonderland times?
Father says, "Beware the Jabberwock, my son!" and suddenly the boy can't think of anything else besides biting jaws and catching claws. Not exactly the most mimsy approach, in retrospect.
posted by Celsius1414 at 8:55 AM on July 24, 2013
Alice in Wonderland times?
Father says, "Beware the Jabberwock, my son!" and suddenly the boy can't think of anything else besides biting jaws and catching claws. Not exactly the most mimsy approach, in retrospect.
posted by Celsius1414 at 8:55 AM on July 24, 2013
McConnell Ad Spoofs 'Obama's Kentucky Candidate'
This one is pretty cute, though definitely aimed squarely at the GOP's base. Not intended to persuade anyone, but to get Republican party activists to giggle and sputter and say "Well, I never ... can you believe the nerve of these people?"
posted by lunasol at 9:02 AM on July 24, 2013
This one is pretty cute, though definitely aimed squarely at the GOP's base. Not intended to persuade anyone, but to get Republican party activists to giggle and sputter and say "Well, I never ... can you believe the nerve of these people?"
posted by lunasol at 9:02 AM on July 24, 2013
I think I would've gone with:
Ain't no time to worry about Grimes!
Get out of those ditches,
And vote you sum Mitches!
posted by octobersurprise at 9:07 AM on July 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
Ain't no time to worry about Grimes!
Get out of those ditches,
And vote you sum Mitches!
posted by octobersurprise at 9:07 AM on July 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'm voting for Ivan Skavinsky Skavar!
posted by Kattullus at 9:13 AM on July 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Kattullus at 9:13 AM on July 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
Well, I guess I finally found something to dislodge that Anna Kendrick "Cups" song that my kids have been listening to lately.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:17 AM on July 24, 2013
posted by wenestvedt at 9:17 AM on July 24, 2013
McConnell Ad Spoofs 'Obama's Kentucky Candidate'
So his argument is that some of them wear funny tophats in their duties as Ambassador and that they have to run in a primary against each other to determine a party nominee? For SHAME!
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 9:35 AM on July 24, 2013
So his argument is that some of them wear funny tophats in their duties as Ambassador and that they have to run in a primary against each other to determine a party nominee? For SHAME!
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 9:35 AM on July 24, 2013
Doesn't a move like this, where you're literally just mocking your opponent, smack of desperation?
Is McConnell afraid or something?
posted by grubi at 9:50 AM on July 24, 2013
Is McConnell afraid or something?
posted by grubi at 9:50 AM on July 24, 2013
I am on the fence about theories like "name recognition". So it doesn't matter at all what her actual policies are, but that we remember her name? Are modern politics so cynical?
Compared to gerrymandering voting districts into shapes that make a tesseract look plain I'd say that name recognition over policy borders on downright Pollyanna-esque.
posted by phearlez at 10:06 AM on July 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
Compared to gerrymandering voting districts into shapes that make a tesseract look plain I'd say that name recognition over policy borders on downright Pollyanna-esque.
posted by phearlez at 10:06 AM on July 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
grubi, yes, but McConnell has good reason to be worried. This is considered a very high stakes contest. It's estimated that $50-60 million in ad dollars will be spent in KY before the election is over -- and Kentucky is not a state where advertising is terribly expensive. Certainly not compared to many other, more contested states.
The Tea Party has already launched their own candidate against McConnell, Matt Bevin, who will be more sympathetic to their interests. This will no doubt split the Republican vote. Possibly those of independents, too.
I believe Grimes is the daughter of the KY state chairman of the Democratic party. So he's a known name, even if she isn't yet. Both challengers have announced this month, 16 months before election day. McConnell's campaign attacked them both pre-emptively, before they announced.
Interesting times.
posted by zarq at 10:07 AM on July 24, 2013
The Tea Party has already launched their own candidate against McConnell, Matt Bevin, who will be more sympathetic to their interests. This will no doubt split the Republican vote. Possibly those of independents, too.
I believe Grimes is the daughter of the KY state chairman of the Democratic party. So he's a known name, even if she isn't yet. Both challengers have announced this month, 16 months before election day. McConnell's campaign attacked them both pre-emptively, before they announced.
Interesting times.
posted by zarq at 10:07 AM on July 24, 2013
Can anyone explain why on earth McConnell is releasing attack ads more than a year before the Senate elections?
This is the same guy who was throwing negative shit at actress Ashley Judd way back in December, and she had only vaguely hinted at the mere possibility of running.
posted by Atom Eyes at 10:24 AM on July 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
This is the same guy who was throwing negative shit at actress Ashley Judd way back in December, and she had only vaguely hinted at the mere possibility of running.
posted by Atom Eyes at 10:24 AM on July 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
Why make her say 'me' 50 times (like no other politician has ever said me) or say her own name (like no other politician has ever said their own name)? Because women are totally vain.
They should have used this song then.
posted by Pendragon at 10:25 AM on July 24, 2013
They should have used this song then.
posted by Pendragon at 10:25 AM on July 24, 2013
MetaFilter has clearly joined the left wing mime meme theme dream team.
posted by GenjiandProust at 10:33 AM on July 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by GenjiandProust at 10:33 AM on July 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
"First of all, how do you pronounce the word t-o-w-a-r-d-s?"
"Towards?"
"And things that have wings and fly?"
"You mean birds?"
"That's right. They don't rhyme."
posted by ckape at 10:52 AM on July 24, 2013
"Towards?"
"And things that have wings and fly?"
"You mean birds?"
"That's right. They don't rhyme."
posted by ckape at 10:52 AM on July 24, 2013
The benefit of name recognition should be obvious. That is the first thing you need to get into the voters head if you ever want them to look at your stances. It doesn't matter if I hate my congressman/mayor/etc. if I go to vote and all I see is the incumbents name and a name I've never heard, I'm going to either not vote or vote for the incumbent. People will always choose the devil they know.
If you were a serious candidate I would have heard of you.
posted by MrBobaFett at 10:53 AM on July 24, 2013
If you were a serious candidate I would have heard of you.
posted by MrBobaFett at 10:53 AM on July 24, 2013
he is quite good at bringing pork home to the state, which is hilarious, given the whole debt hysteria that is the driving animus of the Teapublicans.
Can't agree, Slothrop. I think it's more accurate to call debt hysteria the manifestation of Republican animus. "Conservative Republicans" gave Pres. Bush over 80% approval for almost his entire presidency, after all. I think what's really driving them is...
I think most of Kentucky's conservatism stems from its generalized xenophobia.
Yes, that, exactly. Well said, Slothrop! Today's GOP is about fear of the Other, with little if any connection to actual policy, or even ideology.
The GOP's hermetically sealed bubble ("epistemic closure") comes through in this ad-- there's no effort to make any point beyond "she's a chick and a Democrat LOL".
posted by ibmcginty at 11:29 AM on July 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
Can't agree, Slothrop. I think it's more accurate to call debt hysteria the manifestation of Republican animus. "Conservative Republicans" gave Pres. Bush over 80% approval for almost his entire presidency, after all. I think what's really driving them is...
I think most of Kentucky's conservatism stems from its generalized xenophobia.
Yes, that, exactly. Well said, Slothrop! Today's GOP is about fear of the Other, with little if any connection to actual policy, or even ideology.
The GOP's hermetically sealed bubble ("epistemic closure") comes through in this ad-- there's no effort to make any point beyond "she's a chick and a Democrat LOL".
posted by ibmcginty at 11:29 AM on July 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
Compared to gerrymandering voting districts into shapes that make a tesseract look plain
Don't be silly, you can't project a tesseract onto a plain.
posted by Herodios at 11:32 AM on July 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
Don't be silly, you can't project a tesseract onto a plain.
posted by Herodios at 11:32 AM on July 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
This is the fourth time today that I've come back to this post to listen to this song.
Yesterday, I had no idea who Alison Lundergan Grimes was.
posted by 256 at 11:44 AM on July 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
Yesterday, I had no idea who Alison Lundergan Grimes was.
posted by 256 at 11:44 AM on July 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
ibmcginty - well, actually I (almost) completely agree with you. Yes, the voter base for the Republicans is motivated more or less completely by fear of the Other. My own comment about McConnell's facility in procuring pork reveals the flimsy hypocrisy of the debt hysteria as an actual concern.
The way I see it is like this - the power brokers of the modern GOP (figures like the Koch brothers) use this fear of the other and transform it through debt hysteria. It would be too distasteful to the mainstream media narrative, not to mention "independent" voters, to campaign on an obviously xenophobic platform. However, it is a tremendously useful dog whistle to talk about the debt problem, which to most Tea Party types is really a "social services for people I don't like" problem. I don't even think power brokers like the Koch brothers are necessarily xenophobic themselves, but they have been able to harness that fear to tarnish social services, even things like public schools, so that they can lower taxes for the wealthy. Look at states like Wisconsin, Michigan or North Carolina to see what happens when they finally get a Republican majority. Thankfully, in each of these states, these Republican administrations have really alienated huge swaths of people, so hopefully we can overturn their stupider pieces of legislation within the next few cycles.
posted by Slothrop at 12:14 PM on July 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
The way I see it is like this - the power brokers of the modern GOP (figures like the Koch brothers) use this fear of the other and transform it through debt hysteria. It would be too distasteful to the mainstream media narrative, not to mention "independent" voters, to campaign on an obviously xenophobic platform. However, it is a tremendously useful dog whistle to talk about the debt problem, which to most Tea Party types is really a "social services for people I don't like" problem. I don't even think power brokers like the Koch brothers are necessarily xenophobic themselves, but they have been able to harness that fear to tarnish social services, even things like public schools, so that they can lower taxes for the wealthy. Look at states like Wisconsin, Michigan or North Carolina to see what happens when they finally get a Republican majority. Thankfully, in each of these states, these Republican administrations have really alienated huge swaths of people, so hopefully we can overturn their stupider pieces of legislation within the next few cycles.
posted by Slothrop at 12:14 PM on July 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
The great part is that in the both the Democratic and Republican campaign guides someone had to write down these new "lessons learned":
- Do *not* create an attack ad at 120 BPM or above.
- All auto-tune attack ads need to be screened and approved before release by the party chair.
- Mention of opponent's name may only be allowed if chord of Emin/maj9 is playing in background.
Just up on The NY Times;
McConnell Campaign, Facing Woman as Challenger, Says It Won’t Shy From Issues
Mr. McConnell, the Senate Republican leader, has faced a female opponent only once during his nearly 30 years in the Senate. He and his team seem eager to try to head off a campaign in 2014 that could become a referendum on how female voters feel about the Republican Party’s recent record.
Several times he has explained his vote this year against the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, and his office — normally averse to stories about staff — has willingly offered up for interviews the “strong women” with whom they say Mr. McConnell has always surrounded himself....
posted by R. Mutt at 1:14 PM on July 24, 2013
McConnell Campaign, Facing Woman as Challenger, Says It Won’t Shy From Issues
Mr. McConnell, the Senate Republican leader, has faced a female opponent only once during his nearly 30 years in the Senate. He and his team seem eager to try to head off a campaign in 2014 that could become a referendum on how female voters feel about the Republican Party’s recent record.
Several times he has explained his vote this year against the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, and his office — normally averse to stories about staff — has willingly offered up for interviews the “strong women” with whom they say Mr. McConnell has always surrounded himself....
posted by R. Mutt at 1:14 PM on July 24, 2013
Agreed entirely, Slothrop. Bruce Bartlett wrote this around three years ago, and it gets the dynamic perfectly:
The Democratic Party is now the “adult” party in American politics, willing to do what has to be done for the good of the country. The same cannot be said of Republicans, who seem unwilling to do anything that would interfere with their ambition to retake power so that they can reward their lobbyist friends with more give-aways from the public purse. ... That leaves us facing political gridlock between the sensible but cowardly party and the greedy, sociopathic party.posted by ibmcginty at 1:23 PM on July 24, 2013
McConnell Ad Spoofs 'Obama's Kentucky Candidate' yt
What. This one somehow made even less sense to me. I guess they succeeded if the goal was to make some sort of weird high-concept pop art assemblage piece, but if they were looking to create a snappy, effective political ad...uh.
posted by threeants at 2:39 PM on July 24, 2013
What. This one somehow made even less sense to me. I guess they succeeded if the goal was to make some sort of weird high-concept pop art assemblage piece, but if they were looking to create a snappy, effective political ad...uh.
posted by threeants at 2:39 PM on July 24, 2013
Since it's Laugh at Mitch McConnell Day on Metafilter, get a load of this, from only a few weeks back:
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has set an ambitious goal for his reelection campaign: to build the most sophisticated Republican digital and data operation to date.
The Kentucky Republican, known more as tactician than technologist, is making a major investment in technology infrastructure in hopes that a treasure trove of real-time data about the electorate will help guide him to a sixth term.
It's been weeks and I'm still giggling at the notion because I know umpteen sysadmins who've gone to work for various Democratic campaigns and organization, and the notion of McConnell getting people of similar caliber to work for him just utterly fails the giggle test.
posted by ocschwar at 2:41 PM on July 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has set an ambitious goal for his reelection campaign: to build the most sophisticated Republican digital and data operation to date.
The Kentucky Republican, known more as tactician than technologist, is making a major investment in technology infrastructure in hopes that a treasure trove of real-time data about the electorate will help guide him to a sixth term.
It's been weeks and I'm still giggling at the notion because I know umpteen sysadmins who've gone to work for various Democratic campaigns and organization, and the notion of McConnell getting people of similar caliber to work for him just utterly fails the giggle test.
posted by ocschwar at 2:41 PM on July 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
Was I the only person who thought that the absolute worst part of that video was that none of the suggestions actually did rhyme? Grimes has an "s".
posted by Francis at 2:53 PM on July 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Francis at 2:53 PM on July 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
As a Kentuckian, can I just say ... this is going to be a loooong campaign. But as a member of the Kentucky news media, I say: woohoo! Long campaign!
It's going to get very, very dirty. There's a year and a half until the election and as Atom Eyes said above, this is the guy who was willing to use a rape victim's admission of suffering from PTSD against her and mocking her with fuzzy pink socks.
This post has inspired me to start working on a FPP about the Fancy Farm campaign event and its bizarre importance in Kentucky politics. I expect we're going to see a lot of filth spewed from McConnell's team at the Farm.
posted by none of these will bring disaster at 2:56 PM on July 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
It's going to get very, very dirty. There's a year and a half until the election and as Atom Eyes said above, this is the guy who was willing to use a rape victim's admission of suffering from PTSD against her and mocking her with fuzzy pink socks.
This post has inspired me to start working on a FPP about the Fancy Farm campaign event and its bizarre importance in Kentucky politics. I expect we're going to see a lot of filth spewed from McConnell's team at the Farm.
posted by none of these will bring disaster at 2:56 PM on July 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
It's a shame that Yertle doesn't rhyme with Mitch or McConnell. That'd be perfect.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 3:52 PM on July 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Benny Andajetz at 3:52 PM on July 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
do you think maybe a progressive type young person posed as a highly-desirable Dynamic! Fun! Techy! New! Youthful! republican volunteer for mitchy and ultimately aspired towards having the duty of making this video and then made it culturally outdated, catchy as fuck and subtly pro-grimes on purpose?
COULD THIS BE THE UBERMODERN CAMPAIGN STRATEGY OF THE 21ST CENTURY?!.
*changes voter designation and volunteers for mitch mcconnell*
posted by ghostbikes at 4:06 PM on July 24, 2013
COULD THIS BE THE UBERMODERN CAMPAIGN STRATEGY OF THE 21ST CENTURY?!.
*changes voter designation and volunteers for mitch mcconnell*
posted by ghostbikes at 4:06 PM on July 24, 2013
I assumed this was some hipster runoff thing.
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 5:41 PM on July 24, 2013
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 5:41 PM on July 24, 2013
Friends of mathowie were quick with the wit
which filled his community blog
But reckoned most keen on the Blue and the Green
Was Gregory Nicholas Nog.
posted by Kattullus at 5:41 PM on July 24, 2013 [6 favorites]
which filled his community blog
But reckoned most keen on the Blue and the Green
Was Gregory Nicholas Nog.
posted by Kattullus at 5:41 PM on July 24, 2013 [6 favorites]
The ad is funny and I LOL'd but let's also remember that McConnell is one of the biggest (top 5?) assholes in American history.
posted by Eyebeams at 5:43 PM on July 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Eyebeams at 5:43 PM on July 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
COULD THIS BE THE UBERMODERN CAMPAIGN STRATEGY OF THE 21ST CENTURY?!.
Actually, I think that may be Thunderdome.
posted by GenjiandProust at 6:01 PM on July 24, 2013
Actually, I think that may be Thunderdome.
posted by GenjiandProust at 6:01 PM on July 24, 2013
The problem is, I don't know anything new about McConnell based on this ad. But I know that Grimes stands for Democratic Values, DEM-DEM-DEM-DEMOCRATIC VALUES!
posted by ActingTheGoat at 9:57 PM on July 24, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by ActingTheGoat at 9:57 PM on July 24, 2013 [4 favorites]
I think the video also said that she was 'READY FOR PRIME TIME'. Something like that, anyway. Sounds good!
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 11:00 PM on July 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 11:00 PM on July 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
One of Grimes' campaign ads. Worth watching if only for hearing Grimes' adorable tiny old grandma saying "What rhymes with Mitch?"
posted by oinopaponton at 9:36 PM on July 27, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by oinopaponton at 9:36 PM on July 27, 2013 [3 favorites]
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posted by threeants at 3:51 AM on July 24, 2013 [16 favorites]