New ads: “Leadership” versus “Family”; Update: Nosferatu comparison added!
posted at 9:37 am on November 19, 2007 by Allahpundit
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Good enough for a Monday morning. “Leadership” is the latest from Rudy, enjoying his freedom from the social-con derby between Fred, Mitt, and Huck by pushing his signature quality. Just like in the last ad, they’ve got him lit like Nosferatu. And just like in the last ad, he goes out of his way to remind social cons he’s not perfect. Are the biographical spots really the best use of his campaign dollars? Frankly, in Rudy’s case, the less Americans know about him, the less tarnished his 9/11 halo is. If I were him, I’d be working to show I’m not a one-trick pony by putting out substantive ads on health-care and immigration.
Reminding us that they are sort of perfect are the Romneys, back again for one of Mitt’s patented cheesy family ads. I like him better when he’s attacking but this sort of thing helps him against the famously dysfunctional Rudy, I guess, so he’s obliged. The curious thing about some of Mitt’s spots are how stilted they are, even while always being slickly produced. One example was that backyard jihad spot; now this. What exactly is going on here? Mitt and Ann, after a dinner party, telling the guests to huddle up so they can share a bit of impromptu parenting advice?
Update: Thanks to reader Michael P. for this dumb yet funny side by side comparison.
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lol lit like nosferatu, pretty much spot on.
zane on November 19, 2007 at 9:43 AM
I care about your family only if they’re going to pitch in to help build the border fence.
saint kansas on November 19, 2007 at 9:47 AM
Yes. You want to minimize the amount of “gotchas” fellow Republicans and Hillary can use against you. Like others have said, Hillary often doesn’t suffer damage because people already know she’s corrupt. It’s not a surprise. Same with Rudy. He’s telling you he’s not perfect, doesn’t always agree, etc.
amerpundit on November 19, 2007 at 9:51 AM
Check it out-
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=Y2ZkMWNkZDkzOTk1YTM0NT NkNmJlZThmYjJmM2ZmOGE=
Did Mitt Push-poll Himself?
Ex-tex on November 19, 2007 at 9:52 AM
Say what you will, I like and agree with the message of the ad
KBird on November 19, 2007 at 9:58 AM
Those folks weren’t in the same room with Mitt - they were watching the Rudy ad and nodding along.
BJ* on November 19, 2007 at 10:05 AM
It sounds more like a Latter Day Saints advertisement than a political ad. For a second there, I thought he was going to offer to send me a free Book of Mormon.
jjjen on November 19, 2007 at 10:09 AM
I didn’t see anything wrong with Mitts commercial it was pleasant and striked me as being honest
EricPWJohnson on November 19, 2007 at 10:10 AM
jjjen, What part of add don’t you agree with? It may show more about you than Romney
KBird on November 19, 2007 at 10:22 AM
Both ads are okay. I can’t imagine any of the Dems making commercials like these, so the Repubs are promoting the brand, so to speak.
Splashman on November 19, 2007 at 10:22 AM
The Nosferatu lighting is a subliminal message which says:
Vote for me or the Hillary vampire will take office
and suck all the cash from your wallets.
Always Right on November 19, 2007 at 10:34 AM
The problem I had with the Mitt ad is that it was so empty. So he’s for families. Is someone running against families?
Clark1 on November 19, 2007 at 10:38 AM
The Huckabee ad blows them both away.
moughon on November 19, 2007 at 10:53 AM
I’ve so #*$~ing had it with the producers of these spots reaching into the same Gay Instrumental Classics Volumes 1-10 CD collection for these background music beds.
Trust me, your message is soft enough already.
saint kansas on November 19, 2007 at 10:55 AM
lol my thoughts exactly. I’m not entirely sure why Mitt is running on the ‘perfect family’ platform. Like Clark said, is someone running against families?
I’ve said it before but Mitt’s polished, perfectionism makes me vaguely uncomfortable.
I have a cousin who has a ‘perfect’ family like that and to tell you the truth I can’t stand them lol. They’re like the pod people. Probably just jealousy on my part…sigh.
Keli on November 19, 2007 at 10:57 AM
I agree, man. Most people already have a great image of Rudy regarding 9/11, his mayoral stint, etc. Reinforcing that may help a little bit, but in the primaries I don’t get it. Primaries are normally more issues-focused, and the voters are more intelligent and discriminating than your typical general election voter. Especially in places like Iowa. This ad makes more sense if he is running against Edwards or Obama later or something.
RW Wacko on November 19, 2007 at 10:59 AM
Hmmm…has anyone seen Rudy out in daylight recently? Or in a church? Have you noticed that you never see Rudy and Nosferatu together at public appearances? Maybe they are one and the same!
flipflop on November 19, 2007 at 11:02 AM
I dont know why this site has it for Mitt. I think this is an excellent ad. Family, faith, country. It would be laughable if a donkey ran this ad, but it makes complete sense for a republican to run it.
And, I think its well done.
“after dinner” conversation? Really . . . quit stretching to find something to complain about.
Labamigo on November 19, 2007 at 11:04 AM
I loves me some piano and/or flute in my political adverts.
Vizzini on November 19, 2007 at 11:06 AM
If you’re going to get into “subliminal” analysis, I have a different take.
Notice how they light the right side of Rudy’s face, leaving the left side in shadow.
MikeZero on November 19, 2007 at 11:07 AM
Now that was funny. The perfect frame grab of Rudy.
John on November 19, 2007 at 11:17 AM
I, also, watched both clips and I don’t see anything wrong with either. Good messages in both. Again, no candidate is perfect. At this point, at least, we’re not going to find another Ronald Reagan, sadly. But, there is someone out there who can take this country in the direction it needs to go. Yes, Rudy is flawed in several areas. We need someone with the testicles to take charge and lead. Yes, President Bush started out strong and has failed us conservatives in many areas. I’m not giving up. The “distillation process” will continue and the right leader will emerge.
Roger Brown on November 19, 2007 at 11:36 AM
Actually I agree with everything. Maybe I need more nuts and bolts in an political ad.
jjjen on November 19, 2007 at 11:37 AM
Why does Mitt run the “family values” ads? Well, because Rudy can’t run them; nor can McCain or Fred. If they did, they’d expose themselves to all sorts of charges of hypocrisy. It’s the whole “the man who has had only one wife in the race is the Mormon” thing.
Though Huckabee could probably get away with this kind of ad. Wonder why he doesn’t.
Mitt’s shoring up his “social conservatism” leg of his conservative three legged stool. So nice ad.
Vanceone on November 19, 2007 at 11:41 AM
ermm….i think that’s because the scenes of him talking are all taken from the first ad.
its vintage duh on November 19, 2007 at 11:47 AM
“This site” doesn’t have it in for Mitt. Allah just has strong opinions on ads. He’s trashed just about all of the Republican ads, not just Mitt’s, and in some degree, I agree with him.
Splashman on November 19, 2007 at 12:01 PM
It’s pretty obvious what Mitt is trying to infer here, but considering the number of marriages that end in divorce I’m not sure he’s doing himself any favors. Nobody’s who’s been divorced or who’s had some family problems wants to be reminded how much more perfect his family life is.
sublime on November 19, 2007 at 12:06 PM
If Mitt comes off as too perfect, it will rebound on him. People will want to see him take a fall.
It’s like sympathy from older and single woman for Hillary when she’s made fun of for her looks/body.
Mitt should tone down the smile, the shade of his laminates, the crispness of his suits. Let his hair get a little out-of-place. Maybe he can concoct a situation where he takes his shoes off and he has a hole in his socks. Sure fire winner.
JiangxiDad on November 19, 2007 at 12:13 PM
Jesus, was anyone else frightened by Mitt’s face in the beginning? I half-expected him to say “I do not like it when you touch my breasts” and have some batteries fall out. They need to ease up on the makeup a bit.
RW Wacko on November 19, 2007 at 12:21 PM
I liked both commercials, but like Allah I wish the GOP candidates would make better use of humor. I’m still chuckling from the Huckabee/Chuck Norris ad.
The first candidate to enlist “Sands of Passion” Zucker to their side will not regret it.
sulla on November 19, 2007 at 12:27 PM
I think your first instincts are accurate. Mitt is everything Rudy is not and eventually he will have to attack Rudy on that level.
BUT, this is also a shot across the bow of the other candidates that have received some pretty well known endorsements. Regardless of who endorses a candidate, that candidate still has to BE that which he is endorsed for.
Mitt has the family values high road locked up and he’s making that point very forcefully. Because in the end, family transcends ALL political parties and people know that no matter who gets into office, they still have the responsibility of their family to take care of. Mitt speaks to that like no other candidate can on either side.
csdeven on November 19, 2007 at 12:27 PM
I suspect this is an Iowa / New Hamshire aimed ad. I hear politics is so retail there, you frequently do end up meeting with handfuls of people in homes in businesses. I heard it jokingly stated once that no-one in New Hampshire would even consider voting for someone they hadn’t personally talked to.
eeyore on November 19, 2007 at 1:34 PM
It’s a fine ad by Mitt.
I think some people on this board fail to grasp that these ads are directed to TV audiances that have paid little to no attention so far at Election ‘08. To them Mitt is still an unknown, so he needs to set a foundation with these voters.
rhuppertz on November 19, 2007 at 1:37 PM
That is a bit odd, especially when Ann pipes in. It works better when Mitt is talking in generalities about how important it is to teach values to our kids.
Of course I tend to focus on things like how ugly the drapes are, and how it can’t possibly be their house, so what do I know?
Buy Danish on November 19, 2007 at 5:06 PM