RNC ad: “Storm”
posted at 3:00 pm on October 25, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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The RNC has a new television spot out today, perhaps appropriate for the rough seas the GOP has encountered this electoral cycle. “Storm” wonders why the nation would trust the helm to an ensign barely discovering his sea legs:
We choose Presidents to lead us through uncertain times. Rely on their background and experience to guide us.
Some now say this storm cannot get worse. Our nation is so off course that Barack Obama’s quick rise to power and inexperience should not matter.
But what if the storm does get worse? With someone who’s untested at the helm.
I used to have a framed Successories poster on my wall when I managed a burg/fire alarm call center. It showed a tanker plowing through rough water and stormy weather with the caption, “Anyone can steer the ship when the seas are calm.” It provided a little cold comfort during hectic moments and reminded me that there weren’t a lot of people who wanted my job on bad days.
This has the same feel, but I think it’s a wasted moment. With ten days left in the cycle, these arguments should be made more specific, not more indirectly. Why not just say explicitly that Barack Obama has no executive experience, no military experience, no foreign-policy experience, and only three years in national politics — hardly the resumé of a Commander in Chief at any time, but especially in the middle of a war? Talk about his radical record on abortion, or on spending, or on other specific issues.
The time for artistic analogies has passed. Voters want specifics now to back up these general themes.
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It doesn’t matter. People who are voting for him know he’s a dilettante, but are voting for him anyway.
Hey…it’s the hip thing to do.
flipflop on October 25, 2008 at 3:06 PM
The voters already know, in spite of what the Drive-Bys keep insisting they know. They have already decided – even though the Drive-Bys keep insisting some of them are undecided. On November 4 they will cast their decision in a ballot.
On November 5 a stunned Drive-By media will report that John McCain has been elected president of the U.S. Make book on that.
ManlyRash on October 25, 2008 at 3:06 PM
Obama- he’ll do as good as any untested, unqualified, crypto-Marxist community organizer could!
There’s a slogan.
profitsbeard on October 25, 2008 at 3:06 PM
Obama- on the Good Ship “Minnow” his name was Gilligan.
profitsbeard on October 25, 2008 at 3:08 PM
What’s so wrong with our country? Seriously.
marklmail on October 25, 2008 at 3:09 PM
Yeah, this ad was lame. Why not juxtapose it with what Biden said, both recently and in the primaries?
changer1701 on October 25, 2008 at 3:10 PM
They need to be going after the Democrat brand – corrupt and in the pocket of Fannie Mae.
Topsecretk9 on October 25, 2008 at 3:10 PM
No one cares anymore. All they want is “change”
lodge on October 25, 2008 at 3:11 PM
It’s about to (be) self-destroy, and most of it is out shopping, or to lunch.
Entelechy on October 25, 2008 at 3:13 PM
Nonsense. You are buying into the Drive-By narrative. More people will be voting against Obama than you imagine. Buck up, because it’s only going to get worse between now and election day.
ManlyRash on October 25, 2008 at 3:14 PM
I agree that it’s too vague to have much impact. Why don’t they make a commercial showing things like Obama’s endorsement from The Communist Party, USA, and run the quotes from America’s enemies (e.g., Hamas, the leader of Iran’s parliament, Hugo Chavez, Fidel Castro, Quadaffi, etc.) who have expressed their hope that Obama will be elected?
AZCoyote on October 25, 2008 at 3:14 PM
Manly, what would we do without you? No one should throw eggs at you, even if the One ‘leads’ for a while, because you will have been the only voice of hope, that eternal hope Spirit talks about in the Ayeres thread, I guess.
Entelechy on October 25, 2008 at 3:16 PM
Untested in a storm.
RNC just set the table for the DNC. Standby for a counter-attack ……… Storm/Katrina/Bush/Failure.
What were they thinking?
fogw on October 25, 2008 at 3:17 PM
One thing I’ll never figure out – what the hell “Change” means in this itnerminable
electionerection cycle. We might all be screwed royally, soon. Or, if we’re lucky, the biggest let-down, ever, will materialize.Entelechy on October 25, 2008 at 3:17 PM
The ad does not support the claim with any details. It is just an accusation. What a waste of good RNC money.
kanda on October 25, 2008 at 3:18 PM
What everyone appears to be doing now…panicking like a flock of hens in thunderstorm.
ManlyRash on October 25, 2008 at 3:19 PM
What storm? Isn’t Dancing with the Stars on tonight?
Queen0fCups on October 25, 2008 at 3:20 PM
Indeed, the reaction of sheep and lemmings leads people to a Russian, or Venezuelan system.
Entelechy on October 25, 2008 at 3:20 PM
Good ad,heres an op-ed piece that goes along with this idea
of untested!
‘Testing Obama’s mettle’ by Caroline Glick,of the
Jureslem Post.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017613212&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
canopfor on October 25, 2008 at 3:21 PM
Take heart, MR, we’re not all in panic mode just because the MSM and their pollsters are doing their best to demoralize us. Many of us agree with you that McCain/Palin will win the only poll that counts — the one on Nov. 4.
AZCoyote on October 25, 2008 at 3:22 PM
I agree, Manly Rush. John McCain wins. I have been telling people that for weeks to keep up their morale. John McCain wins.
Phil Byler on October 25, 2008 at 3:24 PM
This is really a lame ad.
McCain and Palin need to talk to the public in an ad. Who cares about a stormy sea?
Those two talking to the camera about what they will do is a much more effective ad.
jencab on October 25, 2008 at 3:24 PM
Most Democrats make decisions based on emotion and perceptions – not facts. The McCain campaign needs to find either an emotional approach to drive people away from Obama or toward McCain. Ads like this one don’t have a big enough emotional edge to accomplish anything.
huckleberryfriend on October 25, 2008 at 3:26 PM
panicked like a flock…..
ManlyRash on Oct 25,2008 at 3:19PM.
ManlyRash:Even tho I’m Canadian,Team McCain/SaraCuda
will win!
Gawd,I can’t believe its less than 10 days to go,
its been a long political haul!:):)
canopfor on October 25, 2008 at 3:27 PM
“We can’t just eat as much as we want, and keep our thermostats at 72 degrees and expect other countries to just say, OK.”
*
*
Honestly, shouldn’t this be enough to say NO to OBAMA? Seriously.
marklmail on October 25, 2008 at 3:28 PM
BTW
Palin livestream from Des Moines @ Gateway Pundit,
about to deliver her address now
maverick muse on October 25, 2008 at 3:29 PM
Good ad, it’s a reminder of what many people have had bumping around in the back of their mind, that there is something that’s just sort of off about Obarfa.
The Come-to-Jesus vote will materialize on November 4th, when millions of people who might have voted for Odummy in quieter times will choose McCain instead.
Bishop on October 25, 2008 at 3:31 PM
Watching Palin right now.
I love her.
Bishop on October 25, 2008 at 3:33 PM
What’s so wrong with our country? Seriously.
marklmail on October 25, 2008 at 3:09 PM
Ain’t that the friggin truth. . .
Texyank on October 25, 2008 at 3:33 PM
The time for artistic analogies has passed. Voters want specifics now to back up these general themes.
Dead on!
I received something in the mail yesterday from the PA Republican Party that was along the same general lines as this commercial. The first thing that came to mind was “they wasted money on this crap?” More substance, fewer vague platitudes. Independents and undecided voters are not likely to be swayed to McCain’s side with this junk.
matthewbit07 on October 25, 2008 at 3:34 PM
Look at that, she took time to honor the veterans in the crowd and let little Piper say some things to the crowd.
See if vets ever get recognized at an Odippy rally.
Bishop on October 25, 2008 at 3:36 PM
FYP
eyedoc on October 25, 2008 at 3:40 PM
I agree, Ed.
My reaction: meh.
RNC needs to focus on two AND ONLY TWO topics:
ECONOMY - our dollars…in our pockets
ACORN - our vote…our power in governance
(…which is threatened by the “negation”
through fraudulent registration/voting
of those who should not be voting).
Lockstein13 on October 25, 2008 at 3:41 PM
Palin event moved to Salem Stadium
FiveWays on October 25, 2008 at 3:41 PM
Damn, watching Palin in Iowa, that woman can really connect with people.
Bishop on October 25, 2008 at 3:44 PM
Oh geeze, Palin just brought in TITO!!!!
“I was born in Columbia, but I was made in the USA.”
Awesome.
Editor on October 25, 2008 at 3:44 PM
McCain’s been doing that the entire election. There are SO many great targets that he won’t shoot at. It’ll be long two weeks waiting to see just how ignorant America has become.
Mojave Mark on October 25, 2008 at 3:47 PM
******If I was McCain, I’d say, “Why are we constantly beating on ourselves? We are the freest, richest, most hard-working people on this planet? What needs to be FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED BY THIS GUY WHO WE BARELY KNOW?????” “What SPECIFICALLY, does he want to change?”
marklmail on October 25, 2008 at 3:49 PM
Is it possible that all these “undecideds” are really McCain supporters who are afraid to be called racists?
I ask because my friend and I discovered the other day that while we will talk loud and proud about McCain in our offices, when we are in a cubicle or a public area like the kitchen or the front lobby, we have to be SOOO careful what we say because the Obamabots go crazy if you dare say anything against their Dear leader, and anything pro-McCain or pro-Palin IS taken by them as anti-Dear-Leader. And NO ONE wants to engage these lunatics, because it’s not a discussion with them, EVER, if it was, we would do it. But no one at my office will talk to an Obamabot because it’s an emotional, over the top, non-logic based conversation that always has racial undertones, so we just say f*ck it – none of us are going to go there with them. Out of 150 people, we’ve got approx 75-80 I know are voting McCain, 15 Obamabots, and the other 50 are people I just don’t have any biz with so I don’t really know.
But my friends and I noticed to avoid the BS, we just talk about how awesome Palin is out of the earshot of Obamabots, could that be what’s happening with the polls?
JustTruth101 on October 25, 2008 at 3:51 PM
They use the “Storm” analogy, because the “Anti-American/Pro-Jihadi/Anti-White/Anti-Semitic Racist Marxist-Socialist Muslim-who-hangs out with Terrorist, Palestinian Radicals, Anti-American Radical Leftists, Crooked Iraqis, etc. and who was mentored by a Pedeophile Racist Anti-American Communist (all of which are True, by the way!)– label is not working, thanks to the dipshit American People and the fully-in-the-tank Pravda Media!
Dale in Atlanta on October 25, 2008 at 3:53 PM
I’ll say it again …
The media has been despicable in their professional conduct this political season but …
The information HAS been out there for any American who can fog a mirror. The warning signs have reached people … no one can plead “ignorance” to the inexperience, socialism, pacifism, bad judgment, and radical views and associations of Barack Obama.
Every American has seen how the Democrats caused the Financial meltdown with their sub-prime social engineering schemes. Americans have seen how the Democrats now blame the meltdown on the Republicans – the only people who wanted to regulate Freddie and Fannie years ago when the warning signs appeared. Americans know that, along with Barack Obama in the White House will come a Democratic Super-Majority in the Congress. They know that this, combined with a Democratically controlled media and judicial system will produce a “perfect storm” that threatens to rip the constitution to shreds.
Americans have seen their tax dollars diverted by Democrats in congress to Democratic partisan organizations like ACORN – which participate in voter fraud for the express purpose of inflating Democratic votes at the polls. Americans know that in California – hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens will vote for Obama, though they are not legally entitled to vote at all.
Americans SHOULD KNOW that Barack Obama will raise their taxes – regardless of what he says. They know he will give universal health care and mortgage bailouts to illegal aliens that have no rights to them. And they should know that middle class working Americans will pay for them.
Americans should know that Obama’s socialist economic policies will strangle business in this country and put us dangerously close – if not smack dab in the middle of a deep recession.
Americans should know that Russia, North Korea, Iran, Hugo Chavez and Osama Bin Laden are just “itching” to have Obama in the White House. And Americans should know that Obama has committed to cutting our military so that we aren’t capable of responding to any trouble these characters cause.
Americans SHOULD KNOW that the use of nuclear weapons by a President becomes MORE LIKELY if he has left himself with fewer conventional options to deal with a crisis. Americans should know that Obama will cut missile defense and cut development of new weapons.
Americans have seen Obama’s character assassination squads take aim and fire on Sarah Palin – a middle-class mother and governor with an 80% approval rating. Americans have seen how Democrats raped “Joe the Plumbers” personal information faster than he could get back into his house after have the AUDACITY to ask Barack Obama a question. American’s know these are the same Democrats who complain about the rights of known terrorists being violated with wire taps – while they take an innocent American and rape his privacy.
Americans … have seen all this. And I don’t care how much positive media coverage the hacks in the drive-by’s have given Obama – Americans ought to be mature and intelligent enough to realize the dangers here in electing Barack Obama.
And if they go to the polls and elect Obama anyway?
They will be getting the President they deserve.
HondaV65 on October 25, 2008 at 3:54 PM
This ad is much like the “bear in the woods” ad of Reagan, which was about how we should be strong against the USSR. Scary bear then, scary seas now.
Obama will win because the hoi polloi have taken over. Our consumer-oriented culture, me me me, credit, buying crap, listening to crap commercials on TV. Let’s have a deep and prolonged depression and get it over with. Let’s all learn again how to work for a living, and cook our own meals, and be thankful enough to have a roof over our heads and something decent to eat, and leave it at that.
Paul-Cincy on October 25, 2008 at 3:58 PM
Manly Rash…i have a section of yer wisdom on my site….fer all of us @ the farm here….think i’ll re-lable it:
Comfort for Hens in a Thunderstorm.
signed: still holding on
lobosan5 on October 25, 2008 at 4:01 PM
CHOICE:
Surrender your life to socialist politicians who take your estate and liberty away; or, hire officials to promote jobs, economic and professional opportunity, and security from assault.
maverick muse on October 25, 2008 at 4:01 PM
Im still coming face to face with the McCain is 4 more years of Bush mantra. Everywhere I go I keep hearing that and seeing that on those yard signs. People keep throwing that out as if it’s enough and they don’t need to understand more. It’s become a kind of crutch for people who will most definitely vote Obama but don’t know enough about his policies and the man himself to actually discuss those.
jeanie on October 25, 2008 at 4:04 PM
That ad was very disappointing! WTF was that directed to? Still glad I bailed the Democratic Party. But still, they could have use their money to do better. McCain/Palin will win!!! This is why the Media is doing this sh*t. They want to discourage us from voting McCain. Or not going to vote. I will be down there on Nov. 4th bright and early.
sheebe on October 25, 2008 at 4:09 PM
maverick muse on Oct 25,2008 at 3:29PM.
maverick muse: I caught Palin’s rally,thank you for
the heads up!
I like towards the end,”Drill Baby Drill”,
and “Mine Baby Mine” haha!
Governor Sarah Palin,is ‘Real’compared to
Hopey,and Sarah is the real definition of
articulate,in her speaking!:)
canopfor on October 25, 2008 at 4:16 PM
As one we’ll march toward the cliff, and then over it, just like lemmings. Be very carefull.
Best article, in soooo many.
Entelechy on October 25, 2008 at 4:22 PM
Ugh.
Another misfire.
Nevertheless .. I do think he still has a shot on the 4th. Watching the “early voting” in Ohio on TV today made me a bit nervous .. felt like I had ACORN’s in my tummy ..
.. but I think it’ll be a lot closer than the incessant, insipid polls seem to be suggesting.
cgoode777 on October 25, 2008 at 4:23 PM
how was mccain tested?
i mean, in a real government crisis…hes a legistlator…hes never been tested in the sense that hes never been called upon to lead us out of any crisis…or even a bad day.
mccain simply HAS NOT BEEN TESTED in a governing or policy role. no one running has.
ernesto on October 25, 2008 at 4:24 PM
PLAY BIDENS F*CKING QUOTE ABOUT “TESTING OBAMA” and the part where he says “I SHOULDN’T BE SAYING THIS. I JUST REALIZED THE PRESS WAS HERE” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
marklmail on October 25, 2008 at 4:29 PM
Manlyrash .. wanna’ do us all a solid and take this softball .. I got me some football to watch.
cgoode777 on October 25, 2008 at 4:30 PM
The way I see it when undecided voters go into the voting booths on Nov 4 its going to end up being a judgment call that decides who they will vote for.
The reality of the situation is that despite the fact that they may like Obama and the idea of electing the first black President there is a major financial crisis occurring at the moment, along with two ongoing wars and potential trouble on the horizon in the form of Iran,Russia,Venezuela and political instability in Pakistan. Will people want to take a chance on a Junior Senator from Chicago with a very thin resume, little or no executive experience, and no history of having had to make tough decisions that affect other people?
To use a sports analogy my guess is that they will simply decide that there is to much at stake over the next four years to take a chance on an inexperienced and untested rookie who although talks a good game and looks good in the uniform has never actually played the game before.
Dreadnought223 on October 25, 2008 at 4:32 PM
My cousin and I were on non-speaking terms during the Bush/Kerry election. We emailed back and forth a bit, but typical of liberals, when I used an argument she couldn’t counter, she called me various things, then cut off all communication.
BUT, she and I are bosum buddies for the Palin/Obama election. Yes, I said Palin, cause that’s who I’m voting for. My cousin is voting for McCain with the same passion (not sure this is a good thing), that she had when we “debated” the last election.
I think there are more McCain voters out there, or at least, that’s what I’m praying for.
One effective argument I’ve used when talking to others is “What was it you admired about the Carter Administration that makes you want to repeat it? – The 21.5% interest rates, the double digit inflation, long gas lines, or the American hostages in Iran?” Gives ‘em pause anyway.”
SoldiersMom on October 25, 2008 at 4:39 PM
That’s what I don’t get. Why hasn’t McCain pounded home the Obambi=Carter theme? 4 years of disaster we want to forget and Obambi is going to do it all over again. Even worse – he’s going to take the country straight into hard-core socialism and destroy our chances of a quick economic recovery.
Obambi=Socialist (Do they ever include that in their ads?)
rigdown on October 25, 2008 at 4:56 PM
Is it really that bad of an ad? With so many hooked on a feeling, and visually oriented and some of simple minds, is it really that bad of an ad? I think it should have been run at the beginning of this show down, but I wonder if it is as bad as some think when it comes to those needing either reinforcement for their McCain vote, or that OS moment in the booth. I see this as fodder for the OS moment. INSERT BIG SMILEY FACE HERE!
McCain/Palin kicking butt in ‘08!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
freeus on October 25, 2008 at 4:57 PM
Boy, my faith is dwindling….I hope you’re right. It seems that all of the allies that we have in media have told us to expect it.
It sucks, I settle on my SBA Loan on Wednesday; just in time for the Obama tax plan! Yippie. Instead of hiring a 100 people, I’m already scaling back and looking for cuts.
OSUBuciz1 on October 25, 2008 at 5:00 PM
Polls -
800 -3000 people picked along party lines, usually more heavily democratic based on registrations with prepared questions.
So, just reading the above, one can only conclude a great deal of latitude rests with who is picked, the party they identify with, their candor in answering, and the questions asked, not to mention the geographic area polled.
Polls are pure entertainment and propaganda. I understand the statistical theory behind the numbers, but the numbers are dependent on the quality of the sample. They claim they can insure a quality sample, but that is impossible.
Obama, despite his oratory blather, money, and organization, could not put away Hillary in any of the big battleground states during the primaries and required the super-delegates.
Americans decidedly do not like hubris, monopolies on Congress and the White House, and giving away more money to those who don’t pay any. His own party could not decide and the country will not either. Many things will be thrown up for this loss, but the single most is arrogance.
Can you imagine Kerry spending millions on a stage, cabinet names, foreign policy predictions, congressional predictions, and his inaugural speech 3 weeks before the election? I don’t think so.
Starlink on October 25, 2008 at 5:02 PM
RNC ad:
(Older woman;s voice)
“Obama seems like a nice young man… but in a dangerous world, I prefer to have a leader who’s a tough old hand, instead.
I’ll take a fighter pilot over a lawyer anyday.”
profitsbeard on October 25, 2008 at 5:05 PM
I’m ashamed. What a racist ad.
JeffinOrlando on October 25, 2008 at 8:33 PM
ernesto,
THIS is what your precious messiah will bring us, should he actually buy this thing outright (which I don’t think he will):
Obamba will not promote growth and success. His interest is in providing money to people who have not in any way earned it.
Obama is not going to make it all better. He’s going to make things much much worse. How can you be for him?
techno_barbarian on October 25, 2008 at 9:13 PM
I’ve got a 26′ boat and just over a year ago, I was caught about 35 miles offshore in a nice big storm. I was out alone night fishing for snapper. When I saw it coming and knew there was no avoiding it, I headed toward shore (figured I’d at least be closer to the Coast Guard station at Ft. Myers Beach when I went down). It took me 4 hours to reach a point 12 miles from shore where I began to actually think I was going to make it.
When I see this ad and consider Senator Obama as President facing the likes of Putin, I picture what my return would have been like with my 4 year old granddaughter piloting the boat. Putin wouldn’t even find him to be a snack, let alone lunch.
CC – BHO: “my Muslim faith”
CapedConservative on October 25, 2008 at 9:25 PM
I found the ship-related picture that would best represent an Obama Administration.
michaelo on October 26, 2008 at 12:22 AM
Thanks ManlyRash. You know I appreciate you.
Oink on October 26, 2008 at 12:49 AM
Do you read Sutter Cane?
TBinSTL on October 26, 2008 at 3:49 AM
Pretty sure everyone stopped thinking NO was sensible after they re-elected Nagin, so “Bush hates the darkies!” is mostly a psycho-lib belief at this point. It’s why Gustav passed without anyone caring all that much.
BKennedy on October 26, 2008 at 8:40 AM
I was thinking more like this.
BKennedy on October 26, 2008 at 8:44 AM
According to the craven David Brooks,
These ‘moderates’ of course are really just sheep who follow the herd; they know nothing of Obambi’s history or ideology; all they ‘know’ is that it’s time for ‘change’.
John McCain’s campaign was aimed at these sheep, but they look at the TV and see an elegantly-dressed young guy with a soothing baritone, intoning “Change, change,” and they compare him with the feisty but doddering old man who is so. . . yesterday.
To cap it off, the mass media are so enthralled with Obambi that they refuse to publicize his sordid history, not to mention the millions of illegal money flowing into his campaign.
The far-left David Axelrod, managing Obambi from behind the scenes, is on the verge of a complete takeover of the American government. It looks like the sheep will trod all over John McCain in their mindless zeal to vote for the Pied Piper.
Where are the rich Republicans with the cash to fund a massive last-minute campaign to awaken the American people to the dangers of Obambi the Marxist?
MrLynn on October 26, 2008 at 8:46 AM
The McCain campaign played the hell out of the Joe the Plumber ad during the Pens-Rangers game last night.
rightwingprof on October 26, 2008 at 8:53 AM
We need a few “Don’t import Chicago politics to DC” ads.
davod on October 26, 2008 at 3:08 PM
We also need to get some pre-emptive ads mocking Obama and his infomercial.
davod on October 26, 2008 at 3:10 PM
I can’t help myself, I want to SCREAM…WHY IN HELL ARE WE CAMPAIGNING IN I O W A? Answer please to save me. Tx.
AReadyRepub on October 26, 2008 at 10:53 PM
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