Videos: The ObamaCard and the Airport for No One
posted at 3:25 pm on May 14, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Today has two clever new videos out from GOP sources without any really good news hooks on which to hang either, so I’ll toss them into a single post. The first comes from the RNC, which uses the familiar MasterCard format to make a pretty good point about pricelessness — and costliness:
Next, the NRCC keeps up its drumbeat against John Murtha and Nancy Pelosi by highlighting Murtha’s latest pork outrage, the Airport for No One. They take a much more serious tone here, wondering why the federal government provides millions in subsidies for an airport no one wants to use:
Blowback
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Finally.
radiofreevillage on May 14, 2009 at 3:30 PM
You’re right. Good ad’s but no great punchlines. Another reason I’m sending them no cash.
Knucklehead on May 14, 2009 at 3:30 PM
Now we see why Obama is pushing credit card reform.
zmdavid on May 14, 2009 at 3:30 PM
A good start…but they have enough material to pump two of these out daily.
ZJPolitical on May 14, 2009 at 3:32 PM
At least it’s something…but they need to turn the screws. I mean, it’s not like they haven’t any fodder…
ladyingray on May 14, 2009 at 3:32 PM
The government subsidizes $100 for each passenger to the Murtha Airport… so that subsidy isn’t costing very much.
zmdavid on May 14, 2009 at 3:33 PM
What’s in your wallet?
Not much, after Obama gets done with you?
Steve Z on May 14, 2009 at 3:33 PM
The announcer in the first video has that thin whinny voice that you just want to ignore.
meci on May 14, 2009 at 3:33 PM
Not bad. But not great.
myrenovations on May 14, 2009 at 3:34 PM
What happened, did the RNC and NRCC suddenly wake up? Repeat after me: THESE are the ads you need to run.
amerpundit on May 14, 2009 at 3:34 PM
They finally put out a good ad that’s 30 seconds long, simple in concept and will stick in people’s heads.
Well done, and about damn time.
BadgerHawk on May 14, 2009 at 3:35 PM
So when do we see the “Pelosi Loves Water-Boarding” ads?
Steve Z on May 14, 2009 at 3:35 PM
20 passengers a day, apparently. Not enough to justify that expensive airport, but certainly costly when it comes to subsidizes tickets.
amerpundit on May 14, 2009 at 3:35 PM
Weak. They had 2 good points to make and totally wussed it up.
The GOP needs full body blows against the enemy. Tickling them just makes them chuckle.
Guardian on May 14, 2009 at 3:36 PM
Drain the swamp!
Where was the protests from the enviromental wacko’s!!
And where did they relocate the Lizard people!
And was the payoff,to relocate the Lizard People,to
vote Democrat!(Snark).
This needs to be investigated!!
canopfor on May 14, 2009 at 3:37 PM
They’re just jealous that The One’s handing
out more pork than they thought they could
get away with.
We need a purge. How to get it though
I just don’t know.
edshepp on May 14, 2009 at 3:40 PM
Someone please send a copy of the Alinsky’s rule book to the RNC. Even BOR picked up on it last night. The Dem’s get mean, and we get fluff.
Knucklehead on May 14, 2009 at 3:40 PM
NOT BAD! I LIKED THEM BOTH!
echosyst on May 14, 2009 at 3:42 PM
This reminds me of the stories about mindless Communist cronies producing a product that no one could buy and that the producer couldn’t transport any farther than the local river where it was dumped, but at least they were doing something.
Maquis on May 14, 2009 at 3:43 PM
Still, I have the desire to plow a soccer ball at his, Pelosi, Dodd, Murtha, Schumer, and Franks heads
capejasmine on May 14, 2009 at 3:43 PM
$100 * 20 people * 365 days = $730,000.
$730K a year? Government calculators can’t even handle numbers that small. (Not that it shouldn’t be stopped).
zmdavid on May 14, 2009 at 3:43 PM
Proposed rules for all future RNC commercials:
1) Voice-overs by Kelsey Grammer
2) Scripts by Iowahawk
get outta Moms basement on May 14, 2009 at 3:44 PM
It’s not large in comparison to the bloated federal budget. But that’s in addition to the near-million dollars the airport received for upgrades this year, as well as the millions upon millions it’s received before that.
Quite significant to someone making $50,000/year wondering if they’ll have a job tomorrow.
amerpundit on May 14, 2009 at 3:45 PM
I like the videos. They are a starting point. However, ads like these need to go national and not just viral to those who already agree.
txag92 on May 14, 2009 at 3:46 PM
Gotta hand it to Big John, he sure can stuff the goodies bag. Which one of his relatives runs the ‘airport’?
GarandFan on May 14, 2009 at 3:48 PM
More. I want more!
And this time with more punch.
darktood on May 14, 2009 at 3:48 PM
That one is good.
deidre on May 14, 2009 at 3:54 PM
Still say most conservatives with “guts” (subsitute your own term if you are so inclined) seem to be women: Palin, Prejean, Coulter, Malkin, and Michele Bachmann. (See Michele on Fox clip from yesterday.) Would that other conservatives join in. Of course, we also have to give credit to Cheney, although I would have liked to see him that agressive when he was in office.
Christian Conservative on May 14, 2009 at 3:54 PM
I’m suprised thats not a real visa card option yet.
Instead of Airline miles, you can earn Indulgence Credits
jp on May 14, 2009 at 3:55 PM
that would be a classic
youngO on May 14, 2009 at 3:56 PM
I think Iowahawk would be perfect scripting satire for them , he got everything from subtle to devastation.
the_nile on May 14, 2009 at 3:57 PM
Well we don’t have hanging appendages inbetween our legs to kick… so our “round metal bearings” are inside the body cavity in which we can fight harder and longer and make people freak.
upinak on May 14, 2009 at 3:57 PM
Grammar has the perfect voices for such ads.
amerpundit on May 14, 2009 at 3:57 PM
The first one is made markedly *less* clever thanks to the fact that they clarify that this is “Political Satire” before we actually see the thing.
I don’t know, I’m not a fan of the ‘funny’ ads for political parties. You just seem like a d-bag.
The second one was more effective, but the problem is like, OK, so I don’t like John Murtha now and I will not vote for him. Unfortunately, I’m not in his district, and the people in his district love him because that airport and that money means jobs. I mean, not bad, but they should have tied it to Democrats as a whole.
Proud Rino on May 14, 2009 at 3:58 PM
But he was Sideshow Bob’s voice also.
thomasaur on May 14, 2009 at 3:59 PM
We need ads to start airing nationally on real television starting now softening up people for the onslaught of pro-Dem ads and media coming for the 2010 elections. We need to get the seeds of doubt planted now in people’s minds. People will notice an ad now, even if it is subconsiously. Closer to the 2010 election they will tune them out, especially if they are negative to the Dems because the media will be in full Dem support mode. Just start in with little chinks in the armor about how corrupt and irresponsible Dems are. Also, pound on the spending being nothing but vote-buying and pandering without any real good being accomplished. How these power hungry ba$tards are stealing from our children. Just a thought…
mrsmwp on May 14, 2009 at 4:00 PM
Which will make Simpsons fans sit up and notice.
amerpundit on May 14, 2009 at 4:01 PM
They need to hire the guys who did the ads for John McCain before he started getting all namby pamby. Remember “The One”?
Puddleglum on May 14, 2009 at 4:02 PM
I hear that Chrysler has some ad. time that it may need to dump.
thomasaur on May 14, 2009 at 4:03 PM
Good. We need to be heavy on the attack. [otherwise silent] Americans are angry at the audacity of liberalism and shameless Democrat corruption, and they need a voice.
bluelightbrigade on May 14, 2009 at 4:04 PM
I want to see one on Pelosi. The more she lies the faster she blinks.
ctmom on May 14, 2009 at 4:05 PM
First one needs to go national. Second one, the American Idolators will tune out and can’t remember anyways.
The message that the RNC needs to Slam is that Corporations don’t pay taxes YOU pay the taxes that corportations are supposed to pay. When you raise taxes on corporations they raise the prices on their products. Cut jobs. Hire less. Pay less. Explain that to the publicly educated and you might see some results.
Start pounding message that Obama wants YOU to sacrifice while he eats Kobe, wears 500 tennis shoes to do charity, buys $2,000 dogs, and flys in pizza from St. Louis.
Pound him on the hypocrisy using his own words.
Attack.
Socmodfiscon on May 14, 2009 at 4:05 PM
No, the problem with that is that if you hit someone too early, you have nowhere to escalate to or you overreach.
The best thing Republicans can do now is take principled stands – vote against bad stuff, vote FOR good stuff, and introduce good bills you know Democrats will never vote for. Then, run on that. A particularly vicious ad campaign can be effective, but you need to have something to point to, and those ad campaigns backfire about as often as they work.
Proud Rino on May 14, 2009 at 4:06 PM
That is to prevent a copyright suit from MasterCard. Satire is protected by the First Amendment.
The Precedent has a very thin skin. He does not like being ridiculed. Which is exactly why we need to do it.
Um, isn’t Nancy Pelosi the leader of the House Democrats? isn’t that her voice promising to “drain the swamp?” Wasn’t that airport already there when she said that?
rockmom on May 14, 2009 at 4:08 PM
If teh One really wants to help people pay their CC bills, how about reducing the single largest expense they have, which is strong armed out of them by unscrupulous people….TAXES. I find his rhetoric about needing a magnifying glass to read the fine print of a CC agreement rather weak when compared to an average person attempting to understand the tax code.
In other words….FAIL! again.
Fighton03 on May 14, 2009 at 4:10 PM
Boom. +1
bluelightbrigade on May 14, 2009 at 4:12 PM
Since the news divisions of the MSM will not do their jobs responsibly, we have little choice but to buy the air time to voice the truth. Money is finite (except in Obamaland) and should be spent on the best and most effective ads. The management and coordination of this effort will require a true Republican/Libertarian/Conservative leader who cannot be intimidated or run off by the Obamabots and who is itching for a knife fight in a mud pit. Who would you choose?
SKYFOX on May 14, 2009 at 4:18 PM
I like it. Photoshop Pelosi, Obama, Reid heads over vikings.
shick on May 14, 2009 at 4:18 PM
So if you claim that something is satire, you can’t be successfully sued for copyright infringement? News to me.
Proud Rino on May 14, 2009 at 4:19 PM
Now we need one of Pelosi flying in her private jet while 5000 people wait to get into a job fair.
rockmom on May 14, 2009 at 4:21 PM
Change.
NCJeff on May 14, 2009 at 4:23 PM
Obama Card: Paying for research on Chinese hookers & booze, and Argentinian gay bars, since 2009.
hawksruleva on May 14, 2009 at 4:24 PM
Pretty much. Satire is protected speech under the First Amendment and is considered “fair use” of any corporate trademark, symbol, or slogan. MasterCard has moved quickly to complain to other advertisers and political campaigns using the “priceless” meme as well as variations of its logo and name.
rockmom on May 14, 2009 at 4:25 PM
Of course, you’ll often have to go to court to prove that it’s satire. And copyright cases can be rather nuanced. Was the PRIMARY intent satire, or was it to defame?
hawksruleva on May 14, 2009 at 4:26 PM
AirPoty to no where. And why doesn’t the media ask Pelosi about this huge waste of money?
tarpon on May 14, 2009 at 4:27 PM
why don’t they run these during American Idol or the NBA Playoffs? All I see during the playoffs are trailers for crappy movies. Answer: too much money, and nobody is giving them any.
kirkill on May 14, 2009 at 4:28 PM
Got my Lab mix puppy “free” from the humane society, cost at least $2,000 the first couple years fixing the stuff he tore up. At least the Hussein Family has servants to take of that.
kirkill on May 14, 2009 at 4:32 PM
+1000
Iowahawk, are you listening?
Aggie85 on May 14, 2009 at 4:36 PM
That’s not entirely true. There is one person who uses it regularly: John Murtha. That was the whole point of building it in the first place. It’s basically his own private, taxpayer-funded airport, serving him and his family (Great Service! No Waiting! Lots of Close Parking!), and the rest of us get to pay for it.
AZCoyote on May 14, 2009 at 4:51 PM
Republicans are sooooo lame! $100 per passenger but there aren’t any passengers! Hello!!!!! Go hire a PR firm to help you guys get your friggen point across will you PLEASE?
sabbott on May 14, 2009 at 4:53 PM
Pelosi… Murtha… I’m ready for Barney Frank. But these will be a great start!
jeffn21 on May 14, 2009 at 4:59 PM
Hey Jeffy Flake – what’s the carbon footprint on that and what are you going to tax Murtha for it? Come on smarty pants…..
Branch Rickey on May 14, 2009 at 5:49 PM
Meh…it’s like the pot calling the kettle really really dark gray. Seems to me like they are trying to become the “Lesser of Two Evils Party.”
RPCC: “Sure we were bad, but these guys are REALLY bad.”
Unless and until they start wholeheartedly embracing conservative principles, Republicans can’t count on my vote.
Onus on May 14, 2009 at 5:49 PM
Good ads. I doubt the dumbbells in Johnstown will get the message. I guess that makes them as corrupt as the white haired turd, Murtha.
Zorro on May 14, 2009 at 6:24 PM
They have to use the Murtha ad nationally, Murtha’s constituents are complicit in sending El Puerco back to congress. Let them reelect him so he can be the standard bearer for Democrats. If the Republicans had the ba!!s to not submit a single earmark they could make some real noise.
Theworldisnotenough on May 14, 2009 at 7:11 PM
It’s a good start. This is how the dems did it — start a little at a time, it’s still early before November 2010. Start with a small trickle like this, then start proposing the alternatives later. First, you have to show how bad the other side is before people (and especially brainwashed robots) start listening to your side. Think of it as deprogramming for misled people.
AZfederalist on May 14, 2009 at 10:56 PM