GOP ad: Behind Closed Doors
posted at 7:35 pm on October 23, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
My first thought? Not enough Charlie Rich. The Congressional Republicans could have had some fun with an ad titled “Behind Closed Doors,” making a kind of Weird Al parody video with unions letting their “hair hang down,” making Democrats “glad that they’re in Congress.” In fact, the word “congress” could be used as a double entendre for the marriage of statists and special interests pushing ObamaCare legislation away from the sunlight of public scrutiny.
However, it’s still a great reminder that all of the HopeandchangeTM promised during the 2008 campaign has turned into much greater opacity:
Blowback
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What happens in Barney Frank’s closed committee sessions, stays in Barney Frank’s closed committee sessions.
BadgerHawk on October 23, 2009 at 7:36 PM
Oh, and the video won’t play. Great work, GOP! – I have no idea if it’s their incompetence not making it play, but it’s a pretty safe bet so I’ll go with it.
BadgerHawk on October 23, 2009 at 7:37 PM
That ad was awful.
Too wordy…This is the era of sarcasm.
SteveMG on October 23, 2009 at 7:39 PM
I’m not as good at video editing as I would like to be but I’m sure someone here is. I think an ad with a nod to Charlie Rich (I write that as if I knew who sang the song before you told me) would probably get more hits than this one.
Any takers?
rihar on October 23, 2009 at 7:40 PM
It worked for me, BadgerHawk. Pretty effective ad – pulled fewer punches than some others.
doctormom on October 23, 2009 at 7:41 PM
I’m hoping Breitbart has a plant in there with a digital recorder.
*dreams on*
fogw on October 23, 2009 at 7:43 PM
MadisonConservative on October 23, 2009 at 7:43 PM
Ordinarily I’d agree but it played for me. It’s pretty effective too.
ncborn on October 23, 2009 at 7:43 PM
I gotta have more cowbell!
David2.0 on October 23, 2009 at 7:44 PM
I hear tonite, that these insufferable Marxist weasels are set to force their so called public option takeover of the economy on us despite the overwhelming opposition. Gasoline meet fire.
elduende on October 23, 2009 at 7:44 PM
Ugh…I grew up listening to my Charlie Rich as my parents constantly played his music. Thanks for getting that song back in my skull, thanks a lot.
Bishop on October 23, 2009 at 7:45 PM
It is a boring ad.
ReneePA on October 23, 2009 at 7:45 PM
The GOP needs to push the “televised on C-Span” in shorter ads. As for this one, good message but the narrator is a guy. A white guy.
Marcus on October 23, 2009 at 7:47 PM
Neil Cavuto has been harping on the closed door meetings the last couple days. Glad to see the GOP picked up on it.
fourdeucer on October 23, 2009 at 7:48 PM
Who is the GOP?
/ middle america
faraway on October 23, 2009 at 7:50 PM
I thought the Dems were all about the sunshine
CWforFreedom on October 23, 2009 at 7:50 PM
I’m guessing no one outside of the GOP will watch this.
El_Terrible on October 23, 2009 at 7:51 PM
Maybe too wordy, but a very serious issue. I wonder whether humor would work for the target audience, which I assume is not Hot Air posters.
Loxodonta on October 23, 2009 at 7:51 PM
Then Nancy lets her face lift down
And makes Barry glad that he’s a man
Ted Torgerson on October 23, 2009 at 7:52 PM
yuck … we could do better.
tarpon on October 23, 2009 at 7:52 PM
too long..
We’re dealing with short attention spans…
deedtrader on October 23, 2009 at 7:54 PM
Was that Bawney’s basement door?
farright on October 23, 2009 at 7:55 PM
My first thought…I gotta FEVER… and the only prescription is… MORE COWBELL!!
JohnGalt23 on October 23, 2009 at 8:00 PM
I’d love to see an ad with the Sesame Street theme song playing in the background, with Obama bright & cheerful on the campaign stump, stating his promise to end the recession – then cut from the sunny Obama clip to (cut the music, dead silence, just a caption showing): Reality: (flash of picture of people in unemployment line), then back to the music and Obama promising to begin diplomatic relations with Iran then cut to Reality: (Iran and the bomb) – etc., etc.
SouperConservative on October 23, 2009 at 8:00 PM
LMAO at someone lighting up at 1:04.
Charlie Rich was one of my dad’s favorites, thanks for that link Ed.
mike_NC9 on October 23, 2009 at 8:01 PM
YES!
Loxodonta on October 23, 2009 at 8:02 PM
And we’ll have show everything on CSPAN. Ha what a joke.
Time for the dynamic duo to don their mini-skirt and fur coat. We need you now pimped crusaders, ’cause we need video.
Mojave Mark on October 23, 2009 at 8:05 PM
How do you know when Barney Frank has broken into your house?
You hear a lisp behind you as something touches your no-no spot.
viviliberoomuori on October 23, 2009 at 8:10 PM
the background music was creepy enough that people might get into their heads “Dems–creepy & yukky”. but that would apply only to people who had a brain.
kelley in virginia on October 23, 2009 at 8:10 PM
I still think they walk in one door then walk out the other in the back. Then it’s off for some 8-balls and hookers.
jhffmn on October 23, 2009 at 8:11 PM
ha ha “lisp….something touches your no-no spot”. my husband held his ample belly laughing! thanks for that one.
kelley in virginia on October 23, 2009 at 8:12 PM
lol…
More cowbell!
JetBoy on October 23, 2009 at 8:13 PM
“Too long!” “Too wordy” Wahhhhh. Look, people, at least they are trying to get the word out. This is not a joke, if they get any form of this BS through, we are SCREWED. Think they can easily dismantle something of this size in a 3 years? Think again.
cynccook on October 23, 2009 at 8:19 PM
They should just run the clip with Obama promising to televise the debates and bill making . . .
followed by “really?”
ace tomato on October 23, 2009 at 8:25 PM
…..And when we get behind closed doors…..STOP IT!
I keep hearing that old Charlie Rich song over and over and it’s creeping me out.
I say we just nail it shut until they remake ‘Alive’.
HornetSting on October 23, 2009 at 8:28 PM
Ed, you need to do GOP ads. Cuz they suck at it.
Charlie Rich, baby!
hawksruleva on October 23, 2009 at 8:45 PM
I’m tired of cute ads. We need industrial strength ads. This at least was closer to that idea, and straightforward, but still suffered from a reedy voiceover sometimes lost in the music. Could have been twice as hardhitting with a stronger voice, better dramatic structure and a strategic use of music not the droning beat. B-minus.
rrpjr on October 23, 2009 at 8:45 PM
I thought the add was effective, but my question is, why is Rangel still making laws? The guy is a fu**king law breaker. Yeah, everything is so perferct. Can I have more rum please? When is the revolution starting anyway?
nwpammy on October 23, 2009 at 8:46 PM
FIFY
jdkchem on October 23, 2009 at 8:59 PM
Ad was too wordy and they should’ve slambed the door at the end for emphasis! Lost opportunity IMO.
glennbo on October 23, 2009 at 9:13 PM
cowbell ?
macncheez on October 23, 2009 at 9:13 PM
My first thought also. My God, I can’t believe the RNC can’t afford to buy a good producer, with ideas. That sounds like the same stuffy old commercial. The guy whose bright idea for the new RNC page, must have produced this ad.
lovingmyUSA on October 23, 2009 at 9:21 PM
FIFY, otherwise a great point; they need some crotchety old codger — preferably a codgerette — up there bitching bout how her bunions were inflamed from attending all of the SRO townhalls and getting them trod on by SEIU thugs.
VoyskaPVO on October 23, 2009 at 9:24 PM
When they have a concept, they should just ask us here at HA. We’ll be happy to give them our best ideas. Ones that will work!
glennbo on October 23, 2009 at 9:30 PM
tru dat
macncheez on October 23, 2009 at 9:31 PM
Ed
How much play is the ad getting? Where? How much will they spend on it?
It’s good that they are reminding people of the broken CSPAN promise but they need to hit that at least twice in that much time: maybe with a tasteful, not over polarizing joke. They could like hire a professional to write it.
snaggletoothie on October 23, 2009 at 9:36 PM
Ed,
That’s too funny. I sent this exact video to Neil Cavuto Tuesday and suggested he play it during his ‘closed door’ segments.
Heh heh, haven’t seen it yet.
mrt721 on October 23, 2009 at 10:05 PM
GOP has this on their homepage today. Why don’t they make THIS an ad? It’s funny, gets its point across – and ridicules the opposition (one of Alinsky’s favorite tactics!):
SouperConservative on October 23, 2009 at 10:06 PM
So then I clicked on the link – this is really funny! And you can actually send this to your friends. Finally a good idea from the GOP.
SouperConservative on October 23, 2009 at 10:10 PM
I actually liked the add. I think it really drives home the seriousness of the issue, which I agree with. It IS serious, how the Democrats and Obama are going back on every single promise he’s made about transparency on the campaign trail. This add is a simultaneous hit at Democrats AND Obama, which is always a good thing.
Highlar on October 23, 2009 at 11:08 PM
Time to come out of the closet, Dems
WyoMike on October 23, 2009 at 11:13 PM
I’m just cheeky enough to wonder what goes on behind the
greenwhite door.Sekhmet on October 23, 2009 at 11:30 PM
My first thought was – look at the cigarette smoke…. now I know where I can go….
usedtobeinmich on October 23, 2009 at 11:34 PM
It’s not a bad add, but is it running anywhere??? I never see these ads anywhere but on HotAir.
One note on the commercial, though, we’re way beyond just growing government. This is about taking over.
JellyToast on October 23, 2009 at 11:43 PM
Yep, but will it play in Peoria?
Or Gary or Augusta, Maine?
I got my first GOP survey about three – four weeks ago, promptly filled it out and in the space where donation information would routinely go, I wrote-in, “When will the GOP get it’s shit together?”
I guess if we begin to focus on a new party with a strong message we may see some really good ads.
Madame President Palin would fill that slot nicely. Then the GOP can join their ‘reach across the aisle big tenters’ and go for broke. Perhaps we’d see something in the vein of “New Constitution Congress” proposed in joint session by moderate Republicans and centrist Dems.
GOP. Get your shit together or go away.
OkieDoc on October 23, 2009 at 11:45 PM
I think a 3rd party is totally wrong – we just need to take back the Republican party otherwise it’ll be democrats for the rest of my lifetime.
usedtobeinmich on October 23, 2009 at 11:56 PM
I did say ‘focus’ didn’t I?
How’re ya gonna take back something you haven’t had for 20+ years?
If you got the backing, brother the let’s go with it. Otherwise, keep holding the leadership’s feet to the fire for dropping the damn ball. You fumble enough times on my team and you get benched.
OkieDoc on October 24, 2009 at 12:05 AM
It should be what are they hiding from you?
Also who is this guy Special Interests… that’s a funny name.
petunia on October 24, 2009 at 2:28 AM
Headline when they are ready to vote: Hundreds of Democrats come out of the closet!
petunia on October 24, 2009 at 2:30 AM
It’s a bit long and wordy- some people are just going to tune it out.
By the way, am I the only one who thinks it’s time that Michelle’s Hot Air videos need to make a comeback?
Jay Mac on October 24, 2009 at 8:06 AM
One question…why was Al Franken protesting at a town hall meeting?(First one shown could be Al’s twin brother)
Clink on October 24, 2009 at 8:10 AM
I’m still waiting for the negotiations on C-SPAN… Just like Obama promiised…
Khun Joe on October 24, 2009 at 8:17 AM
Amen to that. Woulda made the ad.
infidel4life on October 24, 2009 at 9:50 AM
Why don’t the republicans create a law, change parliamentary procedure, or request all doors in the capital be removed.
MSGTAS on October 24, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Its OUR door and it needs to be kicked in.
amr on October 24, 2009 at 10:42 AM