Video: GOP launches new, er, “Young Guns” ad

A few days old but worth watching. Here’s the thing: I like the overarching “rebranding” concept, and I really like the idea of showcasing the GOP’s younger stars (Paul Ryan especially). But there’s a certain wisdom in the second clip below (via Mediaite) about not giving yourself your own nickname. My appreciation for Ryan’s seriousness of purpose in advancing his roadmap to fiscal solvency somehow isn’t enhanced by reimagining him as a “Young Gun”; on the contrary, the thing I like about him is that he’s unusually mature in his willingness to make tough choices about entitlement funding and the national debt. Which is to say, while branding gimmicks are basically fine and harmless, it’s hard for me to believe that the “Young Guns” label enhances the next generation’s credibility. Am I wrong about that? Hopefully so, since they’re doing this to try to move a book laying out their leadership ideas.

Exit question: If they’re after younger voters, should they have called the book “Dirty Sexy Politics” instead? It’s damned catchy.

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