The Washington City Paper took a cue from The Daily Show and produced its own version of what "honest" ads from that city's mayoral candidates, Adrian Fenty and Vincent Gray, might look like. We're thinking of maybe trying something similar with some of the contests on the Nov. 2 ballot here in Shelby County and Tennessee.
For example, maybe a Mike McWherter for governor ad where he just fesses right up to voters and says, "Hi, I'm Mike McWherter, and you know my name because a lot of you, especially in rural areas, loved having my Daddy as governor. And you need to know that our current governor, Phil Bredesen, is strongly supporting me and, like my Daddy, Gov. Bredesen was a responsible steward of the budget, didn't give money away to traditional Democratic interest groups and even made a lot of liberals angry. Also, they were Democrats, and we all know what happened to the budget when a Republican got elected. I'm Mike McWherter, and even though I'm spending a lot of my own money on this campaign, it's not as much as my opponent and, believe you me, it takes up a more substantial portion of my personal wealth than his. Also, my campaign is all about jobs, jobs, jobs. And you folks in Shelby County, don't forget I live just up the road in Madison and I've been reading The Commercial Appeal all my life and I don't need a GPS to get around Memphis."
How about this, off the top of my head, from McWherter's Republican opponent, Bill Haslam: "My family has a lot of money, a growing business empire and therefore, ergo, we have the clout to make people bring jobs to this state or else. And even though Phil Bredesen is supporting my opponent, he knows and I know and you know that I'm a lot more like Gov. Bredesen than my opponent. Gov. Bredesen took his wealth and private sector experience and got into politics ... just like ME! (Crissy Haslam head nods in the background) Phil Bredesen was mayor of NASH-ville; I'm the mayor of KNOX-ville (Crissy Haslam nodding). Democratic voters, please turn down your TV set for just a second. OK. Good. My fellow Republicans, I'm steadfast in my commitment to expanding rights of citizens to keep and bear arms, we've got to get control of the illegals and we've got to stand up to Obama before we lose this country. You back, Democrats? (WINK at them). OK, remember Shelby County that my wife grew up right there in Memphis and her good friend is a schoolteacher who thinks I'm the best. I'm Bill Haslam, and the millions I'm spending to fund this campaign are the equivalent of a week's pay for most of you."
Any other thoughts in other races? It might be worth spending real money to come up with a Stephen Fincher-Roy Herron "honest" advertisement, though somehow you've got to believe The Daily Show cannot resist making a trip to Frog Jump for Indecision 2010, or whatever they will call it.
For example, maybe a Mike McWherter for governor ad where he just fesses right up to voters and says, "Hi, I'm Mike McWherter, and you know my name because a lot of you, especially in rural areas, loved having my Daddy as governor. And you need to know that our current governor, Phil Bredesen, is strongly supporting me and, like my Daddy, Gov. Bredesen was a responsible steward of the budget, didn't give money away to traditional Democratic interest groups and even made a lot of liberals angry. Also, they were Democrats, and we all know what happened to the budget when a Republican got elected. I'm Mike McWherter, and even though I'm spending a lot of my own money on this campaign, it's not as much as my opponent and, believe you me, it takes up a more substantial portion of my personal wealth than his. Also, my campaign is all about jobs, jobs, jobs. And you folks in Shelby County, don't forget I live just up the road in Madison and I've been reading The Commercial Appeal all my life and I don't need a GPS to get around Memphis."
How about this, off the top of my head, from McWherter's Republican opponent, Bill Haslam: "My family has a lot of money, a growing business empire and therefore, ergo, we have the clout to make people bring jobs to this state or else. And even though Phil Bredesen is supporting my opponent, he knows and I know and you know that I'm a lot more like Gov. Bredesen than my opponent. Gov. Bredesen took his wealth and private sector experience and got into politics ... just like ME! (Crissy Haslam head nods in the background) Phil Bredesen was mayor of NASH-ville; I'm the mayor of KNOX-ville (Crissy Haslam nodding). Democratic voters, please turn down your TV set for just a second. OK. Good. My fellow Republicans, I'm steadfast in my commitment to expanding rights of citizens to keep and bear arms, we've got to get control of the illegals and we've got to stand up to Obama before we lose this country. You back, Democrats? (WINK at them). OK, remember Shelby County that my wife grew up right there in Memphis and her good friend is a schoolteacher who thinks I'm the best. I'm Bill Haslam, and the millions I'm spending to fund this campaign are the equivalent of a week's pay for most of you."
Any other thoughts in other races? It might be worth spending real money to come up with a Stephen Fincher-Roy Herron "honest" advertisement, though somehow you've got to believe The Daily Show cannot resist making a trip to Frog Jump for Indecision 2010, or whatever they will call it.
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