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Sad State of the RNC

Posted by PETE ABEL, Managing Editor in Politics.
Jul 29th, 2008 | Comments

A few minutes ago, I received an email alert from the Republican National Committee with the following title:

***MEDIA ADVISORY***
RNC Launches New Web Video: “Obama TV Ad In Berlin”

Curious, I clicked through to watch the video, as I finished up the meager lunch to which my fatness relegates me. And this is what I saw:

Post-viewing, several adjectives present themselves for consideration: Pitiful. Uninspired. Unprofessional.

Net: This is the final straw — not the main straw, certainly not the only straw — but the final straw. I’ve now returned entirely, without equivocation, to the “fully independent” voter category. Sure, I’ll still support certain, exceptional, individual candidates who are bold enough to adopt the Republican brand. But the Party itself is toast for me. And no, I’m not ready to join the other major party either. Enough is enough. A pox on all their houses.

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jwest

Pete,

Are you sure this is an RNC production?

Pete Abel

jwest -- appears to be. Ben Smith got the same email, see here: http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0708/RNC...

jwest

I’ve got to agree, this sucks. Looks like a MoveOn ad.

Neocon

this ad makes moveon.org look like geniuses.

Rudi

McCain is also allowing himself to be tainted by the Rovian wing of the RNC. Here's a link to an excellent response from Pat Lang.
http://turcopolier.typepad.com/sic_semper_tyran...
...
Hagel was not a prisoner of war in Vietnam. No, he and his brother were in the same rifle platoon in the infantry. Senator Hagel was a buck sergeant, a fire team leader. He was a 11B, a light weapons infantryman. For those who understand, that says a lot, a whole lot. What will Senator Hagel think of his old friend McCain after this?

Since I do not believe McCain really believes the rubbish that his consultants are telling him to say, I can only think that he is cynically and untruthfully seeking to manipulate public opinion.

I have never been a fan of John Kerry, but the people who slandered him are the same kind of scumbags who are advising McCain now.

It's not worth it, John. Nothing is worth it. pl

JSpencer

I'd like to add one more adjective: Pathetic. As I said earlier, I almost feel sorry for John McCain. Almost.

DLS

"[John McCain and the Republicans:]

Pitiful. Uninspired. Unprofessional. Pathetic."

This should be in Obama's counter-attack ad.

elrod

Comical. Looks like it was put together by some dude on You Tube. This is what the RNC has become?

Mike_P

Pathetic, but not particularly unexpected or unusual for the "modern" Republican Party. The final straw for me was the wearing and waving of purple band aids at the *Republican National Convention,* to mock John Kerry's Purple Heart - and as far as I'm concerned, every other service member killed or wounded in the line of duty. I vowed that day that I would never vote for another Republican. If the choice is between a great Republican and a terrible Democrat, I simply won't vote.

jwest

I loved the purple Band-Aids.

Exposing Kerry for the pitiful coward that he is was an act true patriotism by the Swift Boat Veterans.

Rambie

This has got to be a fake, the audio is full of background noise plus no deep-voiced dramatic voice over. Yeah, it's gotta be a fake or some intern did this as a joke.

ChrisWWW

jwest,
Are you trying to establish a troll/comic book villain persona around here?

JSpencer

Jwest, that's a pathetic bit of trolling, even for you. You have an inflated sense of importance if you think anyone here (with the possible choir exception) would give any creedence to your personal definition of either "coward" or "patriot".

edit: I defer to Chris's take on this. Comic book persona is more appropriate.

GeorgeSorwell

Hasselhoff?

This must be a joke.

Rambie

(shudder) I was trying to block that image out of my memory George. LOL

jwest

Chris/JSpencer,

As a proud, early contributor to the Swift Boat Vets, my description of Kerry in the comment above was tempered to fit the moderate surroundings.

Kerry is an indelible stain and an affront to the memory of those who served honorably. His lies and actions, both past and present, should turn the stomach of any American.

Before you site the NYTimes or Boston Globe on what a hero this slime is, research the matter and find out why no one has collected the million dollar prize for disproving any claim made by the SBVT.

ChrisWWW

jwest:
http://www.factcheck.org/republican-funded_grou...
http://www.factcheck.org/swift_boat_veterans_an...

pacatrue

I think unprofessional is the main thing with the video. It really does look like something some person threw together on YouTube with a few snickers, forgetting that they are the RNC and are supposed to represent something more than a little "look at those funny Europeans" gag.

I guess it depends on what people want. If they just think of this as a Republican-leaning sketch on Conan O'Brian, then it's no big deal. If they think the RNC should engage us in higher principles of conservatism and reason, then Pete's reaction is entirely appropriate.

Michael Merritt

I actually thought it was a little funny, even if some things were distorted, and probably taken out of context.

I don't think it's RNC, though. They usually label their ads. I'm not sure if they're supposed to, but that's how they usually end. "Paid for by the Republican National Committee".

Maybe it's unprofessional, but even if it is RNC, why all the anger? When JibJab did a parody like this, it was considered comic genius.

ljeff18

Republicans eating their young; Here's another take on the indictment news:

http://www.greenfaucet.com/hanlons-pub/alaska-o...

Interesting take on the debacle.

JSpencer

Thanks for the fact-checking Chris. Probably wasted on anyone so determined to cling to fiction though. The kool-aid is strong in some folks.

Jim_Satterfield

The kind of thinking that jwest's post represents exemplifies what is wrong with politics today. These sort of statements are what many who support Obama hate. They represent the depths that they want us to claw our way out of after an extended stay in the sewers. It is also reflected in the latest attacks on Obama from the McCain camp concerning him failing to visit hospitalized soldiers.

pacatrue

I agree with you in the basics, Dymero. I mean it's not as funny as the JibJab thing, but the basic question is, "Should the RNC be copying JibJab?" It's kind of like the Crossfire - Jon Stewart debate. Tucker Carlson played a Daily Show excerpt that had some of the same interviewee flaws as Stewart was criticizing Crossfire for. The question, though, is whether Crossfire as a political debate show on CNN should have different practices and purposes than a comedy show, and, continuing the analogy, whether the RNC should be emulating JibJab.

StockBoySF

I thought it was hilarious- "I know some Marxists in America who support Obama"! I mean it's just a hoot! It's all rubbish, but it's still a blast. The worst thing about it is that it IS meant to be serious and not parody. That's what makes it pitiful.

Too bad the Republicans can't work on their message as much as they do coming up with ads like this to attack Obama.

StockBoySF

As far as the Swift Boat nuts.... what I don't understand is that Kerry went overseas, faced the enemy, fought them and was injured (on more than one occasion). Meanwhile the person the Swift Boat nuts supported (Bush), never went overseas, never faced the enemy and completed his service obligation in the inactive reserve. Anyone connected with the Swift Boat folks ought to be shown to the woodshed for their over-the-top hypocrisy.

I'm sorry that I was reminded that enough Americans can be hood-winked so easily to change the outcome of a presidential race.

kritt11

Stockboy- Actually he didn't even complete his inactive service. His record in the reserves was scrubbed at the request of Andy Card.

StockBoySF

kritt11, thanks. I was under the (mistaken) belief that Bush had at least completed his inactive service.... I had other choice things to say about Bush but was uncharacteristically trying to tone it down when I posted my comment.... Thanks for the correction.

kritt11

No problem!

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