Comments on: Towards a More Specific America

By: MaxFan

MaxFan — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:24:36 +0000

Chuck, that’s exactly what the ad is attempting to imply. I’m amazed anyone would think that’s halfway appropriate to make. Then again, I’m frequently amazed at the low state of politics these days since I stopped paying too close attention years ago because both sides had been doing nonsense like this (well, perhaps not /precisely/ like this). Even as parody who thinks that’s going to do anything except scare off all the fence-sitting voters? Realistically, all the people who thought that was good were already going to vote McCain anyhow.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:11:07 +0000

Duh, obviously I'm not going to be first to make the connection, Time already pointed it out two months ago. There I go again, trying to give people the benefit of the doubt. Man, I'm stunned. That has to be the absolute lowest point in American political campaigns. Congratulations, Fred Davis (mastermind of the ad) and Nicolle Wallace (McCain spokesman who dismissed it as "parody"): you are officially the Worst Americans Ever.

By: seppo

seppo — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:02:26 +0000

I think it’s absolutely intentional. It’s the same old code-word-based appeal to fundies that they hope they hope will slide by the rest of the populace.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:01:55 +0000

And in non-sarcastic mode, regarding that “The One” campaign ad: I realize that it’s supposed to be saying that Obama’s an egomaniac (I’m skeptical), and that his followers are blindly supportive of him (I know I am!)

But does everyone think I’m overreacting if I say the subtext of that ad is: “Barack Obama is the Anti-Christ?” I’m wondering if it’s just because I was raised Pentacostal, but the beginning of that ad reminded me an awful lot of the movies we used to see about the Rapture. They’d always start with ominous music and some politician claiming himself to be the new messiah, and people blindly following him.

The general reaction to the ad that I’ve seen has been that it misses the point, just praising Obama for the first few minutes and then asking “Who is he?” at the end of it. And of course, the campaign can dismiss it as just a parody and claim full deniability. But I can’t help but think they’re preying on their fundamentalist base, compounding the “Who is this guy you’ve never heard of before” along with their usual “Muslim terrorist” subtext, and then mixing in the general fear and uncertainty that fundamentalist Christians have about the Book of Revelations.

And maybe it’s just me, but it seems like “My opponent is the Anti-Christ” is about as rock bottom as you can hit with a negative campaign ad.