Monday, September 15, 2008

Anne Althouse comments on the new Obama Ad

AltHouse's post is here.
On the upside, he finally focused on McCain instead of Palin.

On the downside...

2. It seems likely that the viewer is just supposed to accept the assertion that there have been sleaziest ads, smears, and a lie, mainly because the names of newspapers appear on screen next to quotes.


The whole ad is an argumentum ad verecundiam. Which only works if you accept the media as being authoritive and respected.

3. I think quite a few voters, like me, will feel very skeptical about generic assertions and quotes taken out of context. We American voters are competent ad watchers, and I don't think this will work on us.


And it's not even skillfully done. The ad doesn't really show McCain as a massive sleaze. It shows that some in the media might consider him one. Very convincing case that.

4. This ad screams its negativity. The ominous music. The string of very ugly words: sleaziest... vile ... dishonest smears ... lie ... damned ... disgraceful ... dishonorable ... deception. And yet the ad seeks to inspire outrage about McCain's negativity. But we're not watching McCain's ads. The example of sleaziness is the one before our eyes now.


Tone is a major problem, the Obama camp sounds just like a typical "He Said / She Said," negative ad. You'd think the master of "new politics" would be a bit more sly.

Instead...

6. The McCain ads I can call to mind are disarmingly funny. This Obama ad is completely devoid of humor or charm. It's got a cheap "nutroots" feeling to it.


We have McCain being the one with the funny ads.

10. This ad strikes me as a big whine: Hey, no fair. Your ads work better than mine. Quit it. Or I'm telling.


So unfunny, unsubstantiated, angry, negative, and whinny. What a winning combination.

No comments: