The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

What Did I Tell You About Her?

Posted on | October 4, 2010 | 32 Comments

Christine O’Donnell’s first TV ad of the general election campaign:

The American Spectator, July 27:

“[C]onservatives in Delaware have the benefit of backing an indisputably telegenic candidate. O’Donnell . . . has the kind of 100-watt smile that lights up a room.”

With a smile like that, she’s awfully hard to hate. The Castle campaign tried to demonize her and it backfired. Maybe Baldy the Tax-Hiking Wanker will have better luck. I doubt it.

She may not be a witch, but you can’t deny she’s got magic.

Photoshop by Carol at No Sheeples Here.

UPDATE: My filmmaker friend Ladd Ehlinger Jr. hates the ad — absolutely hates it. But he’s looking at it from a filmmaker’s point of view, whereas Ace of Spades sees the human side:

She has a useful amount of sadness in her, of whippedness, that pushes the right emotional button. She was beaten up — hard not feel sympathetic for someone beaten up.

Exactly. My point, however, is that TV is about images.

Forget the words. Just turn off the sound and look at it. The moment she flashes that first smile, the average person likes her. They can’t help it. It’s an autonomic response.

Whether “I like her” translates into “I want her to be Senator,” I can’t say. But we’ve recently elected a president whose chief politic assets are a resonant baritone voice and a vague resemblance to the Allstate man, so I think it unwise to underestimate the superficiality of voters in the Age of Image.

UPDATE II: Three Tweets:



As with everything else about O’Donnell, this simple ad seems destined to be controversial. If she wins on Nov. 2, all the criticism of her and her campaign will be forgotten. Victory has that effect in politics.

Category: Christine O'Donnell, Delaware, Election, Senate, Video

Comments

32 Responses to “What Did I Tell You About Her?”

  1. ltw
    October 5th, 2010 @ 2:00 am

    Media can’t help going after O’Donnell, so ad will be effective over the month until election. Every time there’s an attack…this ad will come to mind as the reference point. Now she can spend her time talking about the issues.

  2. buddhabop
    October 5th, 2010 @ 10:23 am

    she’s got a nice smile? that’s good enough for me. sign me up!

  3. Beagle8boy
    October 5th, 2010 @ 10:45 am

    It’s a terrible ad IMHO. I want this woman to win and now, with this, it looks worse. She should combine her great smile with the issues. She’s right on with the issues so state them and then smile and say that’s the kind of magic I want to bring to Washington on your behalf.
    What?? Is she running against Bill Maher?

  4. No
    October 5th, 2010 @ 11:40 am

    Is that a tingle I see running up your leg McCain?

  5. Michigan Mark
    October 5th, 2010 @ 2:06 pm

    Me too… I got better.

  6. HaHa
    October 5th, 2010 @ 8:22 pm

    Thank GOD you don’t live in Delaware, loser.