The Musings Of An Opinionated Sod [Help Me Grow!]

You are not alone in thinking McCain comes across badly in this commercial but I am sure his supporters view it as an act of incredible generosity by a great leader in waiting.

I would be interested to know how this commercial was perceived in America because I feel the net effect would be to only appeal to the previously converted though I am forgetting McCain did this out of genuine respect for his political adversary, not for political gain.

A fantastic reminder of how important tone and soul are in brand communication not to mention the value of having some cynics in your team not just yes men.

To be fair to McCain, he can’t win on this issue because whatever he did would potentially come across as patronising and/or contrived.

Ad in the NY Ttimes = Elitist

Personal Appearance = Stealing the limelight

Radio = Not sincere

PR Leak = Attention grabbing stunt

Whilst I wish he’d just done it quietly and respectfully, that isn’t the way of American politics who are always looking for political gain … which is why I can sort-of accept why they went with a TV commercial.

It might not be a ‘credible’ medium, but it is guaranteed to get McCain into housholds all over the World as well as the US and will be recorded in history thanks to the likes of Youtube …

Well, I’m sure that was the strategy, the problem is his delivery was so bad that it’s benefit could be minimal. I am shocked his advisors didn’t identify this, however they probably don’t care because they know the rest of the World can’t vote in the election and those living in the States are either generally unmoved by politics or are unlikely to change their view just because some wrinkly white dude [copyright Paris Hilton] made some attempted praising comments.

Saying that, Lee’s comment about McCain potentially surrounding himself with “Yes Men” rather than the odd objective strategist could be right … because lets face it, Virgin’s success is all down to cynics 🙂

Great comment from Lee about embracing cynics within an organisation, but then I would say that and so would he. 🙂

Nice post Robert, I especially like the “squeeze the heart” line, a much more accurate description for evoking reaction than “caressing”.

Is that incase your otherwise positive persona gets dangerously affected?

Since nobody pays attention to any positive political advertising anyway, you could argue that just the act of trying a different tone might be felt to be enough.

There again, maybe the cynics were involved – after all the anniversary of the “I have a dream” speech that coincided with Obama’s nomination has a different resonance in certain states and arguably lit the touchpaper for his ultimate demise. Conspiracy theorists start here.

Martin Luther King’s.

i can’t wait ’til this damned election is dead and buried – i’m over it.

dead and buried was in response to your nan living next to lord lucan…

to be honest, i’m over it for several reasons, in no particular order:

– everyone going on about it simply accentuates the myth that america are the rulers of the western world
– i’m used to electioneering going on for a couple of months, but this feels like it’s been on and on and on for years. and there’s still more time to go!
– if their political system affects us all so much, let us vote. if not, fuck off and deal with your garbage.
– i’m cynical to the core and impatient.

And both parties are essentially the same.

Lord Lucan ! My god – now there’s a blast from the past !