Preview of new anti-Kerry, and anti-Bush ads on Hardball Friday

[stray cat]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5445086/

Funny ridicule versus deadly serious (David Shuster)


The most creative and effective television commercials in this election have come not from the Bush or Kerry campaigns... but rather from the independent groups helping them.  Ironically, the groups are following the candidate's story lines in the final set of negative ads.  And whichever story line is more effective could determine this election.

The Bush campaign has long ridiculed John Kerry as a flip-flopper.  So, the latest television commercial from the powerful Republican "Club for Growth" is a hilarious and entertaining spot written by David Zucker (the Hollywood hit maker responsible for "Airplane.")  On screen, the commercial starts with a wedding ceremony and a narrator who says, "There's nothing wrong with making a decision and then changing your mind.  But if you never commit to what you believe in, who will commit to you?" The video shows a groom by-passing his bride to romantically kiss the maid of honor. Then, the commercial dissolves to John Kerry.  His arms go up and down (edited forward and reverse to make this effect) while issues appear, including "Iraq, Patriot Act," and etc.  Then, you see a bomb squad member who can't decide which wire to cut...  You get the idea.  It is simply hilarious... and the commercial seems very effective. 

The Kerry campaign has aggressively tried to portray President Bush as detached and divorced from grim reality.   So, the latest television commercial from the powerful Democratic "Moveonpac" is deadly serious.  There are no actors...  just President Bush and a woman whose brother was killed in Iraq.  The ad starts with a controversial joke President Bush delivered last march.  At a black-tie dinner, on camera, the President joked about not being able to find the WMDs in Iraq.  Then the president showed a slide photo of himself searching under his Oval Office desk.  The commercial shows this clip and then cuts to a woman talking about her brother who died in Iraq a month after the president's remark. Brooke Campbell says, "I watched President Bush make a joke, looking around for weapons of mass destruction.  My brother died looking for weapons of mass destruction."  The ad is simple but brutal.  And Moveonpac says their internal polling shows it's the most effective ad they've been a part of in this entire campaign.

Here's my question for you: Which tactic has more impact, "funny ridicule" or "deadly seriousness?"

I'm curious to hear what you think...  and I'd love to hear from you again after we show both commercials on the "Hardball Horserace" Friday evening at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. Are they actually going to show the Kerry Ads against Bush?

[Burma Jones]

2. I didn't know David Zucker was a 'puke

There's plenty of Bush ridicule without having to pay for it. I go with deadly serious, because it's fucking serious this time around