Picture THIS commercial on TV:

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

Shots of everyday Americans saying one thing "I am a liberal."

Couples saying "WE are liberals."

Whole families saying it.

The faces speeding up so that you can include as many as possible in a 30 to 60 second shot.

Then the last shot a HUGE group filmed from the air (maybe they are in a giant field or clearing) shouting "WE ARE LIBERALS!" (Edited to add, have them stand in a group so that it looks like the United States? Does anyone know what I'm talking about? So it looks like the US from the air with how they are standing...)

That's it. The commercial ends. No need to expound on it. Show all different kinds of Americans saying it.

It would make the GOP SO damn pissed. Putting a human face on liberalism. They could NEVER demonize the word or concept again.

Follow-up ad: very simple and short. A child reading the definition of "liberalism" from the dictionary while it is displayed at the bottom of the screen. He looks up. "What's wrong with that?" he says and smiles. End of commercial.

What do you think? Why aren't groups doing this? Who would do it and where do I need to pitch these ideas? Keep it simple, but make progress. Those two would be a start.

[Eric J in MN]

1. Good idea. If you create a web-version, I'll post it

on my website, http://moveleft.com

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

2. I have ZERO skills in that area

so I was hoping I could figure out who to pitch the ideas to.

And we need to not wait, but start doing things like this now. I'm thinking of the importance of framing the debate and who we are and we are a bit behind.

[Eric J in MN]

3. Also, you can send your idea to BlogPac and

ask them to create a web-version (they only make web-ads).


www.blogpac.org

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

4. Thanks I'll do that!

But if they do it, does that mean no one else can use those ideas?

I'll go to that link.

[Eric J in MN]

6. Another group could ask permission, and I expect that they would

give it.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

8. Ok I sent the ideas to them

Good link, thanks for it!

[No Mandate Here.]

5. Props to Oliver Willis

An incredible young man, who hosts an incredible blog... <http://oliverwillis.com/branddemocrat/>, which shows a wonderful series of t-shirt ideas, including ...


Amazing stuff. I want one. Your idea is a fine one, as well...

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

10. Great blog!!!

I added it to my favorites list, thank you very much and I love that shirt!

[Eric J in MN]

12. What shirt? (nt)

nt

[iamjoy]

7. Awesome!

During the campaign season I actually sent an e-mail to moveon.org that they should have a commerical of Americans saying why they're proud to be Liberals.

Nothing happened. I agree this would be a great idea and if we are going to take the perjorative connotation out of the word Liberal, we must start now and run it in those swing states and those that narrowly went for Dubya (Missouri, Ohio, Florida, Iowa). Might not hurt to run it in states that narrowly went for Kerry to help pad the base for next election.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

9. Yep

let's get ready for 2006, but I'm thinking just in general terms, too. The right has taken the term and demonized it and the media certainly has done nothing to correct that (why should they? the right owns them) and it's a shame because it's a wonderful concept, especially when LIVED as we do.

Thanks!

[Eric J in MN]

11. The problem with writing MoveOn is that they get more

emails than they have staff to process.

I've writtern MoveOn on a variety of topics, and never received one reply.

They're good people, but they don't have the staff to respond.

[NC_Nurse]

13. I like it

but then, I'm a liberal! :D

We definitely need to clear the name of Liberals in this country...

Personally, I'm hoping people will wake up when Bunnypants' agenda brings them nothing but shit! I always feel that innocent retribution is the best.
Where you just sit back and watch people reap what they have sown...that will convince more people than any commercial....

:evilgrin:

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

14. True

BUT the problem is most people won't make the connection. If they are emotionally invested in any way in BEING a republican (even if the GOP left them a long time ago) or supporting *, then they will latch on to any excuse * or the right wing media (in other words, almost all media in the US) puts out.

They need to SEE that liberals are proud to be liberals, there are a LOT of us (can you imagine how many they could pull together to do that ad?) and we are just like anyone else. It helps to dispel the stereotype that we are all totally fringe or old hippies, or whatever (apologies to those here who ARE totally fringe or old hippies, nothing wrong with that, what's wrong is when people think ALL liberals are).

Anyway.

[CBHagman]

15. I want this NOW.

And the more variety in the types of people represented, the better. Show people with varying ages, accents, etc.

You should hear the contempt with which one of my co-workers utters the word "liberal." I've had two decades or so hearing and observing the demonization of liberals, and I've started telling people that if they would just check the dictionary, they might realize that the description of liberalism sounds perfectly wonderful.

[VioletLake]

16. Wonderful idea!

A short commercial presenting American history from a liberal perspective would be nice too.

The more you know...

:bounce:

Edit: added "too."

[ever_green]

17. I like it.

I'd get goosebumps. We have to show we are PROUD and turn this around. It is not an insult to be called a Liberal and we need to get that through people's heads.