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Every so often I will run across some talk show from the past that points out just how naive we all were as a country, many years ago.

On October 5, 1958 the Open Mind program hosted a discussion on the future of television in politics and how advertising could possibly be used to make or break a candidate or issue. Fifty years ago, remember?

Bear in mind, TV wasn't as all-encompassing as it is today. Stations routinely went off the air at midnight. Color was new. Video tape was new. Most homes had TV's that were, at the most 17" and usually encased in a massive console. There were virtually no live on-the-spot reports and there were lots and lots of talking heads.

So, when Open Mind brought on Professor Eric Goldman (author of the book "Rendezvous With Destiny"), John Elliot Jr. from the BBD&O Ad Agency and Lloyd Whiteburke, an advertising consultant. The conversation about the possibilities that Television could influence a political campaign were very real.

Lloyd Whiteburke: “There’s no FTC, no Federal Trade Commission in political advertising. If a product is falsely advertised, as you all know, the Federal Trade Commission will seek an injunction against the advertiser and have that advertising changed and penalize the advertiser. The only person penalized for buying a candidate who is not what he represents himself for is the voter. And he’s got four years to wait to throw him out, throw out this candidate. So it imposes a tremendous sense of responsibility on the advertising fraternity to make darn sure that something isn’t done, that isn’t correct for which the FTC does not have call. And that’s why some of the practitioners do, in the course of their work, say things and do things that are perhaps not exactly right. And we have to watch that and we have to police our own . . . “

Television was still in its infancy. The 1952 Presidential campaign, being the first to utilize Television in a prominent way, was recent history. The Kennedy-Nixon debates were still two years off and cable was only an idea.

I don't think anyone could have imagined what it would all become.

I'm in the process of verifying that the GOP in Oregon is in the process of having these new PSA's/commercials made.

UPDATE I called the The Oregon Republican Party and was told that they had no comment.

I redacted the company letter head that the bids went out on. Check out these docs. They are a series of PSA's designed for Oregonians to be "Thankful" that the Republican Party has been so good for the country. They are even taking credit for ending racism in America.

The main question about these scripts is whether they were created by someone at the Oregon GOP, or at the Portland advertising agency that it came from. We'll be trying to find this out.

The opening line of the first PSA that is titled "Thank You" says it all. Check out the coded language they use. It's pretty unbelievable.

OPEN ON A YOUNG MULATTO FEMALE DOCTOR. Thank you for ending slavery.

Here's the first one called " Thank You"

OPEN ON A YOUNG MULATTO FEMALE DOCTOR.
Thank you for ending slavery.

A WOMAN EXECUTIVE STANDING IN FRONT OF HER DESK.
Thank you for giving women the right to vote.

A MAN ON CANNON BEACH WITH HIS KIDS AND THEIR DOG PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND.
Thank you for opening our State beaches to the public.

AN OLD COUPLE IN THE PARK.
Thank you for lowering our taxes.

A THIRTY-SOMETHING WHITE MALE STANDING OUTSIDE HIS STOREFRONT.
Thank you for helping me start my own business.

A BLACK FEMALE JUDGE IN FRONT OF A COURTHOUSE.
Thank you for passing the Civil Rights act of 1964.

A FAMILY STANDING OUTSIDE THEIR FARMHOUSE.
Thank you for making America the land of opportunity.

A WOMAN SMILING DOWN AT HER NEW CHILD. PUSH IN ON CHILD’S FACE. BURN TO WHITE.
FEMALE VO: There are so many things we have to be thankful for, thanks to the Republican Party.

SUPER: THANK YOU REPUBLICANS.LEGAL:

PAID FOR BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF OREGON.

Yes, the GOP has even cured cancer. I've listed the titles and a screen grab of each different segment.

Continue reading »

Oh for crying out loud. This is a campaign for the top office in the country and you're running behind. Don't you think it's worth having someone just run the occasional spell check?

Did you notice it? Marc Ambinder did, about 12 seconds in:

EVERBODY? Yeah, that's inspiring leadership.

The Obama campaign has already released an ad using footage from last night's VP debate and they've scored another direct hit.

The ad targets Sarah Palin from last night's debate as she proudly announced John McCain's disastrous health care plan that allows a $5000 tax credit for Americans to purchase health care -- and then strikes right back with Joe Biden's brilliant response, reminding people that in order to offset the credit McCain's plan would tax American's health insurance premiums for the first time in American history. The ULTIMATE bridge to nowhere.  Brilliant! (h/t Jamie)

It seems a little late on Bush's part now.

The job is already done!

Bush urges end to TV attack ads by outside groups. President Bush denounced TV ads by outside groups attacking both John Kerry and himself on Monday and called for a halt to all such political efforts. [USATODAY.com Politics - Top Stories]President Bush on Monday denounced campaign commercials aired by outside groups, including an ad that accuses John Kerry of lying about his combat record in Vietnam.

		President Bush answers reporters' questions Monday at his ranch in Crawford, Texas.
		By Pablo Martinez Monsivais, AP

"That ad and every other ad" run by such groups have no place in the campaign, Bush said when asked about the commercial sponsored by Swift Boat Veterans For Truth that has roiled the race for the White House.

The group said it would not stop its new anti-Kerry ad, which will start running in three states this week.

Bush urges end to TV attack ads by outside groups. President Bush denounced TV ads by outside groups attacking both John Kerry and himself on Monday and called for a halt to all such political efforts. [USATODAY.com Politics - Top Stories]

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