Why Can't Democrats Make Decent TV Ads?

[Oreillynsf]

So, the link below is to a blog post that I wrote on the topic. I don't run a political blog, it's actually about marketing. But I'd like for more politically savvy people to tell me if I am full of poop. The thing is, since I became a Dem, it has chapped my rear end that ad after ad after ad comes out and about 99% are lousy from a marketing POV. The most basic principles of advertising get ignored as they go policy wonk instead of message.

Anyway, if you jave a minute or two, please read it and tell me what you think.

http://www.oldestliving.com/2008/09/ugh-why-cant-democrats-make-decent-tv.html

[DJ13]

1. My big complaint with Democratic ads is they dont know how to be mean

The GOP makes ads that try to tear the head off their Dem opponent, and the Democrat in response makes an ad that says little more than "thats no true! take it back!" .......instead of ignoring the Repug ad and hitting back with something equally hard hitting on a completely different subject, which would throw the Republican off message.

[Oreillynsf]

6. Couldn't agree more

Was it the West Wing that talked about The Mommy Problem? Dems walk into the trap over and over. When you respond you are on the defensive. GOP can distract like nobody's business. In brands, we call it the significance implication. If you talk about something over and over, IT is the thing that matters. You define the marketplace.

The lesson of Bill Clinton - that fella knew how to stay on message. And to define the competition instead of letting them define you.

[sandnsea]

2. You missed the target

The first Obama ad was targeted at young people and I know it went over well with young voters in Oregon. The message? Yes We Can.

I think the problem is that those ads are aimed at Democrats and your brain is still wired like a Republicans. Democrats hear emotive words, Republicans hear visual words. To reach a Republican, you have to write like you write for radio. Visual. Democrats aren't visual. That's why those ads didn't appeal to you. The 3 am ad creates visuals. That's why most traditional Democrats hated it. But it wasn't targeted at us, it was targeted at Appalachian Democrats and they obviously think differently than the mainstream Democrat.

That's my 2 anyway.

[Oreillynsf]

3. Thanks...

...it's probably also generational. I also like negative ads, which is more Republican. But they pull...

[HCE SuiGeneris]

4. From a marketing standpoint...

choosing a name like O'reilly for a Democratic message board will probably limit responses.

[Oreillynsf]

7. LOL

I never thought of that. I was told many times I have a RadarO'Reillyesque quality. Not a "Do it live!" quality.

[Fumesucker]

5. Welcome to DU..

The problem you have is one of perception.. You think that Democrats and Republicans are two parties which fight it out in order to take power.

In actuality we have a single, corporate, party with two wings, the far right and the moderate right. Both sides are thoroughly co-opted by the corporate world.. The corporate types prefer the Republicans because they can more directly advance their agenda, but the Dems advance the corporate agenda too, just a bit more stealthily. See Joe Biden and bankruptcy reform for a great example.

For instance, I noted that you said people want insurance.. I can only speak for myself but I'm so far beyond sick of insurance companies I dry heaved all that out years ago. I want HEALTH CARE, not more damn insurance to fill out paperwork for. I want to be able to go into the doctor and see them and not have to fill out a single damn form that has not got something directly to do with my health.

[Oreillynsf]

8. Thanks.

for the welcome anyway. The political spectrum is indeed too narrow. But I would rather have a President that would appoint a Ginsburg than a Scalia. For the record, I would love government managed health care but just getting everyone insured would be better than health care by emergency ward. But perhaps I am too quick to compromise.

Thanks again for the welcome.

[bigwillq]

9. Hello.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[Oreillynsf]

11. Thanks...

for the smiley. This is quite a place. Lots of really smart opinionated people. And a couple of boneheads here and there for contrast, which makes it more lively o'course. Cuz you gotta have shallow...to have deep.

It won't be my last visit, that's for sure.

:D

[doc03]

10. I think you are right on target. The Democrats always

seem to be on the defensive, then they respond with some policy wonk BS nobody but a political junky understands. I have been complaining about that for years on DU. To reach the average working guy you have to make it simple. I work in a Union manufacturing plant and people are not really dumb most of them can name every Quarterback in the NFL or Big Ten but when you start talking politics you have to make it simple for it to sink in. Example: They will raise your taxes, they will take your guns, there haven't hit us again since 911 or they will let gays get married. James Carville was one that understood that "it's the economy stupid", it worked in 1992 and that would be the best argument today. I swear I am a High School graduate and I could make a better advertising campaign than the Dems.

[Oreillynsf]

13. Thanks

So glad to hear the perspective. Most people outside the beltway (whether they make things, or push paper or push electrons around like I do on the Internet) don't want to know your POV on HR 7661 but rather whether they can trust some candidate to do things that seem logical and ultimately beneficial to people. It's about trust.

What the GOP is really good at is demonizing through oversimplification. Look how the national POV on unions has evolved over time. That is changing at least a little I think. But how is it possible that the GOP has made the organizations responsible for huge economic progress in the lives of working people -- the orgs that improved working conditions and got 5 day work weeks and 40 hour weeks (when they existed) become the bogeymen? Cuz they know how to tell a story on their terms. And now a company can negate the pensions of thousands and no one balks.

Thanks again for writing.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

15. Why are they on the defensive and then respond with policy stuff no one understands? nt

[Sarah Ibarruri]

12. Because they're always too sweet and don't want to hurt Repukes nt

[Oreillynsf]

14. You said it...

I mean, what was up with a convention that, at least to my knowledge, mentions Darth Cheney exactly ONCE in primetime. I recognize that Indies don't want red meat like the base does, but I am not talking about red meat. You don't need to stretch the facts on this bunch of crooks in power today.