Why Jack Conway's "Aqua Buddha" Ad Doesn't Help

[Yeggo]

Considering the last time I posted something here that contained the slightest bit of perceived anti-Democratic bias (my defense of Florida Dems supporting Kendrick Meek did NOT go over well), I'm hesitant to post this here, but here goes...

I don't particularly like Jack Conway's new attack ad on Rand Paul. If you're a reader here, you certainly know which one I'm talking about. My reasoning is simple - there is absolutely NO shortage of issue positions that make Rand Paul a really "out there" candidate. There's a gold mine of beliefs in his head that put him out of step with Kentuckians, to say nothing about the nation at large. By running an ad like this one, Conway is almost ensuring that none of those issues will be talked about the last two weeks of the campaign.

If he can't win a campaign on the issues, that's fine. But some of the things being mentioned and the tone of the ad are (in my opinion, mind you) not very productive.

Just thought I'd throw that out there. Be gentle...

http://bit.ly/bEwB8m

[bemildred]

1. You are assuming your conclusion: that the ad won't help.

That remains to be seen.

[Yeggo]

14. Should have been more clear...

Don't think it will help us in the broader sense. In Kentucky, I'm inclined to agree with my wife that it's the kind of thing that may work

[bemildred]

17. Paul got mad. He is toast.

I can agree that this sort of ad is not the way we want to go, but it sure as hell is where we have been, and I for one would not forgo the possibility of ridiculing my opponent when the situation is right for it.

[Bolo Boffin]

23. If Paul had acted like an adult, there would be major backfire.

Fortunately, that didn't seem to be an option for Rand Paul.

I wish the ad had been more like this:

When Rand Paul was in college, he and a friend grabbed another friend, took her out to the woods, and made her worship the false god Aqua Buddha. (sound effect: air bubbling through water bong) Now everybody does and says silly things in college.

So what's Rand Paul's excuse now? He wants to privatize Social Security, giving our hard-earned money to the crooks on Wall Street. He proposed a $2,000 deductible for Medicare when we just finished plugging the doughnut hole. He even stuck up for BP when we wanted to hold them accountable for destroying the Gulf of Mexico.

Rand Paul: you're not in college anymore.

[Yeggo]

25. Now that's a pretty good ad.

In light of this, maybe it' the tone of the whole "Aqua Buddha" thing that got me headed the wrong way on this ad. It's far too serious, especially considering the actual serious stuff you pointed out and that there's literally no end to in the Paul repertoire.

And let's be real, I'm not anti-Jack Conway. I hope he wins. I hope there's no place in the Senate for someone who thinks the things that Rand Paul does. I just don't want to become a "win at all costs" supporter. If I did, I'd be a Republican.

[Enrique]

2. issues?

you must be joking. Haven't you noticed how crazy everyone is, all the unbelievable bullshit people are believing? People are NOT thinking straight. Aqua-Buddha is the way to go.

[blondeatlast]

3. No, I don't know what ad you are talking about.

[glen123098]

4. Its a terrible ad that no progressive should support.

The whole point of the ad is to make Rand Paul look foreign, and unchristian. Well, who cares? Whether or not Rand Paul worships "aqua buddha" should have no effect on how you view him. This ad is pure bigotry, and should not be accepted, even though its coming from a Democrat.

[blondeatlast]

8. Okay, I just saw the ad in question and the reference and you are quite misinformed.

Immensely so--or you are joking.

[glen123098]

11. I stand by what I said.

Infact as I look more into it, the tied up woman did not consent to it, it was forced. They should have focused on that, instead of talking about how unchristian it was. If what this woman is saying is true, Rand Paul is a true scumbag who deserved jail time, and not be the next senator. But to focus on how unchristian it is etc, instead of focusing on he forced a woman to be tied up, is stupid.

[Kalyke]

12. The people in Kentucky care.

I'd agree with you if the race were in New York or Massachusetts, but it's in Kentucky. People there care if someone is unchristian. It may, technically, seem bigoted, but, in the long run, it's based on community concerns.

[blondeatlast]

16. Exactly; very much so. nt

[PVnRT]

30. So, something can seem bigoted

provided that it's favorable electoral strategy? Wow.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

29. I wonder what 123098 means.

[SoCalDem]

5. I would have preferred an ad that called attention to the fact that

he CREATED his own accreditation venue for his ophthalmology practice, instead of joining the one that all the other ophthalmologists join...and then mention how he makes a bunch of money from medicare, while also wanting to dismantle the system..and then there's always his views about rolling back the 14th amendment.

The ad could have mentioned the aqua buddha thing obliquely by asking why the media did not focus on the licensing & 14th amendment instead of all the attention THEY paid to the aqua buddha incident.

[Yeggo]

15. Exactly

Of course, there's no way Conway will get that, or anything like it to stick after running the Aqua Buddha ad.

IF you're going to run it, it should be a last minute thing. Now, he's sucked all the oxygen out of the race and it's all that will be talked about the next two weeks.

[blondeatlast]

20. As has been pointed out by others in this thread, though, it's a GREAT ad

for that demographic.

UnChristian will not play well in Kentucky--the aim of a 30 second ad is to win, not dazzle 'em with critical thinking skills.

[AndrewP]

22. Bingo

[Johonny]

32. don't you think religion is more understandable to the average Joe

than understanding accreditation of medical degrees. Most people aren't doctors and thus have no opinion on this. Most people have a religion and never heard of Aqua Buddha. Look at the O'Donnell race. She has crazy ideas on many issues, but most people can over the Witchcraft statements. A lot of people are young, they have sex, did drugs, maybe get arrested etc. most people youthful indiscretions don't include Aqua Buddha or blood stained alters. It worked in Delaware, why not try it in other campaigns. Few people understand how Medicare actually works, almost everyone understands Aqua Buddha and witchcraft aren't common place things.

[SoCalDem]

33. not religious..(raised Catholic)

I don't care about it at all, but then I have never been to KY ..so maybe they do.. que sera,sera.. Rand is an ass, and I hope he does not win, but I fear he will:(

[karynnj]

6. I agree

I hope I am wrong - and I really like an earlier ad that spelled out the differences on SS.

The sad thing is that this ad could make it harder for him ever to be elected. The fact that he is even this close in a year like this might mean that he has enormous potential in the future.

[Yeggo]

24. Agreed.

Plus, it sickens me to see someone with the baggage of Rand Paul being given the high road. If you can't win a race against this guy with the laundry list of outlandish beliefs that he has, Kentucky or not, then you just don't deserve to win. At some point we have to just agree to be better than them.

[karynnj]

31. Wonderfully said

In addition, I made the mistake of listening to talk radio when I ran a few errands. They are all over this. I am not going to look back into the story to see if what they are saying is correct, but they are claiming that Paul claims he does not know this woman - and that this is an "internet" story. (I seem to remember that Paul himself - at least indirectly - gave the story some credence) - but the point is that Sean Hannity has listeners and they are portraying this to be swiftboating.

Hannity was bemoaning this as why good people don't want to run for election. (I would be more convinced had he bemoaned the lies his buddies were spreading about Kerry and Obama.)

[CreekDog]

7. I'm against punching

but I'm not against punching back.

[GodlessBiker]

9. I think a person's religious beliefs should be subject to the same scrutiny as any other belief.

If his beliefs on federal civil rights laws are as foolish as his aqua-buddha belief, go after both.

[gratuitous]

10. I don't think the ad is aimed at you or at DU in general

From what I've seen of it, its intended audience is the God-fearing, Bible-believing folks of Kentucky, and is designed (I think) to jolt a few minds out of their "vote Republican" default rut. As in, "Examine your core beliefs and ask yourself if Rand Paul is the sort of Republican you think he is."

Conway also seems engaged on any number of issues, but a multi-pronged campaign strategy with a diverse audience in mind is helpful.

[Initech]

13. Aqua Buddha would make a great name for an indie rock band.

[Radical Activist]

19. Aqua Buddha and the Randies

Now touring with Coal Mine Explosion.

[Bolo Boffin]

18. Conway is the latest victim of "I can't believe I'm losing to this guy!" syndrome

The only thing that may save him with this ad is that Rand Paul reacts to being poked by a big stick like the freaking idiot he is. If Paul had said, "I'll shake his hand even though he's blowing some stupid, silly thing I did in college way, way out of proportion," then Conway would be sunk.

[OHdem10]

21. I Love It. How we love to chew up our own and spit them out like

crazy.

I might not have run an ad like that but for gosh
sakes.

Think of all disgusting lies and hyberbole thrown at
our candidates and our president. Pure Garbage at times
How many Republicans on the Hill have uttered one
word against them. I monitor TV and I have not seen any.
As crazy as some of those Teabagger get in their attacks,
the Republicans permit it to stand.

Why does our party have to call attention and criticize our
own.

I can tell you the voters do not respect us any more but
many see us as wimpy wussies.

The best thing is to ignore and move on. In this election
the Republicans set the standard--anything goes. Then we
play hardball just as they do.

[xchrom]

26. I liked the ad. Nt

[devilgrrl]

27. Thank you for your concern.

:popcorn:

[brooklynite]

28. I think you've hit it on the head...

Set aside his age when this happened or whether this constitutes "religious extremism". The bottom line is that the voters in the middle, who haven't picked sides yet, aren't going to be swayed by religion as an issue. They want to know about jobs, the debt, social security and medicare. There are plenty of extremist Paul comments that could be used to play on the real concerns people have.