[Grovenet] political advertising

[JBlair2154 at aol.com]

In a message dated 2/3/2007 2:24:19 PM Central Standard Time,  
grovenet-request at rdrop.com writes:

Sot it  begins: a fantasy campaign about fantasy candidates and fantasy
issues  promoted in the best Madison Avenue methodology. Don't belittle the
power  of advertising to make people do the irrational and  unreasonable


I hear what you're saying, Ron, but I believe there is more to  campaign 
spending than what you so eloquently described. In addition to  advertising, big 
bucks must be spent to travel tirelessly around the  country, to hire, train 
and expand staff so that countless details will be taken  care of and grass 
roots volunteers will be recruited, trained, and supervised,  to open and maintain 
local and regional offices, etc. More staff to handle and  respond to a 
deluge of mail and telephone calls, and now emails and  websites, and even to 
manage the influx and outflow of the actual funds. It  must be an organizational 
nighmare, and an expensive proposition.
 
But yes, much of the money will be spent on PR and  advertising. No doubt 
that is vital, especially in today's world, where the  consumer (i.e. voter) is 
bombarded with so many messages on a continual basis.  And yes, the 
effectiveness, frequency, and timing of those advertising messages  can make or break a 
candidate. The swift-boating of John Kerry is a recent  example. Truth doesn't 
matter, if the lie seems believeable  enough.
 
And it is the concept of truth in advertising that is a  key. The smear 
campaigns must stop, and organizations which specialize in  mud-slinging must be 
slung out of the picture. How? With a law that requires  each and every 
political ad to be paid for, and authorized by, ONLY the  candidate or her political 
party. If that is done, the next Bush would have  to face the next Kerry on 
national television, look him in the eye, and  call him a traitor and a coward. 
Then be forced to discuss the  issues.
 
Joy
"I've been struck by how  hungry we all are for a different kind of 
politics." (Barack  Obama)