Rachel remarked a couple weeks ago that the nexus of Republican presidential hopeful Rick Perry and former hopeful Tim Pawlenty, was...Vin Diesel. Not because the Hollywood star was endorsing either candidate, but because first the Pawlenty camp and then the Perry one released campaign ads that seemed better suited for Vin Dieses action films. Both released loud, almost apocalyptic movie trailers (cut by the same guy) positioning both men as manly-manly heroes coming to save America from its current President.
Rick Perry, it seems, also wants to save America from Mitt Romney.
Yesterday, his campaign released online the teaser trailer for The Fast and the Furious 6 this ad attacking the former Massachusetts governor for giving birth to President Obama's health reform. Even as Forbes' Avik Roy noted today that the ad is "getting a lot of play in conservative circles," he warned: "[T]urn down the volume, if you value your hearing." I'd offer the same advice:
(By the way, yes: that was our own Chris Hayes you saw flashing past a quarter of the way through.)
Team Romney has swung back with a response, but I think Sara Kliff at the Washington Post's Wonkblog really nails it at the end of her recap:
We’ll get a better glimpse at what a Perry attack on Massachusetts health reform looks like, without special effects, tomorrow night.
What's tomorrow night? Yet another Republican presidential debate, in New Hampshire. Another thing Governors Perry and Pawlenty share: they aren't very good at attacking Mitt Romney in person.
Governor Pawlenty's pulling of the punch became a political cautionary tale. Still, Governor Perry also managed to whiff when, as Rachel noted on September 23, he fumbled his attack lines while trying to hit Governor Romney for flip-flopping. Debates were neither candidate's strong suit. Whether this powerful (and loud) line of attack will now be an effective one for Governor Perry's flagging campaign may very well depend on how the governor himself hits his target when they're sharing the same stage.
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I Hope Chris Hayes is getting Royalties for his appearance in this nonsense !!
This reminds me of The Onion's story about how Romney once attempted to help people who didn't have health insurance and how it was relentlessly dogging his campaign, almost like a sex scandal or something. To say anything to old, unemployed, underemployed, sick and/ or uninsured Americans other than "Go screw yourself" has actually become a political liability for Republicans. Sometimes I have no idea why anybody would ever vote for a Republican for anything. It's like voting against your own interests.
I know. I've noticed that, too. Why would anyone vote Republican? It is exactly voting against your own interests. How can people not see this?
That is because they are being brainwashed. It is that or they are dumb.
I hope somebody at the debate answers the Mormon question like this:
"I live my life by a radical document that abolishes the age old tradition of guilt by association and grants the highest protection to religious liberty."
And watch the debate mediator come back with the question of what the fnord that might be.
How many people are aware that LDS prohibited African American membership until 1979 and their religious documents still indicate African Americans are inferior?
Can you say KKK?
I know you can.
I've just seen a video of average folks responding to Rick Perry's latest comments. It's a must see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p32OC97aNqc&feature=shared
I think they needed a really big explosion at the end with Perry walking towards the camera.
Who would of thought that the Republican primaries would be just as entertaining as Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Is Rick Perry nothing more than 2012's version of Fred Thompson? Our Texas friend seems to have underestimated the apoplexy among the Tea Party crowd concerning his longstanding and controversial record as governor. Perry and his team apparently thought that by lauding secession, threatening the president, boasting of how many innocent people he has executed and calling Social Security a "Ponzi scheme" he would be able to barrel through the primary on a wave of anti-Obama hate. Not so. It is quite telling of the current GOP that Rick Perry is faltering because his record is too liberal. Yikes. http://www.sunstateactivist.org
The ad was well produced and had some very good use of subtlety imaging in the end. They made the "R" in Romney look like the Obama "O". Nothing seeps into the subconscious more than imagery, and that was a deft use of it to paint the picture they are trying to sell - Romney = Obama.
But, but, but Mrs. Perry promised he would be prepared this time! I'm expecting great things. <snark>
Yes, scary and baffling. But here is the riddle. Why do so many people vote Republican when it is voting aginst their own interests? Whay are they blind to these facts? Because of the money machine controlling the message - the media, the debates, etc.
It is only up to liberal media outlets to balance and respond. That is not enough balance for the average American who does not want to think about politics, but just wants to react to a fast paced action ad and feel like they are taking action because the ad says so. That is what money buys, folks - turning facts upside down and reversing a message. And too many people BELIEVE the total crap they hear on Fox News. There is no balance. They actually BELIEVE that Obama caused the current deficits that Reagan and then Bush created.
OCCUPY WALL STREET CROWD GREETS FOX HOST WITH CHANTS OF ‘FOX NEWS LIES’
and the same was chanted in WI as well.
It gladdens my heart that Fox is getting a taste of their own medicine. Do you think that will be shown on Fox?
No, they only show bias news.
Greetings! Rachel
All the republican candidates are a joke and are wrong for America. It is my sinere hope and fervent prayer before the most High that President Obama is re-elected. and the Democrats are given complete control of the House and Senate.
Remember my friends and follow progressives to vote Democrat in 2012.
Peace be unto you!
Marquest Burton
Rick Perry is a compassionate conservative. I don't know why he wants to run away from that with his red meat throwing rhetoric.
PS...Am I the only one who thinks Herman Cain is a GOP "plant"?
They are desperate to change their image of exclusion to inclusion. I actually think they are paying him to run. He sure changed his tune real quick about the "insensitive" remark he made about Perry. Plus, they don't ever attack him. I think they are paying him to run. Now they are padding the polls to make it seem like people actually would vote for him.
I though it was just me who thinks that way. I think they are paying him to run so no one say the GOP is racist. I think they want someone there to attract the African American vote but that will be a puppet and not make waves. Once there if he wins, they can tell him what to do. And because he is the kind that will not "get into trouble", or go against the establishment, will be very easy to manipulate.
You hit the nail on the head there Trotsky......they're trying for the african american vote the same way they thought they would get the woman vote with sarah palin...they add that to the disenfranchisement of the usual dem voter and by hook or by crook they will finally take back power....they think that voters are stupid and they'll buy what they're paying millions for....that swiftboating happened in the past but these days what with the internet and all.. just doesn't seem to be the same...........people just don't buy it anymore............yeah!
Special effects are only required after the candidate has become like spoiled meat.
This has really dramatic music for a campaign ad. Sounds like a movie.