For years I’ve heard — from the Left, mind you — about how brilliant republicans are at messaging and how pathetic the Democrats are. While I’ve never agreed with this perception, I’m thinking that those who have might be changing their minds or at least sensing that republicans have finally lost their messaging mojo.
Perhaps all their messaging abracadabra was invested in those who have now declared themselves conservatives still but former republicans. That would cover all the founding members of the Lincoln Project and they have been churning out some quality ads this year with effective Democratic messaging as well as anti-republican smackdowns. Equally impressive are a number of Democratic groups producing outstanding ads including Dan Winslow and Eleven Films, the Meidas Touch, and the Biden campaign.
But the republicans? Not even in the race — unless it a race downhill. Take this latest offering from the gubernatorial appointee and first-time campaigner, Kelly Loeffler. Under the file heading What Was Kelly Loeffler Thinking? we are presented with an ad that is… well, ‘bizarre’ might be the kindest word (I’m sure you’ll all think of others). And to get the full flavor of its bizarreness, picture Kelly Loeffler in your mind… slender woman, long blond hair, dressed impeccably (here’s a photo to help you) as you watch the ad.
Ready? Excellent. Here it is.
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Let’s put their portraits side-by-side as we ponder on the comparison Loeffler has invited us to consider…
Comparisons:
Um… there’s the merest suggestion of similarity in the wind-swept hair. That’s it, that’s all I’ve got.
Contrasts:
I’d never thought of Atilla the Hun as a conservative — other nouns and adjectives, yes, but ‘conservative’ wasn’t one of them. Though now you come to point it out, Kelly, I can see how, by modern Trumpian standards, one could certainly make a case for him.
- Authoritarian is a given
- Prone to violence, sociopathic in nature
- Empire builder
- Disrespectful to women (granted this is a guess but it seems a reasonable hunch given the period in history)
While the above description would be one Trump aspires to, I can’t say I see Loeffler in the same light. Sure she’s a taker not a giver but to declare she’s even more pathologically dictatorial than Atilla does not seem to me to be the kind of persona that a candidate — even a republican candidate — should consider a desirable image to promote to potential voters.
Nor does she seem the sort to grunt out policy positions to humble aides and then threaten them with annihilation if they happen to lean in the opposite direction politically.
Which brings me back to: What the devil was Kelly Loeffler thinking when she approved this ad?