Political Campaigning (Tuesday, March 28, 4th period)

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

"Today we're going to watch some political ads," Josh said, walking over to the television. "This has nothing to do with the notes I was writing on the board rearranging themselves to tell me that I was an expletive-deleted tax-and-spend liberal." He glared at the board behind him. "This school is weird."

He popped in a tape. "Pay particular attention to the Daisy ad, the Willie Horton ad, and the ad about the bear in the woods."

He sat down at his desk. "Then, discuss. Why do you think these work? What are they trying to tell the voters about the candidate? Their opponent? How to they make you feel?"

He waved his hands. "That kind of thing. Go. Talk."

Comments

Re: Discuss the ads

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Yes, I know," Rory said quietly. "Fear works, but what kind of people want to win that way?"

Re: Discuss the ads

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Not necessarily bad people," Angel said. "Look at it this way - what if Johnson really believed that there'd be a nuclear war if he didn't win? From that perspective isn't he good if he warns people? Shouldn't he warn people?"

Re: Discuss the ads

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Yes, but not like that," Rory said. "You don't bring children into something like this."

Re: Discuss the ads

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"You don't like kids?"

Re: Discuss the ads

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Well, no actually, I don't. But that's not the point. I mean that...no. That's unethical. That's an indirect threat, almost."

Re: Discuss the ads

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"It's totally a threat," Angel said. "That's part of why it works. If you can't be roused to protect yourself, you might go to the polls to protect the kids."

Re: Discuss the ads

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"And that is horrific," Rory said. "That's dirty and wrong and completely unethical."

Re: Discuss the ads

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"It's the standard though," Angel said. "Somebody could try to run a totally clean, fear-free campaign but the odds of that working against an opponant not taking the same route are not good. You'd be doing more work for less gain, all for a higher ground that's likely to be your only comfort as you sit at home for the next four years."

Re: Discuss the ads

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"I'd vote for them," Rory said. "I'd vote for logic and cleanness over unfounded fear any day."

Re: Discuss the ads

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Could you get enough people to join you, though? That's the problem."

Re: Discuss the ads

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"I could try. I'd rather try that than just give up and vote in favor of something unethical."

Re: Discuss the ads

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"It's politics, there's no such thing as political ethics."

Re: Discuss the ads

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Sure there is," Rory argued. "It's just rare."

Re: Discuss the ads

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"It's about as common as ethics in war, and believe me, that's a myth."

Re: Discuss the ads

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"More than fair," Angel said. "I'm not saying everyone should take the low road. Just that the high road's got a lot of obstacles as the price you pay for being able to look yourself in the mirror."

Angel grinned. "Not that I know anything about that."

Re: Discuss the ads

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory gave a wry smile in return. "See, I see the advantage of the low road? But it's not worth it."

Re: Discuss the ads

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"See what somebody needs to do is come up with a clever way to get strong messages out without going to the negative," Angel said. "See, this is why it's a shame this is such a Puritan country. Sex sells about as much as fear, but you'll never see that in a campaign ad."

Re: Discuss the ads

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Sex is still an unethical way to go about it. And it still happens," Rory said. "One of the main reasons Kennedy won the debates against Nixon in '60 is because of his looks."

Re: Discuss the ads

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Nixon avoided the makeup," Angel said. "Rookie mistake in the TV world. But I'm talking more than that. I'm talking messages that say something like 'Vote Democrat, Get A Blowjob'."

Re: Discuss the ads

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

Josh laughed. "You've seen the people who run for office, right? Katherine Harris and sex shouldn't get within a mile of each other."

Re: Discuss the ads

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

{ooc: And yet still using the twins as her biggest campaign platform. No pun intended}

Re: Discuss the ads

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Can't they make a law that you can't appeal to the terminally stupid in your advertising?"

Re: Discuss the ads

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"If we prevented the stupid from voting nobody would show up at the polls."

Re: Discuss the ads

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

Josh choked back laughter.

Re: Discuss the ads

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Well, that's true." Parker only had to think of the last two Student Council elections, even if the second one ended up the way she wanted it to. "So what, do we have to descend to that in order to get elected? Everyone with a brain will despise us."