Thursday, October 29, 2009
News Mayoral candidates air new TV ads
Posted by Scott Henry @ScottTheHenry on Thu, Oct 29, 2009 at 4:19 PM
These are a couple days old, but I'm just catching up with them. Before I saw the Lisa Borders ad, I heard it described as a dramatization featuring a "group of women talking together in a kitchen whom you'd never see talking together in a kitchen":
After seeing the ad, I'd have to agree it's fairly contrived, in the same way that most political ads using actors tend to be. Of more interest is what they're saying. After the women express their concerns about crime, they offer these choice bullet points:
- "It's time for these things to change."
- "We need new leadership."
- "What we need is a Democrat."
OK, first the obvious: This ad is clearly aimed at female voters and, judging from the cast, specifically African American women. I assume it's mainly intended to siphon women away from Kasim Reed. Take note of the line, "My girlfriend, she was out walking her dog, and someone came up behind her."
I'm trying not to over-think my analysis, but every word in a 30-second political ad is in there for a reason. This line reinforces the image of men as vaguely threatening to women. Therefore, by association, Reed – a young, healthy man running for mayor — could be considered vaguely threatening.
But the real eye-opener here is the Democrat line. Both Norwood and Borders have been accused of being closet Republicans, an accusation that could hurt Borders much more than Norwood. Borders is clearly trying to affirm her standing as a Democrat and subtly suggest that Norwood is playing for the other team.
I'm not sure this is the best strategy. I'd be willing to bet that most people leaning toward Norwood either already assume she's a Republican or don't care. However, by touting her Democratic bona fides so nakedly, Borders risks turning off some of her business community base, as well as some Northsiders. Better to leave the issue murky, as Norwood as done.
Next up is Reed's new ad, which carries the upbeat title, "I love Atlanta." Now, I know we've already endorsed the guy, but I can objectively say this ad is brilliant:
First off, Reed is smiling – smiling! – upbeat and optimistic. If I had one criticism of the ad, it would be that he should've run it before now. In Reed's first ad, he talked about how he'd be tough on crime. But, as a veteran political strategist reminded me, Reed hadn't really taken the opportunity to introduce himself to voters. He finally does so here, pointing out that he grew up here and that he loves Atlanta.
That said, the ad also plays well at this point in the campaign because it doesn't have a whiff of the negativism and name-calling that currently consumes the race. Reed doesn't attack his candidates or anyone else, not even by implication. Instead, it's all about the hope he wants to restore to the city — without pointing fingers at whoever might've made that restoration necessary.
But the smartest thing about the ad is the way it reaches out to black voters without seeming to exclude whites. Take the lines: "We had opportunity here. When I grew up, I thought the sky was the limit for me." That can be a powerful message to inner-city young kids, but there's nothing there to turn off white Northsiders. Reed even includes a quick image in an office setting, underscoring the fact that this kid from the Southside grew up to be a successful corporate lawyer.
Norwood's latest ad, titled, "Right here," debuted last week:
If you've read this far, you've probably already seen the ad and heard of Reed's public accusation that Norwood is using these tragedies — which she did nothing to prevent — for political gain. It's a fair criticism, but that's what politicians do.
Our friends over at Peach Pundit proclaimed the ad "a home run" and they're probably right. It's a well-produced message of change that will likely sit well with the intended audience.
My problem with it — frankly, my problem with Norwood's entire campaign — is that she doesn't offer any convincing argument that she's capable of "bringing basic accounting skills to City Hall." After all, this is the woman who's repeatedly said she doesn't understand the city budget.
Comments (21)
Showing 1-21 of 21
No kidding we need a Democrat, just look at our city after Republican Mayors for the last 65 or 70 years. Oh wait, those were all Democrats? then they just haven't had enough time to straighten ATL up because it was so screwed up by the Republicans who came before. I guess logic is not one of Candidate Borders strengths.
like
dislike
Considering Atlanta's strained relationship with the state leadership, it would be nice to have a mayor that has experience working with the capital. Kasim Reed has spent the last 11 years in the state legislature working across party lines and negotiating deals that would help all Georgians. We need that kind of talent in Atlanta. Kasim Reed for mayor!!
Kasim Reed is the only candidate in the race that has a comprehensive plan to reduce crime in our city. His proposal to focus on our youth by opening the recreation centers is exactly the kind of plan that we need to turn our city around.
Can we possible get some comments that aren't cut and paste over and over? I'm looking at you ATL42 and Independent Politico. DaleC yours are original, so your cool.
Scott is right about this Reed ad. It should have been his first. I'm not sure how effective it will be at this stage of the race. However, the produciton quality of all of Norwood's ads are heads and shoulders above the ads of Reed and Borders. Borders ad above looks like a kid shot it will a point and shot camera.
How can a candidate who voted against measures to end furloughs with no viable alternatives possibly suggest with a straight face that she is the best candidate to combat crime on our streets? Moreover, after clamoring for information for 8 years and still being unable to adequately comprehend the budget I think it's safe to say that that person is either impotent, incompetent, or (most likely) both.
I'm personally voting for the Very Silly Party. I feel that the Silly Party has had their opportunity to fix things and now it's time for a change.
What's amazing about the Borders ad is that Lisa comes off as every bit as fake as her actors. But I would not assume that it's pointless to bring up Norwood's Republican affiliation. With polls showing blacks supporting Norwood in large numbers and plenty of liberal whites leaning her way, raising the question of Norwood's core political beliefs is good tactics. Let's hope it helps Kasim!
I'm not a Norwood supporter but I want to respond to Canopy's comment about voting against the tax increase to end the furloughs. That is one of the oldest tricks in the book that municipalities pull. You tell people that if you don't raise taxes vital services will have to be cut. Then when people don't respond you cut vital services and say how there was nothing else you could have done, there was no where else to cut. Then they come back raise taxes and restore the services, but typically there is more taxes raised than needed but people are so grateful to have the police, fire, and ambulance services back they don't notice or complain. Oldest trick in the book, and the reason no one pointed this out, not even Norwood. Is everyone in city government wants to be able to use this trick themselves one day so they don't call anyone else out on it.
@AH Denial is not a budget strategy, though it feels good for a while. The CFO's numbers are quite clear. After deep cuts and furloughs the past two years, almost everything left in the budget is cops, fire or bond payments. Assuming you want traffic lights to function, garbage collected, the worst potholes filled, and minimal park maintenance, there's no place to cut. Remember, the city's revenues have not grown in dollar terms, let alone in real terms, since 2002. That won't compute - and then throw in the out-of-control pension expense and you have a huge crisis. Mary and Lisa were irresponsible in 2008 in refusing a small mill increase. Mary was doubly irresponsible in 2009 when we were still broke despite furloughs. The choice now is slash pension benefits - possibly reneging on idiotically generous promises - or hike taxes again. Only Kasim has had the guts to face this.
@AH - while I don't disagree with what you're saying in general, I think that in this instance given the crippling pension liability the city faces (supported by Mrs. Norwood) and significant revenue shortfalls resulting from the historic downturn of the housing/real estate market (i.e. property tax) and the reigning in of consumer spending (i.e. sales tax) the tax increase was justified. One thing was certain - we could not pay police - and unless a council member has a viable alternative to the tax increase I think it was irresponsible to vote against it then and disingenuous to claim that you are tough on crime now. Sure there may be some money floating around in the system, and when that money is made available the tax increase can very easily be rolled back. But until such funds are identified, secured, and reallocated toward public safety, there was no other way to put police and fire back to work and secure our streets. That is why I cannot support Mary Norwood in her campaign for Mayor and, in the spirit of full disclosure, I am voting for Lisa Borders.
@Borders on the ridiculous - I'm very glad that you brought up "idiotically generous promises," because just last week I heard your man Reed promise to add 750 police officers to the force and open every rec center in the city - in his first (theoretical) term. Wow. Assuming that we don't address the retention issue OR the fact that the academy can only train 150 officers per year (150 x 4 = 600 not 750), where is the money coming from? The federal stimulus funds that we recently received put 50 officers on the force at a total cost of $11 million. That means 750 officers would cost an additional $165 million over 4 years! Keep in mind that the CFO has repeatedly said that revenues would remain flat (at best) over the next five years and debt services will occupy a significant chunk of the 42% tax increase. And please don't try to sell me that "leading is choosing" or that cutting a couple IT employees will fill the gap. Is leading choosing to sell the impossible to uninformed voters? It is most likely due to unrealizable, ineffective political promises like these that the police union endorsed Lisa Borders' candidacy.
Hello, campaign staffers! Here's my analysis. Mary's ad might be of enough quality for people to forget that she's a 3ft retard in a boxy suit. I'd consider it the "Freddy Got Fingered" of political ads. Reed might have figured out that he scares White peeople. After an entire campaign of attacking the female candidates, it might be a little late to start grinning and introducing yourself. As for Borders, that Democrat line is ridiculous. The delivery was too aggressive and as forced as the message. It'll snag some people her way though.
You won't find the true Reed in his ads. Check it out here: www.notkasim.blogspot.com
@ Canopy It's most likely because Kasim will take away their unaffordable pension benefits that the cops endorse Borders. The only way I can see of getting 750 more cops by 2013 is if we have dramatic growth. A bit can be done for free by getting more cops out on the beat. Borders has promised to fix the city by public-private partnerships and direct collection of sales tax. Those who support her also support the tooth fairy.
Though Election Day is near, many voters are still changing their minds about the mayoral candidates and are wringing their hands about who would make the best mayor. The Vote-O-Meter still forecasts a run-off. Also, for the first time, the Vote-O-Meter puts Kasim Reed in a statistical second place; while Reed and Borders have the same percentages, Reed is gaining while Lisa Borders is losing voters. If the election were held today, the Vote-O-Meter says it would be Mary Norwood 40%; Kasim Reed – 27%; Lisa Borders – 27%; Kyle Keyser – 3%; Jesse Spikes – 3%, Peter Brownlowe – 0%.
Per AJC, Lisa says Glenn Thomas tried to shake her down $25k for his endorsement. So what did Mary do to get Thomas's support? This once I give Lisa full marks for taking the lid off sleaze.
Hey y'all. We deleted a comment from this thread that violates our comment policy. If you're the guilty party, please don't resubmit your comment. Thank you.
@Borders on the ridiculous - False. Borders and Reed have proposed identical solutions to the pension crisis: change the vesting schedule, roll back the multiplier from 3 to 2.5, and revisit the idea of social security participation that the city stopped 30 years ago. So, it must be something else they see in Lisa Borders that they don't see in Reed...feel free to speculate. I agree with you about Glenn Thomas, he's pretty crooked for such a young politician. I'm just concerned that as the rightful heir to the Maynard Jackson throne, Kasim might not be so squeaky clean either.
@Canopy - Wrong! Kasim says roll back to 2%. He put fixing the pension mess front and center of his pitch early on in the campaign. See his Campaign for Atlanta video, for example. Lisa sat and watched as the council raised the benefit and never suggested roll back. Only when pushed on the campaign trail did she mumble 2.5%. So Kasim's proposal is twice as good - and he leads while she reluctantly follows half way.
Latest in Fresh Loaf
-
First Slice: 2/13/12 Beach Boys reunited, Whitney Houston remembered, Christopher Cain busted
Some Monday morning headlines to get your week started
-
5 things today: Goth Valentines, Vouched Books
Goth valentines, poets, Jewish films, and more
-
Pittsburgh rallies for Brandon White; hate crime legislation to be introduced 2
More than 150 people braved cold temperatures to show support for 20-year-old attack victim
- More »
Author Archives
-
His Excellency, Gov. Nathan Deal! 11
Gov. Deal lays down the State of the State
-
City hires new homeless czar 1
City hires a new homeless/311 czar with someone else's money
- More »
