A funny thing happened as I passed through Union Station (DC, on the Hill) this morning. I walked by a newstand on the bottom floor and a guy was giving away offering free copies of the NYT. I hadn't read it yet today so I took a copy. As I walked away, I glanced at the front page, which features a large picture of John Edwards after his speech at the convention last night, and a sticker advertising "The Manchurian Candidate" had been stuck on the picture so that Mr. Edwards's head was visible just above the picture.
It is not particularly weird to advertise a movie this way. I've seen it before, usually with the WP, which is a lot cheaper, but it is a bit odd when you consider the content of the movie being advertised and the specific placement of the sticker.
For those who don't know, "The Manchurian Candidate" is about a VP candidate who has been brainwashed as a "sleeper" for shadowy bad guys (in the original it was for Chinese communists, apparently in this version it is powerful corporations) who then conspire to kill the President and install their man as President.
It could be entirely innocent; after all, the movie opens tomorrow, but I don't see any versions of the NYT with I, Robot stickers on the cover.
Lastly, whomever is doing this, it is an outrageously expensive way to advertise. NYTs cost $1.00 each. Frankly, I hope Scaife is behind it. It's an amazing waste of money.
Just thought Kossites might find this story funny.