Charlie Brown's
first television spot is good to go. This is a fabulous introductory ad. In keeping with the Fighting Dems theme, it shows Charlie's service to our country, quickly and cleanly hits a few campaign issues (integrity, balancing budgets, border security, energy independence,
real support for our troops), and then Charlie approves the message. Short. Good-looking. Sweet.
So why did I hate it, and am I a big baby?
UPDATE: Here is a YouTube link to the ad thanks to Nate at Firedoglake.
I was disappointed on two counts: the line about "true conservative values" and the fact that the word Democrat never appears in the ad.
Don't get me wrong: I think it's a good ad. My response was emotional. It's been so long in my district without a strong candidate and now we have one -- but he doesn't say he's a Democrat! Wah!
Then again, the Brown campaign had me at "I'm not John Doolittle." They don't need to be spending campaign resources to make me feel good about my candidate. In this red district, where 48 percent of the registration is Republican, they need to bring those conservative voters to the dance. Maybe this ad gets them in the door.
The key to CA-04 is not unique: How do we open minds which seem closed? How do we get the idea into someone's head that Democrats are not the enemy, that Democratic values are after all long-held and praiseworthy American values? After stepping past my own prejudices, I think now this ad is a powerful beginning in that direction.
As I always ask, can you please support Charlie Brown with your hard-earned dollars? You know the drill. Even five dollars adds up to more air time. And Doolittle is going to start swiftboating Charlie soon, I have no doubt of that, since a recent poll shows the two candidates in a dead heat -- with Charlie pulling ahead when people know more.
Let's make sure the people know more!