Lieberman, Webb, Allen, The "Kiss", Mucaca: Nationalizing the Election

I think most people will agree that youtube is a wonderful invention that is changing the way we do politics much like the blogsphere. Of course, this makes sense since we live in an age dominated not by the written word, but visuals. From ads to magazine photo spreads to television to film to podcasts to video games, liberal or conservative, we are at all times surrounded by visual language. In fact, I would argue that it is that visual language which offers a way to create symbolizes which can nationalize the election in individual campaigns across the country.

more below

Since the "Kiss"  was used in the Lieberman campaign, I have come to realize that a visual for each race throughout the country should be found that will help each race symbolize how each campaign can feels their Republican oponent is connected to President Bush. Right now, the Republicans are trying to run away from their record by among other things not mentioning that they are Republicans, not talking about what they consider controversial issues, etc.

Well, that is, of course, bullshit. This shouldn't be allowed to happen. We can talk endlessly about how these Republicans are connected to Bush. We can talk endlessly about policy, but sometimes simple does the job that complex can not do. A picture or image or clip of video can be worth a thousand words. The repetitious use of the photo or video can be worth a million if it is repeated enough.

There is a long and rich history of using visual symbols in politics to make it clear to voters what is wrong with one's opponent.

Who can forget the Daisy Girl ad in the 1960s:

The television screen fills with the image of a little girl picking off and counting the petals of a daisy. In the background another voice counts down . "Ten. . . nine . . . eight. . ." As the camera moves in closer and closer on the girl's face, an atomic bomb explodes and we see a reflection of a mushroom cloud in the child's eyes.

We hear Lyndon Johnson's somber voice declaring, "These are the stakes. To have a world in which all of God's children can live or go into the darkness. We must either love each other or die. Vote for Lyndon Johnson. The stakes are too high for you to stay home

Incidentally, this is an example of a time when Democrats wanted to win at all costs. We need not go this far in our visuals, but telling the truth of linking the Republicans to their misdeeds doesn't seem like a misuse of a clear and simple "Kiss" like viral media idea.

Moreover, there have been other examples that are a long and rich part of our party history, as Georgia10 reminds us over at DailyKos:  http://www.dailykos.com/... 72135/6410

There have been many that have both hurt and helped us.  For example, Dukakis riding the tank in the Snoopie hat in 1988 symbolized a lot for Americans.

And, most recently, of course, is Sen. Allen (R) of Virginia helping to change the dynamics of the race there with the youtube "mucaca" moment that if he loses will be looked on as a turning point.

So, here's a challenge- can we find a visual image in each race that ties the candidate to Bush visually? This should, I would argue, be the first ad of the season. Don't let them run away. As the George Allen "mucaca" viral media moment demonstrates, a single clip can change the dynamics of a race. In whatever area, what will do that for the individual race each candidate is in? Is there some local issue where a "kiss" like moment will resonate for voters? A visual narrative.

•  Great Diary! But we have to be careful...

  We can't ever rely on our opponent making a mistake. We have to be prepared to set the narriative on our own if they don't make any flub-ups.

  by Mikesco on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 10:25:24 AM PDT

•  What Kerry should have done

  Two ads in the last presidential campaign stand out as effective.  One was Bush hugging the girl whose dad was killed in 9/11.  There was no comparable warm fuzzy ad for Kerry.  

  The other was the negative ad of Kerry watersurfing changing directions.  There was no counter to that either.  I think some home movie type clips of GWB, like the ones of him in the golf cart, with the voice over about not knowing where he was going, not having a plan, would have been a good counter.  

  by Ceee on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 10:30:11 AM PDT

  •  'Watch this drive'

    Michael Moore in Farenheit 911 found lots of good visuals that destroyed the Bush image.  But for some fucking reason that I do not understand the Wimp-O-Crat wing of the Democratic party has run away from Moore and let Rove and company villify him instead of embracing him as a great artist and advocate.

    Moore was right.  About everything.

    by jfadden on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 08:34:31 PM PDT

•  Don't forget the Swiftboaters

  .. . and the pounding of flip-flops at GOP rallies.

  And all Cheney had to do was say, with a snide sneer and pause, "First he voted for it, before he voted against it . . ."

  by kellington on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 10:37:49 AM PDT

  •  That is the quote that Killed Kerry

    "I voted for it before I voted against it" Said Kerry.

    Rove called it "the gift that kept giving"

    But every Campaign has that moment or image.Your job is to find it and exploit it and be first.

    by ctkeith on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 08:39:26 PM PDT

    •  thats exactly right

      define or be defined- that's the name of the game.

      by bruh1 on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 09:05:09 PM PDT

    •  Corresponding video...

      ...was the commercial about wind surfing.  That was the visual correspondence.

      by Land of Enchantment on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 09:05:20 PM PDT

•  about that 'M' word

  Should we really keep repeating "mucaca" over and over? If, as we contend, it is a racial slur, should we be saying it? Shouldn't we refer to it as the "M" word and argue that it is too offensive to be casually tossing the word around? If Allen had used the "N" word, isn't that what we'd be doing?

  by jiml on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 11:08:41 AM PDT

  •  Alternatives: Macaque Brigade, Lyin' King

    Here's a version that I like that appeared in a diary posted last night: The Macaque Brigade, with a bunch of folks dressed up in monkey outfits, macaca T-shirts, or Photoshopped monkey masks who show up at George Allen events.

    I responded today with two elaborations on the theme:

    1. - signs for the macaques to carry, such as:

    • Macaques don't wear cowboy boots
    • Macaques welcome California immigrant George Allen to Virginia
    • Macaques believe in evolution, George Allen doesn't
    • Macaques for equal treatment of all Virginians
    • Macaques don't invade other countries

    2) a Lyin' King (George) a riff on the lion figure in the "Lion King" musical, who the macaques can chase (TV footage) and who represents the lies of both George Allen and George Bush.

    I agree strongly with the diary author that we need to try make these visual linkages. The "Kiss" is great.

    by BB10 on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 11:38:30 AM PDT

  •  No

    Things like "the 'M' word" are pure politcal correctness. While most Americans do not support racism they also don't like be patronized with PC.

    Keep "macaca" alive!

    by austropithicus on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 11:57:09 AM PDT

    •  I find folks like you interesting

      Mostly because you create rhectorical traps and think its anything but a trap to prevent real discussion. I mean where does this so-called political correctness stop, and where does racism begin. I had some white guy last year call me 'nigger' because he felt justified to say it because he hears it in gansta rap. His words, not mine. When I pointed out to him that its a racist term no matter who uses it, he called me sensitive and engaging in PC. This sort of trap allows folks who are racists to feel good about themselves while treating others like shit. I am glad it makes them feel better because really thats all that is important. That we walk around feeling good about ourselves rather than also having the responsibility for how we treat others. There is almost something pyschopathic about the hedonism in this country at this point.

      by bruh1 on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 12:30:01 PM PDT

  •  You bet your ass you should

    and make a button and a bumper sticker too!!

    by ctkeith on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 08:40:40 PM PDT

  •  Corresponding visual

    I toyed with the notion of writing a diary with a similar theme today.  Kept thinking "Visual Iconography" was too "erudite" for a diary title.  But never did get to it.  Glad bruh1 did.

    

    

    by Land of Enchantment on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 09:08:49 PM PDT

•  There's a series of two photos I've seen....

  ...strikingly similar (and revolting)

  The first shows McCain giving a big, full-on bear hug to GW Bush; and next to it

  A second shows Saddam Hussein, same angle, getting a full-on bear hug from one of his followers.

  I always thought it made a great visual/comparison revealing McCain for what he really is, and how he really feels about Bush.

  by Hells Bells on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 09:20:45 PM PDT

  •  McCain appeared to be kissing Bush....

    ...on the shoulder (as also was Saddam's follower).

    by Hells Bells on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 09:23:20 PM PDT

•  Musgrave

  There's a great picture of Musgrave getting some Bush luvin' - she looks like she's in extasy.  It's obscene even by Republican standards.

  by Phoenix Rising on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 09:37:13 PM PDT

  •  links (warning: you may toss ur cookies!)

    This one's fairly tame...

    But...  ewwwwwwww

    by bstotts on Tue Aug 22, 2006 at 08:35:41 AM PDT

•  Blackwell, Ohio Governor's race

  There a diary, here showing Blackwell speaking at the Council for Nation Policy--a group with racist ties. The meme:

  Blackwell is a black white surpremist.

  And to any supporter I would add: Ain't that creepy? Won't people think YOU creepy if you vote for him?

  by daulton on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 09:42:02 PM PDT

•  Mukakasians for Webb

  That seems like a good button anyway.

  by Dave the Wave on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 09:42:16 PM PDT

•  Other visuals from other races

  George Allen (Sen-VA) the faux Virginia cowboy:
  

  Heather Wilson (NM-01), though she's trying to distance herself from Bush still lets him raise money for her:
  

  Richard Pombo (CA-11) - so many to choose from:
  

  Even moreso for Katherine Harris (FL-13, but running for Senate).  Here she is with Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18) on Saddam's golden throne in Baghdad:
  

  

  Tom Tancredo (CO-06) is another one who is often unintentionally entertaining:
  

  One of the odd sub-genres of pictures are the visiting the wounded troops ones.  Often the soldiers & lawmakers don't seem to have closely matched agendas.  This one's Mike Pence (IN-06), and chair of the ultra-conservative Republican Study Committee:
  

  No idea why I find Gil Gutknecht (MN-01) interesting, but here's one of him:
  

  There's a lot of good material out there.

  by Land of Enchantment on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 09:45:16 PM PDT

•  DeWine (Sen-OH) and 'The Hug'

  Here is is, DeWine hugging De-Weiner..

  by daulton on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 09:56:24 PM PDT

  •  Oh, ain't that sweet?

    by flumptytail on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 11:26:55 PM PDT

•  Pictures Have Had a Great Impact on Civil Rights

  The images of the badly burned bodies of four little girls who were killed in the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church shocked the nation. The murder of these girls Addie Mae Collins, Carole Robertson, Cynthia Wesley and Denise McNair pushed white voters who were on the fence regarding civil rights into giving LBJ the political capital to pass the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

  And, Emmett Till's mother, through her grief, knew that images change minds. As she told Jet Magazine "I want the world to see what they did to my son."

  http://www.emmetttillmurder.com/...

  It speaks a lot.

  by yankeeliberal on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 10:23:32 PM PDT

•  it's the kiss, stupid

  by power2truth on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 10:34:44 PM PDT

•  Santorum Re-enactment

  I think it would be a hoot if someone could re-enact Rick Santorum bringing home his dead child for his kids to play with.  Now THAT would make great TV.

  by greggp on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 10:52:27 PM PDT

•  The Kiss float was priceless.

  The Allen video was so creepy because you could hear people laughing at his nasty remarks. I wonder if just a float of Allen standing and pointing with the sound of people laughing would be effective. I don't think you'd even have to display or hear the word he used. I say that because, in just one week, I've become allergic to that word. At first, it seemed OK to say it, but now it seems too evil. Why use a word that obviously is offensive (or will soon be offensive) to many people we care about and like? I don't know. I just know I'm not going to say that word again.

  by flumptytail on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 11:16:45 PM PDT

•  We should use the correct spelling for Macaque.

  It's not Macaca, but Macaque. Felix speaks French, and got the racial slur from his French Tunisian Jew mother; that fact should be stressed, especially the French connection for two reasons:

  1. It makes a clear lie of the excuses Allen and his band of idiots have come up with.

  2. It also puts him in an uncomfortable position with a  massively Francophobe audience who probably cheer every time Bill'O rails against the French.

  Also, it should be noted that Felix used Macaque thinking no one in the audience would get the reference; it's a pretty elitist move on his part, something often ascribed to the French.

  It's all in the framing guys...

  by drobertbfm on Mon Aug 21, 2006 at 02:24:52 AM PDT

•  Yes, on Visuals

   Yesterday i just e mailed my most important local House of Rep. candidate about this - comparing the Kiss mobile to er, our lack of a Kiss mobile.  Brought up a couple of ideas and locations where such visual  "political Art" could be displayed - on significant traffic sites - with permission from owners. Personally, I though the Kiss mobile a hoot. t

  by oceanview on Mon Aug 21, 2006 at 04:11:45 AM PDT

•  video of violence of Wynn campaign

  Al Wynn, Maryland's Lieberman, is being challenged by Donna Edwards, a charismatic, principled progressive.

  Over at MyDD there is a video of a horrifying incident which seems to me a strong indication that, besides being a Cheney enabler from one of the country's most progressive districts, Wynn is a thug.

  At a recent event, one of Wynn's staff, identified in the press as Bill Boston, Wynn's community relations director, beat up one of Edwards supporters, who was starting to remove a Wynn sign that Wynn's people placed directly in front of Edwards's sign, blocking it.  The police put the thug in handcuffs, but then let him go.

  Check out www.mydd.com  and check out www.donnaedwardsforcongress.com

  by tamandua on Mon Aug 21, 2006 at 05:35:33 AM PDT

  •  ...And Wynn Gets Mugged in 'Post' Article

    The "Washington Post" beat up on Wynn pretty badly in its news article here on the altercation and the debate between the two candidates.

    Here's the second paragraph of the article:

    The fight outside the forum in Largo echoed the verbal pounding that Wynn endured from Edwards, a Prince George's County civic activist who has mounted a lively challenge to the seven-term incumbent congressman.

    The story then describes the altercation, before going back to the debate itself:

    Edwards said the Democratic congressman has voted in "lockstep" with the Republicans, making him out of sync with the 4th Congressional District, which stretches across parts of Prince George's and Montgomery counties.

    She hit him hard on his vote to send troops to Iraq, a stance that Wynn has since described as a mistake. "He says, 'Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't have voted for it,' " Edwards said. "Well, 'sorry' is just too late."

    by BB10 on Mon Aug 21, 2006 at 06:51:24 AM PDT

•  Every Democrat can customize our 'Lie and Die' Ad

  We're encouraging every Democratic candidate to insert audio of their opponent telling some lie about Iraq in place of the Lieberman lie.Then they can change the "disclaimer" at the end and run it on YouTube and on local Cable TV as their own campaign ad. It's simple - spread the word!

  
  <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FV6Fbgp3J-s"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FV6Fbgp3J-s" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600" height="350"></embed></object>

  by bob fertik on Mon Aug 21, 2006 at 06:29:02 AM PDT

•  Its the Constitution dammit

  I would love to see the Democrats rally behind the Constitution.  Make the case America is the Constitution, this is what makes us unique/strong/America.  We have the strength to withstand our Civil War, World Wars, bombings, depressions - as long as the Constitution continues.  Then balance this with bush's steady attacks against the Constitution.   Shame no one has his "a piece of paper" comment on film.  

  by KenF on Mon Aug 21, 2006 at 06:39:27 AM PDT

•  Ken Mehlman on The Daily Show

  After admitting that it was a foolish  decision to come on the show, Jon asked what had happened to the Republicans, who were supposed to be the "straight shooters."

  His response was "It was greed and Cynicism."

  That's my favourite.  Not that I particularyl agree with the goal of this diary (other than with the idea that something has to be done to reach people who won;t look at facts).

  by gloriousbastard on Mon Aug 21, 2006 at 06:52:16 AM PDT

•  Another diary commentator reports that . . .

  he just saw Bush say at his news conference: "No Matter What, As Long As I'm President, We Won't Pull Out of Iraq".

  If correct - here's a great visual moment with an added:   "Do you really want to re-elect __________ who has voted with this president _% of the time?  How many more Americans must die for a lost war?  Vote for _______, Democrat for the U.S. Senate, and bring our  brave troops home!" or something similar.

  by Templar on Mon Aug 21, 2006 at 07:35:52 AM PDT