Bush has just released a new attack ad in response to Kerry's two new bio ads. And Bush's ad is pretty damn good. (link =
http://georgewbush.com/News/MultiMedia/VideoPlayer.aspx?ID=786&T=5 )
Needless to say, it only gives you half of the story, and is deliberately misleading. The sources it quotes are all conservative - Wall Street Journal, Boston Herald, Manchester Union Leader - but I don't think most viewers will know. They are presented in the context of the ad as "authoritative sources." Also, it gets in a shot about Kerry being the "most liberal Senator . . . more liberal than Hilary Clinton (well actually, thats not all that hard) - but it is from that (in)famous National Journal ranking system that actually does not say Kerry is the "most liberal" - Matt Drudge merely extrapolated this from their rather cryptic and misleading ranking system. But nevertheless, the charge is their. I think this ad will be effective, because people will not parse any of the above like I just did. Comments?