There was a diary about this ad on the rec list over the weekend.
An argument started in the comments about why there was no transcript.
After going back and forth for a while I just decided to prepare one.
It only took about ten minutes with the video on loop to get all the words on paper.
Relistening to make sure no words were left out, fixing the typos, bouncing back and forth between my transcript and the video to match the voices with who was speaking when, adding the state and office designations, and other formatting to make it as user-friendly as possible, took about an hour all tolled.
Transcription is a skill, people. Especially from video, without transcription equipment, for an ad packed with words from eight different speakers.
My own hearing is not what it used to be, to the point where I leave the closed captioning on my television all the time and I still miss details. I wish that all our political ads came with closed captions (it would reinforce the effect of The Price Is Right rule). But they don’t.
In 2016 there was an effort here to raise money to pay people to do transcription work for campaign ads, debates, panel discussions, speeches, and interviews. The Community Transcript Project seems to be dormant now, but it is still a great concept and maybe we should revive the idea.
Daily Kos could be a clearing house for political transcription services, with candidates paying as they are able, candidates with more money helping those with less, and individuals donating to the project as a whole or chipping in to support transcription of specific events.
If all the people who have expressed concern about this important need would come together and brainstorm a solution, I know we could come up with one.
In the meantime, expecting free transcription from people who don’t know how to do it is simply unrealistic.
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Gina Ortiz Jones (TX-23): Before I decided to run for office
Mary Ottilie Jennings “MJ” Hegar (TX-31): Before I became a combat search and rescue pilot
Amy McGrath (KY-06): I followed my dreams. I wanted to be a fighter pilot.
Abigail Spanberger (VA-07): Before I served eight years with CIA
Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06): Or became a Captain in the Air Force
Rebecca Michelle “Mikie” Sherrill (NJ-11): Became a Navy helicopter pilot
Elaine Luria (VA-02): Before I was promoted to Commander
Elissa Slotkin (MI-08): Before I was a CIA analyst in the Middle East
MJ Hegar: Before serving three tours
Ortiz Jones: In Iraq
McGrath: In Afghanistan
Luria: Aboard the USS Harry S Truman
MJ Hegar: Before I was awarded the Purple Heart
Spanberger: Or becoming a federal agent
McGrath: I was the first woman Marine to fly in an F18 in combat.
Slotkin: Before I served in the Bush and Obama White House
Ortiz Jones: In the executive office of the President
Luria: Commanding over 400 combat ready sailors
McGrath: In the Marines
Spanberger: The CIA
Houlihan: In the Air Force
Slotkin: Before I announced my candidacy for Congress
Ortiz Jones: I chose to serve my country.
MJ Hegar: I bled on foreign soil for people to have the right to vote.
Spanberger: This is the first time I have run for office.
McGrath: I have never run for political office before.
MJ Hegar: I started realizing maybe I should run, myself.
Ortiz Jones: Like all right! Let's go! Let's do this!
Spanberger: And come November 6th I will continue to serve the people
Slotkin (MI-08): The people of Michigan
Houlahan (PA-06): Of Pennsylvania
Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11): New Jersey
McGrath (KY-06): Kentucky
Luria (VA-02) and Spanberger (VA-07): Virginia
MJ Hegar (TX-31) and Ortiz Jones (TX-23): The people of Texas
Slotkin: I will continue to serve the people of the United States of America.
McGrath: Are you ready to serve America?
(music underneath—The Rising, by Bruce Springsteen)