Hoo boy. Randy Brock, his campaign facing the equivalent of fourth-and-long, trailing badly in the second half, has thrown a Hail Mary pass in the general direction of the end zone.
The Brock campaign has launched a new, Web-only ad slamming Governor Shumlin for “mismanagement.” It’s laughably overwrought, in the summer-movie-trailer style favored by high-priced campaign consultants: Melodramatic music, fast pacing, slammin’ graphics… and no new content whatsoever.
(Oh, and one big embarrassing audio glitch, at around the 1:50 mark. Quickie production, eh?)
Of course, it was produced by one of Brock’s costly consultancies. Which is why it looks so prefab; it’s of a piece with Republican attack ads across the country.
The ad cites five evidences of “mismanagement,” and you’ve heard ’em all before. The Governor’s health care plan, the $21 million energy non-rebate, and his outreach to NORML — which are policy decisions, not management blunders. Plus the, ahem, “overtime scandal,” which tries to conflate the alleged misdeeds of Jim Deegan with Brock’s complaints about total overtime spending, which are two entirely different things. And finally, Brock’s effort to blame Shumlin for the uncertainties over FEMA funding for Irene reconstruction.
Aside from the weak content, two things make me wonder. First, it’s web-only, meaning Brock isn’t even trying to buy TV time. He’s hoping to nab some free-media attention to make up for the lack of paid advertising. This smacks of desperation in a campaign that was having significant financial issues the last time we checked. (Next campaign spending reports due Wednesday!)
And second, there’s copious use of footage from WCAX newscasts, sometimes set in misleading contexts. I realize there’s such a thing as “fair use,” but WCAX is a near-constant presence throughout the ad. Did Channel 3 know about this? Will it raise any objection to this very visible, partisan use of its content and its personalities? (Anchors and reporters are seen on-screen, as is the WCAX logo.) Or is this simply business as usual for the station Peter Freyne dubbed WGOP-TV?
He should put out a web-only ad attacking his campaign’s mismanagement…
The station should red flag the unauthorized use of images from its programming. Maybe Brock’s consultants purchased all the clips in their entirety, but I don’t think that gives them the right to piecemeal them up to fit their agenda. The logo use is a definite no-no. Will WGOP, er…WCAX demand Brock strip it off?
I heard Brock on VPR going over this list on non-issues.
He was complaining about Shumlin’s NORML donation. I just don’t see how that is any kind of problem, so it’s hilarious that Brock is trying to make something out of it.
It is hilarious to hear the VTGOP/Brock trying to spin these five non-issues into some kind of huge scandal:
“Shumlin actually believed FEMA when they said they’d reimburse the state! Just how gullible is he?”
“The governor believes all Vermonters should be able to get health insurance! How un-Business-like!”
“The governor solicited a donation from an organization that involves a key constituency! How inappropriate!”
“A hurricane caused huge overtime costs! And a corrupt policeman charged too much overtime too! It’s all the governor’s fault!”
“Shumlin isn’t forcing the power companies to write personal checks to every single Vermonter (something no Republican would ever do either)!”
Brock lives so far inside the Fox ‘News’ bubble that he has no idea that his flailing/drowning isn’t perceived as treading water. Brock expects to be able to lie and conflate and have everyone fully believe him. He doesn’t realize that not all VT Republican voters are brainwashed by Fox propaganda.