The next stage of campaign ads

The Onion amusingly identifies the next fake trend in negative campaign ads — blasting voters rather than the other candidate. Here are some samples: A controversial 30-second TV spot for Kerry that aired throughout the Midwest Monday blamed the country’s ills not on Bush’s policies, but on the “sheer stupidity” of America’s voters. “In the ...

By , a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and co-host of the Space the Nation podcast.

The Onion amusingly identifies the next fake trend in negative campaign ads -- blasting voters rather than the other candidate. Here are some samples:

The Onion amusingly identifies the next fake trend in negative campaign ads — blasting voters rather than the other candidate. Here are some samples:

A controversial 30-second TV spot for Kerry that aired throughout the Midwest Monday blamed the country’s ills not on Bush’s policies, but on the “sheer stupidity” of America’s voters. “In the past four years, America’s national debt has reached an all-time high,” the ad’s narrator said. “And who’s responsible? You are. You’re sitting there eating a big bowl of Fritos, watching TV, and getting fatter as the country goes to hell. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.” Over a series of images of America’s senior citizens, the narrator of another 30-second spot says, “The Medicare drug bill is a triumph of right-wing ideology masquerading as moderate reform. The pharmaceutical-drug and insurance industries are tickled pink. Guess who’s paying for it? You. Congratulations, moron. I’m John Kerry and I approved this message.” The Bush-Cheney 2004 camp recently began airing an anti-voter ad in 20 major urban areas nationwide. “Are you going to vote for a candidate whose campaign promises would cost America $1.9 trillion over the next decade?” the ad asks. “Of course you aren’t. You aren’t going to vote at all. In the last election, half of you didn’t even show up. So, on Nov. 2, just spend the day right there at your dead-end office job, talking to your coworkers about your new sweater and e-mailing your friends photos of your stupid 2-year-old daughter you shouldn’t have had.” The ad concludes: “You make me sick.”

I have to think that late at night, after a few beers, both the Kerry and Bush campaign teams fantasize about airing these kind of ads.

Daniel W. Drezner is a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and co-host of the Space the Nation podcast. Twitter: @dandrezner

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