Blog #7

Politics and Its Effects on Advertising

My feelings towards political advertising are the same as my feelings toward people who never come to class and then complain about the homework.  Political ads should be about candidates broadcasting what they have done to make our country better or what they plan on doing to achieve improvement.  Although these kinds of ads have been broadcasted and still are, the more popular approach seems to be tainting their opponent’s character. 

The cheesy commercials like “Its morning in America again” at least portray the message across that Regan was a good guy.  Put any one of those ads from that campaign against the commercials from the Swift Vets claiming John Kerry is a traitor, it is obvious how advertising tactics have changed.

Swiftboat Veterans Commercial Attacking 

John Kerry in 2004

My favorite clean "Its morning in America Again"
political advertisement.

I was surprised to learn that political advertising is not held to the same standards as everyday ads made by Target, Gucci and Best Buy.  I find it fascinating that any “527” group that can come up with the money have free reign in what they can advertise, even if the truth is not the main agenda.  Obviously I was not alive during the war in Vietnam, but the commercials that the Swift Vet group aired on television were questionable.  I don’t understand what the Swift Vet group was trying to accomplish with this ad at all.  This goes back to my main argument of what these ads are conveying to the most important people, the voters.  Why the Swift Vet’s thought this information was that important to convey I do not know.  Good for them, they got there 15 minutes of fame for their ad campaign. I just hope their money was worth it.

Turn Right USA also completely shocked me with their “Give Me That Cash...” ad that was attacking Janice Hahn.  This ad blows the Swift Vets out of the water.  Turn Right USA did a good job of stretching their free speech right. Groups that come up with these advertisements give the industry a bad name.

The research from Sanford University on the effect of political advertising on commercial advertising was very intriguing.  The word avoidance being associated with contemporary political advertising puts a damper on all the 527’s out there. The point of any advertisement is to convey a message and have it received by the population. If avoidance really becomes an issue, all television sets will be turned off or muted whenever a political ad comes on or when all commercials come on period. 

Advertising as a whole is criticized constantly. I try to be a person who believes advertising does not brainwash people and is mostly entertainment instead of harm.  Any form of advertising that brings down commercial advertising seems impossible.  In the research from Sanford it states that the lack of ethics smear all forms of advertising.  I believe that statement to be true.  Main stream and brand advertising can be ethically questionable, yes, but at least commercial advertising has to answer to somebody if they step over the line. I think that political advertising should not be different. 

Videos uploaded from YouTube

Pictures from Bing Images