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RNC Launches 'Daisy' Web Ad
May 21, 2009 9:34 PM
ABC News’ Rick Klein reports: Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele this week promised an aggressive new approach to opposing President Obama.
That starts now.
The RNC is launching a Web ad on Friday highlighting Democrats’ divisions over the future of Guantanamo Bay, ABC News has learned.
The ad intersperses video from one of the most famous and controversial political ads of all time -- Lyndon Johnson’s “Daisy” ad from the 1964 presidential campaign against Barry Goldwater.
“To close it? To close it not?” a voice asks several times, with video playing of the little girl from the LBJ ad.
The ad shows several clips of Democrats -- including Obama, Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. -- contradicting each other over what the fate of Guantanamo should be.
The Web ad fades with a single word on the screen: “Really?”
It does not include the famous mushroom cloud ending.
The ad -- like most Web ads, designed primarily to get media attention -- comes just days after Steele told RNC members that Obama’s “honeymoon is over” when it comes to the Republican opposition, labeling his tenure so far as the “reign of error.”
“The era of Republican navel-gazing? Done,” Steele declared Tuesday at a meeting with state party chairmen.
Here is the ad. The script follows.
SCRIPT
Girl: “To close it? To close it not?”
President Obama: “Guantanamo? That's easy. ... Close down Guantanamo.”
Girl: “To close it? To close it not?”
Sen. Jim Webb: “I don’t believe they should come to the United States.”
Chyron: “I don’t believe they should come to the United States.”
Sen. Harry Reid: “We will never allow terrorists released into the United States.”
Girl: “To close it? To close it not?”
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs: “We have made some hasty decisions that are now going to take some time to unwind. And closing Guantanamo Bay obviously is one of those decisions.”
President Lyndon Johnson: “These are the stakes...”
Barack Obama: “Guantanamo? That's easy. ... Close down Guantanamo.”
Chyron: Really?
May 21, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (65)
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Once again the Grand Old Party demonstrates they are the party of the past: No new ideas.
Posted by: Mark from atlanta | May 21, 2009 9:45:09 PM
LBJ sucks! But I guess that's the what we've come to in the Republican Party - it goes with eight years of borrow and spend liberalism. This ad is pretty pathetic and is a rip-off.
Posted by: Annoyed Conservative Republican | May 21, 2009 9:51:33 PM
Yes, the Grand Old Party couldn't cough up a novel idea if you performed repeated Heimlichs along with jumping on its chest.
Posted by: kat | May 21, 2009 9:51:57 PM
Well of course they are, they've never been able to deal with reality, only fear and smear.
Posted by: JR | May 21, 2009 10:03:31 PM
Oh no, we can't engage in the business of trying to solve problems and take care of the American people. We must spend our time engaging in name calling and mudslinging at all costs!
What the heck are these clowns being paid for again, with our tax money?? They need to grow up already! Be professional and DO THEIR JOBS!
Posted by: BunchOfWhiners | May 21, 2009 10:12:13 PM
I would have to say that a majority of Americans do not even remember that "Daisy" ad from LBJ. It's like a referance to "My Three Sons"; most people just won't get it. If this is the best the RNC can come up with they need to look at some unemployed ad designers. Oh look...the "Lawrance Welk Show" is on!!
**yawn**
Posted by: DobermanSpencer | May 21, 2009 10:14:56 PM
I love it!!!!!
Posted by: mesmerized | May 21, 2009 10:16:17 PM
Won't work.
Obama's ratings are too high as are the Dems.
If the GOP wants to make any type of impression, it better start with a good look in the mirror, they need to clean their faces first.
Posted by: lm | May 21, 2009 10:21:54 PM
Listen Obama really needs to take an 'all or nothing' approach when it comes to Gitmo, war crimes, war and terrorism or he is just a hypocrite politician doing whats popular. You cant not show photos of Abu Ghraib torture then say youre closing Gitmo then say you arent pulling out of Afghanistan. You cant say the surge in Iraq did not work and then say we need a surge in Afghanistan. Just like you cant go after Republicans for war crimes but not the Democrats who also supported the war. Think rationally look what is happening and realize not all Obama's ideas are good in fact few of them are. Obama following the exactly same policy about the war on terror as Bush and Cheney because they are listening to the same military advisors.
Posted by: lookforananswer | May 21, 2009 10:25:35 PM
Fear and Hate are the emotions republicans always call on because they realize these are very strong emotions. When you fear someone you hate, there is nothing beyond limit in dealing with them. This whole Iraq fiasco is just one example of how republicans have used their understanding of these emotions.
Posted by: libertyrulz | May 21, 2009 10:29:01 PM
If the GOP/Republican leadership got behind legalizing pot they would win every straw poll and election for the next 3 to 5 years. After all American politics is nothing more than a popularity contest anyway. All politicians care about is votes and popularity. This President pretends to care about the well being of the people while lavishing the rich (banks, car companies etc) with our tax money and sending our troops to die in Afghanistan with no real measure of progress or gain for the USA.
Posted by: lookforananswer | May 21, 2009 10:29:08 PM
Keep the laughter coming, repubs. Worn out leaders, worn out ideas. What's left, hauling out a disgraced, self described terrorist with a 20 percent approval rating to try and save you from oblivion? Oh...never mind!
Posted by: pamp205 | May 21, 2009 10:38:16 PM
Darn..the GOP just discovered the web.
Posted by: doug | May 21, 2009 10:45:36 PM
This has to be one of the LAMEST AD ever ,If you going to attack him can you at least be creative...*sigh*
Posted by: mark | May 21, 2009 11:00:19 PM
The year was 1964. The only folks old enough to vote then are likely to be GOP supporters anyway---
Ineffective? No new ideas?? Fear and smear seems to fit...
Posted by: think-long-term | May 21, 2009 11:03:15 PM
another 'no solutions' repub ad... boring
Posted by: earth_not_flat | May 21, 2009 11:10:05 PM
This is almost as funny as the RNC propposing a name change for the Democrats, the Socialist Democrats. I was dissapointed they dropped it. Maybe they'll come up with something less dated, like interjecting a nifty Partidge Family song into an ad to represent the happiness and wholesomeness of the GOP. Like come on get happy . . .with the GOP.
Posted by: kat | May 21, 2009 11:22:00 PM
wonderfulllllllllllllllllllllll i love it great video right to the point
Posted by: i_dream_of_a_jeannie | May 21, 2009 11:26:16 PM
Fear. It's all they have.
Posted by: FedUp | May 22, 2009 12:14:18 AM
It's the truth! Excellant video! And although I didn't vote for Obama Because of No Experience, I know of those who did... they are regretting that vote more and more Every Day! They have seen too many flip flops and Bad decisions.
Posted by: OhioModerate | May 22, 2009 12:15:33 AM
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