SPEAK OUT: What Do You Hate About Political Commercials?
Do you see any value in the onslaught of political ads?
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Just like holiday decorations that seem to appear in stores earlier and earlier each year, it seems like every election cycle features the ubiquitous campaign ads sooner and sooner.
At times, it seems like the usual TV ad buyers—Coke, Apple, Honda, etc.—can't even find 30 seconds to squeeze their messages in between attack ads.
Do these ads provide value, or do they simply confuse potential voters?
On the national stage, pro-Obama ads target the now infamous "47 percent," Bain Capital or Mitt Romney's apparently changing positions on hot button issues. On the red state side, ads attack Obama on health care, the economy and foreign policy.
Locally, races in Virginia seem to sink even deeper, with candidates slamming each other on education, abortion and job creation.
In Maryland, it is becoming more difficult to discern whether Question 7 is a good or bad thing for the state, with countless ads on both sides of the issue.
So, feel free to step up onto this virtual soapbox and share your opinion of political ads with your fellow Patch readers.
SFBMoore
12:58 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
The worse thing about the political ads is that they try to slant the issue with innuendoes and falsehoods. Regular commercial advertising requires a level of truthfulness and can be challenged for errors and omissions...why not political advertising?
The onslaught this year has been horrible, and we aren't even a battleground state...can you imagine their frustrations!
Something should be done about this.
jag
2:17 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
We aren't a battleground state, but we hear all the ads directed at NoVa because it's the same regional ad buy.
Carol Powell
4:22 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012
I can't speak for other media but broadcast television's hands are tied by the laws regarding political advertising. The laws require that as long as the proper legal disclaimers are on a political ad the television station MUST not only carry it but accept whatever the content is AND sell it to the campaign at what's called the "lowest unit rate".
Having worked for many years in a role responsible for FCC compliance for one of the network affiliates in our area I speak from experience. I might have had to use a ruler to measure how big the "PAID FOR BY" disclaimer was but I was not allowed to question the content of the advertisement.
J. Doe
1:40 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Mostly when they start until they end. That is what I hate most. As for Question 7, just ask yourself who is paying for the ads on both sides and why they would spend that much and you should have a better idea of want you want to do.
Pachacutec
1:56 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
I'm tired of the ads where the politicians (on both sides) trash the opposition. Would like to hear what THEY are going to do, not what the other person hasn't done.
Theresa Defino
2:41 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
The article says, (typo and all): "In Maryland, it is becomong more difficult to discern whether Question 7 is a good or bad thing for the state with countelss ads on both sides of the issue."
Might want to fix those. And pity the person who relies on paid ads to get informed on an issue.
Jim Turner
6:52 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
Both parties should stop spending money on advertisements. The money would be better spent on rebuilding the country after Hurricane Sandy. A bold move like this would show true leadership.
Barbara J. Runion
9:06 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
The barrage of political commercials on TV during this election year is unprecedented. Last night while watching the local and evening news on WUSA/CBS, I counted six political commercials in a row. It was as though I was watching a special channel for political campaigns. I turned off the TV in disgust. Politicians who spend millions on these ads must think we're puppets and they can pull our strings to vote in any direction. We can think on our own and do the homework to vote for the political candidates and ballot questions of our choice instead of being subjected to this onslaught of propaganda. We’re not dummies. Barbara J. Runion, Hyattsville, MD
DRC
9:51 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
Unfortunately, Barbara, I've found that there are too many puppets who are not paying attention to the issues AT ALL!!! I fear the days of an honest election are way behind us.
Becky Pugh
9:45 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
If you believe political TV ads- then you need to Google your own name to see if you really exist.
Steven Cohen
10:04 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
I hate that people respond to them. If you thrive on fear and lies you have the perfect excuse to abandon the hard work of rational thinking.
I think folks might keep in the old axioms
1) every complex problem has a simple answer that is wrong.
2) politics is the art of compromise
3) a lie repeated enough becomes the truth
Eric S.
10:23 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
I hate that the election cycle officially starts AT LEAST as early as the previous election, if not earlier these days. As to the ads themselves. . . the almost unique problem that we're bombarded with ads for Virginia because of the ad market. . . the fact that thanks to a dumbass Supreme Court decision, anyone can pool money essentially anonymously and put up an un-endorsed ad ("I didn't say that Candidate X eats babies. The Free Hat Coalition said that!") . . .
AND THEN THERE'S THE VOLUME OF THE ADS! IF YOU DON'T LISTEN TO THE FACT THAT SENATOR HAT MCCULLOCH KILLS AND RAPES BABIES (IN THAT ORDER!!!) AND YOUR BABIES ARE NEXT, WE HAVE TO SCREAM AT YOU LOUDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, basically, I pretty much hate that political discourse in this country has come down to the level of, well, comments in internet forums.
We can't afford four more years of internet trolls running our airwaves. I am a independent voter, and I approve this message.
Carol Powell
4:27 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012
What's driving me crazy at the moment is the ad on AOL for the Dream Act. Whenever I go to check my e-mail it starts without prompting and won't shut down! I am offended by it on two scores; it's got Obama's voice, thus giving him a free ad and it's being forced on me by AOL permitting it to become part of their service. I am voting against the "Dream Act" BECAUSE of this.