* A relative of mine saw this ad on TV and told me it looked like a family and a school bus were run over by a tank. Not quite, but it comes awfully close. Press release…
Gary Forby, John Bradley and Brandon Phelps claim to represent Southern Illinois, but they have backed Mike Madigan’s tax-and-spend agenda for more than a decade, supporting higher taxes, reckless spending and a bailout of Chicago Public Schools. Today, the House Republican Organization released a new ad to underscore their years of service to Mike Madigan. The broadcast TV ad will be backed by substantial resources.
I think the ad makes its point and does a decent job. They’re going to do enough of these, that they don’t need to hit it out of the park on every single ad. It looks like they’re going with the “death by a thousand stabs” strategy.
C+ - The visuals are odd, and they seemed odder the more I watched it (the minimal animation makes me think of Veggie Tales, which is probably not the desired effect). Maybe it whips up your base, but the accusations are so generic and shopworn I doubt if it changes many minds.
The ad clearly points out what the creators see as the ‘problem’. However, there is no clear indication of what they see as the ’solution’. The ad fails to answer the question ‘who can we trust? and why’. I give it a grade of C-.
It’s a bit confusing when they lump in everybody in the district (they don’t really identify who everyone is except for the face on the solider) but since HRO is handling all the ad buys I guess it saves some money. I’ll give it a C+.
Paging DPI! Bueller? Bueller? Your guys (and gals) are twisting in the wind right now and there is not coherent response/push back/proactive message coming from the top (or anywhere). Would be nice to see somebody step up.
Here’s a serious question: I haven’t spent a lot of time in these districts (although I just told Soccerdad that I really want to go down to Pomona to check out Longshadow.) The houses in that ad look very suburban to me. Will those visuals connect with people in those areas? They certainly don’t say “downstate community” to me….
I work in a field that does a lot of CGI, and an art director I used to work with had a “hall of shame” for reels submitted by applicants that were just terrible quality. The quality of animation in this ad would have had a place in his “hall of shame”.
If you can’t do it well, don’t do it. They could have made these points without the terrible CGI.
For crying out loud, Soccermom! Do you think everyone south of I-80 lives in a shack?! “Suburban-looking” houses exist in all corners of Illinois. Get out from under that rock sometime. Good lord!
It could be just a matter of taste, but I don’t care for this ad. It just comes across as too simple-minded to me. I don’t easily get the connection between the “board pieces” (soldiers??) and the tanks. It’s below average to me.
Please tell me Rauner knows that Forby doesn’t work for Madigan? He’s a state senator, he has nothing to do with the House. Forby has absolutely zero to do with anything Madigan related.
This is only the beginning of what we will be seeing until November. Millions could well be spent to defeat these 3 downstate Democrats who have had significant support in their districts.
And who will be replacing them - robots controlled by the Rauner “spin machine”. Southern Illinois does not need more Terrie Bryants!
Southern Dawg- Madigan is Chairmen of the Illinois Democratic Party. So there is a connection despite them being in two different Chambers. I mean will you be saying the same thing when the Dems attempt to tie Republicans in the House and Senate to Rauner?
==The houses in that ad look very suburban to me. Will those visuals connect with people in those areas? They certainly don’t say “downstate community” to me….==
Huh? I suppose you picture everyone South of I-70 living in mud huts or log cabins??
Soccermom, when you visit Longshadow, it also won’t say “downstate community” to you either. More like “Italian mountain villa.” And parts of Carterville in Forby’s district look more neo-suburban than Naperville. Believe it or not, as with the northern parts of the state, neighborhoods down here vary considerably and in ways that a quick ad spot will not capture.
For the Love of Pete Soccermom, have you ever been south of I-80? Brace yourself, those people below Springfield even have electricity and have been going to the restroom inside now for at least a decade or so.
This looks like something JibJab would put together. I’m rating it an F simply because using tanks to target Illinois citizens, homes, and schools is way over the top. The producers and funders of this dreg need to go and play “war” in their sandbox.
This is so poor. The graphics remind me of the Dire Straits “Money for Nothing” video from the early 1980s. The voiceover is creepy and what’s with the tanks / military imagery. People tend to appreciate positive military imagery but not this trash. “F”.
- dr. reason a. goodwin - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 6:11 pm:
This ad often runs back-to-back with Forby’s attack ad on Rauner/Fowler. Forby’s ad seems much clearer and hits the mark better for me. But I suspect the GOP ad is running much more frequently. I still think it will be hard to beat Phelps and Forby. Bradley, I’m not so sure.
- Honeybear - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 10:04 am:
So what is the URL of this “Broadcast TV” of which you speak? Is that the hashtag? I don’t get it.
- A Citizen - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 10:11 am:
Hmmm, honey seems very clear and right on target to me.
- Dan Johnson - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 10:14 am:
I don’t know how that plays with communities that are particularly upset with the significant cuts in state spending.
- Anonymous - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 10:19 am:
Looks like a middle school video production class project.
- madco - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 10:27 am:
I think the ad makes its point and does a decent job. They’re going to do enough of these, that they don’t need to hit it out of the park on every single ad. It looks like they’re going with the “death by a thousand stabs” strategy.
- Agricola - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 10:28 am:
C+ - The visuals are odd, and they seemed odder the more I watched it (the minimal animation makes me think of Veggie Tales, which is probably not the desired effect). Maybe it whips up your base, but the accusations are so generic and shopworn I doubt if it changes many minds.
- Hit or Miss - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 10:29 am:
The ad clearly points out what the creators see as the ‘problem’. However, there is no clear indication of what they see as the ’solution’. The ad fails to answer the question ‘who can we trust? and why’. I give it a grade of C-.
- Curious - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 10:34 am:
It’s a bit confusing when they lump in everybody in the district (they don’t really identify who everyone is except for the face on the solider) but since HRO is handling all the ad buys I guess it saves some money. I’ll give it a C+.
Paging DPI! Bueller? Bueller? Your guys (and gals) are twisting in the wind right now and there is not coherent response/push back/proactive message coming from the top (or anywhere). Would be nice to see somebody step up.
- Roger Dorn - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 10:38 am:
Agree with madco. This isn’t one comprehensive ad trying to make a closing argument, rather a small sampling of things to come- it’s July, after all!
I say soldier on.
- Soccermom - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 10:53 am:
Here’s a serious question: I haven’t spent a lot of time in these districts (although I just told Soccerdad that I really want to go down to Pomona to check out Longshadow.) The houses in that ad look very suburban to me. Will those visuals connect with people in those areas? They certainly don’t say “downstate community” to me….
- ChicagoVinny - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 10:59 am:
I work in a field that does a lot of CGI, and an art director I used to work with had a “hall of shame” for reels submitted by applicants that were just terrible quality. The quality of animation in this ad would have had a place in his “hall of shame”.
If you can’t do it well, don’t do it. They could have made these points without the terrible CGI.
- Anon - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 11:04 am:
For crying out loud, Soccermom! Do you think everyone south of I-80 lives in a shack?! “Suburban-looking” houses exist in all corners of Illinois. Get out from under that rock sometime. Good lord!
- A guy - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 11:05 am:
It could be just a matter of taste, but I don’t care for this ad. It just comes across as too simple-minded to me. I don’t easily get the connection between the “board pieces” (soldiers??) and the tanks. It’s below average to me.
- Southern Dawg - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 11:07 am:
Please tell me Rauner knows that Forby doesn’t work for Madigan? He’s a state senator, he has nothing to do with the House. Forby has absolutely zero to do with anything Madigan related.
- illini - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 11:19 am:
This is only the beginning of what we will be seeing until November. Millions could well be spent to defeat these 3 downstate Democrats who have had significant support in their districts.
And who will be replacing them - robots controlled by the Rauner “spin machine”. Southern Illinois does not need more Terrie Bryants!
- Anonymous - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 11:22 am:
Redefining the adjective “meh.”
- Keyser Soze - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 11:24 am:
Brings to mind SNL’s “Mister Bill.” Don’t know if this is the work of pro’s, but there is some branding going on. The guy wearing a black hat is MJM.
- sooo - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 11:25 am:
Southern Dawg- Madigan is Chairmen of the Illinois Democratic Party. So there is a connection despite them being in two different Chambers. I mean will you be saying the same thing when the Dems attempt to tie Republicans in the House and Senate to Rauner?
- Anonymous - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 11:28 am:
==The houses in that ad look very suburban to me. Will those visuals connect with people in those areas? They certainly don’t say “downstate community” to me….==
Huh? I suppose you picture everyone South of I-70 living in mud huts or log cabins??
- Demoralized - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 11:32 am:
==Higher taxes. Billions in more debt. And a bailout for Chicago schools.==
He will be signing a bill raising taxes eventually.
He just signed a budget that he admitted isn’t balanced and provides more funding to CPS.
He sort of just put out an ad criticizing himself.
- walker - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 11:52 am:
They tried mushrooms, but the graphics were too muddy.
- Agricola - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 12:13 pm:
==For crying out loud, Soccermom! Do you think everyone south of I-80 lives in a shack?!==
I think of mine as a cottage, thank you very much. Even if it don’t have indoor plumbin’…
- jim - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 12:21 pm:
It’s all true. But voters don’t seem to mind — at least they haven’t in past.
- Deep South - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 12:50 pm:
This ad will change no one’s mind.
That said, Forby has reason to be concerned in my part of the world.
Phelps is well regarded and is a shoo-in.
- Gobsmacked - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 12:57 pm:
Soccermom, when you visit Longshadow, it also won’t say “downstate community” to you either. More like “Italian mountain villa.” And parts of Carterville in Forby’s district look more neo-suburban than Naperville. Believe it or not, as with the northern parts of the state, neighborhoods down here vary considerably and in ways that a quick ad spot will not capture.
- Give Me A Break - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 2:05 pm:
For the Love of Pete Soccermom, have you ever been south of I-80? Brace yourself, those people below Springfield even have electricity and have been going to the restroom inside now for at least a decade or so.
- Anon221 - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 2:05 pm:
This looks like something JibJab would put together. I’m rating it an F simply because using tanks to target Illinois citizens, homes, and schools is way over the top. The producers and funders of this dreg need to go and play “war” in their sandbox.
- G'Kar - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 2:18 pm:
I supposed that it is just a coincidence that the models are of Soviet/Russian tanks./s
- ILPundit - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 4:10 pm:
All politics are local. When you run an attack ad focused against three different incumbent reps, you weaken the message. Weak sauce
- Jake From Elwood - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 4:14 pm:
This is so poor. The graphics remind me of the Dire Straits “Money for Nothing” video from the early 1980s. The voiceover is creepy and what’s with the tanks / military imagery. People tend to appreciate positive military imagery but not this trash. “F”.
- dr. reason a. goodwin - Monday, Jul 11, 16 @ 6:11 pm:
This ad often runs back-to-back with Forby’s attack ad on Rauner/Fowler. Forby’s ad seems much clearer and hits the mark better for me. But I suspect the GOP ad is running much more frequently. I still think it will be hard to beat Phelps and Forby. Bradley, I’m not so sure.