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Rate the ads
Wednesday, Nov 28, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller * It’s time, once again, to play “Rate the campaign TV ads,” campers. First up, Jay Footlik’s * Next, we have Democrat Bill Foster’s new ad. Foster is hoping to challenge whatever GOP candidate emerges in retired Congressman Denny Hastert’s district… * And, finally, Republican Kevin Burns, one of the Republican candidates in the race to replace Hastert… What do you think of each? 
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- Kuz - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 9:48 am:
1. The Footlik ad is unusual. Why Brady Bunch, why mention your opponent twice, why have your name so small, why have the candidate’s face appear so late?
My gut reaction was that the Brady Bunch set up was a gimmick. And I think it made Footlik look really young. As a Seals supporter, this doesn’t make me worry.
2. Foster’s bio ad was pretty good, I think. They made him look like a scholar and leader. Good sound bites.
3. I guess this will play in Plano? I guess they were trying to save money on production costs. Generic, but inoffensive.
- Lefty - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 9:50 am:
Footlik ad: I always like funny. Showing a sense of humor can never hurt a candidate.
Foster ad: Professional, on-message. He seems to be running a well-planned campaign, and this ad supports it well.
Burns ad: Having seen Burns in action around Geneva over the years, I would expect more creativity from him. He has real charisma in person and, as I said last night to a friend, could charm a rattlesnake. This ad shows none of that and could have been bought off the shelf with directions to “Put your name here” at various places. He may be playing it safe since he is the moderate in the race.
- Snidely Whiplash - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 9:57 am:
I know this may sound juvenile, but how can you go on TV with a name like “footlik?” I’d say that’s the reason the name’s so small.
- Anon 1 - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:02 am:
Foster’s ad was inspiring! He looks like a real winner. Burns ad looked amateurish. Dems could win the 14th this time.
- Kid Vegas - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:02 am:
Footlik: Good ad, but nothing explained the Brady Bunch theme. Did anyone notice that Footlik ended up in the “Alice square”.
Foster: I wasn’t quite clear is he a scientist? If he is so smart why does he want to go the DC?
Burns: generic
- Carl Nyberg - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:20 am:
The Footlik ad is memorable, but it’s not likely to make the case to Seals leaners.
I suspect Footlik’s claim that he can win swing voters Seals can’t to be mostly BS. Footlik may be able to get 100-200 Republican leaning Jews to vote for him that would have punched for Seals over Kirk. Although, if Footlik is running against the Iraq War this might not even be true.
But a whole bunch more people are going to think of Footlik as being primarily concerned with Israel and Israel issues. From the beginning his campaign has been about mentioning over-and-over that he’s Jewish, lived in Israel and that the Clinton people let him hang around to talk about Israel.
Somehow, I think Footlik will lose a whole bunch of voters who think he’s really running to be an advocate for Israel.
The Foster ad was decent. It’s a standard bio spot. Foster has a decent bio so it works. The ad is not going to win any awards for originality.
The Republican’s ad is a standard bio spot, but he’s got less bio. The claims about cutting taxes and making gov’t more efficient would be more effective if he included specifics. Of course, the specifics would have to make sense and not seem trivial.
- Carl Nyberg - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:21 am:
sorry “would have punched for Kirk over Seals”
- Carl Nyberg - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:26 am:
Here’s an anecdote about Footlik.
When he (or his people) first created his wikipedia bio he wrote that her volunteered on the Kerry/Lieberman campaign in 2004.
He then worked for Senator Joe Lieberman’s 2004 Presidential Campaign and then served the Kerry/Lieberman campaign as Senior Advisor on Middle East and Jewish Affairs.
Does anybody else think it’s a little weird that in Footlik’s mind he replaced John Edwards with Joe Lieberman?
- FormerHDems - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:43 am:
FYI-Aaron Schock’s ads are playing in the Decatur/Springfield/Champaign markets.
- capitol view - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:52 am:
Carl Nyberg: most American/Illinois Jews are anti - the Iraqi War. You can oppose a war that we had no business getting into, and still oppose radical terrorism movements against the West.
Don’t buy the neo-con nonsense that opposing the Iraqi debacle is pro-terrorists.
And if Footlik’s ad is appealing to Jewish voters, didn’t Seals seek support from Evanston’s African-American community? You start with your base, and build outward from there. Politics 101.
- Carl Nyberg - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:59 am:
Are the Jews who vote for Kirk against the Iraq War?
Who are these swing voters Footlik thinks will support him and not Seals?
- Lefty - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 11:03 am:
Further point on Burns: he actually oversaw the increase in Geneva’s sales tax just last year. Since it will be paid by many visitors to the lovely shopping destination, he has some level of rebuttal if this becomes a campaign issue. But it certainly contradicts his statement in his ad.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 11:06 am:
People, let’s be extra careful when getting into a heated argument about the Jewish vote. I don’t want to have to cut you off, so tone it down now.
Thanks.
- Ghost - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 11:23 am:
Footlik: I like funny adds, his wasmore childish then funny. His ad makes him look inexperienced and childlike. Not sure associating with Clinton in Illinois is a good move for a dem.
Foster: I hate the constant reference to being a “scientist.” Comes off as elitist. When I think of a scientist I think of an out of touch intellectual who lacks any experience with social studies and history. A scientist typically has no background with politics, social issues, history or policy concepts, they are the other end of the spectrum. hated this add. if the only thing he has is he is a “scientist” then he can stay in his lab. He missed the ball IMHO. great opportunity to push the buisness he helped create. Have the employees talk about how great he is and hard decisions he has had to make as a member of the community and as a business owner.
Burns had the best add of the group. It was bland enough to not offend(could use a little spicing up), but also conveyed a sense of experience.
- P - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 11:36 am:
Did I miss something - Was Footlik in “Teen Wolf”?
- Bluedogdemocrat - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 11:46 am:
Kevin Burns never lowered taxes in Geneva. This just shows his lack of knowledge about the political game. Unless you can prove you actually lowered taxes it’s best not to go about saying it. Good job pointing that out Lefty
- beavis - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 11:59 am:
Foster ad is okay, I actually liked the Burns ad. He’s just trying to build his name ID and introduce himself, most voters in the 14th need to know that there is someone else running besides Milk Man and Senator Coo Coo Clock.
- nobody sent - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 12:03 pm:
The foster spot is great, the Footlik spot not so much. To win this race he needs to build up his own name id and tear down Seals’ positives. Usually, it makes sense to build up your own name id then attack the other guy, I don’t know how this ad is going to play in a democratic electorate that’s already somewhat hostile to him.
Based on Footlik’s recent performance at New Trier and Northfield, the only 8 people who are actually supporting are featured in the ad, and one of them is his mom, and the other has him confused with Michael J Fox.
- anon - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 12:15 pm:
Foster claims to want change but that ad scream “MORE OF THE SAME”
How can you say change if your ad looks identical to so many that are out there every cycle. These democrats running for congress in Chicago’s Suburbs have to start taking some risks if they want to win. How about some memorable commercials instead of the same old ads that have lost us these seats in the past.
- Team America, World Police - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 12:31 pm:
It looks like the “Teen Wolf” reference was a nod to a bit part Footlik had as a child actor in the actual movie, not confusing him with MJF. There is a Tribune article up at the Footlik campaign website that explains the whole thing.
I think it was wise for Footlik to start off dealing with Seals, although it may cut against conventional wisdom, as Footlik has, up until now, barely acknowledged that he first has to lick Seals before he earns a crack at Mark Kirk. But, while Footlik acknowledges Seals and offers a bunch of folks who have ‘made the switch,’ the viewer doesn’t really don’t know why they switched, so we don’t know if we’d make the same choice. Big error and loss of opportunity to make your case of why Footlik instead of Seals.
Although I chuckled at the ad, and it’s probably one of the more memorable and original ones I’ve seen lately, I agree that Footlik comes off like a 15 year old, and does not appear to be Congressional material, based on this spot.
Also, no word on whether Footlik is going to go to commerical TV with this. Cable ads I think are of somewhat limited value. On the other hand, maybe it’s better for him if a lot of people don’t see this.
- Lefty - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 1:10 pm:
As a scientist and a businessman who is politically active, reads history, and has informed opinions on social issues, I can readily state that Ghost’s comment says more about Ghost than about Foster.
Considering the options in this election–an accountant who wanted to legally change his name to add “CPA” to it, a 2-time loser millionaire ice cream company owner, a carpenter, a “fund-raising executive” and Foster, I am leaning toward the “elitist” who can start a multi-million dollar business from scratch and also investigate some of the toughest research problems in human history.
- Adwatch - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 1:26 pm:
the first ad was dumb. If the name is so funny why didn’t I laugh?
The second ad was not bad as the campaign team didn'’t have much to work with. It also left me wondering what qualifies a scientist to be a politician?
What the third ad lacked in production values was erased by a the message — vote for me!
Burns wins!
- Ghost - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 1:57 pm:
Lefty your own comment decires the flaw in your statement. You did not stop with as a scientist… you went on to describe that you read history, are politically active etc.
A scientist exists as an archetypal image in our social structure. The archetypal image of a scientist operates as the antithesis of a social student or scholar. An anectadotal tale about somone whi is divergent from the archetypal image does nothing to undo the archetypal image.
A politician that ignores basic social archetypes does so at their own peril. it speaks more of your unawareness of basic social structure that you do no recognize social imagery within a soceity.
- Carl Nyberg - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 2:38 pm:
Rich, it’s certainly a valid question to ask Jay Footlik, who are these swing voters he claims will vote for him and not Seals in the general election?
So, who are these people? Why will they vote for Footlik? And who does Footlik lose as voters and volunteers by courting this constituency?
Footlik started off with a much less of a “get out of Iraq now” position. Now he’s come around to where Dan Seals was about two years ago.
As a Washington insider, Footlik believed the Beltway conventional wisdom that there are a block of people who agreed with invading Iraq, but disagreed with how it was done. But after getting to know the district in which he’s running, he found out there ain’t many people who feel the way Footlik’s Washington crowd think the should feel.
So, now Footlik has embraced a position on the campaign trail that more accurately reflects Democratic voters in IL-10.
But if Footlik is embracing the “out of Iraq now” position, what gives Footlik a better chance of beating Kirk than Seals?
And how do we know Footlik won’t go back to thinking like his Washington pals and the Israel lobby want him to think after he’s elected?
- Kevin Johnson - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 3:23 pm:
Dan Seals who? He has not been talking to anyone lately. Most of us have received Jay Footlik’s material and have seen his ads. He is clearly working hard and wants the job more than the other guy.
Sorry Dan, you just don’t work very hard.
- Scott - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 4:21 pm:
I hope Jay’s ad goes commercial because it is one of the few that entertains as well as informs and I need an excuse to stay away from the kitchen during commercials.
On a more serious note, I was glad to see Jay showing that a lot of people are switching from Seals to Jay because Seals fooled a lot of people into thinking he was a progressive candidate in 2006 and he continues to fool them. As for Jay’s Washington experience, we need a representative who has the background to represent us and part of that is understanding how our government works. I see that as a plus.
Jay is that rare candidate who has true progressive values like his support of universal health care, an environmentally correct and secure energy policy free from dependence on foreign oil and expanded educational opportunities for our youth. He was endorsed by DAPAC over Seals, the “more conservative candidate.”
Jay is also a staunch supporter of Israel, an excellent idea for a candidate in a district with such a heavy Jewish population, particularly in a Democratic primary. Jay worked for Israeli President Shimon Peres’s think tank trying to bring a lasting peace to that area. Jay believes in Peres’ vision of two states, one Jewish and one Palestinian, living side by side in peace. Peres earned a Nobel Prize for his work toward a lasting Middle East peace.
Seals has taken positions, which are not in the best interest of Israel’s security such as calling for an immediate cease-fire in the second Lebanon war, refusing to say he would side with Israel in a war with Iran and advocating negotiations with Hamas, a terrorist group sworn to the destruction of Israel and the United States.
Jay is showing those of us who live in the Tenth what a real Congressional candidate who has the tools to defeat Mark Kirk looks like. Seals does not have the talent to be our representative.
- Kuz - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 4:44 pm:
Who is this DAPAC?
http://dapac.org/
Wow, that DAPAC endorsement really helped John Laesch…
Jay is also a staunch supporter of Israel, an excellent idea for a candidate in a district with such a heavy Jewish population, particularly in a Democratic primary.
Excellent idea, indeed.
- bored now - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 6:29 pm:
can any of those people in jay’s ad vote in the 10th?
- Rob_N - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 7:11 pm:
Kevin and Scott,
You haven’t been paying attention if you think Dan Seals isn’t working hard.
Sending out mailers and “campaign representatives” as Mr. Footlik has been doing doesn’t do much. OTOH, Mr. Seals has been meeting with people nearly every day in all parts of the district — and he doesn’t find it necessary to “crash parties” to do it.
Kevin, rather than your cotton candy hyping for Mr. Footlik, can you provide some evidence for your feelings?
Scott, Mr. Seals is hardly “the more conservative candidate”. On what is that oddball claim based?
- political hor - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:23 pm:
Let me try to answer some questions here.
According to DAPAC’s (Democratic Advancement Political Action Committee) press release on their endorsement of Jay Footlik, they chose Jay because:
“Like all of DAPAC’s candidates, Jay has pledged to vote progressively when elected to Congress on issues including choice, same-sex marriage, the environment, healthcare, and more.”
When they said that “Footlik will be facing competition in the Democratic primary from a more conservative opponent” (Dan Seals), it would be understood that Seals is more conservative because he does not support the aforementioned issues, or not as strongly as Jay does.
They continue: “…and also faces Republican incumbent Mark Kirk, who has portrayed himself as moderate, while actually acting as a rubber stamp for the Bush administration’s policies.” Thus, Jay’s views about the disaster that is the Bush administration plus his views on domestic issues are why he will get votes from Seals. His support for the U.S.’s only Democratic ally in the Middle East, Israel, is why he’ll take votes away from Kirk. You can be a liberal Jew that disagrees with the war in Iraq and Bush but supports Israel’s right to defend herself.
- Rayfan - Wednesday, Nov 28, 07 @ 10:48 pm:
Footlik ad is awful. Poorly conceived, no clear message, and goofy … a bad combination.
Foster’s ad is really good. Professional, clear message, and very effective.
Burns ad is OK, although very amateurish. He’ll have to do a lot better than that against Lauzen and Oberweis. Doesn’t inspire you to vote for him as your next leader in Congress.
- ny two cents - Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 11:49 am:
Scott is being disingenuous, as he knows that none of the people in the ads are for real - even his mother can’t vote for him. Jay is out of step with the district, and keeps trying on different positions and personalities in order to win support, but he’s running out of time and still hasn’t gotten it right. If he’s so progressive, why did Dan win the SEIU endorsment? And why are so many of Jay’s donors Republicans?
And Kevin, if Jay is such a hard worker, why didn’t he show up to represent himself and introduce himself at the New Trier and Northfield Township endorsment sessions? He hires people to do everything- even speak for him! He hired petitioners who pretended to be petitioning for Dan Seals, while Dan had over 70 people supporting and petitioning on his behalf.
Dan’s been shaking hands at train stations and knocking on doors- where’s Jay, except holed up somewhere making fundraising calls to DC?
Jay bombs as a public speaker in front of large audiences. He bombed in Wheeling when he bragged to people about introducing Monica Lewinsky to Clinton, (some job!), and bombed when he crashed a party in Glencoe, bombed again when he spoke at the New Trier Fundraising dinner, and yet again when he showed up late to the Iraq Townhall and had to deal with the wrath of the overflow crowds. He had a fundraiser which was so ill attended his supporters sent out pleas to come just to meet him, and forget about the money.
His few supporters have made very aggressive pleas to withhold support for Dan until they meet Jay. Then, he fails to show up! His ad? More of Jay trying to be cutesy cool, after his last “abandoned by his father” ad totally bombed too. If you meet the guy, as I have, you’ll find that there’s very little substance. Scratch the surface with a real question and he doesn’t have answers, only soundbites for any issue other than Israel. And if that’s all we want, we might as well stick to the devil we know, Kirk.
- ny two cents - Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 11:52 am:
PS I know the Jay commenters on this post and one of them is his campaign manager! Notice how the Jay supporters always take the opportunity to spell out his entire resume? He can’t get traction anywhere else!