In his first ad of the runoff, Mayor Rahm Emanuel speaks directly to the voters and shares why he fights so hard for Chicago’s future. The Rahm for Chicago campaign begins airing “Chicago’s Future” today.
“They say your greatest strength is also your greatest weakness. I’m living proof of that. I can rub people the wrong way or talk when I should listen. I own that.
“But I’m driven to make a difference. When politics stood in the way of a full day kindergarten or tougher gun laws, I charged ahead. And when business interests said a $13 minimum wage was too high, I didn’t back down.
“Look, I’m not going to always get it right. But when it comes to fighting for Chicago and Chicago’s future, no one’s going to fight harder.”
Aldertrack reports this morning that the mayor’s campaign purchased $605,000 of network TV ads for next week and $55,000 in cable TV for this week.
“Look, I’m not going to always get it right. But when it comes to fighting for Chicago and Chicago’s future, no one’s going to fight harder.” — Rahm Emanuel
“My problem was that I loved her too much.” — O.J. Simpson
- Jimmy CrackCorn - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 8:55 am:
Very effective. There wouldn’t have been a run-off had they run this a for a month prior.
I don’t know which one of the DC Brainiacs he employs thought that if they just reminded voters that Red Line construction went smoothly, they would forget all about him closing their school. He allowed himself to become a parody of himself in the primary with the uninspired, impersonal garbage ads they dropped $10M on.
1) Mea Culpas after you “lose a round” seem less genuine. “Did he feel that way before, or not?”
And…
2) The last part, “But when it comes to fighting for Chicago and Chicago’s future, no one’s going to fight.”
Saying “Sorry, not sorry” kinda refutes his mea culpa.
I liked the Ad, I think it covers a “need”, and Rahm showing “some” contriction, even ending “sorry, not sorry” brings Rahm back to talking to the people, just this time he’s not yelling at them, angrily.
I like this ad, and I like Rahm. I think that he does fight for Chicago, and although I may not agree with everything he has done, I think he has done a fine job. Especially considering the way things looked before he was Mayor…
- Keep it Simple - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:00 am:
Clearly not humbled at all into being forced into a run off. Carefully measured words won’t solve his likability problems. Why is he now trying to out nice a nice guy opponent?
Rahm, if you want to be honest with the voters, then be yourself.
- Filmmaker Professor - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:07 am:
Nice sweater Rahm. Maybe you can borrow BFF Brucie’s Carhart for the next one. It worked wonders for him.
I’ve seen it a few times and come away with the impression that he’s basically saying, “I realize a lot of you think I’m a jerk, but imagine how much of a jerk I seem like to people who stand in the way of my getting what I want.”
I was also a little put off by the blatant brush off of business owners concerned about a pretty substantial increase in the minimum wage. I’d like to see a better standard of living as much as anyone else, but I also think businesses have a right to be worried.
His mouth is saying sorry, but his face is telling me that he’ll do it again.
- Just sayin .... - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:09 am:
I beleive Rahm comes across sincere and believable. He needed to own up to his faults. Chicagoans want one of their own in which is what this ad tries to achieve for Rahm. It was deperately needed.
I saw it last night. Was able to watch it twice here. Forgetting about all the blather about genuineness, etc., from an ad perspective….It’s a great ad. A super strong pass. There are 6%+ in play that he needs to win over. This goes far and beyond where he needs to go to demonstrate humility.
This is what a good number of people wanted to see; an acknowledgement that he hears them. Despite a not so masterful approach before the primary vote, someone got his ear that night, and from his speech that evening to date, the strategy has been excellent.
People wanted to teach Rahm a lesson (at least a convincing % did. He’s very publicly stating he’s learned the lesson. It’s not just enough. It’s more than enough.
Totally agree with Jimmy CrackCorn. Rahm’s campaign should have aired this or a similar commercial for a month before the last election. Better late than never, though. I give it a B+.
The ad is a complete fail.
No one had the nerve to tell this guy that he doesn’t look sincere in what he is saying, even if he was trying to be sincere.
How hard is it to be honest to Mayor Emanuel?
The only thing going for him right now are his financial connections to Chicago’s power players. Voters know he is their candidate and respect that. But they don’t like him. If Garcia can show that he can carry enough heft to do business with Rahm’s base of support - Emanuel is finished.
Emanuel needs to show a completely different personality and broadcast that until April.
===Forgetting about all the blather about genuineness, etc., from an ad perspective….It’s a great ad. A super strong pass. There are 6%+ in play that he needs to win over.===
lol, other than coming across honest, or genuine, which is the goal, it’s a pass?
So from an Ad perspective, the focus being speaking honestly and humbly, from the Ad perspective it’s a pass? What’s a pass, the sweater?
How many times do you think Uncle Humbly had to drain that rocks glass to choke down the script?
At least he put it on the paper so as not to make rings. Such a considerate little fella.
Slapped together pretty quickly. Dude, if your’re going to prop with the sweater, get that fireplace going and sit in front of it. Hire a dog that won’t growl at you and put it in the shot.
It’s fine. But c’mon — he’s relished and promoted his political hit man image for years. Who hasn’t made up their mind about this guy by now?
- Under Further Review - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:26 am:
Chuck Percy did it better in 1978 by sounding more contrite and apologetic. Of course, it was his last electoral victory as Paul Simon beat him the next time out.
This might have worked in 2011. The problem is he’s a known commodity. He’s clearly trying to be genuine and sincere, but it seems as authentic as a Dartmouth grad dropping his “g” sounds at the end of words to come off as folksy.
This ad reminds me of Carol Moseley Braun’s 1998 “I’m Sorry” ad. Insincere, pandering, and ultimately unpersuasive. This ad may be more effective, but the real question is: if Rahm is reelected, will be really learn from his mistakes and behave in a more humble manner, or will he simply revert back to being the obnoxious arrogant jerk he’s always been?
This ad is funny. He looks like a little lamb. Or at least like a 5 year old who has been a bad little boy. I’m sure that filming this ad made him sick to his stomach.
We know he fights hard. But for whom and for what is he fighting? The 1%er’s.
That’s his problem he is of, by and for the 1%, and the city is in a fiscal mess after 4 years of his reign. What is he going to do different to help the 99% and to fix the budget?
VMan, take your meds and lie down for a while. I think you’re hallucinating.
This is a very good ad that humanizes Rahm and tears apart the cartoon character his opponents tried to make of him. It is the first post-election ad and sets the right tone for the run-off. This is designed to win him new votes. The next ads will focus on showing voters what a Garcia administration would mean for Chicago.
He was forgiven and became more popular after breaking 9 of the 10 Commandments than before.
People wanted to see Rahm repent. He did. That wave you hear are undecideds coming his way and protesting Non-voters feeling satisfied they got their point across. Don’t forget All day kindergarten is also a child care program. And minimum wage goes right to the heart of the voters he’s wooing.
Ads have objectives. This one meets the objective.
- Under Further Review - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:39 am:
This is a very good ad that humanizes Rahm and tears apart the cartoon character his opponents tried to make of him. It is the first post-election ad and sets the right tone for the run-off. This is designed to win him new votes. The next ads will focus on showing voters what a Garcia administration would mean for Chicago.
Game on and this is a good start.===
47. You’re correct. One slight disagreement. You’ll see one more “softy” before banging on Chuy. He needs to cement that “I hear you” image.
Even the Chuy bangers will be softer. “He’s a good man, a nice man….but he’s not ready to take on one of the most challenging executive jobs in America. His relationship with the CTU will compromise his ability to do what’s right for all Chicagoans. We’ve got some tough decisions in the near future. I’ll work with Chuy on solutions, but he’s just not ready for the challenges of Chicago”.
Rahm will then follow suit with the same themes in the debates. He’s very savvy. His message will be consistent, and humble pie will work for him.
It was a smart move on Rahm’s part. I am not so sure that his ad will actually change any minds about his personality (or his accomplishments) but in a very close election race it might just cause a couple of people to get off of the fence and give him the benefit of their doubt. It isn’t like having to watch his campaign expense is an issue for him.
After the primary, Rahm knows what he has to do to woo more voters…. appear to be human and care about the 99% of the citizens he really ignores. As an ad, I rate it a B+, but it’s effect should not convince the citizens of Chicago that he has changed after the last election. As the incumbant, he has a record of showing just what kind of person he really is. People will not forget that. He is the person that dropped the F-bomb on Karen Lewis. A power-hungry spoiled little brat that is used to getting everything that he wants in life. He can’t change that in such a short time, even if he wanted to.
- Chicago taxpayer - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:03 am:
Professional snark addicts aside, I think most voters will appreciate that he “heard” them in the first round–that he got the message from those voters that were sending him a message about his style and approach rather than actually wishing that one of these other guys was mayor.
- In Rahm we trust - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:06 am:
Full day kindergarten is a perfect example of what is wrong here. The Mayor, with no impact information, announces full day kindergarten - without any additional funding - and we now have kindergarten classrooms with 30 plus children and one teacher. Anyone who can, is looking outside of the city for a better way…
Rahm is closer to winning than Chuy. this ad probably helps him with that squishy group of moms who just want everyone to be nice so now they see him being nice. all the rahm voters from the first try are sticking with him. this ad is to add to the first bunch. the big question is, which guy can do a better job with the job. Chuy is pretty much a blank slate to voters, and probably pretty much that in real life. there will be other ads to define that blank slate.
Rahm couldn’t buy the runoff no matter how much he spent. Rahm is toast as long as chuy gets his message out. Rahm has destroyed this city. Daley, the guy who endorsed him destroyed it too. Time to clean house. Good thing chuy got big $$$$$ from the unions. Otherwise no way to compete with the limits in place.
“Hey, I get it wrong a lot. You know, maybe I always get it wrong. I don’t know. What do you think? Hey, I’m trying to be sincere here, even if it comes across like I’m reading it off cue cards. Okay, so I could take acting lessons from a WWE wrestler on showing emotion. But gosh, I’m trying. No, I have to be sincere. I’m not really trying. But by golly, I’ll fight harder for you. Really. ‘Cause that’s the kind of guy I’d like to be.”
It is the non-apology apology. Like saying “I’m sorry that your feelings got hurt.” That just means you are not sorry about the thing you did to hurt the other person’s feelings. That’s Rahm in this ad.
Sorry that you didn’t like me closing 50 schools, six mental health clinics, the red light cameras, attacking pensions while siphoning TIF money for corporate giveaways. Vote for me cause I’ll keep doing it!
Nobody’s going to believe that Rahm’s personality is actually gonna change. But he can –and has to– convince some voters that his approach can and will change, which is why I like this ad and think it’ll be effective. This election isn’t about the mayor being “nicer”. It’s ultimately about which candidate can best govern complex Chicago. Chicago- which is not only a great city but is also the economic and cultural anchor of the region, and that means its governance affects a whole lot more than the residents who live within the city limits.
- Under Further Review - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:22 am:
@47th Ward:
Take a full distance ride on the Green Line someday from Englewood to Oak Park. There’s a whole other side of Chicago that you seem unacquainted with.
===other side of Chicago that you seem unacquainted with.===
UFR, the west side of Chicago has been in trouble since the riots of 1968. Rahm was maybe in first grade back then. Tell me again how Rahm has destroyed Chicago in four short years? Please be specific.
Nice ad. It turns “he’s a rude little man” into “he’s a fighter for us.”
That’s a nice pivot and I think it is going to stick.
A lot of the Rahm-haters are going to continue with the attacks on his manners but this really turns those attacks around.
I thought it was very effective.
The downside is that the sweater looks weird. Rahm comes off as a guy who puts on a suit before he comes down to have his coffee. “By being a jerk I’m fighting for you” is credible. The sweater thing just isn’t.
- Under Further Review - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:29 am:
My point was that there are portions of the city that are in ruins that you cannot see from your window. The fact that the 47th Ward has gentrified does not mean that all of Chicago is a city in a garden.
UFR, I’m not fan of Emanuel by a long shot, but is it your contention that the poor neighborhoods on the West and Soutn Sides you see on the Green line popped up in the last four years?
Chicago is not perfect. Good catch!
For you, that means we need change.
The rest of us are going to take a look at where we were four years ago and determine if things are getting better or worse, and whether Rahm or Chuy has better ideas as to how to improve things.
For us, the existence of some challenging areas is unfortunate but not shocking.
He looks like Alferd Packer telling us his stew meat wasn’t Frank Miller.
- Under Further Review - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:40 am:
The blighted neighborhoods have been in dire straits for forty or fifty years, but that does not change the fact that Rahm Emanuel has spent more time fundraising out of town then addressing concerns in Chicago. It is no accident that his support in the black community plummeted since 2011. Even Obama could not seal the deal for him.
Truth be told, the first ads trying to “humanize” Rahm were radio spots cut by the President who described him as “hard headed.”
===does not mean that all of Chicago is a city in a garden.===
No kidding. I was responding to a commenter who laid all of the blame at Rahm’s feet, which is preposterous. I’m glad you agree that Rahm hasn’t destroyed Chicago.
Really UFR?
The Mayor has spent more time out of town than in?
Wow! Now that is shocking, and I thank you for bringing that to our attention.
Now, in case my pro-Rahm friends ask, could you let me know how much time he’s spent out of town, and how much in? They probably won’t believe me unless I give them numbers.
===the fact that Rahm Emanuel has spent more time fundraising out of town then addressing concerns in Chicago===
Again, please try to avoid the over-the-top rhetoric. It doesn’t advance the ball. If you’ve analyzed his schedule, feel free to share your data, but stop making up goofy criticisms that simply aren’t true.
I give it a B+…Rahm has discovered that he needs to act contrite….I just don’t feel that Chuy is the right man for the job right now, I’d feel better if Rahm was negotiating with the powers that be in Springfield to finally solve the pension crisis that is dragging our state and the city of Chicago into the abyss…
This ad would make Frank Underwood proud. “You’ve gotta be a little human when you’re Mayor”.
I’m not sure what is so brilliant about the ad. Why would 15 seconds of humility counterbalance the public’s opinion of a man who has been in the public eye for decades?
UFR, I know the city pretty well and have traveled it pretty extensively, regularly. There are some areas of neglect that haven’t come back. There are also no more Robert Taylor Homes (southside), No more Cabrini Green (northside) and a ton of development well beyond the old Chicago Stadium (westside). To make the statements you’re making is just not seeing things. It’s not a smoldering mess. There has been gentrification on all sides of the city and people living where no one would have considered living only a decade ago. Your comments are over the top friend.
I have always really liked Rahm. I think this ad is good, but it definitely feels scripted. He doesn’t sound as sincere as he could.
I just don’t get all the Rahm hate though. What is it specifically that people hate so much about him? I understand the school closings is a big thing, but what else has he done that people are so upset about?
The Ad doesn’t need to convince every single voter.
All the Ad needs to do is help Rahm get one more vote than Chuy, and increase his percentage from 45% of ballots cast to 50% plus 1, in a one on one race.
It has the makings to do that, if thise voters believe what he’s saying, not the staging of what might seem ok in the optics of a sweater and a half-full glass of water.
There is a lot of anger aimed at a person who in terms of aggressive is not significantly different from Daley. Daley had bad numbers at the end, but not for that reason.
I hate to bring religion into it, but the level of anger by some may have something to do with his religion. Irish Catholics are allowed to act certain ways in the eyes of voters, but if somebody who is Jewish acts that way, voters do not accept it.
We like to think that voters are above that sort of thing, but I’m just not convinced that they are.
As much as we may deny it, we still live in city where many people have racial, ethnic, and religious bias.
I thought the add was good. I liked RE when he was first elected, but my opinion has since changed. I think he usually comes off as a big bully. This add seems to soften his image. That said, I still hope he loses because I don’t want to see a crony of Bruce’s running Chicago. But then it really doesn’t matter what I think because I don’t live in Chicago.
- In Rahm we trust - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:22 am:
It looks like “William j Kelly” finally got the hint! Or banned! Hahahahah!
- From the 'Dale to HP - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:25 am:
This ad strikes me as someone who desperate rather than someone who is reformed. It’s more ‘Strikes me as too little too late’ that might trigger a bunch of ‘fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice…’ reactions.
Why would anyone believe that now, all of a sudden, Rahm’s going to listen to anyone about anything? “Oh now I understand how democracy works! You guys can vote me out of office because I didn’t listen or work with the community! Now I get it! Give me four more years and this time, trust me, I’m going to listen and work with everyone in Chicago, not just the North Shore! Trust me! This time is different!” Not buying it.
I hate to bring religion into it, but the level of anger by some may have something to do with his religion. Irish Catholics are allowed to act certain ways in the eyes of voters, but if somebody who is Jewish acts that way, voters do not accept it.
You hate bringing religion into it? I hate seeing you do it even more. You are claiming a possibility that Irish Catholic Chicagoans are treating the mayor they helped elect, badly because they can’t get around the fact that he isn’t Irish Catholic.
I wish I had more time to answer the–why don’t people love Rahm line, but I’m self-employed and my boss is a tyrant. I’ll give it my best shot:
1. My dad was a public school principal and my sister is a teacher. He immediately hit the ground with “the teachers got a raise and the students got the shaft.” He then proceeded to force a showdown with the teachers causing the first strike since 1987. This was followed by per pupil budgeting that literally forced my sister to start buying toilet paper for her students with her own money. She already works twice as long as I do for 1/2 as much money and now she has to buy toilet paper too. Meanwhile, the charter schools now get more money per pupil than the public schools despite being able to fund raise.
2. His priorities for this city are messed up. Is it all his fault? No. However, he keeps giving ridiculous sweetheart deals to his campaign bidders and he has used TIF funds as a slush fund. Meanwhile, he pays for services on the back of working people by raising fees, installing red light cameras (mostly in working class neighborhoods), and doubling water bills in mostly non-metered Chicago. That’s about the most regressive way to do this.
3. The G8, Nato, the NFL Draft, The Lucas Museuam–all atempts to improve his national rep while ignoring the neighborhoods.
4. Crushing decent wherever possible. Whether it’s Board of Ed meetings or City Council. He’s going to crush any opposition no matter how token.
5. The school closings say a lot, but the way it was done says even more. The fact that Jesse Ruiz says that 30 high schools are coming next is even scarier. They still can’t find 434 students from the schools they closed.
6. He has bent over backwards to help his banker and financier friends from locking in the parking meter deal, to not renegotiating the interest rate-swaps, to funding his pre-k with a scheme and a big bankster pay off.
- From the 'Dale to HP - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:35 am:
@gooner, this has nothing to do with religion and have yet to hear anyone say anything about it.
=I hate to bring religion into it, but the level of anger by some may have something to do with his religion. Irish Catholics are allowed to act certain ways in the eyes of voters, but if somebody who is Jewish acts that way, voters do not accept it.=
So, he should do poorly in the 19th ward then? I don’t care about his nationality or how nice his sweater is. Really.
Vman, the Parkay/butter made me LOL. Best one so far, because this is exactly what Rahm will do - claim butter until April 8, then say “Parkay!” in that smarmy, gotcha voice.
The flaw here is that the voters were fully aware that Rahm was an a-hole jerk the first time they voted for him. His problem is that he hasn’t done the job. A six week makeover isn’t gonna help.
Vanilla, you seem to spend more time posting than reading. You may want to slow down and focus.
I didn’t accuse just Irish Catholics of hating issues with the Mayor based on race, nor could I, being Irish Catholic myself. Clearly, not all Irish Catholics feel that way. Again, try reading lad.
Instead, I think it is city-wide issue where we Irish are allowed to behave in a certain manner while others are not.
It is similar with the way voters often treat women. Voters consider many women to be “pushy” while claiming that substantially similar traits in men show “leadership.”
Sorry for bringing reality into this, but somebody had to.
This ad is terrible on it’s own, but it’s just the set up so the white middle class voters are ready to come back to him when he starts tearing down Chuy.
=== Century Club - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:49 am:
This ad is terrible on it’s own, but it’s just the set up so the white middle class voters are ready to come back to him when he starts tearing down Chuy.===
Great analysis. OY. You don’t seem to understand which voters he needs to woo back. Big hint: They aren’t White or Latino.
- crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 12:22 pm:
Can’t believe he’s actually bragging about his ill-fated jump on the mass incarceration gravy train (the Bloomberg mandatory minimum gun ploy that coalesced the Black Caucus against him).
Talk about trying to turn your most glaring negative into a positive.
“When politics stood in the way of a full day kindergarten or tougher gun laws, I charged ahead.”
In other words…I am sticking to my talking points (that’s my old self). However, believe me, I am new man. I will listen before I act. And “I am not a witch.”
- crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 12:38 pm:
Oops - I didn’t mean to imply that was his first or last jump on the incarceration gravy train.
=If somebody has a plan that would deliver three out of three, they should share the details.=
The teachers pay raise was pretty small compared to what the mediators thought they should get for having their workday increased by 45 minutes and their number of workdays increased by almost 10 percent. However, here goes:
1. Don’t give the $20,000,000 no bid principal training contract to Barbara Byrd’s company. Most CPS principals say it’s worthless.
2. Don’t give $55,000,000 to DePaul
3. Don’t give UNO $67,000,000 a year to run it’s schools in such a way as to enrich it’s board members, family members, and especially Juan Rangel.
4. Don’t close the schools. The costs are huge. Whether there will be long term savings, we’re still in the red for the closing actions and paying to heat and safeguard these huge abandoned buildings.
No tax increased and I just saved $122,000,000. I believe that’s an 8% raise for teachers. I’m sure I could come up with more if I thought about it more than 5 minutes.
Only ~50% of the DePaul money would go to CPS. Chuy’s counting on that money to pay for the Fire/Police pension balloon, and the 1,000 extra police. It’s pretty darn over-committed, already.
===No tax increased and I just saved $122,000,000. I believe that’s an 8% raise for teachers. I’m sure I could come up with more if I thought about it more than 5 minutes.===
So I suppose teachers could get an 8% raise, but then what are you going to do about the looming $600 million pension payment CPS owes this year?
DePaul isn’t getting $55 million. So now you’re down to $87 million. You only have to find $513 million more before you can give out your raise.
The CPS math is pretty straight forward, and it’s an ugly picture. Taxpayers in Chicago want to be able to use the schools before they’ll pay more for them. CTU is saying the schools won’t get better unless we pay more.
I think Rahm’s on the right side of this politically and CTU is in a corner with no where to go.
“You shut down UNO schools for over half your “savings.””
And the $67m seems to be whole cloth, too. What I see has UNO getting around $50m/year total from Federal, State and CPS sources–which is a heckuva lot, but ain’t nearly the same as $67m all from CPS.
Look, I have NO love for UNO, but the most scandalous part of their funding was the $98m from the State. In 2009. When Rahm was in the White House.
I don’t like Rahm, but frankly Chuy needs to start being more specific. I won’t vote anyone but Rahm frankly no matter how much I dislike him. We just saw what “Anyone but” brought us as governor.
- Under Further Review - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 1:01 pm:
This is a political discussion board where the topic relates to a mayoral campaign and rhetoric is to be avoided? Over the top rhetoric is in the eye of the beholder.
Many of the middle class Chicago wards are struggling. The fact that downtown looks great it is cold comfort to people in Albany Park, Northtown, Belmont-Cragin and elsewhere.
===Over the top rhetoric is in the eye of the beholder.===
So are facts apparently.
- crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 1:13 pm:
The Mayor’s shell game: the DePaul TIF money was shifted to Mariott and McPier is co-funding the DePaul arena.
Closing schools was done very, very badly and we will never know what was “needed” and where. I can’t believe even the Emanuel apologists actually dispute this. Which is why the goalposts of the argument were re-set to “close no schools.”
RE told NBC reporter last week: “I don’t think you should be not who you are.”
- Under Further Review - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 1:20 pm:
Politico has posted a story that suggests Rahm could actually lose the run-off. Of course, that must be make belief too. Besides it is posted on Drudge, so that means it is fake.
You’d have preferred it to be an every year threat? Because that was the alternative.
- the Other Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 2:10 pm:
If you lean towards Rahm, this ad is an “A.”
If you voted against Rahm, it’s a B-.
If you’re a teacher or city employee worried about pensions, it’s a C at best.
Underlying the whole ad is the idea that the only reason Rahm is in a runoff is because he’s perceived as mean. But IMO the personality issue is a surrogate for something else, namely that a lot of people feel left out of the loop (pun intended) in a Rahm administration.
This ad doesn’t reassure them that anything will be different. As a bunch of people have noted, it’s like saying “I’m sorry your delicate feelings got hurt” rather than “I’m sorry I hurt your feelings.”
Supporters of Rahm truly think that the issue is that some people feel hurt, but should not feel that way. Which is why supporters will really dig this ad. Those who voted against Rahm want to see that a real apology and a real promise to change. This ain’t it, so the ad doesn’t help.
I think it’s a danger in politics to show or admit weakness. This ad does both. I just don’t see it moving the needle among anybody except those who already kinda support the mayor but need some reassuring before they vote for him again.
- Under Further Review - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 2:21 pm:
Agree with Rich Miller. The advertisement is an admission that the Emanuel campaign is in trouble.
There is sufficient time to patch things up, but it does look as if the original messaging of the 2015 campaign was off the mark. The bigger question is whether or not the public believes the apology. The wild card is that the run-off is likely to produce a larger voter turnout than in February.
- crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 2:27 pm:
It’s always so instructive to see what MRE supporters *don’t* take issue with when you disagree with them.
For those scoring at home:
- no complaints over TIF shifting from DePaul to Mariott.
- no argument that closing schools was done well
- no protest over McPier/DePaul joint venture
- certainly no protest that public input was carefully solicited or that public gain was responsibly assessed before Action Mayor gave away the public’s goods. Again. And again.
Crazy, sorry for not spending four hours here debunking each and every one of your little theories. Some of us work. Don’t confuse “people are busy” with “my conspiracy theory must be true.”
We were asked to rate the ad, not defend every decision by the Emanuel administration. I stupidly took the bait when a troll claimed “Rahm destroyed Chicago.”
And I could write 1000 words defending some of the decisions you’ve listed and none of it would convince you that Rahm isn’t a terrible mayor.
In any case, is there really a way to close schools that could be considered “done well”? That’s like saying there is a good way to take medicine. Even if the end result is positive, typically the stuff tastes horrible.
The Mayor is an adult. The decision needed to be made and he stood up and did it, knowing he would take heat.
Will the ad be received by fence sitters as
….not BS?
….sincerely expressing his true self?
IMO, that is all that matters.
I give the ad an “A.”
- Under Further Review - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 3:01 pm:
I have not met a DePaul alum or basketball season ticketholder who is enthralled by the new stadium proposal. Emanuel’s math on the attendance (i.e. spectators will pay the freight) for the basketball team is risible.
You and I should talk. I’m an alum of DePaul and I think the development is good for the city.
But moreover, you’ve made repeated references to the DePaul stadium.
Repeating “De Paul stadium” over and over doesn’t make it true. It just tells us that we should ignore your posts because they do not have a basis in reality.
It is a facility that will be used for De Paul basketball approximately 15 times a year. The remaining 350 days a year it will be available for other convention uses.
It is not a DePaul Stadium. It is part of an expanded convention center.
This has to be a great day for Karen Lewis and CPS. They get to watch a High Definition video of Rahm Emanuel groveling. He looks like a shell of his former self, and one look into those big brown eyes reveals all of the fear and panic that is running through the Emanuel campaign and administration right now.
Even when he’s talking tough in the second half of the ad, you can see that Chuy has taken all the life out of him. Rahm may not truly be humbled, but he is most certainly humiliated.
There’s a lot of noise out there about this ad, but Hizzoner responds to little pressure outside the pollster’s office. If his pollster told him to do it, he’d probaly dress up in a chicken costume and sing Yankee Doodle. A little cynical perhaps, but nothing will change. Until next election anyway
Funny, on the top of this thread there are remarks about how he looks stiff and not genuine. On the bottom, he looks like a sniveling shell of himself. We’ve come full circle.
He looks humbled; but not weak. He looks proud; but, corrected. The text goes right to the heart of the objections to him as a Mayor. He concedes he needs to listen more. If that makes him look weak, a lot of independent voters and luke warm supporters are going to go for the weak guy.
What he doesn’t look like is incompetent or over his head. He’s copping to sins of aggression. People actually like that. 150 responses here tells you; people are paying attention. That works for him too.
Brilliant ad.
- Ish don't think so... - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 4:13 pm:
a guy- This guy is 55 years old. Since coming on the scene with the Clinton’s in the 90’s he has been a smash mouth, in your face, confrontational, hard ball, tough guy. So, he gets whacked in the face in the election(apparently didn’t see it coming, as he didn’t act like it pre-election) then because he now faces a run off with the outcome not looking so good to him, the strategy becomes, Let’s put me in a sweater, talk in softer tones and try to appear contrite while saying in essence, “I now have seen the error of my ways”. Brilliant? Please…..
That’s an interesting theory Wordslinger, but how does the trilateral commission and Area 51 fit into it? And how does it relate to Benghazi and the Clinton e-mails?
If you really believe something,educate yourself and sell it
You like to play the victim here, but the truth is, you don’t bring anything to the party but shallow spin.
There are places for that. But here, your willful ignorance stands out and is embarrassing.====
I’m just going to call it a hunch that my experience with ads is somewhere north of yours. This ad is disruptive because you see something you don’t expect. It’s created a lot of conversation about Rahm, which really means no one is talking about the other guy. Count for yourself in a 160+ comments how many times the other guy’s name came up. This campaign understands this is a referendum on one guy, not a contest between 2. They’ve taken his well tested weak points and addressed them head on. And they’ve put real cash behind making sure people see it. It meets the objective.
My guess (since I don’t work in his campaign) is that a series of commercials were cut and tested very carefully. This one already scored well in that test, so they knew they had a strong ad. We may see another from that session in the coming days or weeks. They’ll poll this one first. They’ll get the poll results on the larger scale that they got in the focus group.
Still no one’s talking about the other guy.
They had a pretty good feeling going in that a 5 way race with all of the CTU crowd behind one guy could turn this into a run off. Even if they were disappointed, they weren’t shocked. He was well prepared from Election night on to what the posture strategy needed to be. He started the Humility posture that very night, and did so in a genuine way.
The ad was brilliantly done. Time will tell who’s right here Sling the Wizard.
As to not wanting to “be on my side”. You covered Dillard and made a conscious effort to vote early for Quinn and told the world here. They both lost.
Not so sure your side is where anyone wants to be in elective politics. For all the smugness you put on Rahm, I’m surprised you don’t like him. You’re just like him. Maybe I can produce and ad for you to change that.
- okgo - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 8:49 am:
politics stood in the way of full day kindergarten? I must have missed that bloodbath.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 8:53 am:
He looks like a shark trying to explain why he ate my mom.
- Biliary Sludge Report - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 8:53 am:
Quick! Boots and shovel.
- MrJM - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 8:54 am:
“Look, I’m not going to always get it right. But when it comes to fighting for Chicago and Chicago’s future, no one’s going to fight harder.” — Rahm Emanuel
“My problem was that I loved her too much.” — O.J. Simpson
– MrJM
- John A Logan - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 8:54 am:
It’s a good ad. I give it a B. Rahm comes across gentle and humble and I think it works.
- Namaste - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 8:55 am:
Wow, Rahm hat in hand.
- Biliary Sludge Report - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 8:55 am:
VM, chuckle worthy.
- Jimmy CrackCorn - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 8:55 am:
Very effective. There wouldn’t have been a run-off had they run this a for a month prior.
I don’t know which one of the DC Brainiacs he employs thought that if they just reminded voters that Red Line construction went smoothly, they would forget all about him closing their school. He allowed himself to become a parody of himself in the primary with the uninspired, impersonal garbage ads they dropped $10M on.
- I B Strapped - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 8:56 am:
Yeah right, Rahmbo Man….Very touching yet so sincere! (NOT)
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 8:56 am:
I think the Ad is a “B”
Why?
1) Mea Culpas after you “lose a round” seem less genuine. “Did he feel that way before, or not?”
And…
2) The last part, “But when it comes to fighting for Chicago and Chicago’s future, no one’s going to fight.”
Saying “Sorry, not sorry” kinda refutes his mea culpa.
I liked the Ad, I think it covers a “need”, and Rahm showing “some” contriction, even ending “sorry, not sorry” brings Rahm back to talking to the people, just this time he’s not yelling at them, angrily.
- Em - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 8:59 am:
I like this ad, and I like Rahm. I think that he does fight for Chicago, and although I may not agree with everything he has done, I think he has done a fine job. Especially considering the way things looked before he was Mayor…
- Keep it Simple - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:00 am:
O.J. Simpson? Really? Wow! Keep On Trolling.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:00 am:
He looks like a Pit Bull trying to explain why he killed the postman.
- PublicServant - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:00 am:
===Look, I’m not going to always get it right.===
Great! So get rid of the cameras then pal.
You don’t always get it right? Big revelation, Captain Obvious. No one does. Be specific. What did you get wrong?
- PublicServant - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:01 am:
Humble Pie? Should be Mumble Pie.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:04 am:
He looks like Marv Albert trying to tell us that she wanted to be bit.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:06 am:
He looks like Michael Jackson telling us he never had plastic surgery.
- Louis G Atsaves - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:06 am:
Clearly not humbled at all into being forced into a run off. Carefully measured words won’t solve his likability problems. Why is he now trying to out nice a nice guy opponent?
Rahm, if you want to be honest with the voters, then be yourself.
- Filmmaker Professor - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:07 am:
Nice sweater Rahm. Maybe you can borrow BFF Brucie’s Carhart for the next one. It worked wonders for him.
- PJ - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:07 am:
I’ve seen it a few times and come away with the impression that he’s basically saying, “I realize a lot of you think I’m a jerk, but imagine how much of a jerk I seem like to people who stand in the way of my getting what I want.”
I was also a little put off by the blatant brush off of business owners concerned about a pretty substantial increase in the minimum wage. I’d like to see a better standard of living as much as anyone else, but I also think businesses have a right to be worried.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:08 am:
His mouth is saying sorry, but his face is telling me that he’ll do it again.
- Just sayin .... - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:09 am:
I beleive Rahm comes across sincere and believable. He needed to own up to his faults. Chicagoans want one of their own in which is what this ad tries to achieve for Rahm. It was deperately needed.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:09 am:
He looks like Drew Peterson telling us he sometimes argues with his wives.
- A guy - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:11 am:
I saw it last night. Was able to watch it twice here. Forgetting about all the blather about genuineness, etc., from an ad perspective….It’s a great ad. A super strong pass. There are 6%+ in play that he needs to win over. This goes far and beyond where he needs to go to demonstrate humility.
This is what a good number of people wanted to see; an acknowledgement that he hears them. Despite a not so masterful approach before the primary vote, someone got his ear that night, and from his speech that evening to date, the strategy has been excellent.
People wanted to teach Rahm a lesson (at least a convincing % did. He’s very publicly stating he’s learned the lesson. It’s not just enough. It’s more than enough.
Genuine? You decide. Effective? Absolutely.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:14 am:
He needs to be wearing a bow tie, and be seen sitting while reading to a group of pre-school children. A dozen giggly children wearing bright colors.
Better yet, just show the school children playing and looking up at the camera, with the Mayor doing a voice over about how much he loves Chicago.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:20 am:
He is explaining that the dead fish was sent to the wrong address.
- Responsa - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:21 am:
Totally agree with Jimmy CrackCorn. Rahm’s campaign should have aired this or a similar commercial for a month before the last election. Better late than never, though. I give it a B+.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:21 am:
The ad is a complete fail.
No one had the nerve to tell this guy that he doesn’t look sincere in what he is saying, even if he was trying to be sincere.
How hard is it to be honest to Mayor Emanuel?
The only thing going for him right now are his financial connections to Chicago’s power players. Voters know he is their candidate and respect that. But they don’t like him. If Garcia can show that he can carry enough heft to do business with Rahm’s base of support - Emanuel is finished.
Emanuel needs to show a completely different personality and broadcast that until April.
This isn’t it.
- walker - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:23 am:
Pretty complex message: Here’s my perceived defect, but remember it’s really a strength.
It’s a B-, though, because it will ring true for those who listen.
Better to stand up and really own it physically.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:24 am:
===Forgetting about all the blather about genuineness, etc., from an ad perspective….It’s a great ad. A super strong pass. There are 6%+ in play that he needs to win over.===
lol, other than coming across honest, or genuine, which is the goal, it’s a pass?
So from an Ad perspective, the focus being speaking honestly and humbly, from the Ad perspective it’s a pass? What’s a pass, the sweater?
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:26 am:
How many times do you think Uncle Humbly had to drain that rocks glass to choke down the script?
At least he put it on the paper so as not to make rings. Such a considerate little fella.
Slapped together pretty quickly. Dude, if your’re going to prop with the sweater, get that fireplace going and sit in front of it. Hire a dog that won’t growl at you and put it in the shot.
It’s fine. But c’mon — he’s relished and promoted his political hit man image for years. Who hasn’t made up their mind about this guy by now?
- Under Further Review - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:26 am:
Chuck Percy did it better in 1978 by sounding more contrite and apologetic. Of course, it was his last electoral victory as Paul Simon beat him the next time out.
I give Emanuel a C+.
- Carhartt Representative - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:28 am:
This might have worked in 2011. The problem is he’s a known commodity. He’s clearly trying to be genuine and sincere, but it seems as authentic as a Dartmouth grad dropping his “g” sounds at the end of words to come off as folksy.
- Whatever - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:28 am:
This ad reminds me of Carol Moseley Braun’s 1998 “I’m Sorry” ad. Insincere, pandering, and ultimately unpersuasive. This ad may be more effective, but the real question is: if Rahm is reelected, will be really learn from his mistakes and behave in a more humble manner, or will he simply revert back to being the obnoxious arrogant jerk he’s always been?
- Snucka - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:29 am:
This ad is funny. He looks like a little lamb. Or at least like a 5 year old who has been a bad little boy. I’m sure that filming this ad made him sick to his stomach.
A far cry from “F— you, Lewis”.
- Truthteller - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:30 am:
We know he fights hard. But for whom and for what is he fighting? The 1%er’s.
That’s his problem he is of, by and for the 1%, and the city is in a fiscal mess after 4 years of his reign. What is he going to do different to help the 99% and to fix the budget?
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:33 am:
VMan, take your meds and lie down for a while. I think you’re hallucinating.
This is a very good ad that humanizes Rahm and tears apart the cartoon character his opponents tried to make of him. It is the first post-election ad and sets the right tone for the run-off. This is designed to win him new votes. The next ads will focus on showing voters what a Garcia administration would mean for Chicago.
Game on and this is a good start.
- A guy - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:36 am:
Bill Clinton was really, really sorry.
He was forgiven and became more popular after breaking 9 of the 10 Commandments than before.
People wanted to see Rahm repent. He did. That wave you hear are undecideds coming his way and protesting Non-voters feeling satisfied they got their point across. Don’t forget All day kindergarten is also a child care program. And minimum wage goes right to the heart of the voters he’s wooing.
Ads have objectives. This one meets the objective.
- Under Further Review - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:39 am:
“Humanizing Rahm” sounds like a impossible act.
- ZC - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:40 am:
I agree with A guy, I think it’s a not-great-but-good ad, but VMan’s posts are hysterical, please, keep them coming.
- A guy - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:42 am:
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:33 am:
This is a very good ad that humanizes Rahm and tears apart the cartoon character his opponents tried to make of him. It is the first post-election ad and sets the right tone for the run-off. This is designed to win him new votes. The next ads will focus on showing voters what a Garcia administration would mean for Chicago.
Game on and this is a good start.===
47. You’re correct. One slight disagreement. You’ll see one more “softy” before banging on Chuy. He needs to cement that “I hear you” image.
Even the Chuy bangers will be softer. “He’s a good man, a nice man….but he’s not ready to take on one of the most challenging executive jobs in America. His relationship with the CTU will compromise his ability to do what’s right for all Chicagoans. We’ve got some tough decisions in the near future. I’ll work with Chuy on solutions, but he’s just not ready for the challenges of Chicago”.
Rahm will then follow suit with the same themes in the debates. He’s very savvy. His message will be consistent, and humble pie will work for him.
- Stones - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:42 am:
Caught it this morning on TV. I thought it was good and well produced. I’ll give it an A-
- Boring - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:43 am:
Nothing unique or special about his comments. I could hear the same words from his opponent (”No one is going to fight harder”).
- A guy - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:43 am:
=== Under Further Review - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:39 am:
“Humanizing Rahm” sounds like a impossible act.===
This ad proves it isn’t. It’s close to brilliant.
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:52 am:
– It’s close to brilliant–
You’re close to another man-crush.
- Ethan Hawk - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:53 am:
It was a smart move on Rahm’s part. I am not so sure that his ad will actually change any minds about his personality (or his accomplishments) but in a very close election race it might just cause a couple of people to get off of the fence and give him the benefit of their doubt. It isn’t like having to watch his campaign expense is an issue for him.
- Teve Demotte - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:55 am:
Fantastic ad
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:58 am:
The bottom line on impact and effectiveness in this Ad, as with any Ad specifically addressing a candidate and who they are;
Is there believability?
Ignoring the believability factor(s)? Then just have Rahm say anything under the sun, because believing him doesn’t matter.
How true does it ring to old voters, new voters, undecided voters… how about just people… does it have a ring a truth? That is the challenge.
I gave it a “B”, and how honest and truthfull mattered to me, at least.
- Big Joe - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:01 am:
After the primary, Rahm knows what he has to do to woo more voters…. appear to be human and care about the 99% of the citizens he really ignores. As an ad, I rate it a B+, but it’s effect should not convince the citizens of Chicago that he has changed after the last election. As the incumbant, he has a record of showing just what kind of person he really is. People will not forget that. He is the person that dropped the F-bomb on Karen Lewis. A power-hungry spoiled little brat that is used to getting everything that he wants in life. He can’t change that in such a short time, even if he wanted to.
- Chicago taxpayer - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:03 am:
Professional snark addicts aside, I think most voters will appreciate that he “heard” them in the first round–that he got the message from those voters that were sending him a message about his style and approach rather than actually wishing that one of these other guys was mayor.
- In Rahm we trust - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:06 am:
What, no WJK hahahahah! Go Rahm!
- Interested - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:07 am:
Full day kindergarten is a perfect example of what is wrong here. The Mayor, with no impact information, announces full day kindergarten - without any additional funding - and we now have kindergarten classrooms with 30 plus children and one teacher. Anyone who can, is looking outside of the city for a better way…
- Amalia - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:08 am:
Rahm is closer to winning than Chuy. this ad probably helps him with that squishy group of moms who just want everyone to be nice so now they see him being nice. all the rahm voters from the first try are sticking with him. this ad is to add to the first bunch. the big question is, which guy can do a better job with the job. Chuy is pretty much a blank slate to voters, and probably pretty much that in real life. there will be other ads to define that blank slate.
- Joe da man - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:12 am:
Rahm couldn’t buy the runoff no matter how much he spent. Rahm is toast as long as chuy gets his message out. Rahm has destroyed this city. Daley, the guy who endorsed him destroyed it too. Time to clean house. Good thing chuy got big $$$$$ from the unions. Otherwise no way to compete with the limits in place.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:12 am:
“Hey, I get it wrong a lot. You know, maybe I always get it wrong. I don’t know. What do you think? Hey, I’m trying to be sincere here, even if it comes across like I’m reading it off cue cards. Okay, so I could take acting lessons from a WWE wrestler on showing emotion. But gosh, I’m trying. No, I have to be sincere. I’m not really trying. But by golly, I’ll fight harder for you. Really. ‘Cause that’s the kind of guy I’d like to be.”
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:16 am:
===Rahm has destroyed this city===
What on earth are you talking about? I have a decent view of the city from my window here, and I don’t see any smoldering ruins.
Get a grip. Over the top hyperbole doesn’t add to the conversation.
- Aaron - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:17 am:
It is the non-apology apology. Like saying “I’m sorry that your feelings got hurt.” That just means you are not sorry about the thing you did to hurt the other person’s feelings. That’s Rahm in this ad.
Sorry that you didn’t like me closing 50 schools, six mental health clinics, the red light cameras, attacking pensions while siphoning TIF money for corporate giveaways. Vote for me cause I’ll keep doing it!
- Responsa - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:18 am:
Nobody’s going to believe that Rahm’s personality is actually gonna change. But he can –and has to– convince some voters that his approach can and will change, which is why I like this ad and think it’ll be effective. This election isn’t about the mayor being “nicer”. It’s ultimately about which candidate can best govern complex Chicago. Chicago- which is not only a great city but is also the economic and cultural anchor of the region, and that means its governance affects a whole lot more than the residents who live within the city limits.
- Under Further Review - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:22 am:
@47th Ward:
Take a full distance ride on the Green Line someday from Englewood to Oak Park. There’s a whole other side of Chicago that you seem unacquainted with.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:25 am:
===other side of Chicago that you seem unacquainted with.===
UFR, the west side of Chicago has been in trouble since the riots of 1968. Rahm was maybe in first grade back then. Tell me again how Rahm has destroyed Chicago in four short years? Please be specific.
- Gooner - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:27 am:
Nice ad. It turns “he’s a rude little man” into “he’s a fighter for us.”
That’s a nice pivot and I think it is going to stick.
A lot of the Rahm-haters are going to continue with the attacks on his manners but this really turns those attacks around.
I thought it was very effective.
The downside is that the sweater looks weird. Rahm comes off as a guy who puts on a suit before he comes down to have his coffee. “By being a jerk I’m fighting for you” is credible. The sweater thing just isn’t.
- Under Further Review - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:29 am:
My point was that there are portions of the city that are in ruins that you cannot see from your window. The fact that the 47th Ward has gentrified does not mean that all of Chicago is a city in a garden.
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:33 am:
UFR, I’m not fan of Emanuel by a long shot, but is it your contention that the poor neighborhoods on the West and Soutn Sides you see on the Green line popped up in the last four years?
You can’t possibly believe that.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:33 am:
He looks like Mike Tyson trying to explain what happened to Holyfield’s ear.
- Gooner - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:38 am:
UFR,
Chicago is not perfect. Good catch!
For you, that means we need change.
The rest of us are going to take a look at where we were four years ago and determine if things are getting better or worse, and whether Rahm or Chuy has better ideas as to how to improve things.
For us, the existence of some challenging areas is unfortunate but not shocking.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:39 am:
He looks like Alferd Packer telling us his stew meat wasn’t Frank Miller.
- Under Further Review - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:40 am:
The blighted neighborhoods have been in dire straits for forty or fifty years, but that does not change the fact that Rahm Emanuel has spent more time fundraising out of town then addressing concerns in Chicago. It is no accident that his support in the black community plummeted since 2011. Even Obama could not seal the deal for him.
Truth be told, the first ads trying to “humanize” Rahm were radio spots cut by the President who described him as “hard headed.”
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:40 am:
He looks like a tub of Parkay telling us he is butter.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:40 am:
===does not mean that all of Chicago is a city in a garden.===
No kidding. I was responding to a commenter who laid all of the blame at Rahm’s feet, which is preposterous. I’m glad you agree that Rahm hasn’t destroyed Chicago.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:42 am:
He looks like Godzilla telling us he has a man crush on Raymond Burr.
- Gooner - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:42 am:
Really UFR?
The Mayor has spent more time out of town than in?
Wow! Now that is shocking, and I thank you for bringing that to our attention.
Now, in case my pro-Rahm friends ask, could you let me know how much time he’s spent out of town, and how much in? They probably won’t believe me unless I give them numbers.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:43 am:
===the fact that Rahm Emanuel has spent more time fundraising out of town then addressing concerns in Chicago===
Again, please try to avoid the over-the-top rhetoric. It doesn’t advance the ball. If you’ve analyzed his schedule, feel free to share your data, but stop making up goofy criticisms that simply aren’t true.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:45 am:
He looks like Paul Powell explaining his stash of 200 Buster Brown shoe boxes.
- A guy - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:48 am:
=== Wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 9:52 am:
– It’s close to brilliant–
You’re close to another man-crush.====
No. Call it an Ad-crush.
- Loop Lady - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:49 am:
I give it a B+…Rahm has discovered that he needs to act contrite….I just don’t feel that Chuy is the right man for the job right now, I’d feel better if Rahm was negotiating with the powers that be in Springfield to finally solve the pension crisis that is dragging our state and the city of Chicago into the abyss…
- Snucka - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:52 am:
This ad would make Frank Underwood proud. “You’ve gotta be a little human when you’re Mayor”.
I’m not sure what is so brilliant about the ad. Why would 15 seconds of humility counterbalance the public’s opinion of a man who has been in the public eye for decades?
- A guy - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:56 am:
UFR, I know the city pretty well and have traveled it pretty extensively, regularly. There are some areas of neglect that haven’t come back. There are also no more Robert Taylor Homes (southside), No more Cabrini Green (northside) and a ton of development well beyond the old Chicago Stadium (westside). To make the statements you’re making is just not seeing things. It’s not a smoldering mess. There has been gentrification on all sides of the city and people living where no one would have considered living only a decade ago. Your comments are over the top friend.
- A guy - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:57 am:
=== Why would 15 seconds of humility counterbalance the public’s opinion of a man who has been in the public eye for decades? ===
And yet it does, Snuck.
- Chris - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 10:58 am:
“Hey Rahm. I think it is time to go. … We (Chicago) need better.”
I don’t disagree with this at all–but can ANYONE explain to me how/why Chuy would be ‘better’? Not ‘nicer’. Better.
- Snucka - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:00 am:
=And yet it does, Snuck.=
Doubtful.
- Rahm voter - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:00 am:
I have always really liked Rahm. I think this ad is good, but it definitely feels scripted. He doesn’t sound as sincere as he could.
I just don’t get all the Rahm hate though. What is it specifically that people hate so much about him? I understand the school closings is a big thing, but what else has he done that people are so upset about?
- Chris - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:01 am:
47: “stop making up goofy criticisms that simply aren’t true”
Can you call Kass and tell him the same?
Oh, right, that would mean he couldn’t write *anything*.
- Chris - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:06 am:
joe: “as long as chuy gets his message out”
What’s his message? I’ve heard two things:
1. I ain’t Rahm.
2. I want an elected school board *after* I ‘fix’ a bunch of CPS stuff.
There’s more to it? Please to explain.
- I B Strapped - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:06 am:
If it’s OK with you Rahm, I’m filing your mea culpa in my Bill Clinton “How do I Fool ‘em today” binder.
This is way too much fun Rich….
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:07 am:
The Ad doesn’t need to convince every single voter.
All the Ad needs to do is help Rahm get one more vote than Chuy, and increase his percentage from 45% of ballots cast to 50% plus 1, in a one on one race.
It has the makings to do that, if thise voters believe what he’s saying, not the staging of what might seem ok in the optics of a sweater and a half-full glass of water.
- Gooner - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:10 am:
Rahm voter, I’ve wondered the same thing too.
There is a lot of anger aimed at a person who in terms of aggressive is not significantly different from Daley. Daley had bad numbers at the end, but not for that reason.
I hate to bring religion into it, but the level of anger by some may have something to do with his religion. Irish Catholics are allowed to act certain ways in the eyes of voters, but if somebody who is Jewish acts that way, voters do not accept it.
We like to think that voters are above that sort of thing, but I’m just not convinced that they are.
As much as we may deny it, we still live in city where many people have racial, ethnic, and religious bias.
- Waldi - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:16 am:
I thought the add was good. I liked RE when he was first elected, but my opinion has since changed. I think he usually comes off as a big bully. This add seems to soften his image. That said, I still hope he loses because I don’t want to see a crony of Bruce’s running Chicago. But then it really doesn’t matter what I think because I don’t live in Chicago.
- In Rahm we trust - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:22 am:
It looks like “William j Kelly” finally got the hint! Or banned! Hahahahah!
- From the 'Dale to HP - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:25 am:
This ad strikes me as someone who desperate rather than someone who is reformed. It’s more ‘Strikes me as too little too late’ that might trigger a bunch of ‘fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice…’ reactions.
Why would anyone believe that now, all of a sudden, Rahm’s going to listen to anyone about anything? “Oh now I understand how democracy works! You guys can vote me out of office because I didn’t listen or work with the community! Now I get it! Give me four more years and this time, trust me, I’m going to listen and work with everyone in Chicago, not just the North Shore! Trust me! This time is different!” Not buying it.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:27 am:
I hate to bring religion into it, but the level of anger by some may have something to do with his religion. Irish Catholics are allowed to act certain ways in the eyes of voters, but if somebody who is Jewish acts that way, voters do not accept it.
You hate bringing religion into it? I hate seeing you do it even more. You are claiming a possibility that Irish Catholic Chicagoans are treating the mayor they helped elect, badly because they can’t get around the fact that he isn’t Irish Catholic.
Rahm is no victim. See ad above.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:32 am:
The Ad doesn’t need to convince every single voter.
That should have been its goal, because if it tried to reach that goal, it might have convinced enough voters.
It doesn’t.
Besides, you gave the ad, what grade? An ad you gave a “B” to, shouldn’t need any follow ups about how it doesn’t have to convince everyone.
- Carhartt Representative - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:33 am:
I wish I had more time to answer the–why don’t people love Rahm line, but I’m self-employed and my boss is a tyrant. I’ll give it my best shot:
1. My dad was a public school principal and my sister is a teacher. He immediately hit the ground with “the teachers got a raise and the students got the shaft.” He then proceeded to force a showdown with the teachers causing the first strike since 1987. This was followed by per pupil budgeting that literally forced my sister to start buying toilet paper for her students with her own money. She already works twice as long as I do for 1/2 as much money and now she has to buy toilet paper too. Meanwhile, the charter schools now get more money per pupil than the public schools despite being able to fund raise.
2. His priorities for this city are messed up. Is it all his fault? No. However, he keeps giving ridiculous sweetheart deals to his campaign bidders and he has used TIF funds as a slush fund. Meanwhile, he pays for services on the back of working people by raising fees, installing red light cameras (mostly in working class neighborhoods), and doubling water bills in mostly non-metered Chicago. That’s about the most regressive way to do this.
3. The G8, Nato, the NFL Draft, The Lucas Museuam–all atempts to improve his national rep while ignoring the neighborhoods.
4. Crushing decent wherever possible. Whether it’s Board of Ed meetings or City Council. He’s going to crush any opposition no matter how token.
5. The school closings say a lot, but the way it was done says even more. The fact that Jesse Ruiz says that 30 high schools are coming next is even scarier. They still can’t find 434 students from the schools they closed.
6. He has bent over backwards to help his banker and financier friends from locking in the parking meter deal, to not renegotiating the interest rate-swaps, to funding his pre-k with a scheme and a big bankster pay off.
- From the 'Dale to HP - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:35 am:
@gooner, this has nothing to do with religion and have yet to hear anyone say anything about it.
If anything, it’s race, and that’s where Chuy is hurt. From yesterday: “(Also said at the Headline Club panel: Emanuel is presented in the media as “smart,” Chuy Garcia as “nice.”)” http://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/March-2015/Where-Is-the-Gravitas-In-the-Mayoral-Race/
- Carhartt Representative - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:36 am:
=I hate to bring religion into it, but the level of anger by some may have something to do with his religion. Irish Catholics are allowed to act certain ways in the eyes of voters, but if somebody who is Jewish acts that way, voters do not accept it.=
So, he should do poorly in the 19th ward then? I don’t care about his nationality or how nice his sweater is. Really.
- PolPal56 - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:36 am:
Vman, the Parkay/butter made me LOL. Best one so far, because this is exactly what Rahm will do - claim butter until April 8, then say “Parkay!” in that smarmy, gotcha voice.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:36 am:
===Besides, you gave the ad, what grade? An ad you gave a “B” to, shouldn’t need any follow ups about how it doesn’t have to convince everyone.===
Just continuing in the discussion, thanks…
- Gooner - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:42 am:
Carhartt Rep..
If you blame Rahm for closing schools, could you point out where you would find the revenue to keep them open?
The public wanted 1) a big contract for teachers; 2) No increases to taxes; and 3) all the schools open.
Rahm delivered two out of three. If somebody has a plan that would deliver three out of three, they should share the details.
- From the 'Dale to HP - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:45 am:
@Gooner, closing schools cost CPS tens of millions and will continue to do so. CPS won’t save a dime for a good decade, if not more.
- Cold - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:46 am:
The flaw here is that the voters were fully aware that Rahm was an a-hole jerk the first time they voted for him. His problem is that he hasn’t done the job. A six week makeover isn’t gonna help.
- Gooner - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:47 am:
Vanilla, you seem to spend more time posting than reading. You may want to slow down and focus.
I didn’t accuse just Irish Catholics of hating issues with the Mayor based on race, nor could I, being Irish Catholic myself. Clearly, not all Irish Catholics feel that way. Again, try reading lad.
Instead, I think it is city-wide issue where we Irish are allowed to behave in a certain manner while others are not.
It is similar with the way voters often treat women. Voters consider many women to be “pushy” while claiming that substantially similar traits in men show “leadership.”
Sorry for bringing reality into this, but somebody had to.
- Century Club - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:49 am:
This ad is terrible on it’s own, but it’s just the set up so the white middle class voters are ready to come back to him when he starts tearing down Chuy.
- A guy - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 12:15 pm:
=== Century Club - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:49 am:
This ad is terrible on it’s own, but it’s just the set up so the white middle class voters are ready to come back to him when he starts tearing down Chuy.===
Great analysis. OY. You don’t seem to understand which voters he needs to woo back. Big hint: They aren’t White or Latino.
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 12:18 pm:
–I hate to bring religion into it..–
Not so you’d notice.
- crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 12:22 pm:
Can’t believe he’s actually bragging about his ill-fated jump on the mass incarceration gravy train (the Bloomberg mandatory minimum gun ploy that coalesced the Black Caucus against him).
Talk about trying to turn your most glaring negative into a positive.
- ChicagoDem - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 12:33 pm:
“When politics stood in the way of a full day kindergarten or tougher gun laws, I charged ahead.”
In other words…I am sticking to my talking points (that’s my old self). However, believe me, I am new man. I will listen before I act. And “I am not a witch.”
- crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 12:38 pm:
Oops - I didn’t mean to imply that was his first or last jump on the incarceration gravy train.
- Carhartt Representative - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 12:43 pm:
=If somebody has a plan that would deliver three out of three, they should share the details.=
The teachers pay raise was pretty small compared to what the mediators thought they should get for having their workday increased by 45 minutes and their number of workdays increased by almost 10 percent. However, here goes:
1. Don’t give the $20,000,000 no bid principal training contract to Barbara Byrd’s company. Most CPS principals say it’s worthless.
2. Don’t give $55,000,000 to DePaul
3. Don’t give UNO $67,000,000 a year to run it’s schools in such a way as to enrich it’s board members, family members, and especially Juan Rangel.
4. Don’t close the schools. The costs are huge. Whether there will be long term savings, we’re still in the red for the closing actions and paying to heat and safeguard these huge abandoned buildings.
No tax increased and I just saved $122,000,000. I believe that’s an 8% raise for teachers. I’m sure I could come up with more if I thought about it more than 5 minutes.
- Chris - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 12:44 pm:
“doubling water bills in mostly non-metered Chicago”
Um, they’ll install a meter *for free*. My bill is *still* over 60% less than it was when unmetered before Rahm was elected.
Anyone not getting a meter is either wasting tons of water or ignorant of the reality of the costs. God love em for keeping my water bill lower.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 12:46 pm:
===No tax increased and I just saved $122,000,000===
Please. You shut down UNO schools for over half your “savings.” You still gotta educate those kids.
- Chris - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 12:50 pm:
“No tax increased and I just saved $122,000,000″
Only ~50% of the DePaul money would go to CPS. Chuy’s counting on that money to pay for the Fire/Police pension balloon, and the 1,000 extra police. It’s pretty darn over-committed, already.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 12:51 pm:
===No tax increased and I just saved $122,000,000. I believe that’s an 8% raise for teachers. I’m sure I could come up with more if I thought about it more than 5 minutes.===
So I suppose teachers could get an 8% raise, but then what are you going to do about the looming $600 million pension payment CPS owes this year?
DePaul isn’t getting $55 million. So now you’re down to $87 million. You only have to find $513 million more before you can give out your raise.
The CPS math is pretty straight forward, and it’s an ugly picture. Taxpayers in Chicago want to be able to use the schools before they’ll pay more for them. CTU is saying the schools won’t get better unless we pay more.
I think Rahm’s on the right side of this politically and CTU is in a corner with no where to go.
- Gooner - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 12:53 pm:
Carhartt, thanks for posting!
I had no idea that the Mayor gave $55 million to DePaul. If true, that’s outrageous!
Carhartt, is that true?
- Biker - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 12:54 pm:
This is sort of like Jay Cutler saying people don’t like him because of his personality rather than his body of work.
- Chris - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 12:58 pm:
“You shut down UNO schools for over half your “savings.””
And the $67m seems to be whole cloth, too. What I see has UNO getting around $50m/year total from Federal, State and CPS sources–which is a heckuva lot, but ain’t nearly the same as $67m all from CPS.
Look, I have NO love for UNO, but the most scandalous part of their funding was the $98m from the State. In 2009. When Rahm was in the White House.
- PublicServant - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 1:00 pm:
I don’t like Rahm, but frankly Chuy needs to start being more specific. I won’t vote anyone but Rahm frankly no matter how much I dislike him. We just saw what “Anyone but” brought us as governor.
- Under Further Review - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 1:01 pm:
This is a political discussion board where the topic relates to a mayoral campaign and rhetoric is to be avoided? Over the top rhetoric is in the eye of the beholder.
Many of the middle class Chicago wards are struggling. The fact that downtown looks great it is cold comfort to people in Albany Park, Northtown, Belmont-Cragin and elsewhere.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 1:06 pm:
===Over the top rhetoric is in the eye of the beholder.===
So are facts apparently.
- crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 1:13 pm:
The Mayor’s shell game: the DePaul TIF money was shifted to Mariott and McPier is co-funding the DePaul arena.
Closing schools was done very, very badly and we will never know what was “needed” and where. I can’t believe even the Emanuel apologists actually dispute this. Which is why the goalposts of the argument were re-set to “close no schools.”
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 1:15 pm:
===McPier is co-funding the DePaul arena.===
It’s more accurate to say DePaul is co-funding McCormick Place’s Convocation Center.
- Gooner - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 1:15 pm:
The “DePaul Arena”?
Really?
How many times a year will it be used for DePaul?
How many times a year will it be available for conventions, which, as you may be aware, bring revenue into the City?
- ChicagoDem - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 1:18 pm:
RE told NBC reporter last week: “I don’t think you should be not who you are.”
- Under Further Review - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 1:20 pm:
Politico has posted a story that suggests Rahm could actually lose the run-off. Of course, that must be make belief too. Besides it is posted on Drudge, so that means it is fake.
- Gooner - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 1:31 pm:
UFR,
Of course Rahm could lose.
And of course the City is not perfect.
You sure seem to be up against a lot of strawmen today.
- Chris - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 1:50 pm:
“Closing schools was done very, very badly”
You’d have preferred it to be an every year threat? Because that was the alternative.
- the Other Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 2:10 pm:
If you lean towards Rahm, this ad is an “A.”
If you voted against Rahm, it’s a B-.
If you’re a teacher or city employee worried about pensions, it’s a C at best.
Underlying the whole ad is the idea that the only reason Rahm is in a runoff is because he’s perceived as mean. But IMO the personality issue is a surrogate for something else, namely that a lot of people feel left out of the loop (pun intended) in a Rahm administration.
This ad doesn’t reassure them that anything will be different. As a bunch of people have noted, it’s like saying “I’m sorry your delicate feelings got hurt” rather than “I’m sorry I hurt your feelings.”
Supporters of Rahm truly think that the issue is that some people feel hurt, but should not feel that way. Which is why supporters will really dig this ad. Those who voted against Rahm want to see that a real apology and a real promise to change. This ain’t it, so the ad doesn’t help.
Undecideds need more.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 2:12 pm:
I think it’s a danger in politics to show or admit weakness. This ad does both. I just don’t see it moving the needle among anybody except those who already kinda support the mayor but need some reassuring before they vote for him again.
- Under Further Review - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 2:21 pm:
Agree with Rich Miller. The advertisement is an admission that the Emanuel campaign is in trouble.
There is sufficient time to patch things up, but it does look as if the original messaging of the 2015 campaign was off the mark. The bigger question is whether or not the public believes the apology. The wild card is that the run-off is likely to produce a larger voter turnout than in February.
- crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 2:27 pm:
It’s always so instructive to see what MRE supporters *don’t* take issue with when you disagree with them.
For those scoring at home:
- no complaints over TIF shifting from DePaul to Mariott.
- no argument that closing schools was done well
- no protest over McPier/DePaul joint venture
- certainly no protest that public input was carefully solicited or that public gain was responsibly assessed before Action Mayor gave away the public’s goods. Again. And again.
- Gooner - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 2:39 pm:
Crazy, sorry for not spending four hours here debunking each and every one of your little theories. Some of us work. Don’t confuse “people are busy” with “my conspiracy theory must be true.”
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 2:42 pm:
Crazy,
We were asked to rate the ad, not defend every decision by the Emanuel administration. I stupidly took the bait when a troll claimed “Rahm destroyed Chicago.”
And I could write 1000 words defending some of the decisions you’ve listed and none of it would convince you that Rahm isn’t a terrible mayor.
- Gooner - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 2:43 pm:
In any case, is there really a way to close schools that could be considered “done well”? That’s like saying there is a good way to take medicine. Even if the end result is positive, typically the stuff tastes horrible.
The Mayor is an adult. The decision needed to be made and he stood up and did it, knowing he would take heat.
That’s leadership.
- zonz - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 3:01 pm:
Will the ad be received by fence sitters as
….not BS?
….sincerely expressing his true self?
IMO, that is all that matters.
I give the ad an “A.”
- Under Further Review - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 3:01 pm:
I have not met a DePaul alum or basketball season ticketholder who is enthralled by the new stadium proposal. Emanuel’s math on the attendance (i.e. spectators will pay the freight) for the basketball team is risible.
- Gooner - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 3:09 pm:
UFR,
You and I should talk. I’m an alum of DePaul and I think the development is good for the city.
But moreover, you’ve made repeated references to the DePaul stadium.
Repeating “De Paul stadium” over and over doesn’t make it true. It just tells us that we should ignore your posts because they do not have a basis in reality.
It is a facility that will be used for De Paul basketball approximately 15 times a year. The remaining 350 days a year it will be available for other convention uses.
It is not a DePaul Stadium. It is part of an expanded convention center.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 3:13 pm:
He looks like Uncle Fester telling us that he watches every episode of Barney.
- Snucka - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 3:15 pm:
This has to be a great day for Karen Lewis and CPS. They get to watch a High Definition video of Rahm Emanuel groveling. He looks like a shell of his former self, and one look into those big brown eyes reveals all of the fear and panic that is running through the Emanuel campaign and administration right now.
Even when he’s talking tough in the second half of the ad, you can see that Chuy has taken all the life out of him. Rahm may not truly be humbled, but he is most certainly humiliated.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 3:15 pm:
He looks like Walter White telling us he got millions owning a car wash.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 3:18 pm:
He looks like VanillaMan goofing-off at his state job.
- Madison - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 3:25 pm:
There’s a lot of noise out there about this ad, but Hizzoner responds to little pressure outside the pollster’s office. If his pollster told him to do it, he’d probaly dress up in a chicken costume and sing Yankee Doodle. A little cynical perhaps, but nothing will change. Until next election anyway
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 3:51 pm:
I wasn’t at work today.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 3:53 pm:
It’s like watching the Grinch tell Cindy Lou Who that he’s taking her tree to fix one side of a light bulb.
- A guy - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 4:09 pm:
Funny, on the top of this thread there are remarks about how he looks stiff and not genuine. On the bottom, he looks like a sniveling shell of himself. We’ve come full circle.
He looks humbled; but not weak. He looks proud; but, corrected. The text goes right to the heart of the objections to him as a Mayor. He concedes he needs to listen more. If that makes him look weak, a lot of independent voters and luke warm supporters are going to go for the weak guy.
What he doesn’t look like is incompetent or over his head. He’s copping to sins of aggression. People actually like that. 150 responses here tells you; people are paying attention. That works for him too.
Brilliant ad.
- Ish don't think so... - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 4:13 pm:
Hot Gah-bage.
- anon - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 4:56 pm:
Not everyone loved it: http://inthesetimes.com/article/17708/rahm-emanuels-new-campaign-ad-shows-a-mayor-whos-terrified-hes-about-to-los
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 5:07 pm:
===Brilliant ad.===
An actor taking a role “against type” and wins an Oscar, that’s “brilliant”
A pol running an Ad “against type” to stave off defeat, that’s above average surviving.
- I B Strapped - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 5:53 pm:
a guy- This guy is 55 years old. Since coming on the scene with the Clinton’s in the 90’s he has been a smash mouth, in your face, confrontational, hard ball, tough guy. So, he gets whacked in the face in the election(apparently didn’t see it coming, as he didn’t act like it pre-election) then because he now faces a run off with the outcome not looking so good to him, the strategy becomes, Let’s put me in a sweater, talk in softer tones and try to appear contrite while saying in essence, “I now have seen the error of my ways”. Brilliant? Please…..
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 6:43 pm:
Guy, geez, you’re really bad at this. I wouldn’t want you on my side.
If iyou’re going to do it, put in an effort,
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 6:51 pm:
Guy, to further help you:
If you really believe something,educate yourself and sell it
You like to play the victim here, but the truth is, you don’t bring anything to the party but shallow spin.
There are places for that. But here, your willful ignorance stands out and is embarrassing.
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 7:15 pm:
47, love you, brother, but that DePaul arena is a dog.
Nasty finance medicine there.
The casino, I get it
But why the knee-jerk lying about it from
Emanuel?
The play is I have no respect for you and you’re stupid.
Why? Everyone know’s its about a casino and a new Mac Place, hotel, plus the real estate options on Motor
Row.
That’s where the money is going.
Who’s he trying to kid?
- Gooner - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 7:40 pm:
That’s an interesting theory Wordslinger, but how does the trilateral commission and Area 51 fit into it? And how does it relate to Benghazi and the Clinton e-mails?
- Anon - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 7:43 pm:
It’s like watching the Grinch tell Cindy Lou Who that he’s taking her tree to fix one side of a light bulb.
Vanilla Man for the win!
- A guy - Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 8:30 am:
===Wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 6:51 pm:
Guy, to further help you:
If you really believe something,educate yourself and sell it
You like to play the victim here, but the truth is, you don’t bring anything to the party but shallow spin.
There are places for that. But here, your willful ignorance stands out and is embarrassing.====
I’m just going to call it a hunch that my experience with ads is somewhere north of yours. This ad is disruptive because you see something you don’t expect. It’s created a lot of conversation about Rahm, which really means no one is talking about the other guy. Count for yourself in a 160+ comments how many times the other guy’s name came up. This campaign understands this is a referendum on one guy, not a contest between 2. They’ve taken his well tested weak points and addressed them head on. And they’ve put real cash behind making sure people see it. It meets the objective.
My guess (since I don’t work in his campaign) is that a series of commercials were cut and tested very carefully. This one already scored well in that test, so they knew they had a strong ad. We may see another from that session in the coming days or weeks. They’ll poll this one first. They’ll get the poll results on the larger scale that they got in the focus group.
Still no one’s talking about the other guy.
They had a pretty good feeling going in that a 5 way race with all of the CTU crowd behind one guy could turn this into a run off. Even if they were disappointed, they weren’t shocked. He was well prepared from Election night on to what the posture strategy needed to be. He started the Humility posture that very night, and did so in a genuine way.
The ad was brilliantly done. Time will tell who’s right here Sling the Wizard.
As to not wanting to “be on my side”. You covered Dillard and made a conscious effort to vote early for Quinn and told the world here. They both lost.
Not so sure your side is where anyone wants to be in elective politics. For all the smugness you put on Rahm, I’m surprised you don’t like him. You’re just like him. Maybe I can produce and ad for you to change that.
Try being kinder.
- Carhartt Representative - Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 9:53 am:
=Try being kinder.=
Or just speak in hushed tones and wear a sweater
- crazybleedingheart - Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 10:37 am:
https://preaprez.wordpress.com/2015/03/05/rahm-screams-at-mental-health-activists-youre-gonna-respect-me/
- zonz - Thursday, Mar 5, 15 @ 12:34 pm:
I said yesterday the ad rates an A, and I’ve seen no comments here to make me second guess that rating.
And I agree with the *A guy* predictions this a.m.
I don’t pretend to know the minds of the tens of thousands of Chicago’s LVs for April. And all RE’s people can do is take their best shot.
Yesterday’s ad follows the election night image reviaion presentation, which was phase 1. The contrition ads are phase 2.
Will they work?
Who knows, but they are off to a good start in that direction, IMO.