* I didn’t see this press release when it came out last Friday, but I did see the ad last night. It’s pretty darned good…
U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis’ (R-Ill.) campaign today launched its first television ad of the 2016 general election telling the story of Jonny Wade, a seven-year-old boy from Jerseyville who lost his battle with brain cancer last Christmas Eve.
The ad features Kim Wade, Jonny’s mother, who reached out to Davis’ office to help carry out Jonny’s mission of receiving more than four percent funding from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for pediatric cancer research so no other kid has to have cancer.
“As a father of twin boys, Jonny and Jacky’s bond hit home for me,” said Davis. “Jonny’s mission to ensure no kid ever has to have cancer should be this country’s next ‘moonshot.’ Cancer has impacted the lives of nearly every American, regardless of political affiliation. This is an issue Republicans and Democrats in Washington should be able to come together on. I continue to work with my colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, to advance research and make Jonny’s mission of curing cancer a reality.”
* The entire one-minute spot features Johnny’s mom speaking to the camera, with photos of the child and Congressman Davis interspersed…
Good on Rep. Davis, an Illinois Republican who understands that the fight against cancer is non-partisan and non-political, and that life-saving government funding for that fight should not be held hostage to any political agenda.
That seems like just simple decency and common sense, but not every politician in this state thinks that way.
Extremely moving. Lovely to see an ad where it only speaks to something so positive that someone is doing. That ad will stick to a lot of brain cells in the memory bank and stick to the ribs right next to the heart. Beautifully done.
It is a good ad but does not change my opinion of “Repeal and Replace” Rodney and those like him. Until they can produce the Replace part of all that this comes under the heading of nice but how about a workable health care alternative.
It’s a terrific heartwarming ad and should be very effective.
However I have a question - was funding for pediatric cancer increased by increasing overall cancer research funding or was funding redirected away from other types of cancer research?
HS classmate lost a daughter to brain cancer, when she shared how little funding goes for research into pediatric cancer it shocked me and changed the way I give to health charities/research groups.
This ad tugs at the heart strings. But it does not tell you that Davis votes against laws to clean up our environment, and the air we breath and water we drink, as well as our diets have a lot to do with causing cancer. Davis is wholly deficient in these areas. A Congressman who is a medical doctor could probably do a lot more to reduce pediatric and other forms of the deadly disease.
Many issues, many fights are not partisan ones in the least. They are human ones. This ad warms my heart. May it have an effect not only for constituent voters in Rodney’s district, but also serve as a future template to all the screamers and purveyors of nasty negative ads which voters of all stripes increasingly reject and revile –and consider to be pollution of the airways.
My child had cancer. Worst 3 1/2 years of my life. Seven years out from final treatment and still cancer free. No child or parent should have to go through that pain.
exactly how has he done that? no one ever asks about the specifics.
- FAIRNESS AND FAIRNESS ONLY - Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 3:23 pm:
More like this, please. Mr. Davis used his ad to promote himself in the election (it IS an ad) but also promoted cancer funding education. I live in his district and the family and their ties with Mr. Davis were covered locally in local media. I appreciate his commitment to the Wade family. I also appreciate the time that I know he has spent in local schools.
Good commercial — but he’s trying to take credit for something the Obama Administration is pushing and it really misrepresent the public health issue, and makes it look like 4% of the total budget isn’t a priority.
In terms of the percentage of national cancer research going towards pediatric cancer — it was already four times greater than the rate of occurrence in the population.
“Childhood cancers make up less than 1% of all cancers diagnosed each year. About 10,380 children in the United States under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer in 2016″
When my fiancée was diagnosed with stage. 4 pancreatic cancer she reached out to representative Davis. His office received her letter on Jan. 28, 2015. She ask d for his assistance. While receiving chemo therapy at the Siteman Cancer Center inArnold, Mo. Davis’ office told her there was nothing they could do for her and they hung up on her. I am. U here fly doing everything in my power to make these facts known to his constituents
- Solid ad - Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 11:06 am:
That right there, in a nutshell, is why the DCCC no longer targets IL13.
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 11:08 am:
Wish this seat was in Dem hands but very good ad and definitely cuts through the clutter.
- Earnest - Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 11:13 am:
confused…can’t comprehend…political ad based on…accomplishments?!
- wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 11:14 am:
Good on Rep. Davis, an Illinois Republican who understands that the fight against cancer is non-partisan and non-political, and that life-saving government funding for that fight should not be held hostage to any political agenda.
That seems like just simple decency and common sense, but not every politician in this state thinks that way.
- Delimma - Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 11:20 am:
Sure would be nice if this bipartisanship extended to things like budgets that support health care research and VA funding.
- A guy - Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 11:24 am:
Extremely moving. Lovely to see an ad where it only speaks to something so positive that someone is doing. That ad will stick to a lot of brain cells in the memory bank and stick to the ribs right next to the heart. Beautifully done.
- Bemused - Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 11:32 am:
It is a good ad but does not change my opinion of “Repeal and Replace” Rodney and those like him. Until they can produce the Replace part of all that this comes under the heading of nice but how about a workable health care alternative.
- Hamlet's Ghost - Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 11:34 am:
It’s a terrific heartwarming ad and should be very effective.
However I have a question - was funding for pediatric cancer increased by increasing overall cancer research funding or was funding redirected away from other types of cancer research?
- Chucktownian - Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 12:05 pm:
What happens when families like these lose their health insurance because the GOP repeals Obamacare?
- titan - Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 12:24 pm:
Please, God, make positive message stuff like this work so well that candidates move to doing it instead of the usual slime.
- Precinct Captain - Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 12:37 pm:
Good ad, but what has Davis actually done?
I see a 21st Century Cures Act sitting the Senate.
- Oneman - Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 12:59 pm:
HS classmate lost a daughter to brain cancer, when she shared how little funding goes for research into pediatric cancer it shocked me and changed the way I give to health charities/research groups.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 1:17 pm:
Beautiful commercial. So sad that it is so singular.
- Johnyy Justice - Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 1:24 pm:
This ad tugs at the heart strings. But it does not tell you that Davis votes against laws to clean up our environment, and the air we breath and water we drink, as well as our diets have a lot to do with causing cancer. Davis is wholly deficient in these areas. A Congressman who is a medical doctor could probably do a lot more to reduce pediatric and other forms of the deadly disease.
- IllinoisBoi - Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 1:41 pm:
Excellent ad — but without the ACA, would Johnny be hitting annual or even lifetime healthcare limits?
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 2:00 pm:
Yup.
This is the kind of incumbent ad that reelects.
I despise the other ads that pretend to be about a candidate.
Any incumbent must tell voters what they’ve done in office and why they should be reelected.
- Responsa - Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 2:32 pm:
Many issues, many fights are not partisan ones in the least. They are human ones. This ad warms my heart. May it have an effect not only for constituent voters in Rodney’s district, but also serve as a future template to all the screamers and purveyors of nasty negative ads which voters of all stripes increasingly reject and revile –and consider to be pollution of the airways.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 2:39 pm:
I live in his district. He just got my vote.
My child had cancer. Worst 3 1/2 years of my life. Seven years out from final treatment and still cancer free. No child or parent should have to go through that pain.
- thunderspirit - Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 3:01 pm:
In the words of the esteemed Rich Miller: “More like this, please.”
- jerry g lives - Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 3:15 pm:
exactly how has he done that? no one ever asks about the specifics.
- FAIRNESS AND FAIRNESS ONLY - Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 3:23 pm:
More like this, please. Mr. Davis used his ad to promote himself in the election (it IS an ad) but also promoted cancer funding education. I live in his district and the family and their ties with Mr. Davis were covered locally in local media. I appreciate his commitment to the Wade family. I also appreciate the time that I know he has spent in local schools.
- Anon - Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 4:35 pm:
Good commercial — but he’s trying to take credit for something the Obama Administration is pushing and it really misrepresent the public health issue, and makes it look like 4% of the total budget isn’t a priority.
In terms of the percentage of national cancer research going towards pediatric cancer — it was already four times greater than the rate of occurrence in the population.
“Childhood cancers make up less than 1% of all cancers diagnosed each year. About 10,380 children in the United States under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer in 2016″
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancerinchildren/detailedguide/cancer-in-children-key-statistics
- Beeman - Thursday, Oct 27, 16 @ 5:02 pm:
When my fiancée was diagnosed with stage. 4 pancreatic cancer she reached out to representative Davis. His office received her letter on Jan. 28, 2015. She ask d for his assistance. While receiving chemo therapy at the Siteman Cancer Center inArnold, Mo. Davis’ office told her there was nothing they could do for her and they hung up on her. I am. U here fly doing everything in my power to make these facts known to his constituents