* Background on this tattoo artist is here. It’s a great read. Press release…
U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, running for re-election in the 14th Congressional District, has aired his first television ad of this campaign season. The 30-second spot rises above typical campaign ads and focuses on the issue of human trafficking that is plaguing our nation, an issue that Rep. Hultgren is passionate about and will continue to address when he is re-elected in November.
“As any parent will attest, there’s nothing more important than protecting our children and our communities. And as a husband and father of four children, including one daughter, one of the issues I’ve been particularly drawn to is the tragic human cost of human trafficking on families and especially children,” said Rep. Hultgren.
“As your representative in Congress, I’ve done my best to raise awareness of this issue that effects our region, and not just far-off corners of the world. Our work isn’t done by any means, but our progress is unmistakable.”
The Hultgren Campaign has made a significant ad buy on local cable networks and digital, and this first ad is one piece of a comprehensive TV and Digital advertising campaign that the voters can expect from Rep. Hultgren.
“When I started removing sex trafficking tattoos, I would drive home in tears,” Ink180 owner Chris Baker says in the spot. “To have a kid, at 13, with a tattoo of her pimp’s name on her arm made me sick.”
“There’s so much more work that needs to be done to combat human trafficking, and Randy Hultgren is the man to do that,” Baker says. […]
Underwood outraised Hultgren by about $150,000 in the second quarter of the year. She launched her first TV commercial this week, highlighting her work as a registered nurse as she tries to introduce herself to voters and keep her campaign’s focus on health care.
It’s an issue that is (rightfully) very visceral and impactful to a lot of people. Using it in a campaign ad is maybe a teeny bit exploitive to me but you can’t deny the power of the ad.
Good ad.
Is it something that hits the voters in the 14th the way losing preexisting coverage does?
Truthfully every politician in America can use this ad. What elected official is against human trafficking.
It’ll pull some heart strings and keep name id high which may be all he’s looking for.
Vetoing legislation to assist foreign born victims of human trafficking probably isn’t one of the steps we should take.
That’s what Rauner did, saying it would only delay their deportations.
Hultgren hasn’t done enough to stop the Trump administration’s immigration policy, which most certainly drives people into trafficking. Lot of hypocrisy in politics, but this is right up there.
It’s the kind of ad that makes me want to vote for the tattoo artist. I think recall for the ad will be above average, recall of the candidate the ad is supposed to support will be below average. The ad does a very good job of getting your attention but a below par job of transferring that attention to the candidate.
Hultgren’s commitment to eradicating human trafficking is laudable and I believe he is sincere.
However, he’s voted repeatedly to end the ACA and now too many Illinoisans have to set up Go Fund Me pages to get healthcare. That’s not acceptable. These tattoos should be removed by plastic surgeons in hospitals and, at a minimum, some public mental health provisions should be available for these victims.
I mean, I’m sure the tattoo artist is a nice guy, but really, more should be done here and the ACA provides the best way to cover the cost of the physical and mental health care these victims will need for many many years to come.
Polling/predictions from Cook, Sabato, Inside Elections and Real Clear indicate his district is either Likely Rep or Leans Rep. Edgy ads like this are appropriate, they will not upset his base but they might appeal to undecided.
- Driving a car - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 3:20 pm:
It’s an issue that is (rightfully) very visceral and impactful to a lot of people. Using it in a campaign ad is maybe a teeny bit exploitive to me but you can’t deny the power of the ad.
- Precinct Captain - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 3:38 pm:
Heck of a job Raunie
- Don Gerard - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 3:39 pm:
It is important to keep our children safe from sex traffickers so they may die due to lack of health insurance…
- DuPage Bard - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 3:39 pm:
Good ad.
Is it something that hits the voters in the 14th the way losing preexisting coverage does?
Truthfully every politician in America can use this ad. What elected official is against human trafficking.
It’ll pull some heart strings and keep name id high which may be all he’s looking for.
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 3:44 pm:
Vetoing legislation to assist foreign born victims of human trafficking probably isn’t one of the steps we should take.
That’s what Rauner did, saying it would only delay their deportations.
- Albany Park Patriot - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 4:13 pm:
Hultgren hasn’t done enough to stop the Trump administration’s immigration policy, which most certainly drives people into trafficking. Lot of hypocrisy in politics, but this is right up there.
- Hamlet's Ghost - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 4:29 pm:
Why would Randy Hultgren be more effective than Lauren Underwood in fighting trafficking?
- Springfieldish - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 4:43 pm:
Hamlet’s Ghost - That’s the question on more minds in the 14th than Randy wants to admit.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 4:47 pm:
Randy is on a mission from God.
- The Captain - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 4:48 pm:
It’s the kind of ad that makes me want to vote for the tattoo artist. I think recall for the ad will be above average, recall of the candidate the ad is supposed to support will be below average. The ad does a very good job of getting your attention but a below par job of transferring that attention to the candidate.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 4:56 pm:
Hultgren’s commitment to eradicating human trafficking is laudable and I believe he is sincere.
However, he’s voted repeatedly to end the ACA and now too many Illinoisans have to set up Go Fund Me pages to get healthcare. That’s not acceptable. These tattoos should be removed by plastic surgeons in hospitals and, at a minimum, some public mental health provisions should be available for these victims.
I mean, I’m sure the tattoo artist is a nice guy, but really, more should be done here and the ACA provides the best way to cover the cost of the physical and mental health care these victims will need for many many years to come.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 5:27 pm:
Very emotional.
Who’s Randy Hultgren? Is he running for something? What’s he doing about human trafficking?
The spot leaves those questions unanswered.
- Annonin' - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 8:35 pm:
Did all hands forget Randy had a AA caught with a teen????
- Mod Dem - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 8:14 am:
Four things to know about Hultgren
1) He voted to repeal ACA and enable the removal of pre-existing condition.
2) NRA gave him a gread of A-…he is very pro-gun rights
3) He voted in favor of the tax cut
4) He has aligned with Trump on nearly every policy decision.
Depending on where you are on these issues, I believe this drives the reason to or not to vote for him. The rest is just noise.
- Texas Red - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 1:38 pm:
Polling/predictions from Cook, Sabato, Inside Elections and Real Clear indicate his district is either Likely Rep or Leans Rep. Edgy ads like this are appropriate, they will not upset his base but they might appeal to undecided.