The Irvin for Illinois Campaign launched a new ad highlighting Richard Irvin’s military service as a decorated combat veteran during the Gulf War. The ad highlights a life-changing moment for Irvin when a missile was fired toward his unit but ultimately shot down by a US Patriot missile during Operation Desert Storm. Irvin proudly enlisted in the Army at 19 and used the GI Bill to put himself through college.
Irvin received the following honors for his dedicated service to our country: Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal.
“Serving in the military and defending our country laid the foundation for my life in public service and made me who I am today,” said Irvin. “I told myself if I survived the Gulf War in Desert Storm, I would spend the rest of my life giving back. That experience changed me forever, and it’s the reason why I am here now, fighting to take our state back.”
B. Given that we have folks running pretending to be soldiers, a real one is a winning ad by default. It says nothing about his time in the war, but the get-back-up theme works. It also doesn’t feel partisan. That’s a good thing.
===So I traded in my fatigues for a law degree.
Became a prosecutor…
Put criminal thugs behind bars.===
“And then decided there was more money in keeping the criminal thugs outside those bars, so I became a private attorney focusing on defense of the very people I villainize in my ads!”
Funny how he always leaves what he was doing in the interim period from prosecutor to mayor…
Enough already with the “take back, fight back” garbage.
I am not at war with my fellow Illinoisans.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 9:07 am:
B. It’s a fine political ad. The “I became a prosecutor to put the bad guys away” line is superficial. If that was the case, you wouldn’t have cashed in and become a criminal defense lawyer after a few years. But all politicians would say the same thing.
Give it an A. Good production quality and the message on point and provides a contrast to the Dem’s. Irvin a decorated veteran - JB mismanaged COVID outbreak at LaSalle Veterans home. Irving was a prosecutor and hired more cops as mayor - - Dems go easy on crime with so-called criminal just reform and eliminating cash bail. Irvin Recruited new companies and Revitalized Aurora- Dem run Chicago has negative crime-related headlines every week.
A B for the ad, and I thank him for his real service. However, only the most rabid law and order types will react positively to someone referring to American neighborhoods as “combat zones” and our people as “thugs.” Did he think they were “criminal thugs” when he took their money to defend them?
B+ It’s a good ad for his target audience - Republican primary voters. He’s still introducing himself, and this hits a lot of key points to form the impression they want to form. Those of us that pull a Dem ballot can poke holes in it, but that doesn’t really matter.
The ad is decent, maybe a B+. But the lines about turning Aurora around are patently ridiculous. I’m guessing 8 out of 10 Illinoisans couldn’t tell you what the state’s second biggest city is and acting like it’s become the next Austin, TX under his watch is hilarious.
Irvin had an advantage in that Aurora is in Kane and DuPage counties. When his police catch criminals, the SAs and courts don’t just let them go. If Aurora was in Cook County, the crime rate would be more like Chicago.
Weren’t those ‘thugs’ the same people he was defending to keep them out of jail and in the community? That part of his story must have slipped to the floor while editing the ad.
===If Aurora was in Cook County, the crime rate would be more like Chicago.===
LOL
Yeah, the idea of State’s Attorney is the reason… not proximity to where one lives, the neighborhood, or to where opportunities are greater, like a big city, and while Aurora is the second largest city in Illinois, Aurora is not a sister city type compare to She-Caw-Go
oh it’s A for his folks. but he really doesn’t say about his actual combat experience and certainly some prosecutors go into dicey places when searching down witnesses, but it’s not combat. (and he did not do that kind of time in the CCSAO where his experience was just in Appeals. maybe some dicey time in Kane County but it’s not combat.)
==Weren’t those ‘thugs’ the same people he was defending to keep them out of jail and in the community? That part of his story must have slipped to the floor while editing the ad. ==
I mean, sure, but, c’mon, it’s his ad, he’s not going to put his own oppo into it.
=== It tries to do too many things at once, and doesn’t connect any of them together.===
Ball game.
It’s not like they need to save money, jeez Louise, Irvin has enough cash right now to message any ONE thing they want.
That Crew really-really needs to figure out how to turn that exceptionally well done intro video into 3,4 different ads, and use the veteran angle and real valor truth as a stand alone story.
It feels like anything Irvin is and was needs to equate to crime in 2022 and “crime is bad”
What this shows is that we all have led complex lives. Irvin served. This is noble. Whether he actually said “If I get back, I intend to make a difference in the world,” he served. I respect that completely, both as a contemporary pacifist, and as a former Army veteran.
However, the content of our character is less about our childhood, and more about our current contributions to society. It is less about what we dreamed in our early years, and more about our goals for the future. This is why we must forgive those who have in the past erred, but who are today doing good.
So where is Irvin today? Is he intending to serve all Illinoisans, resolve our petty differences, and lead us toward a common good? Or is he committed to perpetuate our differences, choosing one side over the other. As I see his campaign efforts, I see Irvin defining himself as belonging to a subset of Illinoisans, and perpetuating difference, rather than bridging our differences. That is not a true measure of good character.
The ad didn’t do it for me but I’m not really the target audience. I never get too into ads that tell me things like this because I don’t know what I don’t know why I’m supposed to be getting back up. I wasn’t knocked down.
- Lake Villa Township - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 11:26 am:
C because Aurora has not been revitalized, it is hemorrhaging population, much moreso than Illinois at large.
Assessments like this rest on the idea (hope?) that word will get out about his criminal defense practice. It’s probably a good bet that it will if he makes it to the General Election, but right now, I’m not sure if any of his primary opponents have the wherewithal to go there.
Militarized Police overseeing “combat zones” leads to militarized police…everywhere…beware.
- People’s Republic of Oak Park - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 11:53 am:
If I hear an air raid siren on my TV given the current situation in Ukraine, I am going to be upset with whoever is doing that ad.
- Paddyrollingstone - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 12:18 pm:
Three Dimensional Checkers
The “I became a prosecutor to put the bad guys away” line is superficial. If that was the case, you wouldn’t have cashed in and become a criminal defense lawyer after a few years.
Wouldn’t that be a fabulous coda to the add if he said that? Put kind of “Saul Goodman” vibe to it. At least it would be honest. I mean that’s why I stopped being a prosecutor!
Since this add is too win the republican primary and needs to appeal to the republican voters, I would say it is an A. War Vet, Tough on Crime, a self made man who raised himself by his own boots theme.
So if he “revitalized” his city, then why did it lose 8.8% of the population over the past decade? What companies did he recruit exactly? If he successfully did, it contradicts his statement about IL being the “worst state for business.”
If he hired more cops, then why did crime rate go up?
What exactly is his “revitalization” plan? Shaking up Springfield?
- Edwardsville Guy - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 1:48 pm:
Took me quite awhile to recall who he sounded like - Jackie Childs - the attorney from the 1990s Seinfeld episodes. He uses the same quick and clipped responses as Irvin uses in his commercials.
It’s a B, it serves its purpose and it’s obvious that the Irvin campaign has made the decision to ride their 1 horse as much as they can and make everything about Irvin come back to crime. However, Pritzker can also run ads about how many more cops (troopers) he’s hired, so there’s that too…
As a combat Vet of Vietnam, I am wondering since he advertises as being a combat Veteran, why there is no CIB (Combat Infantry Badge) in the listing of medals and awards?
- Not Impressed - Wednesday, Mar 16, 22 @ 3:11 pm:
Using war to further his political career is tasteless. Fighting crime is much more complex then a soldier in war. He is also misrepresenting the facts of his career. What plan does he have to combat crime? With all these republican led states passing anti voter laws, do we really want more Republicans in office?? No thanks.
- Dankakee - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 8:49 am:
B. Given that we have folks running pretending to be soldiers, a real one is a winning ad by default. It says nothing about his time in the war, but the get-back-up theme works. It also doesn’t feel partisan. That’s a good thing.
- Baloneymous - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 8:52 am:
Is this a movie trailer or a political ad? I thought it was Black Hawk Down at first or the street scene from Heat. Rest of ad is decent.
- Leap Day William - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 8:53 am:
===So I traded in my fatigues for a law degree.
Became a prosecutor…
Put criminal thugs behind bars.===
“And then decided there was more money in keeping the criminal thugs outside those bars, so I became a private attorney focusing on defense of the very people I villainize in my ads!”
Funny how he always leaves what he was doing in the interim period from prosecutor to mayor…
- Pundent - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 8:56 am:
For those that buy into the premise it’s a very good ad. Probably worthy of an A-.
- Good Stuff - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 8:57 am:
A real Veteran (hopefully). Refreshing. Some folks wished they served, others did.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 8:57 am:
FFFFFFF-
Enough already with the “take back, fight back” garbage.
I am not at war with my fellow Illinoisans.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 9:07 am:
B. It’s a fine political ad. The “I became a prosecutor to put the bad guys away” line is superficial. If that was the case, you wouldn’t have cashed in and become a criminal defense lawyer after a few years. But all politicians would say the same thing.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 9:07 am:
I’m going to call this a C+. It tries to do too many things at once, and doesn’t connect any of them together.
BUT.
There’s a germ of a really good idea in there, and that’s telling the story of Irvin’s life-changing moment. Stories like that are really powerful.
This ad? This ad doesn’t really tell that story. You basically have to already know it to understand what they’re talking about, and no one does.
But if the next ad hones in on that, Irvin might just get a stew going.
- JSI - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 9:08 am:
A-
“Get Back Up” - I like that theme. I think it would resonate.
- Jocko - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 9:11 am:
Criminal thugs? Are those worse than ordinary thugs?
As Irvin blows that dog whistle, he knows he’s talking about his black and brown residents, right?
- Springfieldish - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 9:12 am:
A solid B for Team Griffin.
- Donnie Elgin - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 9:18 am:
Give it an A. Good production quality and the message on point and provides a contrast to the Dem’s. Irvin a decorated veteran - JB mismanaged COVID outbreak at LaSalle Veterans home. Irving was a prosecutor and hired more cops as mayor - - Dems go easy on crime with so-called criminal just reform and eliminating cash bail. Irvin Recruited new companies and Revitalized Aurora- Dem run Chicago has negative crime-related headlines every week.
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 9:27 am:
A B for the ad, and I thank him for his real service. However, only the most rabid law and order types will react positively to someone referring to American neighborhoods as “combat zones” and our people as “thugs.” Did he think they were “criminal thugs” when he took their money to defend them?
- Montrose - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 9:35 am:
B+ It’s a good ad for his target audience - Republican primary voters. He’s still introducing himself, and this hits a lot of key points to form the impression they want to form. Those of us that pull a Dem ballot can poke holes in it, but that doesn’t really matter.
- Chicago Blue - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 9:41 am:
The ad is decent, maybe a B+. But the lines about turning Aurora around are patently ridiculous. I’m guessing 8 out of 10 Illinoisans couldn’t tell you what the state’s second biggest city is and acting like it’s become the next Austin, TX under his watch is hilarious.
- DuPage - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 9:43 am:
Irvin had an advantage in that Aurora is in Kane and DuPage counties. When his police catch criminals, the SAs and courts don’t just let them go. If Aurora was in Cook County, the crime rate would be more like Chicago.
- zatoichi - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 9:46 am:
Weren’t those ‘thugs’ the same people he was defending to keep them out of jail and in the community? That part of his story must have slipped to the floor while editing the ad.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 9:53 am:
===If Aurora was in Cook County, the crime rate would be more like Chicago.===
LOL
Yeah, the idea of State’s Attorney is the reason… not proximity to where one lives, the neighborhood, or to where opportunities are greater, like a big city, and while Aurora is the second largest city in Illinois, Aurora is not a sister city type compare to She-Caw-Go
- Amalia - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 9:54 am:
oh it’s A for his folks. but he really doesn’t say about his actual combat experience and certainly some prosecutors go into dicey places when searching down witnesses, but it’s not combat. (and he did not do that kind of time in the CCSAO where his experience was just in Appeals. maybe some dicey time in Kane County but it’s not combat.)
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 9:54 am:
==Weren’t those ‘thugs’ the same people he was defending to keep them out of jail and in the community? That part of his story must have slipped to the floor while editing the ad. ==
I mean, sure, but, c’mon, it’s his ad, he’s not going to put his own oppo into it.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 10:11 am:
This is a “B-/C+“
=== It tries to do too many things at once, and doesn’t connect any of them together.===
Ball game.
It’s not like they need to save money, jeez Louise, Irvin has enough cash right now to message any ONE thing they want.
That Crew really-really needs to figure out how to turn that exceptionally well done intro video into 3,4 different ads, and use the veteran angle and real valor truth as a stand alone story.
It feels like anything Irvin is and was needs to equate to crime in 2022 and “crime is bad”
It’s lazy and boring.
This Crew does better work than this.
“B-/C+”
- Paul S - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 10:26 am:
No Good Conduct Medal?
- Back to the Future - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 10:27 am:
Thinking Arsenal at 9:07 did a good job of putting into words what I was thinking.
Good story that was poorly told.
I would give the Ad a “C”.
- H-W - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 10:30 am:
What this shows is that we all have led complex lives. Irvin served. This is noble. Whether he actually said “If I get back, I intend to make a difference in the world,” he served. I respect that completely, both as a contemporary pacifist, and as a former Army veteran.
However, the content of our character is less about our childhood, and more about our current contributions to society. It is less about what we dreamed in our early years, and more about our goals for the future. This is why we must forgive those who have in the past erred, but who are today doing good.
So where is Irvin today? Is he intending to serve all Illinoisans, resolve our petty differences, and lead us toward a common good? Or is he committed to perpetuate our differences, choosing one side over the other. As I see his campaign efforts, I see Irvin defining himself as belonging to a subset of Illinoisans, and perpetuating difference, rather than bridging our differences. That is not a true measure of good character.
- Soapbox Derby - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 10:45 am:
I’m voting for a Republican in the GOP primary.
Not Irvin.
- Louis G Atsaves - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 11:10 am:
Solid B. Tried to cram a little too much information. I liked the Get Back Up theme.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 11:15 am:
The ad didn’t do it for me but I’m not really the target audience. I never get too into ads that tell me things like this because I don’t know what I don’t know why I’m supposed to be getting back up. I wasn’t knocked down.
- Lake Villa Township - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 11:26 am:
C because Aurora has not been revitalized, it is hemorrhaging population, much moreso than Illinois at large.
- Diane - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 11:40 am:
He represented criminals? F for fantasy
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 11:45 am:
==He represented criminals? F for fantasy ==
Assessments like this rest on the idea (hope?) that word will get out about his criminal defense practice. It’s probably a good bet that it will if he makes it to the General Election, but right now, I’m not sure if any of his primary opponents have the wherewithal to go there.
- Dotnonymous - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 11:46 am:
Militarized Police overseeing “combat zones” leads to militarized police…everywhere…beware.
- People’s Republic of Oak Park - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 11:53 am:
If I hear an air raid siren on my TV given the current situation in Ukraine, I am going to be upset with whoever is doing that ad.
- Paddyrollingstone - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 12:18 pm:
Three Dimensional Checkers
The “I became a prosecutor to put the bad guys away” line is superficial. If that was the case, you wouldn’t have cashed in and become a criminal defense lawyer after a few years.
Wouldn’t that be a fabulous coda to the add if he said that? Put kind of “Saul Goodman” vibe to it. At least it would be honest. I mean that’s why I stopped being a prosecutor!
- Groucho - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 1:02 pm:
Since this add is too win the republican primary and needs to appeal to the republican voters, I would say it is an A. War Vet, Tough on Crime, a self made man who raised himself by his own boots theme.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 1:05 pm:
F. It’s all over the place. More cops isn’t really the answer. And to quote a wise person I am not at war with my fellow Illinoisans.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 1:05 pm:
===this add is too win ===
C’mon. It’s “ad” and “to.” Up your game.
- Voting2022 - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 1:31 pm:
So if he “revitalized” his city, then why did it lose 8.8% of the population over the past decade? What companies did he recruit exactly? If he successfully did, it contradicts his statement about IL being the “worst state for business.”
If he hired more cops, then why did crime rate go up?
What exactly is his “revitalization” plan? Shaking up Springfield?
- Edwardsville Guy - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 1:48 pm:
Took me quite awhile to recall who he sounded like - Jackie Childs - the attorney from the 1990s Seinfeld episodes. He uses the same quick and clipped responses as Irvin uses in his commercials.
- MyTwoCents - Wednesday, Mar 2, 22 @ 4:55 pm:
It’s a B, it serves its purpose and it’s obvious that the Irvin campaign has made the decision to ride their 1 horse as much as they can and make everything about Irvin come back to crime. However, Pritzker can also run ads about how many more cops (troopers) he’s hired, so there’s that too…
- Sam Veer - Friday, Mar 11, 22 @ 4:50 pm:
As a combat Vet of Vietnam, I am wondering since he advertises as being a combat Veteran, why there is no CIB (Combat Infantry Badge) in the listing of medals and awards?
- Not Impressed - Wednesday, Mar 16, 22 @ 3:11 pm:
Using war to further his political career is tasteless. Fighting crime is much more complex then a soldier in war. He is also misrepresenting the facts of his career. What plan does he have to combat crime? With all these republican led states passing anti voter laws, do we really want more Republicans in office?? No thanks.