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Let’s all play “Rate the Ad” - and the response

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* Democratic Cheri Bustos has a new TV ad running in the 17th District. Rate it…

* Republican incumbent Congressman Bobby Schilling’s campaign responded to the ad via press release this morning…

Like the PR executive she is, Bustos has remade herself to such an extent she appears virtually unrecognizable in this professionally shot, stage produced ad.

“Welcome to the race, Cheri Bustos,” Jon Schweppe, communications director for the Schilling campaign, said. “For far too many voters, this ad will be the first time they hear of Alderwoman Bustos. Our campaign got started twenty months ago, and voters have noticed Bobby Schilling out meeting the people, while Cheri Bustos has been missing in action. The Bustos campaign will have their work cut out for them, down double-digits with only 70 days remaining.”

Schweppe also responded to a couple of Bustos’ claims in her new ad.

Bustos: “I’m running for Congress because Washington’s got its priorities all wrong, putting the special interests ahead of the middle class.”

“It’s odd that Bustos wants to bite the hand that feeds her, given the fact that special interests have almost exclusively funded her campaign,” Schweppe said. “Bustos has received more than $100,000 from the radical pro-partial birth abortion PAC EMILY’s List, and she’s spent more time in Chicago and Washington, DC dining with wealthy limousine liberals than she has in-district meeting with the people.”

Bustos: “…it’s time to put Main Street ahead of Wall Street.”

“Cheri Bustos didn’t put Main Street first, she put Bustos Parkway first,” Schweppe said. “She has a record, and it certainly didn’t serve working families in East Moline. Bustos voted repeatedly for a barrage of tax increases and fee hikes, while she spent $625,000 of taxpayer money on an earmarked pet project to build a luxurious parkway right outside her home.”

Discuss.

* Related…

* Schilling, Bustos agree to TV debate

* Schilling, Bustos spar over ‘legitimate rape’

* 17th District: Schilling donates PAC money from Akin

* Press Release: Why Was Cheri Bustos So Mean to East Moline Taxpayers? - Bustos voted for more taxes, more fees, and more spending

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 10:05 am

Comments

Cheri Bustos has a winning smile and resume, Schilling is done here.

Comment by redrum Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 10:08 am
Well, it’s no Mark Minor ad …

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 10:10 am
To the Ad,

Right idea, 30 seconds is too short to go “intro”. Met her husband, then she said she had “boys”. 1? 2?

You worked “opposite shifts” … Gerry is/was a cop, so what did/do you do then and now? Very weak idea to keep it so bland.

I know more about Gerry as I do about Cheri! Gerry is a Cop, dunno what Cheri does. He is Married to Cheri. Gerry worked opposite of Cheri, but opposite doing what? Gerry has sons.

Don’t have me 1/2 meet ya, go the full 60 seconds, say the “boys”(?) names, and give me the proper “intro” to you Cheri, I guess I know quite a bit about Gerry now.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 10:18 am
“Like the PR executive she is, Bustos has remade herself to such an extent she appears virtually unrecognizable in this professionally shot, stage produced ad.”

what the heck is that statement? two things are problematic with it.

sounds to me like they are accusing her of altering her physical appearance. I’ve only seen her once, from about 20 feet away, and the ad looks very much like her. so the Schilling campaign statement is not on point to her remaking her career, it implies she’s gotten some kind of extraordinary makeover. and that seems strange and veering into sexist territory.

I guess I would ask the Schilling campaign if they can please prove that they are not using any professionals to produce photos or ads or writing. and is Jon Schweppe new to the business and a volunteer? cause it seems they dislike professionals and therefore should not be using any.

Comment by amalia Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 10:22 am
Exactly what Amalia said — the way that sentence in he press release is phrased is not too bright when running against a woman.

Comment by the Other Anonymous Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 10:24 am
It’s an in your face move to use pizza when that’s schillings business. As for the ad, I don’t think it will be that effective. the pizza images dominate the ad which have nothing to do with “the story” she’s trying to convey.

I’ve also become a big fan of bobby schilling. He’s completely unremarkable as a congressman but I love the random guy who owns a pizza place running for congress and winning thing.

Comment by Shore Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 10:24 am
It’s a good ad. Why Schilling’s campaign is attacking it is beyond me. It seems strident.

Schilling won’t be a pushover, but Bustos has a good chance of beating him.

His support for redefining “rape” under federal law will be his undoing.

Attacking Bustos with unsubstantiated claims about her position on abortion simply gives her an opportunity to remind voters that she’s a lifelong Catholic who has volunteered throughout most her life helping kids with developmental disabilities. In short, she shares the district’s values. And she’ll get to remind folks that her husband is a police officer when she talks about Schilling’s push to force women to have their rapists’ babies.

It’s gonna be very tough to paint her as a wild-eyed liberal.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 10:28 am
Does this ad serve the dual purpose of removing Schilling from office and also promoting a competitor’s pizza? Guess they really want to leave Bobby with nothing…

Comment by Small Town Liberal Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 10:29 am
So why are many, if not all, the still photos reversed?

I did find it funny she had the ad done in a pizza restaurant considering Schilling’s ownership of a pizzeria. Had to be a dig, right?

Schilling’s reps have one thing on target, he’s certainly appears to be out there pounding the pavement much harder than Cheri in those small local and community events.

Comment by Shemp Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 10:30 am
Ad paid for by Citizens for Dick Durbin

Comment by WazUp Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 10:39 am
It is a nice ad. Schilling is on his toes and his pounce should be expected. Bustos will not win with TV ads and she needed to have started much earlier. Schilling has the edge.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 10:40 am
Aren’t all mothers “working”?

Comment by Hank Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 10:44 am
Schilling’s people sound so angry in their response to an introductory positive ad.

Good first ad, I probably give it an 8 and that might be low.

Responce was a 2, it was just odd, but I don’t undersatnd why you have to respond to every ad.

Comment by Ahoy! Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 10:45 am
===Well, it’s no Mark Minor ad…===

Too funny!

Comment by Way Way Down Here Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 10:49 am
Remember, Schilling beat an incumbent democrat in a long time democratic district. Schilling seems to be concentrating on retail politics, which will pay benefits in the fall. Look for Schilling to keep the seat and further mess up Madigan’s redistricing effort.

Comment by Leroy Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 10:50 am
I can’t figure out why Schilling felt the need to rip the ad. It’s an ad, big deal. As noted, she doesn’t even really introduce herself. She’s a wife and mother I guess.

As to the pizza, it’s a dumb thing for Bustos. Schilling’s claim to fame is as a small businessman, owning a pizza joint. So you start out with that in your mind. Not sure with all the blowback on the “you didn’t build that line” why she’d essentially remind people of Schilling’s business.

Not sure why anyone would suggest it’s a dig. Has Schilling been running from his pizza background?

Comment by CU Voter Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 10:55 am
“Our campaign got started twenty months ago”

No wonder Schilling is an unremarkable Congressman, by his own admission he began running for his seat the minute he won the 2010 election.

Comment by Senator Clay Davis Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 11:03 am
Nice, benign, introductory spot.

The Schilling response is somewhat unhinged. They’re complaining she’s been “missing in action?” I would think that would be a good thing for them.

Emily’s List is “radical?” They don’t make radicals like they used to. “Limousine liberals?” They forgot “radical chic” and “hippies” and “the Beatles with their long hair.”

I get it, actually. They don’t want Cheri and family on TV, nor should they.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 11:07 am
I thought the Schilling campaign response was ridiculous and over-the-top. Why even respond to the ad?

The ad was so-so. I agree with Oswego Willy (gulp) in that it didn’t tell us anything about her, other than she’s married to a cop, has boys and likes to eat pizza.

Comment by East Sider Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 11:18 am
@CU Voter -

They are taking the pizza issue off the table.

I’m still confused as to whether the Schilling campaign is trying to pigeonhole her as a PR Exec, incumbent or liberal.

You sure as heck can’t pigeonhole her as all three.

I’m sure voters will be shocked - SHOCKED - to find that Congressional candidates spend a lot of time raising money.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 11:25 am
===I agree with Oswego Willy (gulp)===

Even a broken clock is right twice a day, and that is all I hope I am … right once in a while, and even on accident!

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 11:30 am
@Willy -

Not if its a military clock.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 12:16 pm
It’s a nice ad. But that’s about it.

The Schilling people are pretty dumb for attacking it since that makes him look petty and gives her more press.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 12:20 pm
Schilling’s polling must show that she is within striking distance of beating him, otherwise, they would have left this ad alone. Why bring more attention to it? It doesn’t attack Schilling directly. Only the inside baseball people catch the nuance of the pizza parlor.

Or, perhaps Schilling’s staff is just overly paranoid!

Comment by anon sequitor Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 12:29 pm
Good introductory ad. Fine looking family. Would have been better if it would have been up a few months ago though…. The campaign should be beyone “introductions” at this point.

Comment by Chevy owner/Ford County Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 12:30 pm
YDD -

There you go again, blowing another one of my analogies out of the water! …lol

If I am right once a day I know I am lucky!

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 12:39 pm
@anon sequitor, yes, overly paranoid, it appears. I wondered in the thread above about Jon Schweppe, since I had no idea who he is. so I Googled, and found that he gives new meaning to the term Schweppervescence. Jon Schweppe is right out of “socialist marxist agenda, do you want to be like Europe” central casting. talk about radical. And since he is paid, it seems silly to criticize paid PR people.

Comment by amalia Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 12:49 pm
I don’t think it’s a very impressive introductory video. Kinda makes you wonder what that $Million+ is being spent on.

I think this lower budget intro video is better
http://youtu.be/uOqOeEWraSE
Although, to be fair, it’s easier to make a superior intro video when you have a superior candidate to introduce.

Comment by Eric Reyes for Congress Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 1:05 pm
Eric, a YouTube video with 200 views could be the best introductory spot ever made by human hands, but it ain’t gonna have any impact.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 1:09 pm
–Kinda makes you wonder what that $Million+ is being spent on.–

At least she’s paying for her advertising, rather than trying to scam a freebie in the form of a “comment.”

Not cool, dude.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 1:10 pm
“…easier to make a superior intro video when you have a superior candidate to introduce.”

…says Eric Reyes and his family, neighbors, and pets.

C’mon man, what did you hope to gain, ridicule?

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 1:25 pm
CapFax Commenter: You know what, you’ve got spunk!
Eric Reyes: Well, yes…
CapFax Commenter: I *hate* spunk!

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 2:45 pm
I ate at Schilling’s pizza joint once and it was average at best. I have never seen more than 2 or 3 cars in front of the place. Ever. I drive by it daily at dinner time. I know the Congressman and his wife own a large horse range on Schiling Lake in Missouri. I’ve heard that is what has supported this large family and that the pizza place a side business.

Comment by Lil Enchilada Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 3:17 pm
First off Franks is the Bomb and Schiilings place never has anyone in it.

Second instead of Bob running all over the district he should have been lobbying his Republican seat mate to open Thomson prison.

Where’s the jobs Bob?

Someone tell Reyes he is not in the race anymore.

Comment by Buddy G Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 7:08 pm
Schilling’s pizza really isn’t very good. I know people think we are all just saying that, but the Quad Cities has a particular kind of pizza. Schilling’s is very generic. I’d recomend Frank’s or Harris for any visitors.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 28, 12 @ 8:10 am