Posted on 09/02/2004 5:13:37 AM PDT by quantim
NEW YORK (AP) — The presidential pup made his convention debut Wednesday night in a spoof on the movie "Rocky," showing the pooch hitting the campaign trail.
Delegates saw a video that opened with White House advisers Karl Rove and Andy Card in a heated debate about how to improve President Bush's poll numbers among an important bloc — dogs. They decide to enlist the help of Barney, the first family's black Scottish terrier.
"We need to go to Michigan and Ohio and Iowa and Minnesota and West Virginia and Texas," Rove rattles off the list, a concerned tone in his voice, "and Oklahoma and Washington and Maine and Maryland. ..."
Card, one of many senior advisers to appear in the video, uses a bag of dog treats to coax the pooch away from watching cartoons on TV, exhorting him to "get every vote you can get. You're the one who can do it."
Barney is then shown facing off in debate with a fictional John Kerry dog — "Fifi" — played by a white sock puppet in a tiny brown beret. Presidential spokesman Scott McClellan moderates.
Barney barks that he will "Make tax cuts permanent!" Kerry's dog says he will "Raise taxes forever!"
Busy adviser Karen Hughes prepares an egg breakfast for Barney, as he prepares to take to the campaign trail, a white sweatband resting on his ears. "Go dog house to dog house, the most important instructions are stay on the message and smile a lot," Hughes tells him.
Barney hits the trail with a run through the White House lawn, the "Rocky" theme song music blaring in the background. As he runs, states turn Republican red on a map of the U.S.
As Barney reaches the landing of the White House, Rove, Card and a crowd of other White House workers chant "Barney, Barney" as the video fades.
The delegates cheered.
Oh, I loved that!!! What a great event this whole convention has been! RNC has done an outstanding job and Barney was a huge hit in my house!
Following the film, Tom Brokow interviewed two professional comedy writers who trashed the film.
great post
but DAMMIT WHY IS REPUBLICANS COLOR RED??? WE SHOULD RECLAIM BLUE_ the DEMOCRAPS deserve commie red
Ok, maybe not LOVE.....but I think they like him.
Heck. I missed it.
the way I understand it, we're supposed to be blue this year - blue is for incumbents, red for the challenging party.
But this is the first election where the terms "blue states" and "red states" have ever been used - maybe the networks will decide to just keep it red for Republicans this year.
DANG! Missed seeing this Barney spot!
I wish I could get a copy of it to send to my sister...the poor, uninformed and ignorant thing is a democrat. Of course, she can't tell me why she is, just is. But, she loves dogs so maybe I could use Barney to get through to her!
I just checked Barney's spot on the White House website - but this clip is not there. I hope they add it or even better - use it as a TV ad!!
Actually, a recent poll shows W. is more popular than Kerry with dog owners.
Kerry seems a little squeamish or girlish or whatever to have a dog....do not remember his speaking of owning one, or his dtrs...just a hamster. Do you know if he owns a dog or cat?
Ooooo, what a simply eeeevil plan. I am glad you're on my side. :-)
Sad that a dog could turn a person from voting for one person to voting for another. But, hey, one must do what one must do!
I don't think he currently owns a dog but I understand the Kerry's have a PERSIAN CAT.
They own a lot of servants.
Yeah, John McCain and Terry McCauliffe.
I thought Rove was mocking Howard Dean's meltdown moment, which made it even funnier.
Ter-ray-zuh won't let him have one.
Boy, I'm sorry I missed this one. Anyone know if this is online anywhere?
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