Posted on 10/13/2004 12:56:30 PM PDT by Mike Fieschko
We promised it, so here it is. And surprise - it's not one ad but two! These ads will debut tonight on FoxNews (Special Report w/ Brit Hume), but we have the transcripts.This is going to be a MASSIVE ad puchase, and as was hinted earlier, they will be aired during Monday Night Football
The first ad is a 60-second spot featuring 90 swift boat veterans, in a a three-deep line, with the camera panning across the crowd - close-up and slowly. No vets speak, but the announcer delivers the following lines:
Announcer: They served their country with courage and distinction. They’re the men who served with John Kerry in Vietnam.Announcer: They’re his entire chain of command, most of the officers in Kerry’s unit. Even the gunner from his own boat.
Announcer: And they’re the men who spent years in North Vietnamese prison camps.
Announcer: Tortured for refusing to confess what John Kerry accused them of. . . of being war criminals.
Announcer: They were also decorated. Many very highly. But they kept their medals.
Announcer: Today they are teachers, farmers, businessman, ministers, and community leaders. And of course, fathers and grandfathers.
Announcer: With nothing to gain for themselves, except the satisfaction that comes with telling the truth, they have come forward to talk about the John Kerry they know.
Announcer: Because to them honesty and character still matters. . . especially in a time of war.
Announcer: Swift Vets and POW’s for Truth are responsible for the content of this advertisement.
It's a powerful, moving, picture - these men coming forward, without aliases or surrogates. As another RedState editor wrote, there is no guile in these men. Read on for the second, and much more damaging ad:
The second spot, also a 60-second ad, showing several groups (about 10) of swift boat veterans, one after another - with each group of vets featuring one single man posing a question to John Kerry. And the most important of all the vets involved delivers what I believe is a serious, serious, body blow.
John Edwards: If you have an questions about what John Kerry’s made of (echo on “made of”)...Van Odell: Why do so many of us have serious questions?
Dr. Louis Letson: How did you get your purple heart when your commanding officer didn’t approve it?
Steve Gardner: Why have you repeatedly claimed you were illegally sent into Cambodia. . .
Bob Elder: . . . when it has been proven that you were not?
Jim Werner: How could you accuse us of being war criminals. . .
Ken Cordier: . . . and secretly meet with the enemy in Paris. . .
Mike Solhaug: . . . and promote the enemy’s position back home. . .
Paul Galanti: . . . when I was a POW, and Americans were being killed in combat.
Bud Day: How can you expect our sons and daughters to follow you, when you condemned their fathers and grandfathers?
Joe Ponder: Why is this relevant?
Tom Hanton: Because character and honesty matter. Especially in a time of war.
Rear Admiral Roy Hoffman: John Kerry cannot be trusted.
Announcer: Swift Boat Veterans for Truth is responsible for the content of this advertisement.
I wouldn't advise the Swift Vets to hold their collective breath for answers to these questions, but they damn well deserve them.
Hmm... $14 Million
Commericials on the Superbowl are $2 Milllion, and the advertiser reaches 100 Million impressions due to the high viewership.
14 Million could put these two spots out for 500 Million Impressions... in other words, on average, every man woman and child in the US will see these ads twice.
And I he'ped! And I think I will go donate some more!
In a sense that's true, but the impact goes a long way. A lot of people watch those commercials.
bttt
bttt
Thanks as always for the Ping! And a ping to others.
Ads debut tonight on Fox/Brit Hume the article states.
Can't wait!!
Second ad is great. First one is weak, unfortunately. Run the second one only, twice as much.
Well, I'll agree with that, but nothing at all seems to happen that way when the media is concerned anymore. Statements and stories even from the WH are released ahead of time so that the can start prepping reports and responses and also get the story out. And the media is certainly a factor in this equation.
I believe the Swifties have had very good advertising advice throughout their effort. They are playing the best ballgame they can in the media's ballpark.
Prairie
Another good reason to watch Brit tonight. Thanks!
"Especially in PA"
Yesss!! Especially in PA. This should do it.
You know what works is to put out a press release that announces that the ads can be viewed on the web site. Costs $500 to do a national release.
As a regular MNF viewer myself, I'll be glad to see them, but then I didn't need any convincing in the first place. But this is a very smart and strategic ad buy that will no doubt sway some MNF viewers who would otherwise vote Dimocrat out of habit to cast a ballot for Bush.
Glad to see this!
I watched Stolen Honor last night on DVD. I was so pissed by the time it was finished I can't tell ya.
So it gets some free time on "news shows", gets talked about and is looked for by the people. That's how the Swiftees got off the ground and Stolen Honor has gotten so much press. As to a heads up to the treasonous Kerry and his campaign--they can't credibly refute the facts. Yes, they'll slander these heroes some more but the man in the street is going to ask: are they all lying? Answers itself....
Whatever happened to that supposed movie of him burning the American Flag? If there is such a thing, now is the time to show it.
bttt
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.