Posted on 11/04/2006 11:54:28 PM PST by L.N. Smithee
As a news junkie, over the years I have seen a lot of political campaigns. Some were brilliant, some pathetic, some nasty as all get out. But I have never seen anything like this: A major party candidate trying to get elected by mostly talking about how much weight he has lost.
That's right -- current California Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante, a Democrat, who is running against liberal Republican high-tech billionaire Steve Poizner for the state Insurance Commissioner post, is battling a multimedia blitz portraying him as in the pocket of the insurance industry by talking about his 70-pound weight loss.
After weeks of watching Poizner ads showing a Bustamante lookalike holding open a paper bag for lobbyists to fill with cash and checks, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw his replies in the form of two fifteen second spots (Click here to view both ads on YouTube.) The first showed a "before" picture of Bustamante. The voice-over was Cruz's voice: "I was really fat." The photo faded to Bustamante a doctor's office. He then said, "I promised my family I'd lose seventy pounds. I kept that promise. I'll keep this promise: I'll lower your insurance rates."
The second shows Bustamante running in a marathon in "before" mode. He is running alongside a few hundred others with a big smile, and his voice-over is "I worked hard to lose weight because our individual behavior matters. That's why your driving record -- not where you live -- should lower your car insurance." Then the slimmed-down Cruz placidly stares in the camera and says, "My name is Cruz Bustamante, and I'd appreciate your consideration."
Bustamante has come a long way from his heady days as the Democratic Party star-in-training in the California recall election. According to published reports, Bustamante in June 2006 decided to return the insurance-industry money that he received to that point. This depleted his campaign of cash, and moneybags Poizner, who ran unopposed for the GOP IC nomination, got a running start on the TV campaign.
At first, it might appear that Bustamante was simply choosing to run a clean campaign, and refusing to respond in-kind to Poizner's attack ads. For all we know, that may be a factor, but consider this -- when one enters "Cruz Bustamante" into a search engine, the first thing likely to pop up is his Wikipedia profile. At the very bottom of that page, there are links to his website in his position as Lieutenant Governor, and the last is listed as "Official Insurance Commissioner Election Website." The link goes to a site called Start With Cruz. Surprise! It's not a campaign website, it's a journal detailing Bustamante's strategy of losing weight so someday -- in his words, not mine -- "I can call myself 'overweight' and not 'obese.'"
On the Start With Cruz site, there is no rhetoric -- there are recipes. There aren't pictures of Cruz in campaign rallies -- there are pictures of Cruz in running events. There's no place to donate to his campaign; there is a place where you can sign up for Cruz's monthly newsletter. No videos of his campaign ads -- you will find videos of his weigh-in on a cheesy Sacramento morning show.
It all raises the question -- what is Bustamante's priority? It doesn't appear that it really matters to him if he loses the election if he can lose another fifty pounds. What's in it for Cruz? It would be easy to "follow the money," except that there doesn't seem to be any. There's no CafePress link for T-shirts. He hasn't (yet) written a book, like formerly obese Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. It may very well be that once he is in shape, the rest is -- if you will pardon the expression -- gravy.
How things turn out for Bustamante in the election may be a bellwether for future campaigns in California; if he is able to win with his personal Biggest Loser show despite the expensive, aggressive attacks by Poizner, who knows? Campaign ads may begin to look less like the National Enquirer or Inside Edition and more like Oprah or The Rachael Ray Show.
Can such a change take place in the down-and-dirty world of politics? Fat chance.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
At least his commercials had/have more rationale behind them than Angelides' did--Arnold supported George W. Bush, Angelides opposed Nixon, this is for state office, Angelides should have stuck with California.
Arnold pulled an inverse-Clinton circa 1996; he made broad, sweeping moves the Demos were in favor of, and gave Angelides little to object to.
The latest Yes on 87 (gas tax) ads show two things: Iraq war footage and file tape of Bush. This on top of Bill Clinton blaming the rise in asthma on gas emissions, something I don't believe is defensible scientifically. Notice the pro-87 forces no longer promise gas prices will not be effected by the tax.
I've never seen these Cruz ads but I'm cracking up because there have been MONTHS of "If you Cruz, you Lose!"
Bustamante is the very definition of "political hack". He has no life other than mooching off some government job.
Click the YouTube link above.
Never trust a Latino who eats refried beans that are not made with lard.
N-word? Not a mention. How typical.
I don't know what you mean. This is a so-called "vanity post." I wrote it myself.
It just irks me that this guy can continue running for office with no problem like he never uttered the word. He should be spending all his time explaining what he said instead of what he didn't eat.
Thank you, and don't worry! I wasn't fishing for compliments, I thought maybe you figured this was a MSM piece.
Interesting piece... thanks for posting (and writing).
All I could figure about this race was:
1) Even the Dems were still ticked off at him for entering the Recall race
2) He knew he was outspent and beat before he even got his campaign off the ground
3) All of the above
This was from yesterday's SacBee, comparing contributions of all the candidates:
http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/71533.html
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
Cruz Bustamante
DEMOCRAT
Amount spent: $1.6 million
Steve Poizner
REPUBLICAN
Amount spent: $12.9 million
LATEST POLL:
Poizner 46%, Bustamante 37%, Undecided/other, 17%
Actually, I did. I should have said that.
From the way he's been talking, it's possible he's using the election to promote a future weight-loss business. Either that or he's just gone completely off the edge. He would have fit in well with all the lunatic fringe candidates we saw during the recall election.
You got it, pal.
After serious consideration, I consider you an industrial strength putz.
Voting Day is Tuesday, folks. If you Cruz, you lose.
I just saw this add. Couldn't believe my eyes.
It might actually help him. I haven't seen anything like it.
Anyhow, I still don't think he'll win though. Poizner's adds were devestating, and they went without a resonse for far too long.
I don't watch South Park. What does that mean?
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