Commentary: Dukakis recalls negative ads that blocked him from White House

Kansas City Star ^ | October 28, 2012 | by Ben Barber

[Oldeconomybuyer]

As millions of dollars pour into negative TV ads in the final days of the 2012 presidential campaign, former Democratic presidential candidate Michael Dukakis recalled how his hopes for the White House in 1988 were destroyed by negative ads linking him to rapist and murderer Willie Horton.

“It all started first with me,” said Dukakis, now 79 but still working full time. "If I had beaten the old man, we never would have heard of the kid [George W. Bush], and we wouldn't be in this mess.

[martin_fierro]

The timing and content of this article are themselves a negative campaign ad.

But M. Stanley here is too dim to realize it.

[Liz]

NOBODY TOLD HIM HE LOOKED LIKE A JERK?

Dukocky cooked his own goose in that tank——btw, that was his idea to get in the tank wearing that ridiculous helmet.

Also, his whining wife got on people’s nerves——voters figured they couldn’t take four years of her whining.

[LibLieSlayer]

ducaca... IF you had been a real man instead of the mangina that you are... you might have won... but you are spineless liberal with evil at his core. FUducaca!

LLS

[Sir Napsalot]

About that picture, according to Dukakis himself, he didn't want to wear the helmet, cause he thought it made him look dorky. But the aides and military protocol (no helmet, no riding in the tank) insisted he wear the helmet.

Another newsflash to Dukakis, with or without the helmet, the tank riding picture still made him look dorky.

[rlmorel]

If you want to piss off a conservative, tell a lie. If you want to piss off a liberal, tell the truth.

[skinkinthegrass]

d@nggit! ...I was lookin' fer that one.. *grinning*
OEB..to tanker Dukakis: "Oh!..you mean that Al Gore
production, Willie Horton Ad?"..*nevermind*
said, ABCNNBCBS

[Alberta's Child]

I don't think you're right about that. I believe TV networks alternated between the two colors, and there was often no consistency between the networks for a long time.

That all changed in 2000 when the electoral map wasn't finalized until weeks after Election Day, and viewers simply got used to the whole "red" and "blue" scheme as it stood then.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I saw the news report with Dukakis sticking his head out of the tank with a big smile on his face.

I thought how stupid he looked with a smile like a possum eating s—t.

[elcid1970]

Twenty four years later, Dukakis has learned nothing & forgotten nothing. Just like the late unlamented McGovern.

For liberals, it’s always somebody else’s fault.

[Alberta's Child]

Also, his whining wife got on people’s nerves——voters figured they couldn’t take four years of her whining.

I also seem to recall that his wife, Kitty Dukakis, had a bit of a drinking problem. That was the basis of a rather distasteful (but funny as hell) joke going around at the time:

Q: What do you call hundreds of empty beer cans and liquor bottles strewn all over highways in Massachusetts?
A: Kitty litter.

[NonValueAdded]

Sorry, Dukakis, but it wasn’t the “video” in your case either. Wilie Horton was TOTALLY on point but that wasn’t your only problem. Waffling on the rape question did to you what Obama’s first debate performance has hopefully done to him. Not to mention your tank photo (ref. Kerry and the bunny suit).

[Iron Munro]

Haven't we heard this song before ?????

[Peet]

I don’t think you’re right about that. I believe TV networks alternated between the two colors, and there was often no consistency between the networks for a long time.

---

ISTR the colors were incumbent/challanger red/blue.

I could be, and often am, wrong.

[x]

"If I had beaten the old man, we never would have heard of the kid [George W. Bush], and we wouldn't be in this mess."

Bitter much?

[okie01]

I don't think you're right about that. I believe TV networks alternated between the two colors, and there was often no consistency between the networks for a long time.

Prior to 2000, it was blue for the incumbent party, red for the challenging party.

It was really "alternating", but it did vary with the party in control of the presidency.

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

That sounds about right. I do know it was a conscious effort to change the norm on the MSMs part.

[Liz]

Heh-—good one.

[Liz]

SNL did a hilarious Dukakis debate satire which is sometimes rerun even today. Dukakis is seen behind the rostrum ready to debate-—as he slowly rises as if on an elevator to reach the mic-—(he’s real short). LOL.

[RichInOC]

Letting murderers out on a pass when they’re not even eligible for parole is a bad idea, no matter what color they are. That’s what killed your campaign, Mike, not racism.