Jon Huntsman’s three daughters -- who’ve made names for themselves due to their irreverent Tweets and snarky pro-Huntsman YouTube videos -- appeared on CNN to promote their father's GOP presidential campaign when Wolf Blitzer started asking them if they’re single as he read a handful of love-sick Tweets that had been directed toward the women.
As the headline, “They’re Hot Online: Huntsman girls tweeted marriage proposals“ appeared under the image of trio, Blitzer awkwardly said: “Obviously you’ve got a lot of fans out there. And all of ‘em want to know your status. So let’s start off Mary Anne and we’ll go down. Tell us your status right now. Are you available to a lot of young men who are looking out there and would like to get to know you a little better?” (One of the daughters by the way, Abby, has been married for a year.)
As Mediaite’s Jon Bershad observed: “We can’t fault Wolf Blitzer for asking [if they’re single]. Besides he was just asking them what his Twitter followers wanted to know. However, there was something in the way Blitzer asked the question which caused the ladies to recoil like their creepy uncle just said they were 'developing well.'”
I'd be curious as to whether, if Mitt Romney's grown sons were being interviewed, they'd be asked if they're single too.
Although I can appreciate the cleverness of a well executed, tough political ad as well as the next cynical voter, I really don’t like it when the atmosphere get toxic, when campaigns try to trick voters by obfuscating the facts and intentionally mislead people, or just outright name call. I hate that. It’s beneath them and the office which they seek to hold, especially if they’re vying for the post of commander-in-chief.
However political pundits, along with a large body of research, tell us that it’s those negative ads that help win elections. The charges in those ads remain with you, like an insidious ear worm. The positive ads, the ones that are all motherhood and apple pie with a crisp flag snapping in the wind in the background while the candidate looks regal in front of it, conventional wisdom says that they make little difference when we are deciding for whom to vote.
Even though folks will say that they don't like negative ads, a University of Georgia advertising professor wrote on CNN's web site that they're used for one big reason: "The answer is simple: They work. And they work very well." She added that, "There is some evidence that negative messages may be more likely than positive ones to passively register [with viewers.]"
So, on the day before the New Hampshire primary, I surfed the internet and culled two different kinds of ads from the remaining GOP presidential candidates' web sites to compare and contrast the positive ads with the negative ones.
The Good
In this pro-Mitt Romney ad, with inspirational music and images, Ann Romney takes to forefront to try to soften the straight-laced businessman. (Romney did himself no favors today in the softening department by using the phrase "I like being able to fire people," which will, I predict, appear in a political ad very soon.)
Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman’s campaign neatly packaged up Huntsman’s rebuttal during the final debate this weekend to Romney’s assertion that by serving as the U.S. ambassador to China under President Obama, Huntsman wasn’t putting his party first.
Here, Huntsman says that his election would be the answer to the nation’s “trust deficit.”
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich explains his belief that government doesn’t create real jobs.
Texas Congressman Ron Paul takes a rather loud approach with this “Big Dog” ad which seems more like it’s promoting a pro wrestling match rather than a presidential candidate.
Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum’s family-centric “Pop-Up” ad describes him in a very general way without attacking anyone else.
This “Morning in America” type of ad from Texas Governor Rick Perry shows a much better side of him than he has exhibited in the debates.
First it was their Twitter feed supporting their dad in his bid to win (or at least not embarrass himself) as he seeks the GOP presidential nomination.
Now three of the daughters of former Utah governor and former U.S. ambassador to China Jon Huntsman have donned fake mustaches and glasses to not just promote their father, but to give the needle to the surging Republican rival Herman Cain and his wacky smoking/weird smile spot.
Unlike the late night comedians though, the Huntsman women didn't turn to booze or illicit drugs in their mockery and they came thisshort of completely going over the top with Groucho Marx glasses.
