All ready for tonight’s variety show? Think it’s novel? Adam Serwer says, not so much.
David Schwartz, the curator of the Museum of the Moving Image and their recent Living Room Candidate exhibit, which explores the history of political advertising in presidential elections, says that Obama’s buy isn’t that unusual. In fact, he says that “It was a tradition…candidates used to buy time on election eve,” in half hour slots in order to make their final case. This didn’t end until fairly recently, Dukakis and Bush I were the last candidates to do so in 1988, and Schwartz says the change in dynamic was mostly because of the rise of cable news, which allowed candidates to get large amounts of free TV time. It’s less clear that Obama’s choice is a wise one, Adlai Stevenson bought eight weeks of 30 minute slots to air a series of his speeches when he faced Eisenhower, who relied on short spots. Eisenhower of course, defeated Stevenson. What makes Obama’s buy unusual is that it is that it will be carried on several networks, it’s airing six days before the election, and that it occurs at a time when buying TV time is considerably more expensive.
Just another way in which Obama harks reassuringly back to America’s finest traditions. I like Ike! And, er, Obe.
11 comments
October 29, 2008 at 8:18 am
Spike
All I know is that Obama got damn lucky that tonight’s World Series game is a starting in the six inning, otherwise he might have lost thousands of Pennsylvanian votes for making them stay up extra late to watch the Phillies potentially win it all.
October 29, 2008 at 8:59 am
heydave
So much for the blather that even NPR permits it’s punditz: so unique they say!
October 29, 2008 at 9:07 am
Ben Alpers
This was the basis for SNL’s Dukakis After Dark sketch from the end of the 1988 campaign season.
October 29, 2008 at 9:34 am
ben wolfson
I lobe obe.
October 29, 2008 at 11:49 am
KRK
Let’s not fool ourselves. Obama is going to use those 30-minutes of prime time to hypnotize the unsuspecting swing voter. Thankfully for Real America, Rush Limbaugh and the right-wing blogs have caught on to the hypnosis trap.
October 29, 2008 at 5:21 pm
essear
“Obe” doesn’t rhyme with “Kobe”, does it?
October 29, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Michael
It should be “Obi,” right? As in, -Wan Kenobi.
October 29, 2008 at 7:21 pm
dana
These are not the voters you’re looking for.
October 29, 2008 at 8:13 pm
silbey
There’s a certain pattern to journalistic writing (yeah, I know it’s from a blog, but…).
It goes something like this:
1. Invoke possible public mind set (“think this will help”?)
2. Ruefully hint at the contrary possibility (“it’s less clear”)
3. Deploy single anecdote to suggest #2 (“Adlai Stevenson…blah, blah, blah”)
4. Act as if something, anything has been proven.
Drives me nuts.
“Think everyone won’t get rich? That’s not clear, as John Q. OrdinaryGuy won the lottery! So instant wealth for everyone could happen!”
October 29, 2008 at 8:21 pm
urbino
I’ve been wondering if a Pres. Obama will use some of his leftover campaign funds (or even continue raising more) to buy ads that directly appeal to the voters on specific issues, as those issues come up for congressional debate, votes, etc. “Fireside ads,” so to speak.
October 29, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Nat X
Why a half-hour comedy hour? Because a full hour would give The Man a rash!