Have you checked out the two new Walt Minnick ads that hit the airwaves today (and which John Foster previewed here last night)?
They're great ads, from the crisp retelling of the 1st CD candidate's impressive bio to the montage of photos of Walt hunting, Walt talking with middle-Idaho families, and veterans who've been failed by a nation is quick to send them to war but has too often failed to keep our promises once they're home. The production values are excellent.
But my favorite aspect of the ads is the tagline: "Walt Minnick. Right for Idaho." Longtime RSR readers know that I hate the use of the terms left and right in politics and avoid them in my own writing. I've done research showing that the rise in the terms' media use over the past two decades paralleled that of the neocon Republicans with whom we've been saddled these past eight years. My theory, in short, has been that if Democrats keep using the word right, synonymous with correct, to describe the opposition party, we'll continue to be left behind.
But Democrats have wised up and gotten tough in recent years. We've put extremist Republicans on notice that we are just as patriotic as they are. Many of us are standing up again to say yes, we're liberal, and we're proud of it - and that it's even possible to be liberal and conservative at the same time, depending on the issues. And now I just love seeing Walt Minnick's ads say that he's "right for Idaho," because "right" is a word we need to reclaim, too.
I'm a little troubled by Minnick's decision to play down his Democratic affiliation on his website and his ads. I'd love to have a candidate proudly claim his status as a Dem at every opportunity, together with the idea that he is "right for Idaho." But this is Idaho, and I'm a realist. If laying low as a D is what it takes to loosen the "R" brand's grip on our state's overlooked and underrepresented voters, so be it.
In other news, check out the sharp new look for Larry LaRocco's website (that didn't take long, Tim!) and read mcjoan's take on the startling news that Barack Obama is outraising John McCain in Idaho.
Speaking about proudly standing as a Democrat, the Ada County Democrats will have a float and marchers in the Kuna Days Parade in Kuna, the home turf of our Congressman Bill Sali. We would love to have you all present with us to show that there are democrats in Ada County that are in more places than Boise alone.
We have two great candidates running for House in LD21, Sharon Fisher, and Steven Dillehay who are hitting the pavement and getting their messages out. Let’s support their efforts! We also have our County Commission races with Paul Woods and David Langhorst along with the LaRocco and Minnick races as well as Obama! We will meet in Kuna near the middle school at Ten Mile Rd. and Boise Ave. at 8:15 am on Saturday morning, August 2nd to decorate the float and rally the troops. The parade starts at 9:15 am before the heat of the day so things should be great!
Also, stop by to say “hi” at our Ada County Democrats booth at the Kuna Days festival! We will be there from Friday the 1st from 1pm on and Saturday the 2nd all day!
Working together we can get it done! Here is to big changes come November!
Posted by: Colleen Fellows | July 30, 2008 at 12:34 AM
Colleen, thanks for all this. I'll make a post about it before the weekend.
Posted by: Julie in Boise | July 30, 2008 at 08:10 AM
Colleen, just wanted to thank you again for making the float happen. It made a big difference. Last year, it was just David and Tracy and their kids and me. and the donkeys. :)
Posted by: sharon fisher | August 03, 2008 at 11:02 AM
I loved this commentary on the ads:
http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2008/07/31/outdoors/unsolicited_fly_fishing_advice_walt_minnick
Posted by: sharon fisher | August 03, 2008 at 10:16 PM