Tales From The Heartland

I just saw Ron Paul's latest ad in Iowa. Where the first one that I saw about 2 weeks ago was slick and aggressive, this one was boring, sickeningly sweet and, OBVIOUSLY, pandering to the Conservative Christian Right. The theme of the first one was built around a big, bold tractor trailer rolling through Iowa like a runaway train of new political ideas announcing that, "this is how Ron Paul rolls". Now I'm not saying that Paul is "The Guy", but I found the ad, especially compared with the other candidates', impressive. The current spot, for me, was the polar opposite. It features a series of middle aged women in front of a simple background talking about Paul's former career as a pediatrician. With thick, southern accents they extol his virtues as a caring, thoughtful physician. This is good. But, then, they begin to praise his position supporting the so-called Right To Live faction and his support of the unborn. In other words, he does not support a woman's right to choose.

Now, without getting into a separate and PASSIONATE discussion of "Right To Life vs Right to Choose", I found two issues with the ad right away. First, I find in incongruous that a "libertarian", who exchews government interference, would support legislation that would intrude on a woman's very private right to make decisions concerning her body. Second, the spot is (again, IMHO) obviously pandering to the Conservative Christian right. Without using actual Christian rhetoric, the woman certainly imply that their comments in support of Right to Live (i.e. anti-abortion) are inspired by their faith. It was so sickeningly sweet that I think that I got a cavity just watching it! Furthermore, it comes across as pandering to a special interest group, something he claims never to do. Strange.

The TV is on in the background here in Des Moines and the political ads are coming fast and furious: another from Paul claiming he's a Washington "outsider", Romney claiming "he has the plan to take back America, Gingrich channeling the spirit of Ronald Reagan, and Perry talking tough, telling foreign countries instead of counting on American aid, "get jobs and go to work like America does". It's a little frightening but sure is fun at the same time!