Bush In 30 Seconds


MoveOn.org sponsored a contest, in which members were asked to submit video ads on the topic of George W. Bush, 30 seconds in duration, to be aired during the coming election season. They received three times as many ads as they expected, many of them high quality, and the ads themselves became an underground internet sensation as friends traded ad URLS. Along with other members, I ranked on dozens of ads; these are the ones that I liked best.

One thing that surprised me was how many of the ads were downright FUNNY. I find that interesting, because today's commercial politics generally is about fear; I had to turn off the radio last Sunday rather than listen to the Democratic candidates try and outdo each other in the fear department ("I will keep you safe!" "No, you won't, I will keep you safe!" ad nauseum). I loved these ads because they provide an antidote to fear:

Bush Cheney Autoworld , by John Spaight & Andrew Goldberg - takeoff on late-night television commercials that is screamingly funny.

Bush Save The Day , by Diana Stone, Gary Arnold, Aaron Adler,Rudi Adler,Fred Kluth,Alex Cama, Phil Apperle - great 1950's style animated spot highlighting our fearless leader's 'successes.'

If Parents Acted Like Bush , by Christopher Fink - Bush politics, translated to the home turf.

Seriously , by by Robert Tate & Robert Roznowski - straight talk from an earnest young mother in the park.

Snake , no author given - Crikey, I think he bites!

The Job Review , by the Wilmington Seven - Nu-CLEE-ehr, George, Nu-CLEE-ehr! Love the ending, too.


Then there are the serious, hard-hitting ads.

A Christian President , by Ben (no last name given) - of all the ads, this moved me the most, because it reminded me of how the true promise of Christianity has been hijacked in the name of wealth and empire.

Bush Knew , by Global Free Press - rap with a message that hits home.

Deep Throat , by Barbara Honegger - back from the past, Deep Throat reveals the Bush agenda and complicity.

Instant Messaging 9-11 , by anonymous.c., TN - the facts are true, and the footage harrowing.

Leave No Billionaire Behind , by Andrew Boyd (AKA Phil T. Rich) & the B4B team. Full credits at: http://www.BillionairesForBush.com - dramatic illustration of the generational transfer of wealth going on right now.

Misled , by Guerilla News Network (gnn.tv) - don't be misled any longer.

Polygraph , by Adam Feinstein & Rich Garella - dramatic illustration of Bush's lies.

What Is Presidential? no author given - simple ad, simple words, powerful message of how far short of the mark our leader is.

The ad ranking is over at this point; I think that Leave No Billionaire Behind made it into the finalists. Personally, I think that MoveOn should plan to air a plethora of ads - there are so many good ones, with a variety of approaches, that I think that they would really have an impact. If you want more information, visit www.BushIn30Seconds.org . The movies are licensed under a Creative Commons License .

Posted: Tue - January 6, 2004 at 08:32 AM          

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