I worked in the political & media fields in the 80s. I suspect you're too young to remember a reference point, a campaign (on which I worked) in Pennsylvania, that of Clarissa Nagle. THAT'S WHERE THEY GOT THIS TACTICAL PLAYBOOK. Nagle's estranged & allegedly abusive father appeared in a commercial released by her opponent, right before the election. Highly critical of her in every way, while portraying him as a forlorn abandoned elderly father. And it had a devastating effect on the campaign, IMO caused her loss. Pre-internet & smartphone, released with devastatingly precise timing to dominate the news cycles, headlines, and tv news ledes. Please look into it: you'll quickly realize someone in VR's "old GOP" circle had knowledge of the Nagle precedent. Also note the deliberate downplaying of Acton's (biological only!) "mother" visual appearance: no makeup, dowdy hair, etc. I'd love to see pics of what she looks like on a regular basis.
I doubt this ad will have the same effect. For every MAGA die hard it brings to the polls, it’s going to motivate two Democrats to do the same. Also, there’s nothing sympathetic about Acton’s animal cruelty and child endangerment mother.
Thanks for this and thanks to Eric (1st commenter) as well. I’ve been puzzled why they quadrupled down on this ad too.
My unrefined guess is pretty simple, and probably naive: They believe the backlash against this ad shows it can be used to force loyalty.
They have the power to dictate an indecent, cruel, and audaciously false reality. And you, dear Republican voter, will believe it - or at least keep your doubts to yourself and vote for it - to prove your loyalty to the cause you’ve defended these last ten years. It’s a version of Trump’s 2017 inaugural crowd size on steroids.
Maybe they’re burning the boats. Or maybe Ramaswamy and his ilk are so malignantly arrogant, they believe this kind of fascist-maxxing will work. God help us if Ohio voters fail to prove him wrong.
Your analysis rings true for me even if the particulars wind up being otherwise. I am wondering whether we should expect many things in these last three weeks (after the last spending reporting time prior to the election) that are questionably sourced, inconsistently visible, and mysteriously targeted. It could even be that this was dropped earlier than they intended. In this case, there's likely enough time to respond, clarify, and point to the absurdity of people who thought they were voting for the release of the Epstein files being goaded to side with a child sex abuse abettor. It seems like there could be a ton of things set to release too close to the election to be seen, rebutted, and reported on in time. Some could be dirty tricks like the Musk faux RBG tie-in ad from 2024, but others like this could be designed to make the facially odd campaign of "vote like I'm on the ballot" from a very unpopular pol be more effective, but not until the last minute. It's all very slimy, but unlikely to actually be illegal as opposed to just gross. There has been a lot of discussion of the ineffectiveness of sitting on a campaign war chest until the very end, based on standard messaging practices, ad buy cost structure, and history, but this sort of thing could be where it all gets directed, a blitz of falsehoods and misdirections released at the very last minute. Could even be "November surprises."
Great analysis -- it pushed me beyond what I was already thinking.
Cliché though it is, "chickens come home to roost" is much on my mind. The Republicans have been heading in this direction at least since Reagan. What intrigues me about this particular case? Start with the fact that Ramaswamy couldn't pass the "brown paper bag test" to be considered white -- but Republicans are running him for governor of Ohio anyway. For Democrats this would be no big deal. For Republicans it suggests "bottom of the barrel." Along with that, Ohio has been fairly safely Republican for quite a while now. Did they figure they could get away with foisting a potentially problematic candidate off on Ohio?
I am so much more fascinated by this midterm election than I ever expected to be. (Don't blame me: I'm from Massachusetts!)
Yeah! There is a lot of sickness in it. The mom let her daughter be raped. Her mother! Pure evil. Amy Actons mother deserves to spend her last years in prison.
Sad to say, this Second Wave feminist isn't all that shocked. Women supporting men against women, including their own female relatives, is not a new story. The fact that Amy Acton was able to rise so far above it -- *that's* an inspiring story.
I worked in the political & media fields in the 80s. I suspect you're too young to remember a reference point, a campaign (on which I worked) in Pennsylvania, that of Clarissa Nagle. THAT'S WHERE THEY GOT THIS TACTICAL PLAYBOOK. Nagle's estranged & allegedly abusive father appeared in a commercial released by her opponent, right before the election. Highly critical of her in every way, while portraying him as a forlorn abandoned elderly father. And it had a devastating effect on the campaign, IMO caused her loss. Pre-internet & smartphone, released with devastatingly precise timing to dominate the news cycles, headlines, and tv news ledes. Please look into it: you'll quickly realize someone in VR's "old GOP" circle had knowledge of the Nagle precedent. Also note the deliberate downplaying of Acton's (biological only!) "mother" visual appearance: no makeup, dowdy hair, etc. I'd love to see pics of what she looks like on a regular basis.
Ooooh wonderful context. Thank you for sharing!
Roger Stone loved the ad. He's 'old GOP'...if he doesn't remember Nagle, he probably told the story to a younger associate.
Love this! I was a sentient, politically engaged adult in the '80s, but I didn't know about this campaign or where that playbook may have started.
I doubt this ad will have the same effect. For every MAGA die hard it brings to the polls, it’s going to motivate two Democrats to do the same. Also, there’s nothing sympathetic about Acton’s animal cruelty and child endangerment mother.
What does the Ramaswamy campaign have in common with the Ford Pinto? There is a vengeful plan behind his ad that extends well past election day.
https://newsletter.aprogressiveway.com/what-does-the-ramaswamy-campaign-have-in-common-with-the-ford-pinto/
Thank you! will take a look once I get the kids to school.
Thanks for this and thanks to Eric (1st commenter) as well. I’ve been puzzled why they quadrupled down on this ad too.
My unrefined guess is pretty simple, and probably naive: They believe the backlash against this ad shows it can be used to force loyalty.
They have the power to dictate an indecent, cruel, and audaciously false reality. And you, dear Republican voter, will believe it - or at least keep your doubts to yourself and vote for it - to prove your loyalty to the cause you’ve defended these last ten years. It’s a version of Trump’s 2017 inaugural crowd size on steroids.
Maybe they’re burning the boats. Or maybe Ramaswamy and his ilk are so malignantly arrogant, they believe this kind of fascist-maxxing will work. God help us if Ohio voters fail to prove him wrong.
Your analysis rings true for me even if the particulars wind up being otherwise. I am wondering whether we should expect many things in these last three weeks (after the last spending reporting time prior to the election) that are questionably sourced, inconsistently visible, and mysteriously targeted. It could even be that this was dropped earlier than they intended. In this case, there's likely enough time to respond, clarify, and point to the absurdity of people who thought they were voting for the release of the Epstein files being goaded to side with a child sex abuse abettor. It seems like there could be a ton of things set to release too close to the election to be seen, rebutted, and reported on in time. Some could be dirty tricks like the Musk faux RBG tie-in ad from 2024, but others like this could be designed to make the facially odd campaign of "vote like I'm on the ballot" from a very unpopular pol be more effective, but not until the last minute. It's all very slimy, but unlikely to actually be illegal as opposed to just gross. There has been a lot of discussion of the ineffectiveness of sitting on a campaign war chest until the very end, based on standard messaging practices, ad buy cost structure, and history, but this sort of thing could be where it all gets directed, a blitz of falsehoods and misdirections released at the very last minute. Could even be "November surprises."
Desperate campaigns take desperate actions, and a lot of GOP candidates seem pretty desperate right now...
Great analysis -- it pushed me beyond what I was already thinking.
Cliché though it is, "chickens come home to roost" is much on my mind. The Republicans have been heading in this direction at least since Reagan. What intrigues me about this particular case? Start with the fact that Ramaswamy couldn't pass the "brown paper bag test" to be considered white -- but Republicans are running him for governor of Ohio anyway. For Democrats this would be no big deal. For Republicans it suggests "bottom of the barrel." Along with that, Ohio has been fairly safely Republican for quite a while now. Did they figure they could get away with foisting a potentially problematic candidate off on Ohio?
I am so much more fascinated by this midterm election than I ever expected to be. (Don't blame me: I'm from Massachusetts!)
Should not need a focus group to know how vile this ad is.
Yeah! There is a lot of sickness in it. The mom let her daughter be raped. Her mother! Pure evil. Amy Actons mother deserves to spend her last years in prison.
Sad to say, this Second Wave feminist isn't all that shocked. Women supporting men against women, including their own female relatives, is not a new story. The fact that Amy Acton was able to rise so far above it -- *that's* an inspiring story.