The Lonesome Mongoose

William “NeoCon Crybaby” Krystol: Someone Else’s Alex

June 23, 2008 · 1 Comment

From the people who brought you the Iraq quagmire…

-RikkiTikki

=====

William Krystol, The New York Times, June 23, 2008

The people at MoveOn.org have a new Iraq ad that is, if they do say so themselves, their most effective ever. Then again, for the group that brought us the “General Petraeus or General Betray Us?” ad last September, that might not be saying much.

Nevertheless, the organization boasts on its Web site, “This isn’t your average political ad — it lays out the truth about McCain’s Iraq policy in a personal and compelling way.” MoveOn also claims, “We just got the results back and polling shows that voters found it to be more persuasive than any other ad we’ve tested before.”

I’m not persuaded. Having slandered a distinguished general officer, MoveOn has now moved on to express contempt for all who might choose to serve their country in uniform.

Their new and improved message is presented in a 30-second TV spot, “Not Alex,” produced in conjunction with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. It’s airing for a week on local broadcast stations in markets in the swing states of Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin, and on two national cable channels, with a reported buy of over half a million dollars.

The ad is simple. A mother speaks as she holds her baby boy:

“Hi, John McCain. This is Alex. And he’s my first. So far his talents include trying any new food and chasing after our dog. That, and making my heart pound every time I look at him. And so, John McCain, when you say you would stay in Iraq for 100 years, were you counting on Alex? Because if you were, you can’t have him.”

Take that, warmonger!

Read More Here

Categories: Commentary
Tagged: , , , , ,

1 response so far ↓

  • scotterb // June 24, 2008 at 8:12 pm | Reply

    I saw that ad and, having young children myself, I found it very powerful. As far as Kristol is concerned: yeah, for unnecessary wars of neo-imperialism, only other peoples’ kids, not mine. Of course, if other people also said no to militarism, there wouldn’t be need for anyone’s kids to fight.

Leave a Comment