Here’s that much-balleyhooed ad, planting the nickname they’ve decided to run with (beats the hell out of “Hickenritter,” we’ll give them that much), as we’ve been expecting from the Republican Governor’s Association (RGA)–set to run all month with relatively good penetration. From their release yesterday:
The Republican Governors Association today launched an advertising campaign to highlight the similar records of Democratic candidate for governor of Colorado John Hickenlooper and the man he hopes to replace, Gov. Bill Ritter. Both men have raised taxes as elected officials and both have killed tens of thousands of jobs. The significant RGA effort includes television ads on broadcast and cable outlets, radio spots and online advertisements promoting the website www.NoJobsJohn.com.
Now the $290 million in “tax increases” that Hickenlooper “pushed” are mostly comprised of the school funding measures voters approved in 2003, as well as 2007’s “Better Denver” bond issues. It’s true that he’s a persuasive campaigner, but it’s not like he decreed them like the Sheriff of Nottingham; voters approve taxes in Colorado (write that down). But let’s face it, facts aren’t really what this ad is about, it’s more about the stripes–that’s zebra not jail, mind you, though the RGA forgives you for having to think about it.
And how about the nickname? “No Jobs John?” We’re not completely sure that’s going to have purchase on an entrepreneur business founder with a short political resume, but at least it rhymes: some consultants will tell you that’s half the battle.
UPDATE: Resident grammar authorities correctly note that “No Jobs John” is not in fact a rhyme in strict grammatical terms, but an alliteration in the same vein as “Jumpin’ Jehosophat” or “Leapin’ Lizards.” We thank our astute community as always.
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Must be because the K Street lobbyists Scooter McLobbyist and Tom DeLay hung out with in Washington DC are getting desperate about how little money Scott is raising.
Pooper. Pooper Scooper. Chicken Cooper. They don’t make any sense but neither does No Jobs John.
That’s what we used to call Hickenlooper when he first took office. Was only for a little fun, nothing more.
Chicken Cooper is a new one I haven’t heard before.
Per the Colorado Constitution (Tabor), only the people of the State of Colorado can vote to raise taxes.
If Ritter raised taxes, then he did so illegally. I’m not aware of any lawsuits claiming he illegally raised taxes.
Jobs are the #1 concern of the voters. But you have to have some kind of credible argument to make this work – this has none.
Because Hick hasn’t been up on the air with any “get to know me” spots (at least in this market, not sure about the East slope), this will get traction with SOME voters statewide. It would get less traction if Hick had been up with warm fuzzy ads of his own.
Early “warm fuzzy” ads tend to inoculate a candidate against stuff like this.
Let’s not forget that business-friendly Forbes rated Colorado as the 4th best state in which to do business in the country.
ads you love to hate and ads you love to gloat over. This one is well produced and the No Jobs John is catchy and fresh.
When your candidate has no message.
Rule number ONE of marketing – never assert a value or claim against a brand that is easily refuted or denied.
Hick went from unemployed geologist to multimillionaire businessman thru his own hard work (and beer brewing skills.) He’s created more jobs in one restaurant downtown than Scooter ever created.
On the other hand, taking job-creation advice from the Lawyer-Lobbyist is like taking Tax advice from Wesley Snipes.
One of Hick’s strengths is that he’s actually created jobs. The Rovian response is to start lying and say that Hick kills jobs.
But nobody can accuse you of defending the ad as accurate, can they? No, it’s accuracy is immaterial, so long as the attack is “catchy and fresh”.
This is why I could never have a career in politics. Some part of my soul would die.
No Jobs John is not catchy and fresh, it’s crappy and …. well I can’t think of an antonym for fresh that begins with an F. But you get my point!
not quite an antonym, but close.
I had never thought about that. That’s great. Now if you can come up with a one syllable word that begins with an F I will be forever grateful!
n/t
Or is that more than one syllable?
Oh, ha ha, lol. The warmth is making my brain melt so I didn’t catch the fun until it was too late.
n/t
and as loose as Exlax.
What jobs has McInnis created bersides his high paying consultants on his campaign?
This was released on April 24, 2010 after all those so called tax increases the RGA ad talks about were already in place. Colorado has four of the top twenty cities in the United States on the list including:
4. Ft. Collins, colorado
6. Denver, Colorado
12. Colorado Springs, Colorado
14. Boulder, Colorado
The number one factor Forbes used to determine this list was the cost of labor, cost of energy, tax burden and availability of office space. In brief, Forbes thinks the tax burden in Colorado isn’t a problem for business.
Apparently, Mayor Hickenlooper hasn’t scared away the business community as the RGA suggests.
can come up with nicknames for Scotty.
Shifty Scotty.
I would expect some pretty vicious ads knocking the no oil and gas regulations position by McInnis. Anyone who buys his fairy tale that the new oil and gas regs. cost jobs and are unnecessary aren’t going to vote in their self-interest anyway.
Of how out-of-state consultants can screw you big time when they run ads. Everyone here knows that only that taxpayers can raise taxes. No one cares about Ritter anymore, and frankly, I bet his approval numbers are way up. And, finally, all I could think about when I saw the commercial this morning was that those suits were the ugliest thing I have ever seen and were they really striped that way, that not even quirky John Hickenlooper would be caught dead in that thing and that didn’t they look like prison uniforms (which is I suppose the subliminal message intended) and that it’s crazy to try to go negative on Hickenlooper. I can hardly wait for the response. I’m thinking he dresses up like the Emperor with no clothes and does a take off on the fact that he can’t raise taxes. And besides, everyone knows that both the state and city government are cutting budgets like crazy. See what I mean about out-of-state consultants?
It is interesting that the GOP still sees Governor Ritter as highly unpopular.
If, this ad buy does not generate better polling numbers for Scott McInnis I predict the RGA will pull out and concede Colorado.
A month of no response will have an impact on the Mayor’s poll numbers.
It’s blame the other guy but don’t present anything new or positive except Drill baby drill. That’s all they’ve got.
They certainly won’t talk about the billion dollar order that the wind turbine plant in Windsor recently got that reflects Ritter’s focus on the new energy economy.
They’ve got nothing except insults and this ad shows how empty the Republican cupboard is of new conservative ideas.
and the bad ties they are both wearing. I am totally convinced now. I have no choice but to vote for McInnis. What an effective ad.
Everything above it, though, is a little off.
No choice, gotta vote for McInnis. In fact, who do I write a check out to?
It alliterates.
Rhyme and dime rhyme.
Jobs and John alliterate.
Little old lady got mutilated late last night.
Warren Zevon – Werewolves of London.
“His hair was perfect.”
attacks a highly successful entrepreneur?
Logic has nothing to do with it.
accusing Twiggy of being too fat.
LBJ says to campagin aid says “lets say that he sodomizes pigs”
Campaign aid says” we can’t say that, he doesn’t sodomize pigs”
LBJ says” I know, but he’ll have to deny it”
It’s used quite a bit by professional politicians.
No Mustache McInnis?
Scooter McLoser
another c4 smear merchant:
It usually gets filed after the election.
That has Dick Wadhams all over it.
But it just doesn’t have the same pejorative zing as “Boulder Liberal Mark Udall.”
Big Blue Horse Statue Penis?
Does that rhyme?
This ad brought to you by the guy who personally profited from the Hurricane Katrina recovery and thinks slavery isn’t that big of a deal.
Go back across the Mason-Dixon line you Fast Bastard. Coloradans beat the Confederates once and will do it again if you try us.
Forget McInnis – he’s irrelevant.
We want us some mo’ jobs with John!
What!?!? Elect a man who knows business if you need jobs, that’s a radical idea! Scott the slippery snake is in trouble.
Those horrible TAXES are killing the City of Denver! They’re gonna rate our bonds really badly and…oh….
Denver bonds rated AAA by three credit agencies
The City of Denver’s general obligation bonds have been rated AAA, the highest bond rating, by all three major national credit ratings agencies, Mayor John Hickenlooper and city CFO Claude Pumilia said on Tuesday.
Denver is the only city or county in Colorado to hold AAA ratings from all three credit agencies, the officials said.
“It’s rewarding to have three national agencies recognize the city’s creditworthiness with their highest ratings,” Hickenlooper said in a statement. “This is the result of tough choices Denver has made in recent years to deliver balanced budgets and operate the city government efficiently and effectively.”
http://www.bizjournals.com/den…