U.S. Senate See Full Big Line

(D) J. Hickenlooper*

(R) Somebody

80%

20%

Governor See Full Big Line

(D) Joe Neguse

(D) Phil Weiser

(D) Jena Griswold

60%

60%

40%↓

Att. General See Full Big Line

(D) M. Dougherty

(D) Alexis King

(D) Brian Mason

40%

40%

30%

Sec. of State See Full Big Line

(D) George Stern

(D) A. Gonzalez

(R) Sheri Davis

40%

40%

30%

State Treasurer See Full Big Line

(D) Brianna Titone

(R) Kevin Grantham

(D) Jerry DiTullio

60%

30%

20%

CO-01 (Denver) See Full Big Line

(D) Diana DeGette*

(R) Somebody

90%

2%

CO-02 (Boulder-ish) See Full Big Line

(D) Joe Neguse*

(R) Somebody

90%

2%

CO-03 (West & Southern CO) See Full Big Line

(R) Jeff Hurd*

(D) Somebody

80%

40%

CO-04 (Northeast-ish Colorado) See Full Big Line

(R) Lauren Boebert*

(D) Somebody

90%

10%

CO-05 (Colorado Springs) See Full Big Line

(R) Jeff Crank*

(D) Somebody

80%

20%

CO-06 (Aurora) See Full Big Line

(D) Jason Crow*

(R) Somebody

90%

10%

CO-07 (Jefferson County) See Full Big Line

(D) B. Pettersen*

(R) Somebody

90%

10%

CO-08 (Northern Colo.) See Full Big Line

(R) Gabe Evans*

(D) Yadira Caraveo

(D) Joe Salazar

50%

40%

40%

State Senate Majority See Full Big Line

DEMOCRATS

REPUBLICANS

80%

20%

State House Majority See Full Big Line

DEMOCRATS

REPUBLICANS

95%

5%

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
October 01, 2014 01:21 PM UTC

New College Republican Beauprez Video...Is Really Awful

  • 45 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

UPDATE #2: TIME Magazine declares this the Most Sexist Republican Ad of the Year.

—–

UPDATE: It looks like "Say Yes To Bob Beauprez" was just one of multiple nearly identical videos produced by the College Republicans–others being on behalf of Florida Gov. Rick Scott, Illinois gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner, and many more. In response, the Democratic Governors Association's Sabrina Singh released the following statement blasting them all equally:

"The ads produced by the College Republican National Committee are further evidence that Republican gubernatorial candidates like Rick Scott, Bob Beauprez, and Bruce Rauner still have no idea how to communicate with women voters. That's because it's not just their words that are condescending and insulting, but because their policies – from deep cuts to education to opposition to equal pay for equal work, to mandatory ultrasounds and defunding Planned Parenthood – are deeply out-of-touch with the concerns of women and families. That's a big part of why they'll lose in November."  

Gawker's Sam Biddle has a theory:

If this seems like an impossible stupid way to convince anyone to do anything, let's walk through the metaphor. Everyone loves TLC's hit shows—if everyone loves these shows, and the shows are the same as the GOP, then everyone will love the GOP? The two organizations even have the same number of letters, and rhyme, so you can see how some strategist somewhere thought the video would work.

The Wall Street Journal has a response from the College Republican National Committee:

The ad, running for a full minute, is longer than most, and its content stands out amid the more staged candidate-run ads and the ominous issue ads run by outside groups. The trick, says CRNC national chairman Alex Smith, is to start a conversation.

“How do you reach the generation that has their earbuds in and their minds turned off to traditional advertising?” she said. “It’s our goal to start the conversation by presenting ourselves in a culturally relevant way.”

If by "culturally relevant" they mean "laughingstock," the CRNC might be on to something.

—–

Sometimes an idea that sounds really great in a strategy meeting just doesn't work out when applied to the real world. In politics like other advertising, this can have real consequences, with the embarrassment of a bad idea doing more damage than the good that might have been done even if the concept had succeeded brilliantly. If you're a producer of creative content, you never want to be on the hook for this.

Apropos, the College Republican National Committee released a new web video today in support of Colorado GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez. A video that, to put it charitably, needed a lot more focus grouping before being allowed to see the light of day:

The spot seems to be meant to parody TLC's Say Yes to the Dress, a cable TV show about a bridal shop in New York City. If you happen to know about that relatively obscure television show, which we did, you have more context for what's going on than most viewers.

For everyone else, it's just bizarre. Why is this girl trying on a dress named "The Bob Beauprez?" Why is the girl's mother happy with all these bad things about the "John Hickenlooper" dress? What about viewers who think, style wise, the "John Hickenlooper" dress looks better?

Because it kind of does to us.

There's just too many ways this video can leave viewers with an impression wholly counterproductive to the ad's intent–that is, making Bob Beauprez look good to young voters. It's like watching what some old guy thinks young people would want to see, but it's more like showing a bad 1980s sitcom to today's media savvy kids. And again, if you don't know exactly what it is they're parodying, it comes off as insultingly shallow to young women like those portrayed in the ad. Otherwise known as the targets.

We can't even give this a "too clever by half," because that's double the praise it deserves.

Tweet
Share

Comments

45 thoughts on “New College Republican Beauprez Video…Is Really Awful”

      1. What they are trying to do, I think, Urban, is simplify this to the point where it gets to the reptilian brain where most conservatives spend their cerebral loitering time…

        Vote NO on Udall….

        Say YES to Bob Beauprez….

        issues…what the fuck are those?

         

        2. Specifically, they are targeting the female reptilian brains, and they already will be voting for "Boopray".  Brilliant, though, the strategy is brilliant.  I wonder what Dem consultant pulled that off.

    1. I agree, that was really weird. It is like the radio commercials produced out of state where the voice over pronounces Arvada with a long "a" in the middle. They are obviously big fans of this dress designer Boopray, but what about the guy that is running for governor. 

      1. Actress who has no clue who either candidate is. Is this directed at the daughters of Dem moms or what? It's old fashioned to support Hick and really with it to support Boopray? What a muddle. And thanks for the background info. Have never watched that show. I've seen it in the listings and just assumed it was about fashion. Didn't know it had to do with weddings. Would have been lost.

  4. I'm stunned…really. Even though I think "stunning" is one of the most trite and overused internet words…it is hard to think of another more appropriate…except, maybe…speechless….

      1. Plus they flat out lied about the bad economy.  Ask Scott Walker or Sam Brownback if they wouldn't want to have Hickenlooper's economic record for their states.

        1. Exactly. Colorado has one of the best economies in the country by many different measures and according to many different rating entities. Wisconsin and especially Kansas…. not so much is putting it mildly.

  7. As a fan of "Bulging Brides" (Death Star Network) I'm ..well.. glad I wasn't home schooled at Hillbillie High, with only two choices for Home Coming date, Mom or..  er..  the sister.. this  could be a "veiled threat" to Democracy

  8. I disagree the ad is great.  So great and effective I pray the Republicans don't put millions behind it to make sure every likely voter under 50 sees it at least 30 times.  

  12. One of my guilty pleasures is membership in a closed facebook group in which women do put up selfies of themselves in different outfits and ask for the group's opinions: Which one, a, b or c?

    But this ad was about eight hundred times stupider than anything real women ever say about or to each other, even in the context of something as shallow as trying on clothes.

    Plus the economy and tax talking points are just flat out wrong – Colorado's economy is the 4th best in the nation, in spite of TABOR keeping taxes low. And lower educational standards? WTF? Does anyone actually think that Common Core is lower educational standards? I thought all the beef was about it being too hard!

    1. It looks like the same talking points are used in the different states mamjama.  Dailykos has the Florida version up and the the same billions and gajillions scare points on taxes and the economy are used.  Hard to imagine this group of dolts learning anything in college other than how to lie while waiting for daddy to bequeth them their inheritance.

  13. I watched this without the audio and thought it was dumb. Then I turned on the sound and it got stooopid! If the producers actually thought they'd make points with the college kids, they just spent a whole lot of money for nothing. Boo-pray is old enough to be their grandfather. That resonates.

  15. If "Smoking Gun" ever decides to do an episode of the TV show <i>Worlds Dumbest</i> (You know that comedy show on TruTV) on political ads, I'll be sure to nominate this one

    It's a winner for sure 🙂 LOL

Leave a Comment

Recent Comments


Posts about

Donald Trump
SEE MORE

Posts about

Rep. Lauren Boebert
SEE MORE

Posts about

Rep. Yadira Caraveo
SEE MORE

Posts about

Colorado House
SEE MORE

Posts about

Colorado Senate
SEE MORE

104 readers online now

Newsletter

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to stay in the loop with regular updates!