No room in the big tent for hicks

christiefan915

christiefan915

Catalyst
Now what was that criticism again about Obama saying people cling to guns and religion?

GOP ad attacking Manchin embarrasses Raese camp

What a hick-up.

Republican John Raese's surprisingly robust U.S. Senate campaign against West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin was dealt an embarrassing blow Thursday when it was revealed that "hicky"-looking actors were sought for a GOP attack ad on the governor...

"We are going for a 'Hicky' Blue Collar look," read a talent agency's casting call for the National Republican Senatorial Committee ad, which had been running since early this week. "These characters are from West Virginia so think coal miner/trucker looks..."

Here are the clothing suggestions for the actors in the now-pulled ad: "jeans, work boots, flannel shirt, denim shirt, Dickie's type jacket with T-shirt underneath, down-filled vest, John Deer [sic] hats (not brand new, preferably beat up), trucker hats (not brand new, preferably beat up)."

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10281/1093432-84.stm#ixzz11mSiDqcr
 
I get it. As a "hick" myself, and living in "hick" country, I have seen plenty of those adds. Some I can laugh at and some I think are over the top demeaning.
 
I'll admit after reading the article several times I'm still confused (yes I know I can barely read). So they wanted these blue collar 'hick' types to be seen in this commercial as putting down the opponent? Was the idea behind this that most West Virginian's could supposedly relate to these blue collar 'hick' types in the commercial?
 
cawacko said:
I'll admit after reading the article several times I'm still confused (yes I know I can barely read). So they wanted these blue collar 'hick' types to be seen in this commercial as putting down the opponent? Was the idea behind this that most West Virginian's could supposedly relate to these blue collar 'hick' types in the commercial?
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It's that they broadcast that they view the people of W Virginia as hicks.


Which, hello, of course they do.

But they're supposed to hide it.
 
This one is only somewhat "hick-y" but it is the one that has been running on TV here most recently.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtIgeVPIDRc&feature=player_embedded"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtIgeVPIDRc&feature=player_embedded[/ame]

Believe me, they can and do portray folks around here in a lot worse light.
 
leaningright said:
This one is only somewhat "hick-y" but it is the one that has been running on TV here most recently.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtIgeVPIDRc&feature=player_embedded

Believe me, they can and do portray folks around here in a lot worse light.
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I've done a little marketing but not much. My understanding (to a degree) is that you want to appeal to your audience but not patronize them.

I'm going to imagine in West Virginia or Arkansas you probably won't have four Wall St type looking folks each in $2,000 suits pretending to be regulars from the state. But at what do point do you go over the edge the other way making folks to 'hicky' as you say?
 
cawacko said:
I've done a little marketing but not much. My understanding (to a degree) is that you want to appeal to your audience but not patronize them.

I'm going to imagine in West Virginia or Arkansas you probably won't have four Wall St type looking folks each in $2,000 suits pretending to be regulars from the state. But at what do point do you go over the edge the other way making folks to 'hicky' as you say?
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Come on Cawacko. You really think there's any doubt about that particular ad? Crikes.
 
Darla said:
Come on Cawacko. You really think there's any doubt about that particular ad? Crikes.
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I didn't see the ad that's why I asked. I get you want blue collar folk in a West Virginia ad. The state has very limited white collar industry. So I assume its the 'hick' part that's offensive right? Then again knowing how their football fans act that's probably a compliment hence my questions.
 
cawacko said:
I didn't see the ad that's why I asked. I get you want blue collar folk in a West Virginia ad. The state has very limited white collar industry. So I assume its the 'hick' part that's offensive right? Then again knowing how their football fans act that's probably a compliment hence my questions.
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Oh you didn't watch it? Leaning posted it. Well, I think some guy squeezing his socks out in a river and talking in that exaggerated fashion is pretty stupid.
 
Darla said:
Oh you didn't watch it? Leaning posted it. Well, I think some guy squeezing his socks out in a river and talking in that exaggerated fashion is pretty stupid.
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Now I'm confused. I thought the opening post was about West Virginia and rightleaning's post was an ad from Arkansas?
 
Darla said:
Oh you didn't watch it? Leaning posted it. Well, I think some guy squeezing his socks out in a river and talking in that exaggerated fashion is pretty stupid.
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I also thought the exaggerated talk was pretty stupid. That add will appeal, though, to several of the rural folks. They'll laugh at it like they do Foxworthy and pull the lever for Boozman. He'll win.
 
cawacko said:
I didn't see the ad that's why I asked. I get you want blue collar folk in a West Virginia ad. The state has very limited white collar industry. So I assume its the 'hick' part that's offensive right? Then again knowing how their football fans act that's probably a compliment hence my questions.
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You're missing the point. Just because you're blue collar or a farmer doesn't neccessarily make you a Hick. I come from farming country and most of the farmers there are college educated and astute business men. Many have MBA's or engineering degrees.
 
leaningright said:
I also thought the exaggerated talk was pretty stupid. That add will appeal, though, to several of the rural folks. They'll laugh at it like they do Foxworthy and pull the lever for Boozman. He'll win.
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If there's two Dems I want gone, one of them is definitely Blanche Lincoln. I mean, I feel spiteful towards her. I have a real dislike of that woman. So, while I'm sure Boozman is an asshole, the way I figure it is at least he's not the Dems' asshole. :)
 
cawacko said:
I didn't see the ad that's why I asked. I get you want blue collar folk in a West Virginia ad. The state has very limited white collar industry. So I assume its the 'hick' part that's offensive right? Then again knowing how their football fans act that's probably a compliment hence my questions.
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I guess two years is a lifetime in politics. Remember this from the 2008 campaign?

Obama: You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing’s replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton administration, and the Bush administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. So it’s not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.

I clearly remember the uproar that created among conservatives. People called his comments demeaning, elitist and out of touch. Even though he was speaking about small towns in my own state and I agreed with him, I took those comments as a major gaffe and was disappointed in his tactlessness.

Two years later, a repub group creates an ad depicting WVA as a state full of hicks.

2) Ad is called “Stop Obama” and we’re looking for three men, preferably in plaid and trucker hats who have that “hicky blue-collar look”

3) Setting is one of those truck-stop-y diners and the men (pref. white) should talk about how Obama is “messin’” things up and refer to Manchin as “Washington Joe” and make a plea to keep him down on the farm so he can’t go to D.C. and make a bigger mess.

4) Make sure the casting call notes that the fellas are from West Virginia and should have those “coal miner/trucker looks.”

5) Wardrobe should collect the following for the shoot: jeans, work boots, flannel shirts, denim shirts and "Dickie's type jacket with t-shirt underneath," "John Deer hats (not brand new, preferably beat up)," and "Trucker hats (not brand new, preferably beat up)."


I consider this ad to be demeaning, elitist and out of touch and conservatives should "refudiate" it as much as they did Obama's comments.
 
christiefan915 said:
I guess two years is a lifetime in politics. Remember this from the 2008 campaign?

Obama: You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing’s replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton administration, and the Bush administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. So it’s not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.

I clearly remember the uproar that created among conservatives. People called his comments demeaning, elitist and out of touch. Even though he was speaking about small towns in my own state and I agreed with him, I took those comments as a major gaffe and was disappointed in his tactlessness.

Two years later, a repub group creates an ad depicting WVA as a state full of hicks.

2) Ad is called “Stop Obama” and we’re looking for three men, preferably in plaid and trucker hats who have that “hicky blue-collar look”

3) Setting is one of those truck-stop-y diners and the men (pref. white) should talk about how Obama is “messin’” things up and refer to Manchin as “Washington Joe” and make a plea to keep him down on the farm so he can’t go to D.C. and make a bigger mess.

4) Make sure the casting call notes that the fellas are from West Virginia and should have those “coal miner/trucker looks.”

5) Wardrobe should collect the following for the shoot: jeans, work boots, flannel shirts, denim shirts and "Dickie's type jacket with t-shirt underneath," "John Deer hats (not brand new, preferably beat up)," and "Trucker hats (not brand new, preferably beat up)."


I consider this ad to be demeaning, elitist and out of touch and conservatives should "refudiate" it as much as they did Obama's comments.
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Oh I remember Obama saying that. He said it at a house on my street.

I put money and football ahead of politics and as a result I think calling the people of West Virginia hicks is a compliment. I'm to biased against them.

Why do you want Republicans to refudiate the statement though? If you are rooting for the Democrats in Congress wouldn't it be to your advantage if it is an insult that this Republican group refered to the idiots (i mean people) of the state as hicks?
 
Darla said:
If there's two Dems I want gone, one of them is definitely Blanche Lincoln. I mean, I feel spiteful towards her. I have a real dislike of that woman. So, while I'm sure Boozman is an asshole, the way I figure it is at least he's not the Dems' asshole. :)
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For practical purposes I'd rather she didn't have to lose. As a human being, yeah, I hate her. Preferable we could form another party called the "Idiot Dems" party to hold people like her while still not having to cede seats to Republicans.
 
Its West Virginia. The people there are 100% pure, organic hick. Apparently they are embarrassed by that, though. That would be like, 3 years ago in Seattle, having a bunch of actors in Birkenstocks and holding Mason jars...
 
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