...and I endorse this message.

November 10, 2011 8:14 AM

Honestly, Abe? (SLYT)

Imagining a political attack ad against Abraham Lincoln, as an example of the kinds of attacks fact-checked and corrected at FlackCheck (a "third cousin once removed" production of FactCheck.org).

posted by caution live frogs (16 comments total)

Nice idea, not really great on the execution. Needs more demon sheep.
posted by odinsdream at 8:39 AM on November 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

Nobodies being executed, get your facts straight.
posted by stbalbach at 8:42 AM on November 10, 2011

Surely a good Lincoln attack ad would target his opposition to states' rights?

He fought a war for federal authority over the states. That's not exactly small government.

(Dot-com, this need you have to be the smartest guy in the room is... offputting.)
posted by running order squabble fest at 8:45 AM on November 10, 2011

I'm with odinsdream, they could have used some more time or more eyes on the script. Nice start, though! :)
posted by rhizome at 8:58 AM on November 10, 2011

I never voted for the guy.
posted by philip-random at 9:15 AM on November 10, 2011 [6 favorites]

Surely a good Lincoln attack ad would target his opposition to states' rights?

running order squabble fest, that's in their other ad, being catered to the formerly-Confederate demographics (and Kentucky).

Soon there will surface reports about Lincoln's childhood habit of stealing books (he only walked 10 miles to return it after the owner threatened legal sanctions, according to sources close to ... Illinois).

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Enquirer is running back-to-back articles about Lincoln's "gay lover" scandal, but the serious press won't pick up that story.
posted by IAmBroom at 10:02 AM on November 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

(Dot-com, this need you have to be the smartest guy in the room is... offputting.)

WTF?
posted by slater at 10:21 AM on November 10, 2011

slater it's a 30 rock quote
posted by estronaut at 10:36 AM on November 10, 2011

Apologies, Slater- it's a reference to the American comedy series 30 Rock, in which the hulking bodyguards of the in-the-show movie star Tracy Jordan are prone to showing an unexpected level of knowledge and delicacy of tone. This reference comes from an episode in which Jordan is being asked by his TV station head Jack Donaghy to record a promotional endorsement for John McCain's presidential campaign. One of the arguments used to persuade him is that Abraham Lincoln was a Republican, at which point Dot-Com (the hip-hop soubriquet of one of Jordan's hulking minders) notes:

Actually, Abraham Lincoln would find the modern Republican party unrecognizable. He fought a war for federal authority over the states. That's not exactly small government.

The above is the rejoinder from Donaghy.

I thought the Venn diagram of "reads Metafilter" and "watches 30 Rock" would be pretty much a circle (barring the toenail crescent of "is this something I would need to own a TV to understand?"). I will check my cultural privilege accordingly.
posted by running order squabble fest at 10:39 AM on November 10, 2011

Back somewhat on topic, Lincoln has already featured in at least one demented attack ad, although not as the target. Ladd Ehrlinger Jr, most notable for the "Give Me Your Cash, B--tch" attack ad directed at Janice Hahn, made an earlier political advert, astonishingly not only approved by but starring Tea Party Congressional hopeful Rick Barber. Zombie Abe Lincoln got to say one word, "slavery" - to describe paying tax to provide healthcare for somebody else.

This may sound un-Lincolnlike - after all, he had a pretty clear idea of what slavery actually was - but at least it means he gets a speaking extra rate. George Washington just delivers a budget-saving nod.
posted by running order squabble fest at 10:52 AM on November 10, 2011

And really, what is any law but slavery?
posted by Naberius at 11:02 AM on November 10, 2011

At the Lincoln Library / Museum in Springfield they have a lot of attack ads and cartoons on display lambasting Lincoln from his campaign onwards -- he wasn't universally revered at the time, and people weren't any more averse to going negative than they are now.
posted by Mchelly at 12:33 PM on November 10, 2011

There are a lot of stars on that flag. I suspect this may not be real footage.
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:52 PM on November 10, 2011

If only they had used the Lincoln from Star Trek...
posted by juiceCake at 5:50 PM on November 10, 2011

Speaking of attack ads: Karl Rove Joins the Battle Against Violent Hippie Monster Elizabeth Warren
posted by homunculus at 7:50 PM on November 10, 2011

The one crucial thing missing from that video was The Voice. The guy narrating is trying, but compare it to the voice in the ad posted by odinsdream. That's The Voice. (Okay, there are probably two Voices, one male and one female, but that's a minor point.)

Every political ad uses The Voice. I think of it as the "I'm about to lie to you" voice. Or at least the "be very very deceptive" voice. I know it's just supposed to be dramatic and get my attention, but now when I hear it I just check my wallet is still in my pocket and walk a little faster away from it.
posted by benito.strauss at 7:22 AM on November 11, 2011 [1 favorite]