abstrusezincate
Member
- Joined
- May 20, 2007
- Messages
- 384
Ron Paul has two major hurdles left before he can win in the eyes of the electorate, especially Republicans. He has to seem to have the stature of someone of martial bearing, able to lead the country in war, and to be trusted to defend America if a legitimate threat arises. This is the ad I would create, and I strongly suggest the campaign consider a piece built upon offering a resounding response to these two questions.
The advertisement starts with Ron Paul sitting behind a desk in a scene reminiscent of, though not identicial to, the Oval Office.
He looks into the camera and says:
"As President of the United States, my first duty will always be to protect the safety of Americans from all threats foreign and domestic."
A clip or series of brief clips are shown reminding the nation of the terrorist attack on September 11th.
"If America is attacked, I will respond. After the terrible attacks that shook our nation on September 11th, I stood together with all my fellow Americans in unwavering resolve to bring Osama bin Laden and those who perpetrated these heinous attacks to justice. When the Taliban regime refused our just demand to release this terrorist, I voted for going to war in Afghanistan so he would be held accountable."
Ron then turns to the camera and says. "The philosophy of liberty is about accountability, and you can feel secure knowing that President Paul will hold those who would do serious harm to America accountable for their actions."
Picture(s) of Paul serving as a veteran are appropriate here.
Paul then says, "But what I will not do is sacrifice the liberty we have for the illusion of security."
"As President, I would support eliminating the TSA, rolling back the Department of Homeland Security, restoring your Fourth Amendment rights against search and seizure, and strengthening your Second Amendment rights to personal defense."
Pictures as appropriate for the ideas above.
Go back to Ron behind the desk.
"Our security derives not from limiting our liberties, but through the commitment of the men and women who make it their personal responsibility to make sacrifices for our defense. As someone who served because I share that personal responsibility, every American must know this: I will not lead our finest men and women into war unless there is no other option, but should it prove necessary and the Congress authorizes me to declare war as our Constitution requires, know that I will not hesitate for an instant to use every capacity at my command to accomplish victory as swiftly as possible against any threat. Our servicemen deserve no less."
Final disclaimer, use the military photo at the end.
"I'm Ron Paul and I approve this message."
Key Concepts
Last time around, the most devastating ad of the entire Democratic campaign was Hillary's 3 a.m. ad. When it gets down to Ron and one or two others, it's inevitable the argument they are going to use against him is if you should trust him to be in charge in a critical moment. It is not a question of policy, ultimately, but a question of personality and if you are seen as a leader who can be Commander-in-Chief.
The campaign must frame this issue now, and it is exactly the right time to talk about this. Ron Paul has a pro-America foreign policy, not an isolationist foreign policy. It promotes strength at home, shows respect to our servicemen and servicewomen, and will go after threats when they are real.
But what this ad does is provide comfort to everyone asking themselves if Ron can be trusted as the guy with the suitcase. His philosophy of freedom is central to the ad, and makes him the proper voice for the leader of the free world. This matters to many as a visceral requirement.
His argument here that what we have done, not phrased in terms of the wars abroad, but in terms of the expensive, ineffective, and fundamentally unconstitutional acts here at home makes the case for his pro-America policy. We can protect our guns, protect ourselves from search and seizure (an indirect attack on the Patriot Act), and we don't need screeners everywhere, which most everyone hates.
I bring up September 11th because Ron Paul speaking about it plainly like this debunks all charges of trutherism and conspiracy and it shows he was there supporting the fight against those who attacked us. It is one thing to argue that our actions have caused blowback and to learn from them, which Dr. Paul has done. But an ad like this shows it should not for one second be interpreted to think Ron will accept any attack against American citizens as acceptable, especially here at home. People need to hear that, because they haven't.
The other important thing is people seeing him as President. When the media says you can't, an ad like this shows he will. And when you say President Paul would, as this ad does, the possibility is planted in people's minds, and people will be talking about Ron as commander in chief. When the ad is attacked, people will see it. And then, rooted in his philosophy, that of liberty, people will make their choice about whether or not he is the man to keep America secure.
If they agree, the last objection is gone, and we win. Because on every other major policy issue, more Republicans agree with Ron than the other candidates. Don't reopen Iraq, don't fight about blowback, just put our foreign policy on a rational basis that hawks can feel okay about, and let's do this.
For the win.
The advertisement starts with Ron Paul sitting behind a desk in a scene reminiscent of, though not identicial to, the Oval Office.
He looks into the camera and says:
"As President of the United States, my first duty will always be to protect the safety of Americans from all threats foreign and domestic."
A clip or series of brief clips are shown reminding the nation of the terrorist attack on September 11th.
"If America is attacked, I will respond. After the terrible attacks that shook our nation on September 11th, I stood together with all my fellow Americans in unwavering resolve to bring Osama bin Laden and those who perpetrated these heinous attacks to justice. When the Taliban regime refused our just demand to release this terrorist, I voted for going to war in Afghanistan so he would be held accountable."
Ron then turns to the camera and says. "The philosophy of liberty is about accountability, and you can feel secure knowing that President Paul will hold those who would do serious harm to America accountable for their actions."
Picture(s) of Paul serving as a veteran are appropriate here.
Paul then says, "But what I will not do is sacrifice the liberty we have for the illusion of security."
"As President, I would support eliminating the TSA, rolling back the Department of Homeland Security, restoring your Fourth Amendment rights against search and seizure, and strengthening your Second Amendment rights to personal defense."
Pictures as appropriate for the ideas above.
Go back to Ron behind the desk.
"Our security derives not from limiting our liberties, but through the commitment of the men and women who make it their personal responsibility to make sacrifices for our defense. As someone who served because I share that personal responsibility, every American must know this: I will not lead our finest men and women into war unless there is no other option, but should it prove necessary and the Congress authorizes me to declare war as our Constitution requires, know that I will not hesitate for an instant to use every capacity at my command to accomplish victory as swiftly as possible against any threat. Our servicemen deserve no less."
Final disclaimer, use the military photo at the end.
"I'm Ron Paul and I approve this message."
Key Concepts
Last time around, the most devastating ad of the entire Democratic campaign was Hillary's 3 a.m. ad. When it gets down to Ron and one or two others, it's inevitable the argument they are going to use against him is if you should trust him to be in charge in a critical moment. It is not a question of policy, ultimately, but a question of personality and if you are seen as a leader who can be Commander-in-Chief.
The campaign must frame this issue now, and it is exactly the right time to talk about this. Ron Paul has a pro-America foreign policy, not an isolationist foreign policy. It promotes strength at home, shows respect to our servicemen and servicewomen, and will go after threats when they are real.
But what this ad does is provide comfort to everyone asking themselves if Ron can be trusted as the guy with the suitcase. His philosophy of freedom is central to the ad, and makes him the proper voice for the leader of the free world. This matters to many as a visceral requirement.
His argument here that what we have done, not phrased in terms of the wars abroad, but in terms of the expensive, ineffective, and fundamentally unconstitutional acts here at home makes the case for his pro-America policy. We can protect our guns, protect ourselves from search and seizure (an indirect attack on the Patriot Act), and we don't need screeners everywhere, which most everyone hates.
I bring up September 11th because Ron Paul speaking about it plainly like this debunks all charges of trutherism and conspiracy and it shows he was there supporting the fight against those who attacked us. It is one thing to argue that our actions have caused blowback and to learn from them, which Dr. Paul has done. But an ad like this shows it should not for one second be interpreted to think Ron will accept any attack against American citizens as acceptable, especially here at home. People need to hear that, because they haven't.
The other important thing is people seeing him as President. When the media says you can't, an ad like this shows he will. And when you say President Paul would, as this ad does, the possibility is planted in people's minds, and people will be talking about Ron as commander in chief. When the ad is attacked, people will see it. And then, rooted in his philosophy, that of liberty, people will make their choice about whether or not he is the man to keep America secure.
If they agree, the last objection is gone, and we win. Because on every other major policy issue, more Republicans agree with Ron than the other candidates. Don't reopen Iraq, don't fight about blowback, just put our foreign policy on a rational basis that hawks can feel okay about, and let's do this.
For the win.
