Second Draft of USA Today Ad

[LibertyEagle]

In an ad, balance can be really important. As it currently is, Franklin's pic directs the eye off the page to the right, and Washington and Jefferson's pics direct the eye off to the left.

If I, personally, was doing this from scratch, first of all I'd use a pic of Jefferson where he was looking you in the eye, like this one:

Then I'd switch around the pics of Jefferson and Washington.
Then I'd mirror the pic of Franklin so he was facing to the left.
So from left to right it would be Madison, Jefferson, Washington, then Franklin, and they'd all be facing the center.

When they're all facing the center, the eye is directed to the text, "An Open Letter To The American People". If people are flipping pages, and don't read that opening line, they will completely ignore the rest of the ad. It has to catch people's attention and get them to start reading it at first glance.

Well, that seems like a great idea, if Linda can do it.

 

[kylejack]

Should his picture be at least as big as the founding fathers' pictures?

Yes. More Ron.

 

[Ridiculous]

I think the Founder should be the ones to endorse Ron Paul. I think that is a very nice hook to the ad that really gives it punch.

They are dead, they can't endorse anyone. To people who know about Ron Paul it makes perfect sense that the founders would, if alive endorse him. But to many people this ad may serve as sort of an introduction to Paul, and saying that the founders endorse someone, especially in NH, may put them off a little. Plus, having them say Ron Paul would do this or Ron Paul would do that is putting words in their mouths which it seems many people on here are uncomfortable with. So if some people on here are uncomfortable with it, people who haven't heard of Paul probably won't like it either. By changing the wording slightly it is just as effective and avoids putting words in the founders mouths. It has the same info and states what the founders warned about. There is no impact lost....


But ultimatly it is Llepard's decision.

 

[Energy]

Confession: I have been a voter since 1988 and never knew the existence of, nor the importance of a primary election until this past summer.


Comment: This very expensive ad is not telling me that I need to get off my azz and vote in the primary within 5 - 8 weeks.

This is a very good point. Could use a prominent call-to-action for this, like "This is your NEXT step........ or else our only hope is lost FOREVER"... with a link to ronpaul2008.com/states or whatever makes sense.

A lot of people have the impression that they just have to go out and vote one time next year in November, thinking somehow the candidates magically get whittled down to two choices

I agree with having Founders facing toward center, preferably with eyes looking at reader (photoshop it if necessary). Ninja Homer's suggestion is good.

 

[kylejack]

The statement that Ron Paul never accepts money from special interest groups or lobbyists is false. He never lets it sway his vote, but he DOES accept money from any special interest group that wants to give it. Other than that, its looking good.

Bumping this suggestion.

 

[Ridiculous]

Llepard,

I think you should make it even more obvious that you, a concerned American, did this with your own money. I think that it would be effective to include the exact $ amount you paid...if you are comfortable with that. Someone posted something like "I paid $$$$ to be able to tell you this..." as an idea. I think the info about you should be at the top. Small, but at the top so the viewers know from the beginning that this is coming from a fellow citizen. I think that is the most incredible part and should be shared with the readers. I don't think it would read as "egotistical". I think it would read as "credible".

Also maybe emphasize the statement about voting in the primaries more.

My 2 cents.

It is not considered appropriate to tell others what you have paid to place an advertisement because it can take away from the publishers negotiating power.

Just like if you were a general contractor, you wouldn't go telling people all the prices that you get from your suppliers.

 

[InTheoryTV]

Looks good. This is interesting grass roots work here folks.


I agree the eyes of the founders should be directed at the center of the page.

I do like the change from the original text that said We the Founders to the new text. I haven't been following this till today and after reading the 2nd revision over the first, that is my impression. I think with the eyes we communicate the message of what they said, and not put try to speak for them. That is how my mind works. Great ad idea though Max.

My thoughts as to the last point about Ron Paul ending the redistribution of wealth is that I heard him speak recently and Ron Paul said that he would not immediately end Social Security or other programs. That he understood that some people have become dependent upon them and that we would be able to pay for the programs with the savings we get from bringing home our troops from around the world and that he would like to offer young people a way out of these programs.

 

[Falseflagop]

Place a line that says!!

"The Only STatesman running not a politician!


Otherwise go with it! Awesome job!

 

[Mav]

I'm telling you ... calling my children "debt slaves" is a HUGE mistake.

 

[amakris]

*Agree with comment "not taking money from lobbyists" as false. He has said he'll take it but it won't affect his vote.

*Agree with comment not to put ronpaulforums.com on there.

*There's two check marks per line in lower left.

*The information in the lower right should be ordered differently. 12345 should be changed to 12453. People's attention follows a "V" pattern (pay attention at beginning and close). You don't want "#1 in military donations" to be buried in the center. Put the 4,000 babies detail in the middle.

 

[amakris]

Yes, and lose the "debt slaves." That's considered "fringy" language.

 

[Ridiculous]

I'm telling you ... calling my children "debt slaves" is a HUGE mistake.

I don't particularly care for that wording either. It is pretty "fringy".

 

[Naraku]

Don't water it down any more, keep some of the punch as that's what's needed. "Debt slaves" is a great term and should be kept. Period. I really think it should go back to the Founders being the speakers, since that has far more impact than the changes made.

 

[MsDoodahs]

I agree - keep the term "debt slaves" as it is an accurate depiction of what is going down.

 

[amakris]

You may want to e-mail a copy to whomever runs the phones at 1-877-Ron2008. If a newspaper reader calls that number and references the ad and wants clarification, you want our volunteers to not sound like idiots (ie "What does the ad say, exactly? Huh?")

 

[Ridiculous]

I think "watering it down" is a loaded term. I don't think that editing the ad to increase its appeal while minimizing negative impressions is a bad thing.

 

[spiteface]

My apologies if it's already been suggested, but I'm buried in work at the moment and don't have time to read the whole thread. I think all the portraits at the top should face the center. This is a basic design element for most ads, page layouts I've picked up from being married to someone who did that kind of work for a living. You're awesome llepard!

 

[amakris]

I agree - keep the term "debt slaves" as it is an accurate depiction of what is going down.

It's not an engineering specification. It's an advertisement. Language matters.

 

[Naraku]

I think watering it down is the perfect way of putting it because people are trying to water it down. Taking out the whole idea of it being from the perspective of the Founders was just part of it.

You can't try to make everyone happy with an advertisement because then it won't work. The idea of the Founders endorsing Ron Paul is just a great hook and I think will draw more attention than the way it's worded now.

 

[MsDoodahs]

It's not an engineering specification. It's an advertisement. Language matters.

Yes, it does.

Exactly why "debt slaves" should stay.