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Title: Talent agency for GOP ad called for 'hicky blue collar look'
Source:
CNN
URL Source: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.co ... ed-for-hicky-blue-collar-look/
Published: Oct 7, 2010
Author: CNN
Post Date: 2010-10-07 10:14:31 by go65
Keywords: None
Views: 51454
Comments: 70
(CNN) – An ad out this week that's financed by National Republicans portrays three West Virginia voters in a rustic-looking diner declaring that Gov. Joe Manchin, the Democrat's Senate nominee, should stay "right here in West Virginia." But there is one caveat: The ad was shot at least 250 miles east of the state, in Philadelphia, and features not actual West Virginians, but paid actors instead. And to look the part of a West Virginian, the talent agency in charge of casting for the spot sent out a call for a "'Hicky' Blue Collar look." "These characters are from West Virginia so think coal miner/trucker looks," the casting call read, obtained by CNN from a Democratic source. "Each character should bring [sic] several options and stay away from all black or all white or thin stripes (thicker stripes and plaid are good)." The talent agency also made several additional clothing suggestions, including a "Dickie's type jacket with t-shirt underneath," "Down filled vest," "John Deer hats (not brand new, preferably beat up)," and "Trucker hats (not brand new, preferably beat up)." Democrats eagerly circulated the casting call – first reported by Politico – Thursday morning. But a National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesman says the GOP hired a subcontractor for the commercial and had never seen the language that was used to recruit the spot's actors. "Contrary to the false headline in Politico, no one at the NRSC, or associated with the NRSC, had anything to do with the language used in this casting call. We do not support it, and suffice to say, we would encourage our contractors to never work with this outside agency again," said Brian Walsh, NRSC Communications Director." An NRSC official added that the Independent Expenditure arm of the Republican organization contacted a GOP consulting firm to produce the ad, Jamestown Associates, which in turn approached the talent agency that used the casting call in question. It was the talent agency, and not the NRSC or the GOP consulting group that used the "hicky" language," the official said. Of course, actors have long been used for political commercials by both parties alike, and even as Democratic sources leaked the casting call, they admitted their party uses actors too. But rarely is such colorful language revealed showing just how these spots get the right look to fit a state's demographics. Still, Manchin, who is locked in a tight Senate battle with Republican businessman John Raese, immediately called on Raese to apologize for the language used in the casting call "John Raese and his special interest friends have insulted the people of West Virginia and need to immediately apologize," said Manchin in a statement. "Not only have they been spending millions to try and buy this election with lies and distortions, we can now see once and for all what he and his friends really think of West Virginia and our people." Actors and fake costumes aside, the ad itself might not be too far off in conveying the actual feelings of West Virginia voters during this cycle where any candidate viewed as the establishment faces an uphill battle. "I won't be voting for [Manchin] for Senate," Nathan Rose, manager of the First Watch Diner in Charleston, told CNN this week. "I just want someone who is going to stand up against the way things are going," he said. "I voted for him both times he's run here in West Virginia, but going to Washington, it scares me to death that he's just going to be a rubber stamp," said another voter, Dave Ridel. "I'm afraid he's going to be a rubber stamp for [President] Obama and Harry Reid and Nancy Pelsoi." The winner of November's special election will fill the final two years of the term of Democratic Sen. Robert Byrd, who died earlier this year. Byrd was first elected to the Senate in 1958.
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 28.
#28. To: ALL, GOP pulling W.Va. Senate ad with 'hicky' actors (#0)
GOP pulling W.Va. Senate ad with 'hicky' actors CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- National Republicans are pulling a West Virginia Senate ad that portrays the state's residents as hicks. The National Republican Senatorial Committee dropped the ad from its YouTube channel Thursday after Democrats released a copy of a casting call that sought actors with a "hicky blue collar" look. The ad, filmed in Philadelphia, shows men in flannel shirts and baseball caps worrying that Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin will side with President Barack Obama if elected to the Senate. The GOP group blames the casting call on an outside producer. A party official familiar with the issue says Republicans also expect to pull the ad from TV stations, where it has been in heavy rotation for several days. He requested anonymity because he was not directly involved in handling the ad. ---- Online: NRSC Manchin ad: tinyurl.com/25ssqpv
#32. To: Brian S (#28)
(Edited)
Gee...where have we heard THAT before? Oh yea...that was somehow the fault of the ship that had been in the Persian Gulf for several months but somehow still had access to hi-tech poster making equipment and materials...
The reality is they are pulling the money because they know they've won Byrd's Senate seat, and sending it to the four Senate races that could 'go either way'.
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Replies to Comment # 28. The GOP group blames the casting call on an outside producer.
#39. To: Brian S (#28)
End Trace Mode for Comment # 28.
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