Christine O’Donnell has released her latest campaign advert. Staring into the camera with doe eyes and a grin like burning phosphorus, O’Donnell lays out her pitch for the Senate.
It starts bizarrely, with O’Donnell stating: “I am not a witch.” On balance, this is a good thing. Witchcraft might have its advantages (“I’ll make the deficit disappear — IN A PUFF OF SMOKE!”) but when your base is the Christian right, I suppose the occult is a liability.
As far as reassuring electoral slogans go, however, “I’m not a witch” ranks up there with “I’m not a drunk” or “I don’t hit my wife”. If Barack Obama had plumped for “I’m not a wizard” rather than “Yes we can”, he would probably — actually, scratch that — hopefully still be stuck in the Senate.
The advert takes a metaphysical twist when O’Donnell adds cryptically: “I’m nothing you’ve heard. I’m you.” (Unless of course, you happen be a witch. In which case she definitely isn’t you. She’s not a witch. She really wants to make that clear.) Apparently there is a little bit of Christine in all of us. This means that, via the wonders of democracy, you too could join the Senate, with O’Donnell as your avatar.
O’Donnell has turned herself into the vanguard of the anti-intelligence movement. “I’ll go to Washington and I’d do what you would do.” No need for the avatar; O’Donnell is your average Joe. After all, she points out: “None of us are perfect.” So why not elect me? Heck, anyone else would probably make a hash of it, too, so give me a crack.
Will Bunch sums up the thinking eloquently.
I’m reminded of a famous line from the back at the dawn of the age of resentment back in 1970 when a GOP senator named Roman Hruska argued for a lame Richard Nixon Supreme Court nominee by saying: “There are a lot of mediocre judges and people and lawyers. They are entitled to a little representation, aren’t they?”
Scarily, according to Bunch, playing the anti-intelligence card could be a rather good idea:
“I’m you” is pitch perfect for this throw-the-eggheads-out election. It probably won’t work for O’Donnell, not in the politically hen-blue state of Delaware, but it may work for a generation of pols from Nevada to Kentucky who will govern at least like they think that “you” would — with very serious consequences for America for many, many years to come.
The advert lasts barely 30 seconds but it stays with you. Her grin, her eyes, her words all wash over you as a tinkling lullaby plays in the background. It’s almost hypnotic. It’s certainly terrifying. Watch it.
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