I'll take SPIN for $200
Did you ever wonder how George W. keeps his image up through all the muck? The unfortunate answer to that question is—WITH YOUR TAX DOLLARS. That’s right, we’re all paying for the spin that’s meant to bamboozle us into thinking the Prez is earnest, honest, and sometimes the victim of unfortunate circumstance.According to the Government Accountability Office, in the past two-and-a-half years, the Bush Administration has spent 1.6 billion dollars on advertising. The ads were created to bolster appeal, to redirect attention, to slip Bushie’s nasty actions under the rug. Here’s the interesting breakdown (for those advertising friends of mine) to see how our industry is helping bloat the Republican Machine.
Ad dollars spent:
Leo Burnett $536 million
Campbell-Ewald $194 million
GSD&M $179 million
JWT $148 million
Frankel $133 million
Ketchum $78 million
Of course, dollars are dollars, and I’m not one to complain about filling the company coffers. I like having a job. But, damn it, I cringe to think that some of my colleagues are forced to brainstorm ideas on how to pump up Georgie Boy. I wonder if they’ve slipped some subliminal messaging into the ads? Georgie and team wouldn’t notice the difference. Milliseconds of film could display “LIAR LIAR” or “You’re next on Cheney’s list.”
Either way, the issue here is how exorbitant the price tag is for Bush’s ad and PR campaign. The worse he gets, the more he spends. I think it’s interesting that Bush passed a law last year making it more difficult for people to file for bankruptcy, yet he’s bankrupting us all.
posted by tanagrame @ 11:54 AM
12 Comments:
Not that I want your industry to lose 1.6 Billion in business but...
Half the country voted against him, twice...He's already in his second term & can't run again...He's a complete moron to begin with...no really, that's money well spent.
Yay, Washington! Yay, System!
Well, ad funds could be limited, or we could institute a one-term limit thereby negating the need for re-election campaign spending.
Augusten Burroughs' remarks about the ad industry are hilarious, btw.
I've been around a few times. Keep waiting for Jamoker to respond.
If only that 1.6 billion had been funneled into education (and many other things), he wouldn't need spin to earn my approval.
Great post, freaks me out, but great non the less.
Bush may also succeed in giving us all heart attacks to go along with our bankrupcies.
Missing you again!
Missing you again!
years ago, we worried about multinational corporations and vested interests in society (1970's and 1980's stuff)...
in the meantime, it seems they seem to have managed to buy govenments as well as consumer interests... it's sad and disenchanting but if the voters raise their voices and heckle their senators and representatives, things might (perhaps might) change...
don't lose hope, i haven't but to be honest i'm so dead weary by now...
keep well...
Missing you some more.
Please come back.
Off blog me how you're doing. Please?
I got married and have two children now, but still pine for you. If only you could figure out a way to turn palm trees into a raft.
Better yet, I'll hitch a ride on a FedEx plane and meet you there!
Maureen!!!!!!!!!
Run the half marathon in October, will ya?
And stop ignoring me. I'm very needy and unstable.
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