Republicans are all a-twitter over Tim Kaine’s latest radio ad, , with the Washington Times reporting that Jerry Kilgore is upset that Tim Kaine is making fun of his southern accent, and Reps. Goodlatte, Goode, and Cantor hopping on the same bandwagon. I figured that the ad had to be pretty damned harsh, but didn’t get to hear it until just a few minutes ago.
Tim Kaine doesn’t have one blessed word to say about accents. Not even an implication. Nothing. He’s just riding Kilgore for not speaking in his own ads — Kilgore insists on using a spokesperson in all his ads. Now, if federal campaign law is any guide to how people feel on the matter, it’s clear Americans believe that candidates should speak for themselves — that’s why all those ads in the runup to last November’s election featured Bush or Kerry looking into the camera and saying “I’m so-and-so, and I approved this message.” As a culture, we believe that candidates should appear in their own advertisements. Kilgore is clearly way out of the mainstream on this matter.
How this translates into “the big mean Kaine is beating up on Kilgore for his accent,” I can’t understand. Kaine hasn’t said a word about Kilgore’s accent. Much can be gleaned from Republicans’ protestations against a thing that hasn’t actually happened — it’s an interesting little Rorschach test. What next — will they be condemning Kaine for saying that Kilgore is gay?
Way out of the mainstream? You do know that Jerry Kilgore wrote the Virginia “Stand by your Ad” law that requires the candidate’s voice to be heard in radio ads, don’t you?
As for “Republicans’ protestations”…is this one of the Republicans you’re talking about:
Larry Sabato:
That Republican shill, Larry Sabato! :)
Way out of the mainstream? You do know that Jerry Kilgore wrote the Virginia “Stand by your Ad” law that requires the candidate’s voice to be heard in radio ads, don’t you?
Then what’s his excuse?
That Republican shill, Larry Sabato!
I’m not sure of how to put this. Larry’s what’s referred to around here as a “confirmed bachelor.” He and Kilgore share a speaking style, and I ain’t talking about a drawl. I think he may be a little too close to the topic at hand to appreciate what, in particular, is noteworthy about Kilgore’s voice.
More to the point, it’s nice that Larry thinks that the ad has something to do with Kilgore’s drawl but, again, Tim Kaine has said nothing about that. All he’s done is say that Kilgore should stand by his ads; others are free to infer whatever they want, but those are inferences, not implication.
If Jerry Kilgore is going to say something, he should be enough of a man to say it himself, rather than hide behind his spokesman. That strikes me as pretty reasonable. Between his refusal to speak on his ads and his refusal to debate, I can’t see what Kilgore is running for office — he seems awfully frightened of actually interfacing with the public.
Accent, schmaccent.
Thanks for the link to the ad, Waldo. What ridiculous Republican spin on this. This is about Kaine being willing to speak for himself and Kilgore using a spokesman to speak for him. This is about Kaine being eager to debate and Kilgore being unwilling to debate.
This is all part of the Republicans new strategy. I like to call it: “WAHHHHH!!!”
“we’re victims! wahhhhh!”
“I think he may be a little too close to the topic at hand to appreciate what, in particular, is noteworthy about Kilgore’s voice.”
Interesting…I’ve had other “confirmed bachelor” types tell me they very MUCH appreciate what’s “noteworthy” about Kilgore’s voice. Frankly, it doesn’t take a rocket man…er, scientist, to figure this one out!
Waldo, I suppose you didn’t see any Republican attacks on Kaine’s religious beliefs earlier in the year. I’ll expect you to disavow any “subliminal” messages in anyone’s ads for the duration of the campaign.
Waldo, I suppose you didn’t see any Republican attacks on Kaine’s religious beliefs earlier in the year.
a) Let’s not confuse surrogates with the candidates and their campaigns.
b) I didn’t say a word about them.
I’ll expect you to disavow any “subliminal” messages in anyone’s ads for the duration of the campaign.
Man, Kaine’s message must be really, really subliminal, because nobody has yet pointed to so much as a vague intimation within his radio ad that could be construed as mocking Kilgore’s accent. So, sure, if that’s what subliminal is, then bring it on. :)