NDP Donor Dollars Flushed Down the Drain
NDP donor dollars have been flushed down the drain by a stale and (some might argue) typical political campaign. Controversy has already arisen concerning the talent used in the ads (photos of elderly people were taken from Danish stock photos).
The plan is to push these ads through to a national audience, but do you think anyone is really watching?
In terms of logistics with buying the ads, do you think the NDP got a break from networks like the CTV or Global? Or SUN TV? Give me a break. These networks are diametrically opposed to anything the NDP stands for – except maybe keeping the Cons in office.
Also, these same networks probably have mega-discounts on offer for the Cons given their repeat business with propaganda like the “Canadian Economic (Distr)Action Plan.
You’re not getting the same bang for the buck and you’re reaching an audience that’s just as stale as your ad campaign.
C’mon Jack. We need you to do better than this.
A campaign like this – if it’s truly national and leverages all networks – would have cost at least a million. Probably more.
Give an 18-year-old and their Facebook friends that kind of cash and I swear you’ll triple your investment in donations in the time it takes to say ‘We got hosed’. Or hire the same group of kids to knock on doors and tell your story.
This approach – traditional ads built with what few dollars you have – showcase that the NDP just aren’t there any more.
Of course, they’re just doing what everyone else is doing. Wasting our dollars broadcasting and shouting at us when they should be trying to create conversations.
We need something fresh from all political walks of life.
Seeing that the NDP is trying to target seniors, it’s fine to focus ad spending on television. Seniors are not avid fans of YouTube or Facebook.
In term of the content of the ads, I felt that this was weak. In the national ad, Jack Layton mentioned, “These days, lobbyists, senators, insiders are getting all the breaks. While more and more seniors are struggling just to pay their bills, we have to do better. It’s time to roll up our sleeves, put the partisan games aside, and start getting results.” Why didn’t Layton go after Harper? There was not one word about Harper’s lack of economic credibility toward seniors. Who are the lobbyists, senators, and insiders? Why didn’t Layton add “scary monsters” to his list? Are these unknown people connected with Stephen Harper and his Conservatives?
I sort of understand why the NDP is targetting seniors. They vote in great numbers, and they are more likely to vote for the Conservatives. Every vote taken away from the Conservatives means Harper will less likely get his cherished majority. At the same time, I wonder what Layton is going to offer the rest of the country. I feel as if the NDP is not offering me (a middle aged guy) any reason to support the NDP.
My concern for the NDP in the next election is wondering if Jack Layton will be re-using his “getting results for working people” tag. Will he be campaigning in 2008 or 2011? The NDP campaign may become stale before it opens itself to the voters.
In both the Trust-Ontario and Trust-BC ads, I like how the same man appears in both ads. I can’t tell if he looks like a Dane in Copenhagen.
Isn’t knocking on doors passe? What about phone autodialers to identify voters and GOTV on election day? The Conservatives are spending less money on actually showing up and are still competitive or winning.
I should at to Saskboy’s comments that if less people volunteer in election campaigns, the parties will need to find ways to spread their messages. In fact, I think some parties may not need as many volunteers as campaigns dollars and other resources will become more media focused. Don’t expect big local campaign newsletters in your mailbox. You may be lucky to receive a 1/3 page pamphlet. Expect more resources to go into television, radio, and online.