Marketing political candidates and the election

Okay, I need a laugh again so we’re switching to politics.

I’ve written so many times before that political campaigns are marketing strategies and that candidates are the products who are carefully packaged to capture the voters’ attention. You know, sometimes, it’s all packaging and nothing more like in her case. Her — the trophy running mate.

And, sometimes, the product and the packaging are used in a reverse psychology kind of way. Remember when, in April, Barack Obama arrived — hungry — at a diner, the media swarmed all over him and he said, “Why can’t I just eat my waffle?” About three weeks ago, two “freelance writers” (I don’t even know what that means anymore) came up with Obama Waffles and sold them, ironically, at the Value Voters Summit in Washington until the organizers booted them out. End of irony. And as though the makers want to impart the message that they are not targeting Obama, on their new website, they sell Sarah’s Mooseburger Helper too.

You can Google “Obama waffles” if you want to read about it including the alleged racism, etcetera. I read about it on the day the news hit the headlines but never considered writing about it until I came upon another Obama product.

Try this. Barack Obama footwear. The photo caption says, “A guest wears footwear decorated with a Barack Obama theme at Belmont University before the presidential debate in Nashville, Tennessee October 7, 2008.” So, it might not even be something for sale to the public but it’s so damn effective that it captured media attention.

Footwear and waffles. Taken together, they are funny in a sick way.

Now, how about this very Hollywood campaign video to get Americans to register and vote? It starts with celebrities telling people NOT TO VOTE then they go on to say “…unless…” you care about issues like global warming, health care, education…

That last link points to an entry in a blog in the L.A. Times. Do read the comments. The one thing that makes sense is the one by “Barney”: Exactly how do people vote on any of these issues, are they on the ballot? I much prefer the drug PSAs where the same people tell you not to use them and the go back to their trailers and get high.

In the archive

• Electoral reforms