I find myself in the awkward position–particularly during tough economic times–of criticizing a policy that is significantly increasing the number of commercials being made. It’s counter to numerous stands we have taken over the years to stimulate spotmaking and branded content opportunities as well as to ensure the health of the production community at large.
But in this case, more is less when it comes to the Supreme Court decision back in January to overturn campaign finance laws, thus allowing corporations, unions and other groups to spend on political campaign ads without having to disclose who and where the funding comes from. This decision has opened the commercial and media expenditure floodgates.
Elected officials from five states find the major ramping up of campaign spending to be disconcerting and have formed the Coalition for Accountability in Political Spending to combat it.
The coalition is facing an uphill battle and its credibility isn’t helped by the fact that four of its organizers are Democrats–Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, Pennsylvania Treasurer Rob McCord, North Carolina Treasurer Janet Cowell, and New York Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. The fifth founding member is L.A. Controller Wendy Gruehl, whose office is nonpartisan.
The Democratic bent to the coalition stirs skepticism in that Democrats are currently being targeted by the lion’s share of this new breed of political ad spending. However, in a different election cycle–given the spending power of unions which are traditionally supporters of the Democratic Party–the Republicans could find themselves more on the receiving end at some point down the road.
Indeed there’s a price to pay for the increased revenue being funneled into media and advertising industry coffers. For one, this influx of business comes largely from mudslinging messages with special interests gaining additional influence peddling power. This often negative advertising marked by character assassination and distortion of the truth isn’t good for the country or, in our corner of the world, the reputation of the ad business which comes off as generating expedient, manipulative communication.
Yet while I don’t like this brand of advertising, I can live with it. After all, that’s freedom of speech.
What pushes me against it, though, is that we aren’t told who’s speaking. If the special interests were clearly identified with full public disclosure, I’d defend the right of those speaking even though they are often contributing to what I personally regard as a continued unhealthy, disingenuous polarization of our society.
In mainstream advertising, the public knows who’s behind an ad and can judge those brands and their messages accordingly, with people making their buying decisions as they see fit. All I ask is the same for political advertising.
In one of the initial installments of our “Then, Now and Looking Ahead” series, Rich Silverstein, co-chairman/creative director of Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, San Francisco, said on the “now” and “looking ahead” fronts vis a vis the Supreme Court verdict, “I know it means more money for the advertising industry but that’s not the way we should elect people or deal with issues.”
Gene Hackman Died Of Heart Disease; Hantavirus Claimed His Wife’s Life About One Week Prior
Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a full week after his wife died from hantavirus in their New Mexico hillside home, likely unaware that she was dead because he was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, authorities revealed Friday. Both deaths were ruled to be from natural causes, chief medical examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell said alongside state fire and health officials at a news conference. "Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer's disease," Jarrell said. "He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that's what resulted in his death." Authorities didn't suspect foul play after the bodies of Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 65, were discovered Feb 26. Immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative. Investigators found that the last known communication and activity from Arakawa was Feb. 11 when she visited a pharmacy, pet store and grocery before returning to their gated neighborhood that afternoon, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Friday. Hackman's pacemaker last showed signs of activity a week later and that he had an abnormal heart rhythm Feb. 18, the day he likely died, Jarrell said. Although there was no reliable way to determine the date and time when both died, all signs point to their deaths coming a week apart, Jarrell said. "It's quite possible he was not aware she was deceased," Jarrell said. Dr. Michael Baden, a former New York City medical examiner, said he believes Hackman was severely impaired due to Alzheimer's disease and unable to deal with his wife's death in the last week of his life. "You are talking about very severe Alzheimer's disease that normal people would be in a nursing home or have a nurse, but she was taking care... Read More