449 Whiny Political Ads

Ohio must be getting the bottom of the barrel as the undecideds ponder the issues, or we're a test market for bad political ads. The newest one I've seen (by Move On Org I think) is just a talking head of a middle-aged woman who looks like she's been sucking lemons, has just learned she has a fatal disease, and hasn't seen her hair dresser in a while. Well, why not? She says she is a Republican "financial advisor." She's concerned that speaking out/dissent isn't considered patriotic. (Has she not seen the Democrat protestors in New York patriotically trying to shut down the Republican convention?) But she, brave soul will not be afraid to speak out, even if she loses clients because she is voting for Kerry.

There is all sorts of innuendo in the ad. But if she's a good financial advisor, why is she talking politics with her clients, except to report how the stock market has rebounded? We meet quarterly with our guy, and I have no idea what his party politics are--the subject has just never come up. He patiently explains risk, REITs, bonds, his fees, etc. If this gal (the person the actress is portraying) doesn't know what is off limits when in business situations, she deserves to lose clients, and it has nothing to do with her patriotism.

Her voting for Kerry may be her clue that it is time to stop calling herself a Republican. I was still registered as a Democrat when I voted for Bush in 2000, but changed my registration for the next primary. That's the only time anyone asks--certainly clients don't if you're good at your job.