The BC NDP has released its latest ad, entitled “What I stand for.” The spot features party leader Carole James criticizing the Liberal government of dishonesty and secretive behaviour.
James promises voters an, “open and honest government,” accusing the Liberal government of “secret deals,” and putting private interest before public interest.
In the ad, James says the NDP will protect public services like hospitals and schools—the ad also indicates that the Campbell government favours the higher social classes.
“Governments shouldn’t be about giving more to those who have the most,” James said.
These message are aimed at the average voter in B.C., according to Dennis Pilon, professor of political science at the University of Victoria.
“This ad is meant to convey sincerity and the message is populist and aimed at the average, not so well-to-do voter,” Pilon told The Tyee.
Pilon explained that the tone James was going for was one of sincerity, but the performance fell short.
“Performing sincerity is very hard to do, the problem here is that James is not comfortable in front of the camera,” he said. “It sounds like she's reading. She's been coached to speak slowly and in a certain way, and it is taking away from the believability of the performance.”
“NDP handlers can't seem to find the right tone that will allow James' natural personality to come through,” Pilon said. “It would be better not to use her than to feature her in a way that looks stilted.”
“This is not a good ad for the NDP," he said.
Morgan J. Modjeski reports for The Tyee.
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Rod Smelser
3 years ago
Performing sincerity
So, ..."Performing sincerity is very hard to do", eh?
I remember a remark by Ken Galbraith on the art of writing. He said he always did six or seven drafts, getting the basic wording right, and then "on the final draft I ad that little note of spontaneity that everyone likes".
Frank
3 years ago
Pilon
You're wrong my friend, it's a good ad. Far better to have her in ads than wasting time being on "Liberal radio" aka CKNW.
politico
3 years ago
Excellent
Even having read the criticism prior to seeing the piece, I was moved by the genuine tone of it.
Very well done. Have not seen one like this before!
japander
3 years ago
Q the Cards
Too bad there's some eye shifting betraying the card reading. TV and video have been around in politics for awhile now and it's sad the producers of the ad haven't figured that out. Not good enough. Pull the ad, do it again.
munroe
3 years ago
Looks good
I see nothing wrong with the ad. Short, sweet and to the point ...
Luke Skywalker Redux
3 years ago
Not Bad...
The ad is actually not that bad and is an attempt for Carole to connnect with the voters. Campbell also has similar ads.
But are they effective? I doubt it. There was not much movement in party preferences in the 2005 campaign as witnessed by the relatively stable Mustel and Ipsos results back then.
As an aside, the NDP historically always has had the larger crowds at campaign events and more troops on the ground than either the Socreds or Libs.
That's why the crowds at the bellweather Kamloops events for both James and Campbell might forebode things to come.
From Vaughn Palmer today:
Ads cannot overcome that election dynamic, which I cannot ever recall.
verso
3 years ago
ditto
I think it's one of the better ads by the NDP
Skywalker
3 years ago
Not Pilon again.
Having heard Pilon debate STV which was more bluster and volume than fact, I really don't think his opinion counts for much. Political Science Professors are not necessarily the experts they claim to be. I remember another one saying that Campbell had moved to the middle of the political spectrum. These guys are like polls. You can get them to say anything you want and probably only good for dogs to pee on.
fisher
3 years ago
ad
WELL DONE!
Skywalker
3 years ago
Another silly comment from Luke
"As an aside, the NDP historically always has had the larger crowds at campaign events and more troops on the ground than either the Socreds or Libs."
Nice try Luke but it wasn't even the case back in '91.
vis
3 years ago
It's about who you can trust
I think this is a great ad. It contrasts sharply with Campbell's feeble attempts to convince average voters that he understands their concerns. Carol James doesn't just sound sincere. She is sincere. Well done!
Frank
3 years ago
Times-Colonist
Their editorial was on the NDP platorm, the second last line is :
"The intended message is one of moderation, with a greater focus on public services."
http://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/proposes+moderate+path/1510239/story.html
VivianLea Doubt
3 years ago
my thoughts
Can't say I'm really in favour of moderation, like revolution better...But, actually, I do like this ad, which is rare for me.
Hey,Frank - cheer us all up.
Luke Skywalker Redux
3 years ago
Reading Comprehension...
Barrett/Bennett - '79/'83
Barrett typically drew over 1,000 to an event while Bennett could barely muster 500. Same with Harcourt in '91 and Clark in '96.
Even Skelly in '86 had reasonably large crowds. In '05 James outdrew Campbell at campaign events.
The exception is '01, of course. Go back to your history books SK.
Frank
3 years ago
Luke
You didn't post any facts Luke.
It would be like me saying 9 out of 10 of the pudding people on Saturn liked Bob Skelly.
As for crowds, who cares, James says the only place the event was publicized was on Facebook.
Frank
3 years ago
Vivian
"Can't say I'm really in favour of moderation,"
I'm not either which is my beef with Carol James. But I certainly support her and would enjoy some moderation after 8 years of Reform Party rule.
Luke Skywalker Redux
3 years ago
Frank...
Ohhhhh... my foreging statement is factual in its historical context.
But your comment does remind me of another comment that I read the other day :D
;)
VivianLea Doubt
3 years ago
my favours
"It would be like me saying 9 out of 10 of the pudding people on Saturn liked Bob Skelly." Hah! You have successfully kept me from doing any real work a little longer, Frank...cheers!
Well, having woken up with a little touch of too much Friday night, I can safely say moderation is sounding good.I don't have any beefs with Carole, and I find it irritating that she is blamed for the party's woes...but back to the remarks on the ad, I have only met Carole half a dozen times or so, but she certainly seems true to her character in this clip... what do I know?
Frank
3 years ago
Luke
"Humans are from Earth, the NDP is from Venus."
I guess that means we're really hot?
VivianLea Doubt
3 years ago
LS redux
Well, what Frank said...but check out the geometric albedo of Venus, and its orbital inclination...you'll be amazed!
DJT
3 years ago
"the problem here is that
"the problem here is that James is not comfortable in front of the camera".
Most people who are not ostentatious or arrogant, or who are humble, are uncomfortable in front of a camera. On that note, Campbell seems pretty comfortable in the Liberal ads.
hg
3 years ago
Sincerity
Possibly somebody can explain to the good prof that this is how a sincere person looks like.
Skywalker
3 years ago
On the facade of sincerety
Remember how sincere Campbell looked when he said he would not sell BC Rail?
Campbellwearsatutu
3 years ago
Maybe Pilon......
Would be more impressed if Carole James was wearing a hard hat like Gordon Campbell,you never know when a meteorite might fall on your head........
Or maybe an errant flip of a cheeseburger could crush Campbell`s skull!
dirtmeister
3 years ago
Lame
This ad is as lame as Sara James (aka Sara Palin) and the NDP. They stand for nothing new, same rhetoric shit from the 60's, 70's and forever. Can an NDPer evolve? Even Birtsh Labour Party evolved with new ideas.
cocean
3 years ago
Don't agree with Pilon
The ad isn't bad. Not exceptional, not good, but at least fair. Better than other ads I've seen recently by the NDP and James does a better job than usual.
hansolo
3 years ago
Sincererity Advertisement
It seems to me Pilon has some sort of bias
against the NDP or against women. His comment
that Carol James sounds like he is reading
from a script? what does reading from a script vs not reading from a script sound like. What qualifications makes him an
expert on recognizing when someone is reading
from a script or is not comfortable in front
of a camera. She seems comfortable enough
to me. The only time Gordon Campbell is
comfortable is during an election. Between
elections he doesn't like scrums cause
he promises says one thing and does another.