O'Donnell regrets witch ad

 (CNN)- It was the ad that launched a thousand parodies. Now Delaware Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell says she regrets her famous "I am not a witch" ad.

"I haven't publicly stated this and I don't know if I will get in trouble for saying that, but our intention was to kill [the witch story] and that's not what happened," she said in an interview with ABC News.

The ad in question, O'Donnell's first of the general election, launched earlier this month and featured the surprise Republican Senate nominee pointedly stating, "I am not a witch. I am nothing you've heard. I am you."

The ad immediately went viral, given its peculiar opening, and soon spawned several parodies – most notably one on Saturday Night Live. But perhaps most damaging for O’Donnell, the ad did exactly what her campaign was trying to prevent: keeping her witchcraft comments from 10 years ago in the headlines.

Ultimately, O'Donnell said she wants voters to think about her fiscal conservatism when they go to the polls, not the fact that "this is a woman who is not a witch."

Still, O'Donnell may keep the witch narrative alive for a few more days given her choice of Halloween costume:

"I was thinking about just going as Dorothy. I killed the witch, there you go!" she said.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/21/odonnell-regrets-witch-ad/

My opinion

Is it safe to say that O'Donnell is crazy!? I say this because she is such an awkward person. This ad is more creepy than beneficial. In this ad she says I am not a witch I am you. When I first saw this I laughed and said no you are nothing like me. I think if you are trying to clear up a witch rumor you need to shoot a better ad than this. The fact that she was standing alone and with a dark background made it seem so much more creepy and not beneficial. Its like she said she actually did more harm to her campaign than good.

I think that she takes hard verbal hits by the media, opposition, and voters because she makes it so easy for these people to pick on her. She never is clear on anything that she says and leaves people with second thoughts about what she stands for and what she believes.

This is a prime example of how the media can ruin you. It also shows you how your own ad can ruin you. If she was going to try to clear up any rumors about her being a witch she could have done a way better ad than this one. I think she could have picked a different background, I also think that she could have had different characters in her ad, and a different voice tone.

I am glad she apologized and is realizing that her ad was awkward, but at the same time it does not change my opinion on her, and if I were able to vote I would not vote for her.

NO DONNELL!!

-HR

'Chi Chi Chi, Le Le Le'

The nation of Chile exploded in joy as the last of the trapped miners was hauled to the surface. Squares in most towns were packed with people watching the drama unfold as rescuers first descended into the shattered San Jose mine, before bringing up each man one by one.


Chileans sounded car horns as they drove through the streets of the capital Santiago, waved the national flag and led chants of 'Chi Chi Chi, Le Le Le' as each miner emerged.

Most people know the incredible story of the Chilean miners. In early August one of the Chilean mines collapsed, leaving 33 men caved in half a mile underground in about a 600 square foot hole. Not knowing if they were going to be rescued, the miners expected the worse. After 17 days of surviving on their own, drills were finally able to reach them. Through a tunnel that seemed to served as an umbilical chord for the miners, rescuers we able to send essential necessities to the miners such as food and water. After spending 69 days in a mine, rescuers were finally able to bring these gentlemen up one by one in an operation called "San Lorenzo" that lasted almost 24 hours. All 33 men were rescued and brought to a local hospital where they would be evaluated, and taken care of. There were many heroes is this mission, but in our world today where media and news has become almost disgusting to watch because of all the lies that go on, I think the media did an excellent job covering this story.

Media's Job

The media played an important role in this rescue and demonstrated that the media still does a good job covering stories.The media kept us informed step by step with what was going on in this situation. From the time that the miners were buried alive, to the time that they released their first video, to the very last miner being brought up the shaft. I thought it was incredible how the media covered this event.

On the day of the rescue, there was an important debate going on for the Delaware state senate seat and at times the media interrupted that to cover the rescue.

I thought that this story was a classical example of how hard news still rules the media world. Hard news is what informs us and tell us what is going on in the world. Soft news such as Lindsay Lohan's trial a few months ago, tells us nothing beneficial and makes us dislike the media for choosing to cover those stories. I also thought that this was a good example of how hard news can cause emotion to its viewers. People around the world watched this even praying and jumping with joy as each miner came up the shaft.

The media played the role of a guardian in covering this story. The settled in "Camp Hope" or "Camp Esperanza" and never left until the very last miner was brought up. They stayed there to show they supported the miners, and that they were not going to be forgotten.

After everything was said and done this marked the end of the most incredible rescue operation in mining history that saw the men trapped underground for the longest time.

I remember hearing the Chilean president say that Chile is not the same anymore after this event. How could it be? This was a remarkable event and a miracle that should give everyone hope in their owns lives to do better and fight to survive.

After the final rescuer was brought up, the Chilean people celebrated so hard that one might confuse their celebration for another event such as wining the FIFA World Cup. What the heck this just might be bigger than the world cup, and the Chilean people deserve to celebrate their victory. 'Chi Chi Chi, Le Le Le!!!!'

-HR

O'Donnell complains about 'liberal media'

Delaware Republican Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell is asking voters to give her a second look. At a candidate forum sponsored by a group of local Republicans, O'Donnell blamed her campaign's recent troubles on unfair coverage in the "liberal media."



"I've put my name on the line. And I've taken a lot of hits ... a lot of character assassination," O'Donnell said.

A local GOP leader moderated Wednesday night's tightly controlled event, asking the candidate her positions on taxes, spending and the new health care law. O'Donnell did take a few questions from the audience. But she left the forum via a back door and did not stop for interviews with reporters.



So, she is blaming "liberal media" for her campaign troubles? Yea right, are you joking?! In this article she doesn't even define what 'liberal media' is. She just says that she has put her name out there and has taken a lot of shots for doing so. I wonder if she has ever herd the quote that says you have got to risk things to be able to gain greater things.

I she is being bias by saying that liberal media is ruining her campaign. First of all, like I mentioned what is liberal media? Does she classify HBO as liberal media? Because last time I checked HBO stood for Home Box Office, and is that media or entertainment? Instead of trying to make people feel sorry for her she should explain why she believed in witchcraft. Then maybe people will take her a bit more serious. Even though some of her supporters are not bothered by the fact that she believed in witchcraft with one of them saying, "If anything, I support [O'Donnell] more."

I mean the whole witchcraft thing doesn't bother me, but what does kind of bother me is that she blames it on 'liberal media.' I wish she would define what that was in this article instead of just playing the victim game. Its funny how the title is "Complains about liberal media", but she doesn't back up her statement. Just points fingers.

P.S. here is the link to the article

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/10/07/odonnell.criticism/index.html?hpt=T2

-HR

Palin for President???

The Sarah Palin storyline taking shape lately is whether the former Alaska governor, vice presidential candidate and Tea Party icon will run the president in 2012. Every move and word is scrutinized for clues about her future as she travels the country, offering support for Tea Party candidates, castigating President Obama, the GOP hierarchy and the press while raking in millions in her new media career.
On Friday last week in Iowa, for a speech at the Iowa Republican Party's annual Reagan Day dinner, Palin was asked about her 2012 presidential aspirations. She was coy in her response. "I don't know," she said. "I know that you can make a big difference in America without even having a title, so I'm grateful for this opportunity."
On Tuesday, however, SarahPAC, the political action committee authorized by Palin, released a video that makes it hard not to believe that she is making a 2012 run for the American presidency, or least seriously testing the waters wrapped in the Tea Party flag.
The video is a highly produced campaign ad for the Tea Party movement. The one minute, 20 second video shows images of Palin giving speeches to large crowds, proclaiming that the Tea Party is "the future of politics," with "real people, not politicos" speaking out for "common sense conservative principles."
The video leaves no doubt as to who is the leader of the Tea Party and the person trying to remake the Republican party as well.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20017066-503544.html



The purpose of this post is to analyze this video, because I think this video relates to a lot of topics we discuss in class. First, I have to admit that this add is BRILLIANT! I say that because if you believe in what the Tea party group believes in then this add is perfect. Also, this add makes Sarah Palin a genius. By using words such as "real people" and saying statements such as " who can argue movements that is by the people" is just brilliant. Because that is what a democracy is about, a government for the people. If you are a believer in this interest group or in the beliefs of this interest group then you will most like give Palin some cool points, and consider her for the next presidential elections in 2012.

Now, why do I say this video is so brilliant? First this video shows a great deal of dramatization. The song playing in the background adds alot more emotion to the video. Try to imagine the video without the background music and see if it has the same effect on you. Another reason why I think this video is dramatized is because, they use all of the soundbites of Sarah Palin when she is emotional. Like that one video we saw in class "fired up" people giving out speeches do not always yell throughout the entire speech.  This video also shows personalization, because they add is personalized in a manner to make Palin look good with all the effects included.

Overall this is a great add. If you believe in this, then like I mentioned above Palin will earn bonus points. But even if you do not believe in this particular interest group then in my opinion I still think that Palin earns bonus points. Because she mentions that people making decisions is what a democracy is about, and at the end of the day like or hate Palin, those are the fundamental principles of a democracy:)

-HR