October 7, 2010

"'We are going for a ‘Hicky’ Blue Collar look,' read the casting call for the ad, being aired by the National Republican Senatorial Committee."

“These characters are from West Virginia so think coal miner/trucker looks. 'Clothing Suggestions' included jeans, work boots, flannel shirt, denim shirt, 'Dickie’s type jacket with t-shirt underneath,' down-filled vest, John Deer [sic] hats (not brand new, preferably beat up),' 'trucker hats (not brand new, preferably beat up).'"

Here are those actors in action:



It's not quite Red State Update.

ADDED: Why don't we see the text of more casting calls for political ads? This can't be the most embarrassing one, can it? Was it "leaked" to hurt the GOP? [Yes: "The casting material was provided to POLITICO by Democrats.] Doesn't the leakage with the intent to hurt the GOP embody the belief that the people of West Virginia are so backward that they think commercials like this are made with real people and will be offended to find out that slick ad men concoct these things to persuade them? Think about it. What is more offensive: the GOP using an ad agency that blatantly presents "hick" stereotypes when trying to persuade West Virginians or GOP opponents who think that West Virginians are so simple and naive that they'll be wounded to learn how ads are made?

IN THE COMMENTS: Pogo said:
I call bullshit.

I don't believe it, not without a copy from the casting folks. They had a pdf of the script. Where's the pdf of the casting call?
Yeah, well, maybe it's fake but accurate. Ever considered that? You know how much the GOP has been wanting to appeal to these people in these small towns, people who've lost their jobs and think that somehow their communities are going to regenerate, people who've gotten bitter — it's not surprising — and cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.

57 comments:

Fred4Pres said...

Why not just hire Red State Update. Oh yeah, the smokin.

Can't have that. Tobacco is bad. Only smokin weed is good.

tim maguire said...

It's obvious they're actors, isn't it? What would bug me is the heavy handedness of the Manchin = Obama chant.

chickelit said...

I blame Neil Young for the flannel shirt look.

KCFleming said...

"The casting material was provided to POLITICO by Democrats."

I call bullshit.
I don't believe it, not without a copy from the casting folks. They had a pdf of the script. Where's the pdf of the casting call?

As my whimsy leads me.. said...

They don't seem to have really tried for the accent. That's probably a good thing. Anybody can dress like a country person--these guys don't look bad, except for wearing their caps at the table--but trying to mimic the regional accent and getting it wrong would have been really obnoxious. These men could have easily fit it in southern Illinois or Indiana. I hate to think, though, what a casting call for the beauty shop version would have looked like.

Toy

chickelit said...

LOL! I just noticed that they're drinking out of Althouse style "camp coffee" mugs so they actually must be cool guys!

KCFleming said...

Assume it is true.

Then: Yeah, so?
Small beer, that.


Mmmm, beer.

Lincolntf said...

And I suppose the Dems expect us to believe that Andy Griffith is an independent expert weighing in on the finer points of multi-billion dollar insurance industry overhauls.

Anyway, there's nothing to this story except a laugh at how lame the Left is getting in their attempts to conjure up "gotcha" moments. They've got 25 days until all their lecture hall-approved dreams go up in smoke, can't blame them for getting a little loopy.

chickelit said...

Actually, John Fogerty may have done more flyin' the flannel than anybody else: link

MadisonMan said...

I like the guy on the right. I can just hear the Director: Just nod your head! Play with your food!

The people don't sound like they're from Pennsyltucky.

Triangle Man said...

They should just cast Althouse commentors in these things. I could use a few extra bucks.

MadisonMan said...

Why is the guy on the left wearing a Hamm's hat?

jungatheart said...

I think the ragged bill of the red ball cap is distracting.

Ann Althouse said...

Hey, the guy on the right doesn't talk. Wonder what his accent is.

And the guy on the left has an awfully well-trimmed mustache. They shoulda roughed it up a bit... like the bill on the middle guy's hat.

KCFleming said...

Pennsylvania Democrats for Obamacare must be damned proud:
Three Catholic hospitals for sale in Pennsylvania
"For almost a century there has been a Catholic hospital in Scranton. Now it looks like that will be coming to an end.

Officials said there are numerous reasons for the sale. One big one is the heath care reform bill signed into law this year.

"Actually we're doing well. We're ahead of budget for the year. It's more that when we look out over the landscape of health care over the next five years and the needs of these facilities, the needs of this community, we understand a different level of investment will be needed than what we can do on our own," Cook said.

The CEO said it means the need for more spending and less federal reimbursements.
"

Heckuva job, Barry!

Big Mike said...

Ah cudda dun it. I bin in West-by-God-Virginia a cuppla year ago.

And my Jawn Deere hat is a crumpled and grotty-lukin' as anybody's

ricpic said...

When the Founders wrote and distributed the Federalist Papers in order to try to gain the agreement of the electorate of the several states to a federal union, who were they addressing? Men of property. Which is to say men with a great deal at stake and therefore men who would have to think hard before giving or withholding their consent. So they wrote as adults to responsible adults.

To be part of the electorate today? Attain 18 years. That's it. The political parties have figured out that to address such a body as adult is worse than futile, it's a turn-off. Ergo today's advertisements to the public.

KCFleming said...

Man, where will Jim and Pam take their baby for care??

Daniel12 said...

Well I'm thinking about it. And I'm thinking that YOUR thought process went:

1. HA! Dumbass GOP fakers!

2. (aka "Update") Wait a second. I don't get outraged by GOP fakery. I'm a contrarian. I get outraged by liberal condescension. I bet you do too. And as we all know, everything is liberal condescension, even the absurdities of political theater, so let's redo this post...

test said...

"Was it "leaked" to hurt the GOP?"

Some questions answer themselves.

The term "hicky" is offensive, particularly when you realize how this term is generated as a synonym for the actual Republican request. The call should have used the same bland spin they use in standard commercials and asked for "rugged", "real", or "down to earth" Americans. The Republican language "representing the middle of the country" was fine.

The local GOP should respond by pointing out that the casting call language wasn't put out by them, and that Manchin effort to turn this into an issue simply shows he and Democrats generally have no substantive matters to run on.

KCFleming said...

"The local GOP should respond by pointing out that the casting call language wasn't put out by them"

If in fact the casting call is real.
It's fake until they prove it.

traditionalguy said...

Public opinion was displayed well by those 3 actors. Stop Obama is the war cry and therefore no Obama allies need to be sent to DC. Good logic and a direct simple target. That ad gets an A+. Who cares what hicks think about the ad...it will be seen all over now that it has been Exposed as a scandal.

MadisonMan said...

Statement from Manchin: John Raese and his special interest friends have insulted the people of West Virginia and need to immediately apologize.

I apologize if you were offended.

Does Manchin really believe his constituency to be THAT easily offended?

This seems all very predictable. Right down to my commentary. :)

Meade said...

Must be able to sip coffee out of classic old diner mugs (not brand new, preferably beat up), and speak the name "Obama" as if it's been around far too long (not brand new, preferably beat up).

roesch-voltaire said...

I think it is a good thing that folks can read the casting for political ads so that they realize what a charade politicians play. I say this because in my past as a photographer/film maker, I worked on a few political ads. All of them were staged with the goal of evoking visual stereotypes that hopefully resonated with the "average" voters. This one reads too much like a coffee ad to be considered effective, in my opinion.

Bender said...

A slur?

Well, the description sounds a lot like "My Name is Earl" Hickey.

Peter V. Bella said...

The Democrats do the same exact thing- they hire actors to film commercials depicting real people. What is the fuss? Or are they advertising their total hypocrisy and expecting us to just accept it.

What they do is good and pure. If the opposition does the same thing it is evil?

What about those cute commercials pimping kids for Obama? Oh, how short memories are.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

Obviously fake and made by the Coffee Party.

No Carhartt gear was requested. Everyone knows that Carhartt is the new hick chic.

:-D

AllenS said...

Right on, DBQ.

MadisonMan said...

This one reads too much like a coffee ad to be considered effective, in my opinion.

It has a good radio script. But the visuals are pretty blah. Watch it with the sound off. Nothing but guys -- employed! -- sitting around a diner.

Bender said...

Pennsylvania Democrats for Obamacare must be damned proud:
Three Catholic hospitals for sale in Pennsylvania


He's not the only one who deserves blame. It is long past time for the Catholic healthcare system to get out of bed with Caesar.

The system was set up specifically as part of the mission of the Church to care for those in need, to be charity in the sense of caritas (which is Latin for "love"), not merely some big business that deals with poor people and gets in bed with government.

KCFleming said...

"It is long past time for the Catholic healthcare system to get out of bed with Caesar."

Yeah, good riddance to charity, 'specially from dem catlikkers.

Only gubmint should be allowed to provide health and welfare anymore.

Those papist bead mumblin' left footers should stick to diddling altar boys.
Hail Caesar!

Bender said...

Were you purposely imitating a foul, totally ignorant bigot, Pogo, or are you one yourself? Did you even bother to think about what I wrote before you showed yourself a fool?

Unknown said...

This is really no big deal. Casting notices most always call for stereotypes, and they're written by casting directors not the client, like NRSC. That way the actors know what "type" they're looking for. At an audition or on the set, it's easier for a director to dial you down a notch than build your character for you.

Opus One Media said...

When I read the thread title I thought of "hicky" like on the neck but then realized that is with an "e" before the y.

funny that the true idiots on here like Pogo have this knee-(emphasis on)JERK reaction of trying to shoot the messenger rather than the message. You don't believe the source of anything if you disagree with the contents.

What a dumb shit.

KCFleming said...

"You don't believe the source of anything if you disagree with the contents."
Given the DanRathering of the MSM, I no longer believe anything the Democrats put out, no.

"Were you purposely imitating a foul...? "
I was imitating you, actually.

Catholic hospitals and their charity care were a wonderful method of providing healthcare, until the gubmint decided to muck things up. Now Obamacare is closing 3 hospitals.

Heckuva job, Barry!

KCFleming said...

"What a dumb shit."

From HDHouse, a badge of honor, truly.

Proof one's ideas are not just correct, but totally right.

KCFleming said...

And yes, Bender, I did read what you wrote.

Apparently you think the fact that hospitals are "in bed with" the gubmint was their idea, rather than legally required.

To me it's a plain example of how the state kills almost everything it touches.
On purpose.

Richard Dolan said...

Too much grousing here. The casting call is proof positive that the incoming Rep Congress knows its audience and knows what they want to hear. The casting call is clear, simple and direct -- no fancy Beltway blather trying to hide or spin the truth. So who's got a problem with that?
And what is the Dems' point -- all the lefty profs from H-Y-P-Chi that populate the Obama Team are the real soulmates of WVa voters?

The trick will be in delivering once the Rep Congress take office. If they don't, all those proud hicks in checkered shirts and scuffed-up hats will kick them out too.

Unknown said...

Since the video has been removed, I can't judge, but the Demos are truly getting desperate (witness Linda Sanchez and Jerry Brown). Imagine the impact if Morris is right (a real stretch, I grant you) and there is a 100 seat gain in the house and 10 - 14 seats in the Senate.

As my whimsy leads me.. said...

...

Anybody can dress like a country person--these guys don't look bad, except for wearing their caps at the table

You have obviously never been to NE OH.

Phil 314 said...

You mean political ads aren't real!

(video link now dead)

A.W. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
A.W. said...

Ann, ann, ann,

To some in the south "hick" and similar terms has become like the n-word has to some black people like Richard Pryor. They have come to own it, to embrace it.

For instance take how the band, "cracker" embraces the term cracker, in their song "This is Cracker Soul:"

I said hey (hey)/Don't mean to frighten you away./This is Cracker soul, it comes so easy.

Or on a similar note, from Mellancamp's song "Small Town."

"Got nothin' against a big town/still hayseed enough to say 'look who's in that big town'..."

He calls himself hayseed in an affectionate way.

People follow around foxworthy and say they are rednecks and proud of it. so believe it or not, even if they called them hicks, it is not self-evidently a bad thing.

And for that matter, i constantly say the word "yankee" but then explain in my southern accent that i mean that ironically given that i am technically one, too.

Chennaul said...

"video has been remove by the user."

TMink said...

I am a born and bred southerner. This does not offend me. What offends me is when people do a poor job of talking or acting or dressing like southerners in the media. If you have a hat to look like a southerner, it NEEDS to be a well worn hat.

Trey

Der Hahn said...

I'll see your casting call for a commercial and raise you a casting call for a townhall meeting (H/T NRO Campaign Spot).

Mitch H. said...

I believe it, if only because the NRSC won't goddamn leave me alone. I've told their robo-beggar to bugger off twice now, and she keeps calling. The NRSC is the enemy from a grassroots perspective.

They keep "empathizing" and blathering about conservative values at you, when you keep telling them you don't trust them not to spend your donation cash on coke, hookers, and political consultants. But I repeat myself.

Oh, BTW, as someone from the "T", which I prefer to call "Alabama in between", "Pennsyltucky" is another one of our slur-identifiers, if the least euphonious of the bunch. West Virginia doesn't need an insulting nickname, if you want to dump on that state, just call it "West Virginia". They'll know why.

Rockport Conservative said...

By the time I read this at 2 PM it had been removed from You tube.letti

bgates said...

For almost a century there has been a Catholic hospital in Scranton. Now it looks like that will be coming to an end.

That's a big fucking deal.

wv: 'soringle' What a slightly-more-drunk-than-usual Joe Biden threatens to do to Republicans who oppose trillion dollar deficits.

Shanna said...

I think it is a good thing that folks can read the casting for political ads so that they realize what a charade politicians play.

If you haven’t realized it without needing to see a casting call then you are beyond hope.

Pastafarian said...

Der Hahn, you beat me to it, at 12:59pm.

The Republicans do a casting call for actors, for a scripted ad.

The Democrats do a casting call for the audience of a staged, scripted "town hall" meeting for President Wonderful.

This is beyond belief.

Synova said...

Casting call?

I'm thinking that the "gotcha" involved is probably something like...

"Wow, the Republicans hired someone and paid them. How do I find out about the next call? I could use some bucks."

I suppose that the "gotcha" is supposed to be something like "these people aren't real people".

Well, I figure, they were real people who needed a job.

So there you go.

Video is gone, btw.

dave in boca said...

As usual, stereotyping hard-working hill people as mouth-breathing, knuckle-dragging hicks gets a GINORMOUS reaction from lefturds like Weigel and DNC shills at POLITICO like Mike Allen, but when SNL does the same with Appalachian Hospital, it’s all yucky yucky okay because libturds are exempt from racism and ethnic stereotyping.

Anderson Cooper is a good example, totally gay dude whose contempt for straights is only exceeded by the straights’ completely ignoring his unwatched CNN show 360. Looks like 60 Minutes has taken him off their roster because his “teabaggers” slur was too much even for the staunchly libturd DNC stenographers at the CBS agitprop program.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

NRSC won't goddamn leave me alone. I've told their robo-beggar to bugger off twice now, and she keeps calling. The NRSC is the enemy from a grassroots perspective.

I should have my husband give you some pointers. After the last time they called (and after he had a couple of before dinner drinks) where he blasted them in no uncertain terms.....we haven't had amy more calls.

Sometimes he would just play with the poor caller and ask them questions and make them define themselves and then argue some more until I began to feel sorry for the person. After all, they are just robo callers and working from a script. It isn't like they really believe the stuff they are saying or have any brains to think on their own.

The best one was when one little lady was trying to tout her conservative principles and hubby mentioned Rush Limbaugh......she had no idea who Limbaugh was....!!!!!.....really?? REALLY?? Oh, it was on then.

Another good one was when he said. "Everytime you #$%holes &^%*ing call me I'm sending money to Palin."

Mark said...

I grew up in West Virginia, and I have hated Jay Rockefeller with a passion ever since he ran (in his first run at the Senate) a series of ads with actors made up to look like the worst imaginings of those who were way too into Deliverance. (Of course, Jay won, but he spent more per capita in that race than had ever been spent in US history, so hey. There really ARE rubes.)

Oddly enough, I like Manchin. I think he'd make a fine Senator, but this isn't the year to be a (D) running for Senator. But this could be the kind of bone-headed move by the Republicans that takes a seat away from them that they should win despite everything else.

Unknown said...

WV Hicky Ad

It doesn't say blue collar hick.
It says 'Hicky' Blue collar.

I think people got this all wrong.

It should be 'Hickey', a brand name.
Note 'John Deere' is also mispelled, mssing an 'e.'

Nobody uses the fake work 'hicky' to describe a hick.

To see a Hickey brand shirt:
http://www.bluefly.com/Hickey-blue-striped-cotton-white-collar-shirt/cat60004/304638301/detail.fly


Here’s the casting call:

Wardrobe:
- We are going for a ‘Hicky’ Blue Collar look.
These characters are from West Virginia so think coal miner/trucker looks

- Each character should bring a several options and stay away from
all black or all white or thin stripes (thicker stripes and plaid are good)

- Clothing Suggestions:
• Jeans
• Work boots
• Flannel shirt
• Denim shirt
• Dickie’s type jacket with t-shirt underneath
• Down filled vest
• John Deer hats (not brand new, preferably beat up)
• Trucker hats (not brand new, preferably beat up)
• No Thin Stripes

Unknown said...

YOU KNOW WHAT SICKENS ME? I AM FROM WV, I AM FIFTEEN YEARS OLD, AND I HAVE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY TEETH....I CAN'T STAND SEEING WHERE PEOPLE MAKE FUN OF MY STATE! I DO NOT KNOW ONE TOOTHLESS OR INBRED PERSON! ALSO, MOST OF THE PEOPLE I KNOW HAVE A GOOD EDUCATION! I have NO accent WHATSOEVER either! I am so sick and tired of this. This state is full of nice people. Can anyone not give it a rest already? Josh Stewart, Jennifer Garner, Eliza Dushku, and Brad Paisley are from here.