New Ad Against Kerry Spoofs Mastercard's 'Priceless' Commercials

Talon News ^ | 4/2/2004 | Jimmy Moore

[yoe]

A new political ad recently produced by Citizens United takes a humorous look at likely Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kerry's claim that he is a "man of the people."

In the ad, Citizens United uses a parody of the recent Mastercard commercials to illustrate Kerry's wealthy status.

The 30-second ad begins with an unflattering photograph of Kerry dressed in formal wear and goes through a series of examples that show the Massachusetts senator is a very wealthy man.

"Hair-style by Christophe's: Seventy-five dollars," the voiceover announced exclaims. "Designer Shirts: Two-hundred fifty dollars."

The ad continues, "Forty two-foot luxury yacht: one million dollars. Four lavish mansions and beachfront estate: over thirty-million dollars."

The parody ad ends with a picture of Kerry standing with fellow liberal Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy.

"Another rich, liberal elitist from Massachusetts who claims he's a 'man of the people' ... Priceless," the ad concludes.

Citizens United President David N. Bossie said his group wanted to show the American people that Kerry is not the "average Joe" that his campaign and supporters would like voters to believe.

"John Kerry's a rich, liberal elitist, and the American people need to know the truth about him and his record," Bossie said in a release.

The group has been running the ad on broadcast and cable outlets in key battleground states as well as on the Internet in the first of many responses to the attacks on President George W. Bush leading up the November election by unregulated liberal groups like MoveOn.org.

"The vitriol that's being used by the left in their hatred of the president -- and the man himself -- seems to come through in their ads," Bossie noted, explaining why his group were running the ads. "We wanted to counter that."

Citizens United is a conservative grassroots advocacy organization that supports

[Lady Jag]

What people? Where?

[OPS4]

Good One. bump.
Ops4 God BLess America!

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[OXENinFLA]

I like the Ad, but this is breaking news?

[rintense]

HAHAHAHA! I love it!

[smith288]

John Kerry
Total Asset Valuation
$198,794,683 - $839,038,000

George Bush
Total Asset Valuation
minimum maximum
$8,837,079 - $21,936,000

Bush is hardly "man of the people" either but he sure aint claiming to be the man next door like Kerry.

[nutmeg]

LOL... Citizens United has been running some great ads!

Every day I learn something new about John F'in al Qerry. I didn't realize he also had a one million dollar forty-two-foot luxury yacht, in addition to all of his mansions!

[mr.sarcastic]

But John Kerry must be a man of the people, because didn't you hear, he served in Vietnam.

[motzman]

Here's some more happy tidbits--

The yacht is a Scaramouche, built by Beneteau S.A., which is (of course)

FRENCH

[Salamander]

At least W didn't *marry* his fortune.....;))

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Guess what's going to happen - the Kerry camp will whine and contact MasterCard to see if it infringes on their trademark. Then the Rats will contact the FEC about Citizens United, nevermind the fact that the Rats are being funded by MoveOn, Media Fund, and Soros.

[P.O.E.]

I'm glad I live in one of those states (PA), so I get to see the ads. Haven't seen this one yet, though. But I can't wait. Keep 'em coming!

[hosepipe]

John F'in Howell and his Veep "little buddy" Gillian..

[AZLiberty]

Being able to blame your ski tumbles on the Secret Service: Priceless!

[waverna]

Marrying the means to get all that stuff instead of earning it?.....Priceless!

[tdadams]

I didn't realize he also had a one million dollar forty-two-foot luxury yacht, in addition to all of his mansions!

Well, he has one less mansion now. He sold his (ahem, her) 12,000 square foot villa near Lake Como, Italy to actor George Clooney.

[CedarDave]

Ad can be found here:

http://www.citizensunited.org/

[tdadams]

the Kerry camp will whine and contact MasterCard to see if it infringes on their trademark

It's not worth the bother. Look up 17 USC, it's a parody and is permissible under the "Fair Use" clause.

[My Favorite Headache]

They better have gotten clearance from Mastercard to do this or they will be sued like you would not believe. They sue tons of people doing spoofs on them.

[Polybius]

What really gets me is when $550 Million Kerry, who has not paid a single dollar of income taxes on the fortune he married into, wants to raise the income tax rates of $200,000 a year working couples who he has the gall to label "The Rich".

If a couple that works to earn $200,000 per year qualifies as "The Rich", what does that make Kerry who bought his $1 million luxury yacht by paying cash?

[tdadams]

Why? See #19.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

I knew this was a evil act because the Rats told me years ago about David Bossie being the spawn of the devil.

[Beelzebubba]

the Kerry camp will whine and contact MasterCard to see if it infringes on their trademark.

---

But since the political ad makers aren't selling financial services, even if they used the term "Mastercard", or if "priceless" was being used as a trademark, they would have no liability. Trademarks are limited to the goods or services on which they are actually used.

[Old Professer]

My wife just got a new job after being out of work for over 22 months; she went to work the first week in November last year and received two year-end profit-sharing bonuses. This week , she was pleasantly surprised to be informed that she had received a quarterly bonus.

Of course, the IRS is pleased as well.

[expatpat]

It's not even news. I saw something on this about a week ago.

[pepperhead]

Ad can be found here:

http://www.citizensunited.org/

I would like to see the add but looks like the site is being swamped.

[TC Rider]

But John Kerry must be a man of the people, because didn't you hear, he served in Vietnam.

Wow, did he get any medals?

[blau993]

No. Scaramouche is the name of the yacht. It is a Hinckley, which is built in the US.

[Hildy]

Parodies of the PRICELESS ad campaign are passe. We've seen way too many of them, haven't we?

[CedarDave]

I would like to see the add but looks like the site is being swamped.

Yeh, I know. I sent them an email about that and reminded them I donated to them. It's a good ad.

[Sir_Ed]

BTT

[Sir_Ed]

I wonder if GOPUSA uses soft money or hard money?

Are they a 527?

Ed

[Capt. Tom]

The Boat is a Hinkley (Maine Built)and he named it Scaramouche.

[razorback-bert]

Scaramouche: A Romance of the French Revolution
by Rafael Sabatini


Delightfully courtly, flowery but not dated, Sabatini's period romances--Scaramouche unfolds over the years leading up to the French Revolution--were deservedly popular when originally published, during the 20s and 30s.

[motzman]

Thanks for the correction.

Kerry is still a french-looking sob, though

[blau993]

d'accord!

[nutmeg]

ping!

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent ‘miscellaneous’ ping list.

[Paulie]

"Bush is hardly "man of the people" "

I think it's unfair to regard Bush that way simply because his assets run into the seven or eight figures. Frankly, I'd much rather the 'common man' become wealthy than W. taking a vow of middle class life so that he can feel our pain

[yoe]

You're most probably right, what do you suggest? Humor is needed, don't you think? Anger is getting the best of us, it is so exhausting - I want to laugh a little especially at what is laughable.