A little history here from the September 12, 2000, courtesy of CNN:
Republican presidential nominee George W. Bush said Tuesday he was “convinced” an ad placed by the Republican National Committee that flashes the word “RATS” over a Gore prescription drug proposal was not intended to send a subliminal message.
…
Bush said Tuesday that he believes the ad’s creator, Alex Castellanos, who said it was not his intention to create a subliminal ad. Castellanos said he flashed the word — part of “bureaucrats” — so it would look more visually interesting, and that it was just a coincidence that the letters appearing first spelled out “rats.”
Fast forward to the 2008 campaign:
From CNN on November 16, 2006:
ROMNEY HIRES TOP GOP AD MAN: Governor Mitt Romney, who continues to sign up big-name political consultants for a probable presidential run, has hired bare-knuckles GOP ad man Alex Castellanos, a veteran of presidential campaigns known for his tough ads against Democratic candidates.
I got a tip to something peculiar about Romney’s campaign ad running in New Hampshire, entitled “Permanent.”
Here is the ad again. Watch segment between five and ten seconds closely.:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmhaypWwFPY[/youtube]
Now here are the still shots:
Looks like Castanellos is at again… RAT!!!
UPDATE: People, yes this was written to be funny. I thought it was. Seriously…
December 30th, 2007 at 7:34 pm
is this for real?
December 30th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
This explains why that whenever I see McCain I want to eat cheese.
December 30th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Oh…..RATS…..you found it……
December 30th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
Tommy – you can do better than this. Save this crap for LJ or DaveG.
December 30th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
That’s a little more subtle than the floating cross. Maybe. But then there is that same “rat” sitting in bold for three seconds on top of Romney’s picture. Tommy, I think that’s a bit of a reach.
December 30th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
If that’s intentional, then he sure is convinced that there are lots of voters staring zombie-like at their televisions! What with all the media choices we have now, such hypothetical brain washing should be about as effective as hiring a bunch of voodoo witch doctors to poke needles into McCain dolls.
December 30th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
Must…eat…chese….can’t stop……myse….lf
December 30th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
McCain IS a rat. Another factual ad by Romney.
December 30th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
Tommy are you kidding me???
I’ve been coming here a long time. That was the funniest accusation I’ve ever heard. Make’s even the Paul people seem quite rational. Is that where you got your tip?
You wrote some good posts these past couple days Tommy. Don’t ruin it with something like this.
December 30th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
Normally I’d say this was crazy…but the same ad guy with this up twice? Once is a fluke…two might be more than a coincidence.
“Might be.”
December 30th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
I need to go smoke something, have a stiff drink, then watch this backwards while standing on my head…
December 30th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
Did anyone read where McCain he doesn’t wrestle with pigs, with a clear reference to Romney? Rats, pigs, elephants, donkeys, RINO’s
I feel like I am at the zoo.
December 30th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Oh, Tommy!
You have just sunk R4’08 to National Inquirer levels.
Thank-you very much.
December 30th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Tommy,
I’m surprised to see this sort of claim from you. This is the sort of thing that can out flank the Ron Paul wackos..
December 30th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
Excellent point there Jared,
I remember reading a McCain quote where he overtly referred to Romney as “pig.” I guess that it is fine to call a fellow Republican a pig?
This race is making us all crazy. It needs to get over with so we can come together to work against the liberals.
December 30th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
hmmm, I actually read RATI, but that’s just me. It is an interesting coincidence, and if it is more than a coincidence it still isn’t as bad as McFlip calling Mitt a Pig.
December 30th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
Hey Tommy,
Being that you are all about posting in the spirit of fairness today, when are you going to post a front page thread on the not-so-subliminal McCain calling Romney a pig? Here is a head start for you if you want a link to reference.
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2007/12/did_mccain_call.html
December 30th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Here it is, McCain responds to a reporter regarding Romney’s contrast add with:
“Never get into a wrestling match with a pig. You both get dirty — and the pig likes it”
Here is the link to that.
December 30th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Dearie me, this is worse than the rubbish some of the Paul supporters come up with.
The first time we see the “rat(i)” is on the picture of Mitt Romney, just before it disappears and goes into a picture of McCain. Perhaps Mitt should complain?
Honestly, if people think this affects peoples votes then democracy is not worth persisting with…
December 30th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Jared beat me to it. Nice post bud..
December 30th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
I think Huck got more bang for the buck by subliminally playing Silent Night, sitting in front of a Christmas tree, mentioning the birth of Our Savior, and nonchalantly suggesting a bookshelf to get out the veiled, secret message that Huck is a Christian.
December 30th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
#20 – LOL. Here is a better link that shows how I feel about it. I think McCain is a crotchety old man with a vile temper. This quote just proves it.
http://flapsblog.com/?p=6123
December 30th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Romney contrasts, Huckabee & McCain call names. We get ‘dishonest’ from the Huckster and ‘pig’ from McCain.
Wonderful…
If this is how they disagree with members of their own party, then how do the handle disagreements with Democrats, Independents, and other nations?
Not very presidential from either of them.
December 30th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
It has to be part of the vast websters conspiracy that immigRATion and bureaucRATs have the same letters in them. I also heard from Tommy’s mystery source that the company which makes Johnsonville bRATworst is actually a shill 527 for the Romney campaign, as is his college fRATernity and Dan RATher.
December 30th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
In all honesty, Tommy, just how do you expect us to take you seriously after this post?
December 30th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
Did you see McCain’s responce: YouTube – I never supported immigration!
December 30th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
Jared, #22..
I will be funny to see team McCain try to spin their way out of this one:
“Never get into a wrestling match with a pig. You both get dirty — and the pig likes it.â€
If that ‘pig’ is not Romney, who is he talking about? Huckabee?
Seriously, That ‘pig’ comment is the first negative comment I’ve seen coming from one Republican to another, and I’ve been following since November last year.
December 30th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Tommy, stop it.
This is the stupidest thing I’ve seen all year.
Take this post down. This is embarrassing.
December 30th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Is this what this campaign has come to?
You are going to have to try harder than that to beat Mitt.
December 30th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
That “pig” comment sounds like something folksy old Fred Thompson might say.
December 30th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
lol #24!! Good one alaska jake. Let’s all inhale while we watch Romney campaing ads in slow-mo, frame by frame, to see what we can come up with.
Meanwhile, one Republican can refer to another as a ‘rat’ and is no-big deal.
December 30th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
Tommy, not only did Alex put in the “rats” reference, but if you play the ad backwards at exactly 65% of full speed you can make out “Oh here’s to my sweet Satan” and “It’s fun to smoke marijuana.” Alex copied these subliminal messages from Stairway to Heaven and Another One Bites the Dust. Romney’s campaign is so low it will even rip off well known subliminal messages from the past. That man has no shame!!!!!
P.S. Please feel free to make a front page post with this information. This will blow Romney’s campaign wide open. McCain and Huck operatives that read this website, please feel free to use this information too.
December 30th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
rat – pig – snake – whatever..
December 30th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
TLG is right – this is an embarrasment to have this as a ‘serious’ thread on r408 – pull it off and let the conspiracy theorists kick this around.
December 30th, 2007 at 8:17 pm
As a side note, I think it’s smart to use a woman’s voice in a negative ad. I think it helps take the edge off the ad just due to gender stereotypes subconsciously or consciously in our mind.
December 30th, 2007 at 8:17 pm
Weasel – worm – hyena, Can we think of anymore?
December 30th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
Actually the ironic thing is that you just got us all to watch Romney’s ad again. From this Romney guy. . .Thanks!
December 30th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
Tommy, consider what intelligent, thoughtful people are going to think when a representative of Fred makes this sort of claim? How does that reflect upon him?
December 30th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
TLG in post 28-
Finally something he and I agree on.
The race has some many new polls, so many story lines, so many angles. This one is really quite stupid really.
December 30th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
McCain is a flip-flop too then right?? Contrast this Youtube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA7JTDjG-Po
with the quote I linked to above in post #22. Here is the transcript from the video from 2002:
“We’ve got a great team here, but it’s led by a man of honesty and integrity. It’s led by a man who is prepared to serve and a man who I have grown to know for his honesty, his decency, and his committment to America. I am proud to be in his company amongst you. (applause)We have a man of unimpeachable integrity, and decency, and honor who could do a lot of other things my friends, we all know that. The Romneys, they could (garbled) Arizona! (laughter). They could do, they could do a lot of things. Yet this man, has willingly stepped forward to serve the state of Massachusetts and our Party, and young Americans and again give them a public office holder that they can look up to, admire, and emulate, that’s why I’m committed to this race. In the state of Massachusetts as the state of Arizona, tough decisions are going to have to be made. There’s only one kind of person who can make those decisions and that’s a man of intellectual integrity, honesty, and experience. But I also have great and tremendous regard for Mitt Romney ’cause I think he brings honest and integrity and can act as a role model to the young people of Massachusetts and all over this country. I think we have an opportunity to (garbled) not only across Massachusetts but America. A negative campaign doesn’t work. People of integrity are still willing to serve this country. May I please ask you to give your warmest possible welcome to the next governor of the state of Massachusetts. (enter Mitt Romney, shakes hands with John McCain)”
My question is: Was John McCain lying about his feelings towards Mitt Romney then, or is he lying about them now? Any takers??
December 30th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
#40 haha Romney should use that in his next spot. No need for subliminal messages there.
December 30th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
cwpete #23 – don’t you know that JMac and the Huckster don’t disagree w/ the dems?
December 30th, 2007 at 8:31 pm
If this gets into the NH media Romney is done. Just the idea that he might have called McCain a rat is so offensive that Romney may have to return to his native Mexico.
December 30th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
I don’t want it taken down yet, we can have more fun mocking it.
December 30th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
All I can figure is that the other candidates are just flat out jealous of Romney. He stands head and shoulders above them, and after doing a 9 against 1 plus MSM and FoxNews the entire year, he is still going to beat their butts. I’d be jealous too. I think we should all send Huck and John some crying towels. Big Babies!!!
December 30th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
I’ve heard from a credible news source that Mitt Romney is planning to donate all taxes to the LDS in his first full year as President. He is also planning to ensure all schools teach Mormon tenets of faith to children. A vote for a Mormon candidate at any level will result in a tax deduction.
This sounds scary. Tell all your friends. Can we post this terrible news on the front page of race42008 to warn everyone?
December 30th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
#46 – huh??????
December 30th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Tommy, are you being kidding here to light up the mood, or are you serious with this accusation? I had to read your post twice, and I am not sure if you are being sacrastic or not. It looks like from the other comments that they cannot make a head or tail of your post, too.
December 30th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Everyone that is calling for this post to be taken down needs to lighten up. I’m a Huckabee guy and I liked the Song of the South/Uncle Remus clips Tommy put up in his Huckabee foreign policy diatribe (even though I took exception with some of the post itself).
December 30th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
Jared (#47) just adding to the atmosphere of crazy anti-Mitt conspiracy theories…
December 30th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
CNN just ran a segment where voters in Iowa were polled about Huckabee’s biggest threat there, and they said the #1 thing was the Club for Growth’s ads on Huck. They found those ads much more disheartening than Romney’s ads on Huck. I don’t know if that’s good or bad for Romney – I do think his ads have some effct, but it was interesting to note the the Club for growth was having a bigger effect.
December 30th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
With crap like this, it is amazing that any good people run for office.
JAYPE #47 – I hope you pass 2nd grade on your third try.
December 30th, 2007 at 9:00 pm
#49 Funny but the more I think about it the more I think you’re right. Tommy has written some humor (so to speak)(j/k Tommy) into his previous posts every now and then. I’m just gonna chaulk this up to a New Years wish from Tommy to keep everything in perspective as the primary season gets underway, and to remember that even the most partisan politicians of our past (Bob Dole, Mo Udall) were also the funniest. At least, that’s my wish to everyone.
December 30th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Who thinks who is desperate? The attacks on Romney have been so stupid lately that it is an insult to their intelligence.
December 30th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
I actually read it as “GRATI” which is an obvious contraction of “Gratis” meaning “free” . . . this means that McCain wants to FREE all the illegals!
Now there’s a more effective subliminal message.
December 30th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
The Truth (#52) as I attempt to pass 2nd grade on my 7th attempt I will remember that trying to be funny doesn’t work on race42008.
Hopefully Tommy Oliver remembers that too
December 30th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
I’ve had some good laughs with some of the comments. Good job guys! But, don’t quit your days jobs.
December 30th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
I was going to vote for McCain but afer seeing that I just think he’s a big rat!
December 30th, 2007 at 9:17 pm
Folks,
This was written partly as a joke.
Don’t take it to seriously…
December 30th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
This one is a classic. Can nominate a thread for the Hall of Fame?
December 30th, 2007 at 9:20 pm
This ad cost rat (oops, I mean John) the lead in intrade NH Romney 55 McCain 39.8
Iowa Romney 56.7 Huckabee 41
December 30th, 2007 at 9:20 pm
Tommy, its a disgrace. We don’t joke on race42008, we examine the key issues of the day that everyone is talking about (immigration, taxes) not silly things like floating crosses, subliminal rodents & inane predictions about who’s going to win.
Oh, wait…
December 30th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
If intrade has Romney leading in Iowa AND NH, does it have him leading in the race for the nomination?
December 30th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Tommy: Folks,
This was written partly as a joke.
I feel brainwashed into this specific response: dRAT!!
December 30th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
JayPe – Jokes are taken as fact when it comes to Hucksters. It is to bad the issues are not the focus.
December 30th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
RATI backwards is I TAR. Romney is tarring McCain. lol
December 30th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
I can’t stand Mitt Flip Flopper Romney. He is running the most negative campaign out of any of the Republicans. Plus he distorts the truth to make himself look good. Just follow this link to see how his latest ad attacking John McCain is full of lies. http://www.factcheck.org/more_mitt_malarkey.html
December 30th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
JayPe, no, traders at Intrade still give Rudy the edge:
Rudy 30.2
Mitt 24.4
JMac 21.7
Huck 11.9
December 30th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
Huck now 9.9
December 30th, 2007 at 10:54 pm
Tommy, I think you finally sunk the Romney campaign…damn!
December 31st, 2007 at 2:29 am
Wow. This goes to show people have no life.
December 31st, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Y’know what’s sad? The “subliminal” message from 2000 was written as a fact in two separate textbooks I read a few years ago.