NationStates Jolt Archive

Link (http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/aug/19/familyandrelationships.booksforchildrenandteenagers)

We are far more used to politicians' offspring embarrassing mum or dad than helping in their election efforts. You could rely on Mark Thatcher or Ronald Reagan Jr to cause headaches for their parent's PR advisers, not do their jobs for them.

Yet 24-year-old Meghan McCain has done just that, eulogising her father in an illustrated children's book called My Dad, John McCain Aimed at five- to 10-year-olds, it chronicles the presidential hopeful's struggles as a student and his heroics as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

But the McCain book takes matters one step further and springs, I suspect, less from a daughter's blind love for her father than some strategist's cynical desire to simplify the campaign's line. I suspect that the real target readership isn't America's primary school kids but their parents, who will buy it for their kids but read it themselves. At the very least they will see it featured on TV and make the association, "Well, his daughter loves him so he must be a good man."

Just because you can see through the ploy doesn't mean every does or even that they want to...

So is this a clever ploy?

as clever as that "liberals are hiding under my bed" book.

Well, yes and no, Its a brilliant move for attracting right wing america...

But, as far as a wider audience, from that post it looks like theyre taking it in a negative light, which, in today's politics, how the media spins it is all that matters...

Also, check out the cover picture of the book - hits all the right notes for American Family Values.

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb281/Barringtonia_bucket/Picture1-3.png

Man, i thought that picture looked very wrong.......

So that how you get people on their side. Next we'll see a book from NAMBLA.

Man, i thought that picture looked very wrong.......

You're not the only one.

Also, check out the cover picture of the book - hits all the right notes for American Family Values.

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb281/Barringtonia_bucket/Picture1-3.png

Only if it had "(we hate abortion)" on it.

Jesus, maybe she actually loves her father. Nah, that's pretty crazy...

Jesus, maybe she actually loves her father. Nah, that's pretty crazy...

Psh, i want what he's smokin, lol...

I suppose Miley Cyrus just loved Billy Ray too, lol...

Jesus, maybe she actually loves her father. Nah, that's pretty crazy...

I think it's more about the timing of when this book came out.

Well, yes and no, Its a brilliant move for attracting right wing america...

But, as far as a wider audience, from that post it looks like theyre taking it in a negative light, which, in today's politics, how the media spins it is all that matters...

It's a UK media and within the link they mention that although it wouldn't fly in the UK, it might just work in the US - you're right in that it's for a certain demographic but then I suspect that's the aim.

I think that the underpinning idea of the John McCain campaign is to portray Barack Obama as not quite American without openly stating it, by contrasting an image of John McCain as the all-American hero.

I think it will work as well I'm afraid.

It's a UK media and within the link they mention that although it wouldn't fly in the UK, it might just work in the US - you're right in that it's for a certain demographic but then I suspect that's the aim.

I think that the underpinning idea of the John McCain campaign is to portray Barack Obama as not quite American without openly stating it, by contrasting an image of John McCain as the all-American hero.

I think it will work as well I'm afraid.

Itll probably work well with its targeted demographic...

But, that demographic is a Dying Breed, Bush was its last Hurrah, since Gore doesnt have the energy that Clinton had....and Kerry was just laughably bad...

The majority of Americans actually have more in common with them 200000 Germans than the American Family Association these days...

At least IMO...

But, that demographic is a Dying Breed, Bush was its last Hurrah, since Gore doesnt have the energy that Clinton had....and Kerry was just laughably bad...

There was nothing wrong with Kerry other than the fact he didn't fight back. And that may cost Obama the campaign.

There was nothing wrong with Kerry other than the fact he didn't fight back. And that may cost Obama the campaign.

Kerry just didnt have any energy, just hearing him talk would put me to sleep, and he didnt fight back...

I think Obama fights back pretty good, like, its not hard enough for the media to kill him for it, but, at the same time, he hits the issue head on, and doesnt just beat around the bush, like, when they were hitting his middle name, he just straight up told them how stupid that was...

Apparently the follow up book is called: My Bad, John McCain - it deals with cheating on his wife, the divorce and his nasty temper.

Apparently the follow up book is called: My Bad, John McCain - it deals with cheating on his wife, the divorce and his nasty temper.
given that the man called his wife a c*** for dissing his hair cut, i expect that he was a difficult father also.

as clever as that "liberals are hiding under my bed" book.

Or "Why Mommy is a Democrat." Targeting children in these ways is simply not right. Trying to simplify all of what a party stands for by making blanketed statements is what is wrong with how the media handles politics as a whole. Trying to sway children as young and 8 to follow your flock is pretty silly. Give them time to observe things in an objective way and learn what they like.

Apparently the follow up book is called: My Bad, John McCain - it deals with cheating on his wife, the divorce and his nasty temper.

How dare you question the moral and personal integrity of a great war hero like John McCain! I'm voting for him twice just to spite you now! [/neocon]

Or "Why Mommy is a Democrat." Targeting children in these ways is simply not right. Trying to simplify all of what a party stands for by making blanketed statements is what is wrong with how the media handles politics as a whole. Trying to sway children as young and 8 to follow your flock is pretty silly. Give them time to observe things in an objective way and learn what they like.

There's a major flaw in the plan to convince 8 year olds to vote Republican. I'd even say its such a major problem that its not their intentions to promote themselves to children but to the parents of those children.

Sometimes, there are good books. Sometimes, there are bad books.

And then sometimes there are books that make you wonder what people were thinking.

I believe this is one of the latter.

Am I the only one baffled by the use of the word "eulogising" in that article snippet? I'd be glad to be corrected if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that a 'eulogy' was a speech about someone after they'd died.

I'm not going to pretend the idea of this cardboard cutout neocon's death doesn't somewhat lighten my day, although that's counteracted by the idea of using the pretence of children to buy voters with simpler minds.

Why exactly does five years of torture make McCain a good presidential candidate anyway? It doesn't really show he's brave, because he had no control over the torture, nor does it prove he's any tougher than any other Vietnam POW, as he admits breaking and attempting suicide (seriously, not a criticism, anyone in that situation would've tried it) . . . "I'm Senator John McCain. I got the crap beaten out of me for this country, now let me run it."

what ever happened to cashing in on celebrity images to make obscene amounts of money?

its the American waaay!

given that the man called his wife a **** for dissing his hair cut, i expect that he was a difficult father also.

well its not like she isn't

I hope this backfires. :)

Just the cover is making me want to vomit. Surely no-one would be stupid enough to buy it. Surely?

There's a major flaw in the plan to convince 8 year olds to vote Republican. I'd even say its such a major problem that its not their intentions to promote themselves to children but to the parents of those children.

I suppose. But I would think that the people who would buy "Why Mommy is a Democrat, There's liberals hiding under my bed..." and this book are already convinced of their political posture. Now they are just trying to put that on their kids.

Meghan just made herself a truck load of money. Clever girl.

Meghan just made herself a truck load of money. Clever girl.

I never thought of it that way, but when you put it like that it is a clever ploy to make money :p

I wonder how many half-starved, unpaid third-world child workers will be needed to produce these books.

Pity 5 year olds can't vote.

Pity 5 year olds can't vote.
Those in age cannot, those in mind however, frequently do.

So that how you get people on their side. Next we'll see a book from NAMBLA.

NAMBLA, protected as always by left wing ACLU liberals.

I think it's more about the timing of when this book came out.

Timing for books is everything. The timing of this would be to sell more books. Don't confuse this timing with getting her father elected.

Timing for books is everything. The timing of this would be to sell more books. Don't confuse this timing with getting her father elected.
What makes you so sure it is not both or the elected reasoning?

Sure sales are a very possible motivator but I have seen no information that hints that it is the only motivator

NAMBLA, protected as always by left wing ACLU liberals.
Who is protecting it?

Or were you trying to derail a thread, using a Joking response as an anchor to do such?

NAMBLA, protected as always by left wing ACLU liberals.

Those damned ACLU lawyers, protecting our civil rights! How dare they defend the Constitution? Don't they know we have a right to use it as toilet paper?!

wait... "Well, his daughter loves him so he must be a good man"

that's retarded. nobody actually votes like that, do they?

wait... "Well, his daughter loves him so he must be a good man"

that's retarded. nobody actually votes like that, do they?

If people vote by the flip of a coin, who's to say they won't vote on the basis that his daughter love him so he must be a good man?

PM, just kill off any faith in humanity that you may have and be done with it.

If people vote by the flip of a coin, who's to say they won't vote on the basis that his daughter love him so he must be a good man?

PM, just kill off any faith in humanity that you may have and be done with it.

Mine died of natural causes.:wink:

Mine died of natural causes.:wink:

mine's in a persistent vegetative state, like a tomato.