Mighty Morphin' Iraqi Rangers

David Weigel | June 26, 2006

The "morph" is an old standby in political advertising - it's increasingly cheap to edit video together to make the facial features of Generic Oklahoman (or any other red state) Democrat into Hillary Clinton and hammer home the message that he/she's a loathsome liberal. Connecticut Democrat Ned Lamont (last seen here), in his run against Joe Lieberman, is trying out a variation on morphing that's more like a Clutch Cargo episode than a political ad.

If you want more of this but prefer electronic music to Democratic primary politics, check out the Chemical Brothers' video for "Get Yourself High."

Comments

|6.26.06 @ 2:39PM|#

Is it me or does Ned Lamont look like Barney Fife?

David Weigel|6.26.06 @ 2:41PM|#

If Lieberman's team had a sense of humor, they'd be cutting a Lamont-as-Barney and Lowell-Weicker-as-Otis ad right now. But they don't have a sense of humor, obviously.

|6.26.06 @ 2:47PM|#

This is a picture of Ned Lamont. I don't personally think he looks like Don Knotts, but maybe thats just me.

The picture in David's post is Joe Lieberman, btw.

|6.26.06 @ 2:53PM|#

"The picture in David's post is Joe Lieberman, btw."

Actually, it's a partial morph between Lieberman and Bush.

|6.26.06 @ 3:04PM|#

And it looks a lot better than either.

|6.26.06 @ 3:04PM|#

It's not just his appearance, I agree that his mannerisms in the ad are rather Barney Fife-like.

|6.26.06 @ 3:06PM|#

I don't personally think he looks like Don Knotts, but maybe thats just me.

At the end of the video they show an extreme closeup on Ned Lamont and I thought he was campaigning from Mayberry itself.

Here's Barney


And here's Ned.

You tell me...

|6.26.06 @ 3:12PM|#

The mentos kids in the background at the end were funnier than the morphing schtick.

|6.26.06 @ 3:12PM|#

Ned Lamont's campaign staff photoshopped the photo that kmw linked to. Here's the original.

When will the dirty tricks stop?

Gimme Back My Dog|6.26.06 @ 3:14PM|#

And it looks a lot better than either.

I remember a study once where they showed people three pictures, Person A, Person B, and a 50-50 morph of Persons A and B. The morph was always deemed better looking. Something to do with our drive for a more diverse gene pool.

|6.26.06 @ 3:16PM|#

"If you want more of this but prefer electronic music to Democratic primary politics, check out the Chemical Brothers' video for "Get Yourself High.""

Wow. A music video with an original and amusing concept.

I'll bet that gets all kinds of air play on MTV.

Taktix|6.26.06 @ 3:17PM|#

What is the issue in question addressed in this ad? Aren't politicians supposed to talk about their positions?

Larry A|6.26.06 @ 3:43PM|#

Aren't politicians supposed to talk about their positions?

Certainly not. 90% of political ads talk about how bad their opponent's positions are. As does this one.

|6.26.06 @ 3:46PM|#

"Wow. A music video with an original and amusing concept. I'll bet that gets all kinds of air play on MTV."

MTV plays music videos??? Since when? It's a reality gameshow network. Playing music videos would detract from their core competency.

|6.26.06 @ 4:00PM|#

SR-

Just a heads up, but those aren't four minute commercials for the Cadillac Escalade with the spinning rims, those are music videos.

Mike Laursen|6.26.06 @ 6:06PM|#

Anybody else think Joe Lieberman looks uncannily like Senator Palpatine?

|6.26.06 @ 6:24PM|#

"Anybody else think Joe Lieberman looks uncannily like Senator Palpatine?"

Already covered back in 2000: http://arwenlune.orcon.net.nz/pics/palpatine_lieberman.jpg

Also, do a Google image search "Lieberman Palpatine" (no quotation marks) for more examples.

|6.26.06 @ 6:43PM|#

Is this the same guy who had the commercial with Kos and his buddies creepily peering through the windows, then offering, in an Up With People kind of way, to work on his campaign? Reason #347 why I don't vote.

|6.26.06 @ 7:21PM|#

Ned Lamont's campaign staff photoshopped the photo that kmw linked to. Here's the original.

I will be the first to admit that i have the worse gaydar ever...hell i didn't figure out the village poople until sometime in 91...that said i have to say that is the most flaming devil ever.

|6.26.06 @ 10:06PM|#

Egads. It looks like Chevy Chase.

|6.27.06 @ 12:36AM|#

"At the end of the video they show an extreme closeup on Ned Lamont and I thought he was campaigning from Mayberry itself."

He doesn't look like Fife, but he does look like *somebody* from that era of TV, I just can't think of who.

M. Simon|6.27.06 @ 4:01AM|#

Interestingly enough if Lamont defeats Lieberman in the primary Lieberman is set to run as an independent.

Lieberman is well liked in CT and is likely to win as an independent.

The Dems (not unlike the Libs except they get more votes) are shhoting themselves in the foot. As usual.

|6.27.06 @ 1:44PM|#

Very dull 90s-ish ad, though I like the "I'm Ned Lamont and I approve this message!" followed by "...and so do we!"

|6.27.06 @ 7:35PM|#

"Lieberman is well liked in CT and is likely to win as an independent."

Not that well-liked. Not anymore.