Campaign AdWatch: Jim Inhofe Needs a Geography Lesson

If you're like most people, you're likely pretty skeptical about whether Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe has really contributed much to the promotion of a sensible foreign policy. Heck, at the end of this new, message-approved by Inhofe, campaign ad, named "Africa," even the voice-over narrator seems a little unsure, snarkily asking, "Jim Inhofe did that?"

What is it that Inhofe did? Well, the whole point of this ad, named "Africa," is that he made a bunch of "intense trips" to Africa where he "quietly" got "to know the leaders" by "talking" and "praying" and, no doubt, "blessing the rains" down in Africa. Unfortunately for Inhofe's credibility, he namechecks a nation named "Iraq" in this ad, which, sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti, is, UHM...NOT IN AFRICA. Nice try, Senator, but you get a big old FAIL.

VOICE: Ethiopia, Zambia, Iraq. Twenty-nine intense trips in twelve years to the front, to the saddest parts of Africa. To quietly get to know the leaders. Talking. Praying. Bonds that might bring peace. Save a life. Bring hope. Jim Imhofe did that?

Comments

[sij3o]

"I personally believe that U.S Americans are unable to do so because some people out there in our nation don't have maps."
Maybe this dude should be the next Miss Teen USA!!!

[karela]

I think it's kind of sad when we're so needy for something to smear someone with that we go with non-things like this. I don't know anything at all about Jim Inhofe, but listening to the ad made me want to find out. If he really has spent that much time and energy trying to connect with and understand people in troubled countries, then he's doing a good thing. Aren't democrats supposed to be about helping people, about caring for people, about trying to reach out to others and make a better world of mutual understanding? It makes us look small to attack things like this and if Inhofe is as good a person as the ad tries to say he is, then we are worse than small for attacking him. We need to take care that we don't become the thing we have fought against for so long.

[LoveLifeLightLaughter]

Well, I know that any day of the week, I'd love to take a good poke at Inhofe... he's one seriously messed-up crazy person disguised as a politician (wait, is that an oxymoron?)... however, I have to agree with part of what Karela said here (not the "as good a person" part, however... pure evil or just really blindingly ignorant, maybe) and say that this was a totally made-up issue. Anyone who actually reads the text scrolling by on the screen (which includes Bosnia too, not just Iraq), and listens to the pause after "front", knows that it's talking about him having travelled to "where the action is", not that he's got a geography problem.

Jason, usually I like your posts and think you're on-target most of the time... but you blew it with this one... major time and brain-cell waster! Care to dredge up some actual material, like maybe his ties to Big Oil being a major reason why this guy gibbers on about "the greatest hoax" that global climate change represents?

[EngineerBill]

In the lead up to the war in Iraq. I remember Imhofe making the "point" that after Reagan bombed Qadaffi in Lybia, Qadaffi behaved himself. No one reminded him that the Lockerbie/ flight 103 incident happened after Reagan bombed Lybia. Imhofe is a moron.

[lvdragonlady]

Maybe ALL public officials should be required to pass a geography test...............lol
WTH...they do not even teach it in school anymore.

[arkgrfx61]

I just find the ad incredibly boring and trying WAY too hard.

[blueskybigstar]

Just sad. This is one of our leader?

[chx]

"Twenty-nine intense trips in twelve years to the front, to the saddest parts of Africa."

Look, I think he's moronic, too, but notice the word "front"? Iraq is the front. And he also went to Africa.

Yeah, he's a Republican, but when we make ridiculous blogs like this, it makes US look stupid, too.

Please... isn't there some real news out there instead of this mindless chatter about where a conjunction should have been used?

[racom]

Right, I noticed the stretch too. Inhofe had repeatedly embarrassed himself any time he is in the public view. He gives ammunition plenty, no need to search out these little no value pieces.

[ZimboChick]

Well the more idiots you expose the more you realise the need to build more schools and less ammunition

[levibatgirl]

He must be working on the mcplanecrash campaign.

[janedoe37]

Not that I'm a fan of Inhofe but the ad says "to the front, to the saddest parts of Africa". When you listen to the ad and hear the pause it's obvious they are talking about two different places: the "front" (Iraq) and then "Africa". Again, not a Repub fan but I am a fan of being fair. Also by pouncing on gaffes that are minor or non-existent we decrease the perceived validity of the major gaffes that McCain makes ALL the time.

[AmericanSinceFeb08]

Sad, very sad. With 12 trips, Mr. Inhofe carbon foot print is large. (oh., he does not care about that).

Meeting leaders.... No picture or name was shown or mentioned. What did he do in Africa? Was he wearing a flag pin?

The complete lack of any understanding of current affairs and the world amazes me every time. The GOP motto is keep them dumb, do not teach them critical thinking, do not improve the public schools.

[pros54]

I heard this joke when I was in Oklahoma. A trucker from Texas and his assistant had stopped at this hardware store where the trucker asked for a wrench and screw drivers. The store owner asked him if he was from Texas and he answered yep. When they got back in the truck the assistant inquired from the trucker how the store keeper was able to tell his state of origin and the trucker told him must have been from his accent. The assistant was very surprised and wanted to test the theory at the next stop which was a grocery store. He quickly asked for a wrench and screw drivers. The store keeper told him you must be from Oklahoma. The assistant asked him so you could tell that from my accent? The store keeper replied no I could tell because we have a sign in front of the store.

The senator amply demonstrates the reason.

[sparkandy]

Reminds me of a good Texas/Okie joke. What's the best thing to come out of Texas? I35 North.

[mamacat]

"It doesn't matter what continent it's in, as long as we own it!!!"

[ZimboChick]

huffpo could you get us another video...this one has been yanked

[filo]

Here is the link

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WNgy4ENNCCE

[ZimboChick]

ty

[ZimboChick]

heheheehheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheh *lets out her big belly Southern African laugh and rests her hands on her hips*

What a load of crap. I have met a lot of idiots who think Africa is a country. at least they graduated from thinking it was a village.

Still funny.

[RaRah]

The narrator's voice sounds like the computer in Radiohead's "Fitter Happier"