How Dole's Infamous "Godless" Ad Got Made

McClatchy:

The famous -- or infamous, depending on your point of view -- "godless" TV commercial in North Carolina's campaign for the U.S. Senate almost didn't happen.

For starters, Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole's campaign didn't think Democratic challenger Kay Hagan would follow through with plans to attend a Boston fundraiser hosted by a couple known for promoting atheist causes. Certainly not after the Dole campaign had sent out a news release attacking Hagan for even scheduling such an event.

Even then, Dole's campaign thought it would run such an ad only as a last resort. And then it would be the mildest version of the ad.

Read the whole story: McClatchy

Comments

[jackmayoff]

Liddy hand the old man a blue pill and call it a campaign.

[MizLiz]

I'm glad she ran the ad. It showed people what she was really like, and the depths to which the republican party has sunk. Good riddance to her. She's got no one to blame but herself and her advisors.

[newshawk14]

I totally agree, I thought the add was vile, and revealed an unprincipled person, who would
do anything to win. Mind you, John McCain was setting her a good example.

[sylar]

Buh-bye, now liz, off into the wilderness with ya.

[NWPennsy]

Being an atheist in America today is akin to being black in America 150 years ago - it's the last frontier of open hatred. Fortunately, this ultimate fear tactic backfired on Liddy, who has been in the Senate far too long to be objective. Is believing in talking snakes and asses, the preservation of all the world's animal species by Noah and walking on water really a prerequisite for good governance? I mean, seriously.

[DCCommuter]

Ahh...you can easily _fake_ believing in God. You can't fake being white.

[bbridges1962]

Really...h­ow about Michael Jackson?

[harriettubman]

No it's not. People need to find another analogy when comparing the degradation of black folks thru slavery, Jim Crow and Civil Rights to their cause. They don't equate to the gay cause or Athiests at all.

I have no problem with an athiest. One of my child's friends is one because his parents have not given him a spiritual foundation but he's a great kid. Some believe and some don't. That's the bottom line.

[ashb]

Try being gay. We are the object of plenty of open hatred.

[pattio66]

Sad, really, I never cared much for Bob but I always thought Liddy was a pretty sharp lady. She did a great job of running the Red Cross. As a woman, I think it's a pity - given her body of work - that she will be remembered for sinking into the slime and ending her career.

[btanner]

Bush and Dole are both Harvard alums too. Hahaha! Which goes to show that religion can mess with your head if you let it.

[UnhyphenatedAmerican]

I do so agree with all the comments about Dole and this ad.

However, I want to add one perspective. I called her office to complain as soon as I heard her ad. I encountered a very young voice who was convinced Dole was on a righteous path. As a participant in a long term R&D project on human ethics, I count how people treat their domestic employees and their staff as extremely important. From speaking to this young man, it became obvious that Dole had zero interest in how supporting her claim could affect her staff. He was clearly indoctrinated.
I do not think Dole had one flicker of consciousness about her supporters or the legacy of her husband.

My main criteria is "Is this nice?" You view that from every aspect. Dole does not have kindness on here register.

[timberdoodle]

It's really amusing the difference in how religion in politics is viewed when you compare Canadian politics with American politics.

In Canada it is disasterous for a politician to run on any religious theme or talk about any policies with religious overtones. Canadians have always overwhelmingly turned against politicians bringing religion into politics even though we have our share of different religions.

In America it seems a person's religion is paramount to them being elected and appears to take priority over the candidate's policies or intellectual qualities.

I don't have a problem with people believing in what ever they want to believe but I do take objection to them trying to force their opinions and beliefs on me or anyone else. I don't really see the U.S. ever getting out from under the spell religion holds over them but time will tell.

[aliceinthewater]

I have a feeling this ad was indirectly responsible for Obama winning the state.

That's just my little opinion.

[JHCowboy]

That definitely could be part of the reason Barack won the state. I definitely feel it had an influence.

[alguien]

i do look forward to a time when one can be an atheist without fear of indictment.

[CR46]

I agree with you, freedom of religious choice is also the freedom not to believe or join an organized religion. That was just another persecussion of anyone "different" from the GOP wingnuts.

[lippp]

Well, I look forward to the time a qualified Black, agnostic lesbian can run for office. They we really will have evolved.

[AC-DC]

who cares if she went to an Atheist gig or whatever it is she done.

they have views and rights too and i'm one of them i don't believe in GOD but i don't take offense to people who believe i just don't want them to push it on me and keep it out of government!!

[starfire426]

Liddy Dole...a deplorably flawed individual!!

[denholt]

I'm for the Separation of Church and HATE.

[AC-DC]

right on brother i totally agree with that!!

[Mikeeee]

I'm for the separation of dole from the U.S. but can't think of any place that would want her.

[Rebecca]

I had lunch today with a friend from North Carolina and she said, more than the ad, was the fact that Dole had not been in the state for any length of time, in years. She said the ad was mean-spirited, but that Dole had long since lost the race once they made the decision to air the ad. According to her, most of the voters were not phased by the ad in the same way as the rest of us...their minds had already been made up.

[Egalitare]

I agree that Liddy was in a zone of vulnerability long before this ad. But her team probably felt she could weather any storm against the 3rd choice of the opposition.

Hubris is a mutha!!!!

[TNFarmer]

Justice. Enjoy it, Mrs. Dole. Like so many Republicans, and some Democrats, you just don't put into practice what morals you so readily preach. Hypocrites.

[LHoney]

I can't tell you how giddy it makes me to see these people getting what they deserve!!! (for once!)