What Would Don Draper Do? The Ultimate Pitch Man On The Palin Pick

If you asked Don Draper who he was pulling for in the election he would most likely say:
I'm a white male, elections don't affect me. But that's no fun. Here's what I imagine a commercial pitch might look like at the Sterling Cooper offices.

After a round of formalities, Team Obama settles into Sterling Cooper's leather chairs, Pall Mall smoke fills the room and Don, nonchalant but passionate, makes the pitch:

A pallid Jackie Kennedy stands next to LBJ as he takes the oath of office. Johnson somberly raises his hand. Jackie's dress pink still has her husband's dried blood on it. This harrowing vision is seared into the American psyche. For a short terrifying time we we're left without a leader. Fortunately, some one equally competent was there to take the helm, to guide this nation safely to shore amidst its sea of panic.

Do we really believe that Sarah Palin could provide the same type of leadership?

Choosing Sarah "Not Even in the Case of Rape" Palin is another example that McCain has screwed yet another pooch. This time it's by completely miscalculating the importance of the vice presidency: the vice president is the second in line. McCain at the ripe age of 72 has a 20 percent chance of dying. That means there's a 20 percent chance that Palin will be the leader of the free world. Do you think Americans will feel comforted by the image of grieving Cindy McCain standing next to Sarah Palin taking the oath of office one day?

Pete, queue the light projector:

Story continues below

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Lyndon Johnson, war hero, congressman, master of the senate, ultimate number two guy. Under Kennedy , Johnson spearheaded committees on Equal Employment Opportunities and NASA'S moon mission -- these became the defining acts of Kennedy's woefully short presidential career.

When Johnson got the phone call about Kennedy's tragic death, he was ready to lead. His leadership was so impressive, Americans decided to keep him in office by electing him to the presidency the subsequent term. He went on to pass historic legislation, including the voting act that finally allowed all American citizens to vote encumbered.

Then cut to:

Journalist, Senator, Nobel Prize Winner, Al Gore

Baltimore Sun Said of Gore:

"Al Gore revolutionized the way vice presidents are made. When he joined Bill Clinton's ticket, it violated the old rules, Gore has come to be regarded by strategists in both parties as the best vice presidential pick in at least 20 years."

Run the soundclip of Gore saying he had a particular interest in reducing "waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government and advocated trimming the size of the bureaucracy and the number of regulations."

Cite the fact that by the end of the Clinton presidency, the numbers were uniformly impressive. Besides the record-high surpluses and the record-low poverty rates, the economy boasted the longest expansion in history; the lowest unemployment rate since the early 1970s; and the lowest poverty rates for the aged.

Gore is probably the single individual who has done the most to create greater worldwide understanding of the measures that need to be adopted in order to fight climate change.

Then you do three quick flashes to draw out this point by example

Flash 1

Flash 2

Flash 3

Then hold on this picture as you ask the question: What kind of leader will Sarah Palin be?

In essence the more elevated the office of the vice presidency the more shocking the choice of Palin becomes. Choosing Palin undercuts the argument that Barack Obama is too inexperienced, raising questions about John McCain's age and judgment. This isn't about Palin. It's about McCain. It's about honesty. The question should be whether McCain who has been going on for months about Obama's dangerous lack of experience -- ever meant a word of it. We've already had to deal with the mess of one's president's lies. We don't need to do it again.

Done. Pro-bono. Send Joan in for more ice.

Comments

[RcJ2]

This was simply a wonderful written blog.

[KJZebra]

Oh, I see. I thought this was going to be some clever rant connecting Don Draper to Sarah Palin.
Turns out this is just another puff piece extolling the greatness that is Al Gore. How original.

[MiddleRoadLiberal]

Way to completely miss the point. I'm guessing this happens a lot.

[MichaelCanfield]

Where the hell is Season Two, Episode SIx, I've been checking iTunes all damn day!!!

[twodox]

On Sixty Minutes last night, Obama said he picked Biden because he could rely on his experience and counsel and his willingness to tell the truth, rather than be a "yes man." Can ANYONE, even the most rabid supporter imagine a situation in which McCain would ask her opinion on anything?

[Roberto2201]

Baby shower gifts?

[BottomLine2008]

Nice. Don's a Lucky Strikes man.

[joebiz]

A thoughtful and well written post, seasoned with a fragrant pinch of dry wit.

I'm ashamed to say that "Paleon Palin," who is a few years older than me, is part of and representative of many of the politics of my contemporary Generation X. Gen X was weened on a "junk-food diet" of Reaganism; silly supply-side economic policy (read: material wealth upward shifts); and the simple-minded bi-polarity of the Cold War.

However, some of us evolved to see the delusional fantasies and utter kleptocracy of the Right, while others became Bible-thumping, moose hunting, mayors of grotto towns in the Northern Klondike.

Palin is the embodiment of the Republican Right without the baggage of the Cold War and the much required intellectual rigor to deal with a more complex world. Palin will be worse than Reagan, Quayle, or Bush I and II have or will ever be.

Draper should have the Ford Edsel in mind and design a political campaign accordingly.



we would be apt at discovering what the Republican Paleonthology or the study of prehistoric life, in this case adoption of prehistoric and stone-age politics; seems to be the main theme of this would-be Vice Presidenthas adopted many of the backward, reactionary, and conservative values that Reagan and his Gangsters

[Rex11]

Obama Team: Don, you won us over. Brilliant!

All laugh as the Pall Malls are inserted between their lips to free their hands for a vigorous handshake.

Don: Welcome to Sterling Cooper gentlemen.

Obama Team: It's our sincere pleasure!

Don: Now, what do you boys say we go out for some steaks and blatant 60's style misogyny?

Obama Team: (Laughs) C'mon Don, let's leave that to the republicans.

All laugh and exit.

[Kimberly46]

Very well put together.

I hope the other people awed by this lady wake up in time to see your point of view, AND MINE.

Thank you :)

[afgail]

Kimberly46. Not likely. For the evangelical extremists their political delusions are like masturbating - self accuating, no facts needed.

[BrookD]

Palin has more domestic executive experience than Hillary and Obama combined, which leads one to assume actual experience is completely irrelevant to the left and therefore a complete nonissue. The left is swayed by slogans, promises, and Kool-aid drinking loons like Michael Moore. Sorry, I've heard all the Obama promises before, and he will fail just like all the rest to deliver. Even if you wanted to vote Democrat this year -- there's nobody to vote for. Reverse the Obama/Biden ticket and you might get my attention.

[Nancyok]

You want to take a moment to think about the at least 20% chance that the Republican ticket will be reversed? Do you really think that 18 mos. of "domestic Exec. experience" supercedes the years of legistlative experience, followed by 4 years on the foreign policy committee in Washington....and years of public service prior to that....to say nothing of the years of academic achievement and a life well examined. I live in a state with about the same population as Alaska.....the governship is really just a few steps above the PTA . But the important thing is what it says about McCain's questionable judgement of late. I've met the man twice...and there are whispers in the corridors of St. Paul right now...that he is losing it.

Secondly, I am a woman and a business owner and the mother of 2 toddlers. I won't lie....Adjusting to becoming a parent and juggling running a business was at times, overwhelming....for both me and my corp. exec. husband. There were days that one or the other suffered....for both of us. Adjusting to a special needs child while cramming to learn all she has shown she has no idea about....I find it difficult to believe any man or woman could accomplish what needs to be accomplished.

[bodhibabe]

President Barack Obama... has a nice ring. Get used to it.

[robXdion]

C'mon. Don Draper would seduce her within their 2nd client meeting. He'd have her in bed during "lunch" after drinks. Then he'll be in bed post-coital still wrestling with his childhood mother issues. Then he'll go back to the office and pitch her image based on skirt length and what her image conveys to women who want men to notice them.

[ebethgay]

My thoughts exactly!