Okay, okay, I know. As good Democrats, we should not criticize fellow Democrats running for elected office, particularly against loathsome Republicans. And while I’m no fan of Rodney Glassman, former Tucson city council member currently running to unseat Senator John McCain (I favoured John Dougherty), I have kept mum since the primary out of respect for the Democrats on the ticket this year.
But, oh God, how Mr. Glassman is making that hard on me.
Check out this — it would be charitable to call it a “campaign ad” — officially sanctioned Youtube video released by the Glassman campaign today. It’s too good to pass up.
What. The. Hell. Are. You. Thinking. Mr. Glassman?
Sure, audio of Rodney singing Christmas carols made the rounds earlier this year. But, nothing — and I do mean nothing — compares to the smirking, finger-pointing, barn-roof raising, pelvic thrusting spectacle that is Mr. Glassman’s karaoke-style rendition of “Sweet Home Alabama”.
Yes, we live in a viral video powered post-Palin, post-O’Donnell, post-Angle era of American politics, when humanizing moments are cherished and embarassing gaffes are commonplace. But, really, is this a senatorial campaign Mr. Glassman is running, or a donor-funded audition for American Idol?
Mr. Glassman is already being criticized for his youth and for his inexperience. He has been lambasted for not launching a serious senatorial campaign, and even been the target of rumours that he is already planning a run for Tucson mayor in anticipation of his trouncing by John McCain next month.
Does this video do anything — anything — but add fuel to that fire? Does this video make Mr. Glassman look more mature, more distinguished, more serious, and more competent?
No, this video is an uninvited insight into Guitar Hero family video game night at the Glassman residence.
A Rasmussen Report recently showed that Glassman is trailing McCain by a whopping 21 percentage points. Given those humiliating poll numbers, should Glassman really be spending his time, and his donor money, making country-western music videos?
I will give credit to the Glassman campaign for one thing: this video has all the makings of going viral, and it does include some good anti-McCain talking points. But, I think there’s a fine line between having viewers laughing with the candidate, and having viewers laughing at the candidate. And Glassman’s not just treading that line, he just took a flying leap across it.
If this video weren’t so gosh darned funny, it would be insulting to John Dougherty, Randy Parraz and Cathy Eden — all of whom actually wanted to run real and serious campaigns against Senator McCain; not treat this election cycle like one great big hootenanny.
Filed under: Rodney Glassman, your smarmy is showing
Cross-posted: Blog for Arizona
