It is against the law in Canada to impersonate a police officer; you can also go to jail for impersonating a doctor, lawyer, or any government official or private citizen.
UNLESS you are an actor, mimic, drag queen .. or Tory advertising strategist. Then, impersonating someone you are not is actually an art … a skill designed to entertain, through deception.
I was surprised, while driving in my car, to hear on the radio a new open line host, with an unfamiliar voice, say “We’ve got Sue on the line talking about Stephane Dion’s carbon tax.”
“Well, we’ve got another politician with another trick up his sleeve,” commented “Sue”, followed by the radio host egging her on with “The Dion tax trick?” and quips like “You’ve got that right” and “Well, put” as “Sue” railed against the federal Liberal proposal.
Michael Campbell, I wondered? No … at the end of the piece came a quick disclaimer that what we had listened to was “Authorized by the registered agent of the Conservative Party of Canada.”
Oh … so that’s the Tory way! Impress Canadian voters by misleading them: without a clear disclaimer at the start, impersonating a radio host and impersonating actual radio callers.
There are three such ads, each in their own way actually belittling and denigrating a highly popular form of radio entertainment across Canada … the talk show … where Tory candidates themselves flock to before elections, but are seldom heard after being elected and appointed to cabinet.
What makes the ads particularly interesting is the low esteem the Tories themselves seem to have for politicians. In the Tory ads, “politicians” are described as people who trick us, and who also say one thing.. but then “change their mind”.
I have never liked ads … on radio or television … where hucksters feign being reporters, and on the radio, without a setup line, it really is deceptive advertising.
And I’m sure the Tories would be horribly upset to see themselves, and their message, relegated to the same category of impersonators as actors, comics and drag queens. Or would they prefer to be included in the other category of impersonators: crooks and criminals?
3 responses so far ↓
1 the waif // Jun 27, 2008 at 7:10 pm
This is the grease on the slippery slope.
Almost as nauseating as the Paul Reitsma affair, but instead of a phony caller, we get a completely fake-o talk-show.
The psychology is diabolical.
They build a positive reinforcement – “You’ve got that right” – into a negative attack ad.
And will the BC NDP steal the idea?
(I like the suggestion of getting Michael Campbell to do the ad. He usually opposes all kinds of taxes.)
2 Mike // Jun 28, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Hi there Harvey:Interesting take on those commercials.I think back to the Liberals….” Soldiers… In the streets….With GUNS!”I guess the Torys are taking their ques from the best.All the best.Mike
3 BC Mary // Jul 4, 2008 at 1:14 am
I dislike are ads which sound like news but are actually advertisements promoting government decisions.
The Carbon Tax stories right now. Most citizens are against it. Most pundits are not only in favour but are waxing indignant over any opposition.
Must be great to have that kind of promotion without it costing a dime from the candidates who will ride it to victory in the next election.
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