Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Political ads can be a great source of agenda setting, framing, and image priming. As I was going through political ads from the last few years I came across Mike Huckabee's ad from 2007. This ad entitled Mike Huckabee and Chuck Norris. My first thought is image priming. However after this incident of image priming was not done by Mr. Huckabee, instead Chuck Norris was really priming Mr. Huckabees image.

Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDUQW8LUMs8

After watching the ad, it is quite funny at first. Then I think to myself, "wow this guy potentially could be our next president." He did a great job teaming up with someone that would get him some limelight and exposure. On the other hand having Chuck Norris jokes support your run to the White House is a bit amateurish. This video in a way reminds me of the "John McCain celebrity ad that we watched a couple times during our class." The ad declares Obama is more of a celeb than a candidate.

Instead of someone saying Huckabee is a celebrity, he instead brings in a celebrity to his side to reach out to Americans to gain their vote. In a way if I would have watched this commercial during the election I would be interested. However when it comes down to the economy, health care, and so on Chuck Norris is not going to be of much help to Mike Huckabee then. Actors have a great power over masses of people and candidates will use their star power to project them into the entertainment spotlight. Ronald Reagan was one of the first presidents to use his acting career as a platform to stand on.

I think this commercial just shows how entertainment can draw Americans to someone just because of a celebrity. If not, we would not see Chuck Norris on TV endorsing Mike Huckabee. This was a great example of image priming because by having support from a tough hard hitting guy like Chuck Norris, some Americans like their candidates tough and intimidating. That is the approach I assume Mike Huckabee wanted to fulfill.

-----Corey Righter

No comments:

Post a Comment