Good and Bad News: Gary Johnson Ads Running on CNN

The Freedom and Liberty PAC, a political committee supporting Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson for President, is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on TV ads promoting Johnson’s campaign. That’s great news, as too often LP nominees never get around to raising the money needed for buying any kind of serious TV time.

Unfortunately, the ad that seems to be popping up regularly on CNN is this train wreck…

Could someone have designed an ad that confused voters and minimized Gary Johnson any more than this spot does? The actors have such strange accents and the actual message is so muddled by the monster movie setting and bizarre mutant reveal that it’s extremely hard to imagine ANY undecided voter seeing this and saying “you know what, Gary Johnson is right.” It’s much more likely, in fact, to imagine senior citizens viewing the ad and then muttering about how “crazy” he is.

Meanwhile, the actual Johnson campaign just released a 60-second web video that could be adapted to make for a fantastic 30-second TV commercial.

Or, perhaps an even better option would be to save up for a single 2-minute TV spot in a high profile time slot. And then run something along the lines of the campaign’s recent “Handyman” web video in front of an audience of millions…

Why focus the bulk of the ad attacking Democrats and Republicans? Take the time to actually introduce Gary Johnson, the candidate, to voters. Just slipping in his name at the end of this novelty ad doesn’t cut it.

Am I crazy? Wouldn’t something more like these above campaign videos have had a lot more of an actual impact than a pair of weird mad scientists building some kind of deformed pig monster?

11 Comments

  1. I agree. I’m glad he is getting some air time but that ad is so much worse than the two great ads you mentioned. I wonder if the Super PAC even talked to the campaign before running the ad? Kind of strange.

  2. Pingback: Freedom And Liberty PAC Ad for Johnson Running on CNN | Independent Political Report

  3. Wow this so terrible words don’t even quite cut it. They are spending 100,000s to run they ad, nd what did they spend to make it? $40 $50? This is just beyond stupidity, what an irresponsible use of donation.

    @Josh unfortunately the campaign and Super-PACs due to their nature are forbidden by federal law to communicate or coordinate in any way shape or form according to the rulng on Citizens United.

  4. Hopefully, no, the SuperPAC didn’t talk to the campaign before running the ad–as that would violate campaign election laws and the FEC would fine them out of existence.

    But I agree with Austin–odd choice for an ad. Just run a basic 30 second spot highlighting why Johnson is the best choice. More executive experience, lowered spending, cut the fat out, climbed Mt. Everest, etc.

  5. IMO this ad does more harm than good.

    And I’m a full time volunteer for the campaign.

    We all HATE it around here.

  6. LARRY KING DID A GREAT INTERVIEW WOW THANKS LARRY
    #GARYJOHNSONFORPRESIDENT

  7. Anyone can adapt any ad they like and run them on their local cable or network station. For a lot less money than you may think. Have them to subtitle on the ad that you paid for the ad to keep it legal. Team up with others in your area and you can run dozens of ads for just a few hundred bucks. It WILL increase the vote totals in your area and introduce thousands to GJ and the LP. Run them on movie and sport shows also not just news and business. Independents don’t just watch news channels, they watch all types of channels. CARPE DIEM

  8. Pingback: Freedom And Liberty PAC Ad for Johnson Running on CNN | ThirdPartyPolitics.us

  9. That was TERRIBLE! It was a trainwreck! That ad couldn’t have possibly been reviewed by anyone supporting Gary Johnson. I, too, fear it may have done more harm than good. CNN must have intended to smear him. I think it should be pulled and trashed immediately. The web ads are much better. Wow… wonder how many people now think of Johnson as a nut-case?

  10. Pingback: Freedom and Liberty PAC Rolls Out a Vastly Improved TV Ad for Gary Johnson

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