November 11, 2003
WE'RE WITH STUPID:
You (and Bush) are likely too dumb for this (Howard Mortman, 11/12/03, MSNBC)
If you're an American, chances are there's a celebrity who thinks you're dumb. Maybe even stupid. Or an idiot. Or something worse, which we can't print here.YES, SHOW A celebrity an American, and that celebrity will show you an ignoramus.
Too sweeping a statement? Perhaps. But what about this Michael Moore screed about Americans in the London Mirror earlier this month? "They are possibly the dumbest people on the planet. ...We Americans suffer from an enforced ignorance. We don't know about anything that's happening outside our country. Our stupidity is embarrassing."
Until Michael Moore pointed it out, you probably didn't know how embarrassingly stupid you are. In fact, you probably have so little intelligence you didn't know that Moore isn't the only celebrity who thinks you're dumb. Indeed, Moore has colleagues in the celebrity kingdom who think the same thing.
So put on your well-worn dunce cap and check out what other celebrities say about your intelligence. And if the celebrities are correct in their analysis, you're moving your lips as you read this.
What one wonders is why they think it helps their cause to call their fellow Americans stupid? Here's an idea for an ad--show a series of clips of these kind of comments and then follow it with a bunch of regular folk (Red State folk), posing with President Bush, wearing t-shirts and mouthing the line "We're with Stupid". Heck, make it the official campaign slogan. Posted by Orrin Judd at November 11, 2003 4:05 PM
I recall reading that Bowling for Coloumbine has found itself into the public school curriculum in France. I wished someone could confirm whether this is true. If so, is just precious: is this what the intellectual elites in the EU teach kids about America?
Posted by: MG at November 11, 2003 4:28 PMOrrin,
Your TV ad idea is brilliant. It uses a common phrase in a new and memorable way while saying a lot about Brand W. However, according to Marketing 101, when you're the category leader, you're not supposed to acknowledge the negative attacks by your lesser competitors (e.g. McDonalds vs. Burger King). Instead, you continue to communicate what has made you #1. (I wonder if this doesn't apply to political ads?)
-bb
Brian:
Ah, but that's the true genius (if I say so myself)--it's my theory that the American people prefer the "dumber" candidate.
Posted by: oj at November 11, 2003 6:30 PMIt is telling that Mr. Moore doesn't know the difference between ignorant and dumb.
Posted by: Jeff Guinn at November 11, 2003 6:48 PMAll;
The best theory I've seen is that Moore is ignorant about the Internet and failed to realize that his blathering in Germany would be rapidly translated and diseminated in the US.
Of course, immediately after showing Bush and his friends with their red T-shirts, cut to pictures of the nine echoes debating, and then focus on Kucinich talking about mind-controlling satellites and Clark saying anything and Kerry slicing up his position on Iraq. And then close with pictures of happy Iraqis. Ask the viewer, "Who's stupid now?"
Posted by: jim hamlen at November 12, 2003 5:04 AM