Paulites have once again shaken up the political landscape with a political ad paid for by a Paul supporter named Larry Lepard. The ad breaks ground in the struggle against campaign finance reform laws while promoting Paul's candidacy. by Walt Thiessen
(libertarian)
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Two and one quarter million subscribers and readers of USA Today got a taste of Paulmania in their daily newspaper with a full page ad that was bought and paid for by a single American voter. Lawrence Lepard, a strong Ron Paul supporter, paid for the ad out of his own pocket, to the tune of roughly $85,000. It appeared in today's issue of USA Today in the Nation section on page 17A.
The ad features the portraits of four famous Americans at the top: James Madison, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin. It then contains the following text:
"In 1776 our Founding Fathers risked their 'lives, fotunes, and sacred honor' to establish a free and prosperous nation. They warned us that it was our responsibility to keep it that way, but we have strayed from their wise counsel."
The ad goes on to list many of the important issues in the campaign, tying them to warnings of the founding fathers and describing how a Paul presidency would turn things around. Will the ad have the impact that Paulites are hoping for?
Newspaper advertising, like any kind of advertising, depends upon repeat exposures and impressions. Messages must be seen separately and repeatedly before they make an impact on recipients. A marketing rule of thumb says that ads don't usually stick with a recipient until that recipient has been exposed to the message at least 5-6 times. Thus, this ad can only be seen as a single impression upon 2.25 million readers. It's no wonder that presidential campaigns are so costly! Yet there is also reason to believe this ad may only be the first in a series of dramatic ad splashes.
The ad includes a mention of the 5th of November fundraising record-breaker and provides the website for the Boston Tea Party fundraiser. It also provides a laundry list of Paul stances and accomplishments in Congress, including:
Advocates a strong US national defense
Opposes the doctrine of preemptive war
Voted against the war in Iraq. Instead urged Congress to hunt down the terrorists responsible for 9/11.
Will bring our troops home immediately to protect OUR national security and secure OUR borders.
Is opposed to preemptive attack on Iran. Advocates a humble, noninterventionist foreign policy.
Has NEVER voted to raise taxes or for an unbalanced budget.
Will stop spending US taxpayer dollars to build and police foreign nations.
Will protect Social Security for seniors while allowing younger people to transition out.
Will end "birthright citizenship" for illegal aliens, stop illegal immigration and secure our borders.
The ad also notes Paul's many principled accomplishments, including never taking a government-paid junket, never voting himself a pay raise, refusing to participate in lucrative congressional penion programs, not relying on lobbyists and special interests to fund his campaign, and receiving more donations from active military personnel than any other candidate.
What is really striking about the ad is that it is a creative way to challenge draconian campaign finance reform laws. After all, while a candidate like Dr. Paul has to report all contributions from individuals, which cannot exceed $2,300, there appear to be no limits on individuals running their own ads that are paid out of their own pockets. In other words, by running this ad Lepard is effectively supporting the campaign to a tune far in excess of the $2,300 contribution limit. I have no idea what the FEC might do about it. It remains to be seen whether the FEC might challenge Lepard with a requirement to file his expenditures. Federal law doesn't seem to be terribly clear about such a case, but I, for one, hope that his precedent is successful.
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I find it ironic that on the next page is a full-page ad for gold coins. It claims that gold will go up to $3000/oz. on fear. That's consistent with the Paul for President ad.
I haven't seen much in the media on this ad. I'm sure if any of the higher polling candidates had something like this, the news channels would be all over it.
