Normally, local political advertisements are much to write home about. There's never enough money in the budget to go to far outside of the box or cut multiple ads. But this year, the ads being aired in central Texas reflect how far political communication on the airwaves has fallen for Republicans.
Consider the following TV commercial being aired by HD-50 GOP nominee Patrick McGuinness who is challenging incumbent Mark Strama.
Seriously. Not even kidding. It would be funny if it wasn't almost scary. In HD-47, GOP nominee Paul Workman is running the following ad. What it lacks in authoritarian imagery, it makes up for with burning hellfire and subtle accusations that Valinda Bolton is the spawn of the devil.
That's where the Republican Party in Austin is at- frothing at the mouth with hatred and anger. Every election has negative ads, but for Travis County, home of some of the most educated voters in the state, this takes the cake.
Compare this with the ads being run by Democrats Mark Strama, Donna Howard, and Valinda Bolton. These are focused, positive, hopeful, issue driven messages. And it's why I'm glad that State Representatives like these are the future of the Democratic Party of Texas.
Mark Strama- New Energy for a New Texas
Donna Howard- Vision for Health Care
Valinda Bolton- Crosswalk
Now it's not as if there are no Democratic attack or response ads- but compare the tone. Here's Donna Howard's 'negative' attack ad.
It's like being in an entirely different universe than the Republicans.
