Spring Break
Commercial During Debate Exposes Left Out Candidates
Steven Durel
Issue date: 10/19/06 Section: News
Viewers that watched last night's gubernatorial debate between Republican Governor Jodi Rell and Democratic challenger John DeStefano on television, might have been a little surprised to see the event accompanied by an unlikely television ad from Clifford Thornton, the Green Party nominee for governor. Many voters had not previously heard of Thornton, nor the Concerned Citizens Party nominee Joe Zdonczyk, probably in part because these men were both shut out from debating Rell and DeStefano in this year's live televised procedures.
The purpose of last night's advertisement was to send a message to viewers at home - money and power have corrupted the electoral process.
The Green Party's commercial opened with a graphic reading, "Only 2 podiums?? Cliff Thornton excluded from debates."
The ad then showed a crowd of Green party supporters protesting outside New London's Garde Arts Center during the first debate on Oct. 9. The camera moves around the group as two voiceovers can be heard.
"We want to have freedom of speech," the first voice said.
"I'm here to protest the fact that Cliff Thornton is being left out of the debates," another said.
The viewer then sees Thornton's campaign manager, Tim McKee, who said, "We want to talk about issues that these candidates are not going to talk about."
Thornton himself finally appeared on the screen.
"In many respects, being Green is like being black because you're being excluded left and right on many issues," Thornton said. "I'm Cliff Thornton and I approve this message."
At the end of the commercial there is another graphic reading, "CT 4 CT Let all voices be heard. Let Cliff in the debates," while the crowd can be heard chanting, "This is not democracy!"
According to Thornton's field manager, Ken Krayeske, the commercial cost $400 to produce and $3,300 to air.
Krayeske noted that, running by that same average of $110 per second, the major party candidates each got almost $396,000 of free airtime during the two debates. He questioned why the small parties with no money are forced to pay for short spots on television while the rich ones are given sustained periods at no cost.
The purpose of last night's advertisement was to send a message to viewers at home - money and power have corrupted the electoral process.
The Green Party's commercial opened with a graphic reading, "Only 2 podiums?? Cliff Thornton excluded from debates."
The ad then showed a crowd of Green party supporters protesting outside New London's Garde Arts Center during the first debate on Oct. 9. The camera moves around the group as two voiceovers can be heard.
"We want to have freedom of speech," the first voice said.
"I'm here to protest the fact that Cliff Thornton is being left out of the debates," another said.
The viewer then sees Thornton's campaign manager, Tim McKee, who said, "We want to talk about issues that these candidates are not going to talk about."
Thornton himself finally appeared on the screen.
"In many respects, being Green is like being black because you're being excluded left and right on many issues," Thornton said. "I'm Cliff Thornton and I approve this message."
At the end of the commercial there is another graphic reading, "CT 4 CT Let all voices be heard. Let Cliff in the debates," while the crowd can be heard chanting, "This is not democracy!"
According to Thornton's field manager, Ken Krayeske, the commercial cost $400 to produce and $3,300 to air.
Krayeske noted that, running by that same average of $110 per second, the major party candidates each got almost $396,000 of free airtime during the two debates. He questioned why the small parties with no money are forced to pay for short spots on television while the rich ones are given sustained periods at no cost.
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madelaine singleton
posted 10/19/06 @ 10:23 PM EST
Those who have the money either by generous campaign donations, or priviledge backgrounds are able to assault our television screens ad nauseum with their message. (Continued…)
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