This time of year, people love to gripe about the political
ads cluttering up the airwaves. How many times do we have
to see Randall Edwards picking up that little boy, or
those darn school kids begging for money?
But as any registered Oregon voter knows, the real battle
of the ballot box is waged in the mailbox. Politicians
spend thousands of dollars on campaign literature in an
attempt to create a persona who appeals to voters. Sometimes
a wrong move can raise a ruckus--remember state Rep. Jane
Lokan and Sen. Marylin Shannon's photo of gun-wielding
black kids last election? But most of the time the brochures
are as predictable as the back of a cereal box--and not
nearly as informative. You've got your
education message, your family message and your senior-citizen
message. And make sure to include those endorsements.
Still, these carefully constructed pieces are important
artifacts of each election and deserving of some attention.
In that spirit, we present our ratings of this year's
initial batch, which hit our mailboxes in the past few
weeks. (The winner, state House candidate Mary Nolan,
will receive a free vintage Dukakis/Bentsen button.)
2 points for photo of self with senior
2 bonus points if pictured with more than 10 seniors
FAMILY VALUESCONNECTED
a. 1 point for quoting Willamette Week
b. 2 points for using photo of a cop
c. 1 point for using photo of a man in a ballcap
or hardhat
d. 2 points for using photo of candidate in action
e. 5 points for being endorsed by Art Alexakis,
lead singer of Everclear
2 points for photo of self with minority
2 bonus points if pictured with senior minority
1 point for photo of self with other politicians
2 bonus points if pictured with more than 10 pols
1 point for photo of self with kids
2 bonus points if pictured with more than 10 kids
1 point for photo of self with family
2 bonus points if pictured with dog
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Willamette Week | originally
published April 26,
2000
