The Christmas Ad from Mike Huckabee: The Real Story
December 22, 2007 | By Jack Yoest
"Give me lucky generals," Napoleon.
The Mike Huckabee Christmas video is getting praised/condemned as a political ad. Many pundits are calling the ad the product of (a nearly evil) genius. Alert Readers will see a 'floating cross' moving behind Huckabee.
Your Business Blogger was curious about the video clip so I loaded up the Penta-Posse in our giant SUV and headed to Little Rock for a look-see.
I sat down for lunch with Chip Saltsman, Mike Huckabee's campaign manager. I ask about the technical aspects of the cross placement in the ad. "How did you do it?"
"I didn't," says Chip. He is amazed at the end result, but honestly didn't know how the barren bookshelves morphed into a cross on camera. He is believable. It would be simple to accept credit for the perfect pitch.
Chip continued, "A cross in the background? I didn't have time to plan that. Wish I did..."
So Huckabee's campaign general gets credit for the comforting Christmas message with just the right touch with the right symbolism.
Chip is a lucky man.
Chip Saltsman
Thank you (foot)notes:
For the record, Your Business Blogger thinks the 'cross' is a large 'plus' sign. And a terrific addition to the campaign.
Even Peggy Noonan missed the story.
And be sure to visit Mike Huckabee President 2008.
The Christmas message:
As usual TownHall gets it right.
Full Disclosure: Charmaine is on paid staff for Huckabee for President.
Comments
Oh, he is a christian - he must be a good choice for president then. No christian has *ever* been incompetant or untrustworthy!
Posted by: Suricou Raven | December 23, 2007 3:42 PM
I love this ad.
Mike Huckabee never tries to hide his Christian faith. If he wanted a cross in the picture, he wouldn't have floated it, fuzzy and sublty, in the background. The media tried at first to criticize him for actually referring to Christ in the ad. When that didn't play, they went with the subliminal-message-and-he-did-it-on-purpose angle.
It's all the very thing Mike spoke of in the ad: "Are you weary of all this?"
Yep. And that's why this ad works so well.
Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Donna-Jean | December 24, 2007 10:31 AM
Merry Christmas to you, Charmaine, and the kids! God bless y'all!
Posted by: Beth | December 24, 2007 10:51 PM