I know this is a change of topic, but here is the campaign ad I'd like to see. It is cinematic rather than Madison Avenue. High budget, impractical at this point, but I hope it makes you smile and feel proud to be Democrats. Not for cynics. If schmaltz and cheap patriotic sentimentality make you cringe, read no further.
Location: A city center, typical of Middle America, say downtown Muncie, IN or Lincoln NE.
Overhead shot: Buildings line either side of a dimly lighted city street. Two gangs of toughs face each other in the night.
Cross street camera angle: Gang USA clearly lives there. Streetlights reveal their features. They wear the clothing of contemporary America - plumber's gear, police, firemen, clerks, fast food uniforms, lawyer's suits, hospital garb, construction workers, National guardsmen, mail carriers, homemakers, truckers, and a motorcycle gang. A mix of races, but representative of the ethnicity of a Middle America town. Mostly men, but women as well. Their faces are serious and resolute as they stare down a somewhat smaller gang lined up on the other side of the street. The motorcycle gang carries an American flag. So do a mom and a fireman. Each member carries a small club. Clubs are held casually.
Cross street camera angle: Gang T is lined up on the other side of the street. They are a mix of people, some white, some black, some Asian, some Arab, but all are young and male except for a dangerous looking woman. They are dressed casually but not stylishly, in slacks and button down shirts of various designs as though they are trying to blend in, but it is not quite working. Each member carries a short staff in a menacing manner. The streetlights go black for a pregnant second.
A sound of torches being lit.
Overhead shot switching to across street pan: Gang USA's clubs are not clubs at all. They are torches. Fast overhead shot shows a line of torches arrayed against gang T in a concave curve. A fast pan across their faces shows resolve. The torches are held high, reminiscent of the Statue of Liberty.
Across street shot: Gang T is intimidated and they appear to be backing away. But they are actually clearing the way for five menacing men in coats who move to the front. In a single motion each opens his coat to reveal a bomb.
Across street shot: Gang USA looks concerned, but resolute. Mom with flag looks behind her and up into the darkened buildings. She raises her flag high.
Across street shot: Camera takes in Gang T crowding backward in a fearful retreat as the whooshing sound of hundreds of torches being lit is heard.
Overhead shot of mom with flag zooming outward to reveal two gangs. Gang USA strong, Gang T huddled defensively. The windows and roofs of the buildings on both sides of the street are now filled with people holding torches, surrounding Gang T.
Panning shot: These new people are dressed in garbs from around the world. European, Asian, African, South American, Australian, Arab, Mexican, and Canadian. Faces and flags from around the world are illuminated in the brightening torchlight.
Continuing to zoom out. Torches illuminate Gang T huddled against a building, trapped by representatives of the entire world, led by Gang USA.
A voiceover accompanies large text:
HAVING FRIENDS MAKES US STRONGER.
Kerry/Edwards 2004
