August 9th marked the 33rd anniversary of Richard Nixon’s resignation in the face of impeachment. To commemorate the occasion, Democrats.com launched the Dump Dick Video Contest to encourage people to think about the historical parallels between Dick Nixon and Dick Cheney, and to question some of the specious arguments currently being made against impeachment (e.g. that it would be bad for the country, take too long, or prevent Congress from accomplishing other important work). None of these things held true in 1974, and they would even less so now.
After the jump, meet the winner of our contest...
17 videos were submitted to our Dump Dick YouTube group making the case for the impeachment of Dick Cheney on this basis. Five finalists tied for the highest user ratings on YouTube and then the overall winner was determined by a runoff vote on the Democrats.com site. The winning video, Nancy Calls for Impeachment, depicts an imaginary telephone conversation between Nancy Pelosi and a friend (played by the video’s creator—student, activist-musician, and first-time filmmaker Jen Datka). The friend explains to Nancy that the reason she’s so unpopular is her "failure to hold accountable the most dangerous, criminal, and morally bankrupt administration this country has ever known." She then cites the historical example of Richard Nixon to allay Nancy’s fears about impeachment.
Jen said to me, "It was great to see so many intelligent and talented people get involved with this contest. I think the creativity evident in all the video entries will be a powerful weapon against Bush and Cheney and help bring these evil-doers to justice at last." For her own creativity Jen is being awarded the first place prize of $1,000 from Democrats.com. In the video below she tells us a bit more about herself and her thoughts on impeachment:
Jen raises some terrific points in her conversation with "Nancy"--points that the real Nancy needs to hear and respond to. And not just Nancy, but her friends in Congress too. What are your creative ideas for how to make that happen? Do you have other ideas for using the Nancy video to further the cause of impeachment? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
In close second was Dick Cheney’s Jury by Kevin D'Haeze. The video juxtaposes footage of Dick Cheney and Richard Nixon over an ominous soundtrack, reminding viewers that the only way to stop Nixon was through impeachment, and that we can exercise that option with Dick Cheney as well.
Here's more from Kevin:
I've been involved in film making for about ten years. Back in 2000, I became dismayed by the fiasco that was the election, and like many had a tainted view and a bad taste in my mouth. I knew from the get-go that something "wasn't right" with the Bush team. Over the years, I watched the scandals unfold, and the mind-numbing spin factory that the Bush administration put together. In the media, what seemed to me as cut-and-dry instigators to impeachment somehow got watered down to near oblivion by the time the story pushed its way through a Paris Hilton expose or a Michael Jackson trial. At some point I think everyone asks themselves, "what can I do about it?". With a family and career, time can be a valuable commodity, but I felt compelled at least to add my voice to the chorus of those who chose to stand up to the abuses from the Bush administration. So, I started creating videos on YouTube as a way to "vent my frustrations" and in some way help persuade some sanity back in this country. They are generally hurriedly assembled, but I try to get a solid message out there. To be honest, what pleases me most in this contest is the knowledge that thousands of people have taken two minutes out of their day to watch my video and hopefully solidify in their own mind that change is necessary, appropriate, and entirely possible. It is the technological equivalent of standing on top of a mountain and screaming for some political accountability.
When I started creating "Dick Cheney's Jury", the premise seemed simple... "Nixon was a crook, Cheney is a crook. Show it and say it"... right? But after compiling the shots to build into the television sets, it was clearer than ever that what Cheney did to America is far more damaging than anything Nixon wielded. We shouldn't be afraid to take action... we should be afraid of NOT taking action.
Some of my talents revolve around the film making business, so I do what I can. I ask others to draw from their own talents in a similar way to determine how they, too, can bring about the real change that we need in this country. It's not just about being angry, it's about being right for America. And the Bush team is definitely hurting the foundation of America. We have to ask ourselves; do we want to apologize to our kids years from now, when it's too late? Or, do we want to do the right thing, right now?
Democrats.com will be sending $500 to Kevin in recognition of his actions for impeachment.
The two other finalists were The History of Nixon and the Future of Cheney, by peacetakescourage and Ghost of Nixon by headzup.
The History of Nixon and the Future of Cheney
The Ghost of Nixon
Honorable Mention goes to Dump Dick by eblumrich, who qualified as a finalist but withdrew.
And Special Mention goes to Comeuppance, by citizentwain, which was submitted too late to make the finals but which would have qualified and we think is excellent.
We'd like to thank everybody who participated in the contest. And we'd love to hear people's suggestions for other creative ways to spread the message of impeachment using these videos.