Election Music and GOTV

One of the more interesting things about this campaign season is the sheer number of political commercials on the radio that go like this:

First they play ominous and despairing background music - minor chords on acoustic guitars and discordant piano - while reviewing the political record the opponent: "Did you know Tom Montgomery sponsored a bill to roast babies on spikes over large fire pits? Is that what we want for America?"

Then suddenly the topic shifts to the preferred candidate, and within a couple of notes the theme shifts to a jaunty optimistic theme with a slight patriotic march and a hint of Aaron Copland. And the narrator is saying things like "Larry Norton thinks babies are precious, lovable creatures, and will do what it takes to keep them safe. We can trust Larry to protect our values in Washington."

The assault is relentless.

And as a cherished swing-state household our phone is ringing off the hook with robot campaign calls, and in the next twenty-four hours we will be besieged with get-out-the vote people coming to the door to remind us cheerfully that Tuesday is Election Day and they’d be happy to provide a map to our polling location.

That location happens to be about a block away. It’s the Catholic church where we are parishioners, and the same place where I bring our children for school on a daily basis, and where I vote regularly. And I’m a political and media junkie – but thanks for the map, pally.

Most of these are from Ohio-based, pro-Democrat organizations, and there’s a part of me that wants to toy with them by taping a poster of Ronald Reagan to the front door – or making jokes about how I still have the skins drying out in my basement from the people who came knocking on Election Day 2004. But they’re so friendly and civic minded, even if most of them are dewy-eyed liberal kids – I want them to enjoy their last few years of optimism before the all-consuming bitterness sets in …

Tags: Ohio Election