UPDATE: That didn't take long. Missouri Democratic Party senior spokeswoman Caitlin Legacki has issued a response to the American Crossroads ad. "All of the attacks against Claire are going to be about distorting her record. As an independent who has cut spending by going after the big contractors, she's stepped on some pretty big toes, and there are quite a few giants who want to take her out as a result. But Claire has always been comfortable as the underdog, fighting for what's right," she said in an e-mail.
ORIGINAL STORY: The political ads bashing Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill continue to roll out. First, she was personally responsible for giving kids asthma. Now, according to a radio spot by the conservative American Crossroads PAC, she is using a body double to cast her votes. Figuratively, of course.
The ad uses the newly popular tactic (seen often on infomercials) of claiming to be a news report to grab listeners' attention before it switches to an overtly political tone. It's brilliant. Take a look at the script after the jump.
See, the ad begins:
TV anchor: Show Me TV has discovered that Sen. Claire McCaskill has been using a body double to cast her votes in Washington, D.C.
TV co-anchor: How did this come to light, Matt?
And, as a listener, you're totally thinking, "What?! Show Me TV! I trust this nonexistent but realistic-sounding TV channel name! A body double? Yes, Matt, how the H-E-double-hockey-sticks did this happen?"
Then Matt assesses the evidence:
TV anchor: Turns out McCaskill's stand-in is a
big-spending liberal. One McCaskill told Missourians she opposed more
spending and taxes; the other McCaskill voted for the $830 billion
stimulus and raised the debt ceiling through the roof.
So, you're all, "Where the hell did our senator get a clone? That's nutty! We need more info, Matt!" And then you briefly question the wording of "ceiling through the roof," but you let it go because this is breaking freaking news, yo!
But that's when a scary narrator hijacks the spot and drops what Tracy Jordan would call "truth bombs." The ad plays a clip of the senator saying, "Federal spending since President Bush took office has increased by
almost a trillion dollars. We must be fiscally accountable for the
taxpayers' money." The narrator pounces.
Narrator: "Reeeeeeeallllllly, Claire? But you voted to raise the debt another $5 trillion. Find the real Claire McCaskill at www.TruthAboutClaire.com: The one who tells us we need to cut spending -- or the one who votes the exact opposite in Washington, D.C. ... TruthAboutClaire.com.
See? It was the same Clairebear all along. Oh, those tricky PACs! No clone or body double. Not actual news. Only one McCaskill who talks like all politicians do. Whew. Don't worry. That would have been so weird, right, guys?!
Here's the ad:
