Kashkari’s TV Spot Betrays His Utter Lack of Decency
Everyone knows that Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown is going to crush his Republican challenger, Neel Kashkari, in the November election, probably by 20 percentage points or more. But Kashkari had an opportunity to demonstrate that he’s a class act and that even in defeat, he could display intelligence, grace and poise enough to be taken seriously in some future political endeavor.
Until he released his 30-second TV spot titled “Betrayal,” in which Kashkari “saves” a drowning boy who Brown, cruelly, was allowing to die by siding with teachers and abandoning good little children.
“Jerry Brown betrayed ours kids to protect his donors,” Kashkari tells the viewer, while the little boy he has just pulled from the pool sits dully at his side, apparently gasping for air.
Have You No Decency, Sir? It is a truly disgusting ad. If Kashkari had children – which he doesn’t – he would not possibly have allowed his ad maker – Todd Harris – to come up with such a disturbing and exploitative commercial. It’s hard to believe that any parent watching this ad would be persuaded to support Kashkari, who appears willing to risk a child’s life to make his point.
“I wanted the most powerful image I could to let people know about Jerry Brown’s betrayal,” Kashkari said last week in a radio interview on KQED’s “Forum.” “What’s more shocking — a 30-second television ad or the fact the governor of California is fighting kids in court who’ve asked him for a good education?”
Or a candidate for governor who’s unapologetic about making and airing a commercial showing a child drowning?
Too bad. First he went ballistic at Calbuzz and now he’s shown himself to be without a shred of common decency. And we were hoping that a Republican who does not cling to the right wing’s dogma on abortion, immigration, gay marriage, etc. would show it’s possible to run a dignified campaign for governor in California and do at least as well as Dan Lungren or Meg Whitman.
But the “Betrayal” ad is so repulsive, it’s likely to drive Kashkari’s vote down further – even with Jerry Brown refusing to spend a smidgen of the $23 million or so he’s bankrolled for this campaign.
Way over the line.
I have not seen the Ad, but I will take your word for it that it is disgusting. Meanwhile 22 miles from the Calbuzzer roost in Aptos, a real interesting political battle with consequences is happening in San Benito County. Here is Paul Rodgers in today’s Mercury news to tell you about it. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_26758985/fracking-ban-ballot-tiny-san-benito-county-has
Guys, get a grip. No one drown filming this ad. No one was going to drown. There are movies, TV shows and even video games that are far more disturbing than this. I saw the ad as something of a metaphor for his campaign. Kashkari has spent all this money and has absolutely nothing to show for it. He is in way over his head and it’s not going to end well for him. In the past I have rewarded pro-choice Republicans because they get beaten up so badly in their party. But in this case, Kashkari is so one-off that I have no idea what his administration would look like. Not that I have to worry too much about it….