Wendy Davis TV ad focuses on Abbott in wheelchair

[NeoConsSuck]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by hlthe2b (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: USA Today

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A new television ad by Democrat Wendy Davis goes into territory she hadn't touched until now: Republican Greg Abbott's use of a wheelchair.

A 30-second ad released Friday and titled "Justice" notes the Texas Attorney General recovered millions in a lawsuit after he was injured by a falling tree in 1984, and accuses him of not siding with victims like himself in Texas courts.

It drew a swift rebuke from national conservative groups and the Abbott campaign, which called it "disgusting" and "desperate."

"It's her choice if she wants to attack a guy in a wheelchair," Abbott said in an interview with the San Antonio Express-News editorial board after the ad's release. "I don't think it's going to sell too well."

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/10/11/wendy-davis-abbott-wheelchair-ad/17134965/

---

So for those who know more than I do, is this a fatal move on her part? How is this playing in Texas?

[7962]

1. There are many other ways she could make her point. Stupid move.

No need at all to focus on his wheelchair to report his past actions while in office. She must be getting desperate.

[DhhD]

7. Here we go again. The empty wheelchair is the icon of the injured people Abbott dumped. Texas

Group DUers explain this and Texans and others have been writing on several different Posts on how Abbott is suckering in a lot of excuser for he has himself featured himself in his wheelchair in several of his own Ads. Ask the victims if they feel sorry for Abbott.

[Grins]

22. Agree. Who ever said it was Abbott's wheelchair?

I saw it as the wheel chair for those not as lucky as Abbott to be able to go out and hire a slick "trial lawyer" for yet another "frivolous lawsuit".

[yeoman6987]

53. The representation of the wheelchair on DU is correct

The question is are the Texans agreeing with DU or are they seeing the commercial in another way? That is all that matters. As long as Texans agree with DU's explanation then we are good to go.

[S_B_Jackson]

60. That may have been the intended representation

but many here in Texas are reading the use as a cheap, below the belt suckerpunch. There were better and more effective ways for Wendy Davis' campaign to have made the same point than this ham-fisted effort.

While Davis is on-point with her positions, he campaign has seemed almost amateurish in many respects and it's costing us votes with many in the middle who we need to attact to our side, especially in the hill country.

[BetterThanNoSN]

14. Point is...

it shows the hypocrisy of Rs. I got mine so screw you if you cant get yours.

[sendero]

36. The first ad I saw..

.... with Abbott was him wheeling up a parking garage playing up his can-do-disabled story.

The ad is about Abbott's rank hypocrisy of collecting millions in settlements for the accident that crippled him but wanting to limit everyone else to a fraction of that amount.

It doesn't get more disgusting than that.

[SunSeeker]

45. It is not "his wheelchair."

The ad never shows him in a wheelchair. An EMPTY wheelchair is shown for a split second when talking about benefits for paralysis patients that Abbott hypocritically moved to deny after collecting millions for his own paralysis.

Watch the ad. The headline is a lie. It does not focus on Abbott in a wheelchair. It focuses on Abbott's HYPOCRISY.

[bklyncowgirl]

2. Sorry, but that's low.

[DhhD]

8. The wheelchair is empty.

[DhhD]

11. Texas Group and Others reply to OP about Abbott

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025652057
Wendy Davis Ad Features Gregg Abbott's Intervention In Federal Lawsuites

Please see Reply #9


Texas Group has this OP and Replies: http://www.democraticunderground.com/107821269

[brentspeak]

20. We should all pray you never serve on a jury

Likely you would vote to convict as soon as the charges were read.

Read: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014916007#post6

[SunSeeker]

42. The headline is a LIE- the ad NEVER shows Abbott in a wheelchair.

Did you see the ad?

[clydefrand]

3. I don't think she is trying

to make fun of him being in a wheelchair, but rather that after receiving a huge settlement for his injury, he has worked to keep other people for getting large settlements like he did .

[DhhD]

17. Instead of providing justice for the victims, he provided relief to Profiteers and signaled

to Texans, that this kind of behavior, by Big Business was acceptable in Texas. The Texas Attorney did not have to intervene. Keep in mind the big donation to Abbott's Campaign, that the CEO made, before the matter went to court.

[Paladin]

4. A large, highly acrimonious GD thread already dealt with this, yesterday.

I K&R'd it for you to see.

[maindawg]

5. Its fair

A taste of their own medicine. There are millions of voters who do not know that Abbot is handicapped and many redneck idiots who will be shocked and disappointed by the revelation. This is the kind of thing that the rethugs did not want to talk about. The Texas rednecks wont get behind a man who is not a bully a hole.

[sawdust]

13. absolutely well said maindawg

Exactly right!!!

[johnfunk]

24. It's fair, hard-hitting, and tells the truth. I would have done it differently...

... by having it narrated by a Texan who, as revealed in a final shot, needs a wheelchair to get around and who is a victim of "torts for me but not for thee" Greg Abbott.

[ffr]

48. Exactly. USA Today frames it as a Wendy v. Wheelchair, when it's about victims rights!

Phucking right-wing media BS! The question is fair game. The fact that his injuries resulted in his wheelchair disabilities have no bearing on the question: which side of the law did Greg Abbott advocate for when he was the victim?

He recovered millions on his own behalf, so that's the million dollar question.

[Bozvotros]

6. The Dallas News gave the issue a long hard look

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20140215-greg-abbott-pushes-to-block-disabled-texans-lawsuits-against-state.ece

Just another hypocritical Republican. He gets his millions, benefits from the ADA, then tries to crush it when he gets power.

[hobbit709]

9. Wendy Davis ad focuses on Abbott's hypocrisy

His "I got mine and screw you attitude" about lawsuits

[ffr]

49. +1 n/t

[sawdust]

10. Great move Wendy

Show what a low life skeeming crook he is, dont let him hide behind his wheelchair.
GREAT JOB!!!!

[Paladin]

12. JuanitaJean nails it: It was Abbott who made his wheelchair into a campaign star.

He threw the ball in the air, so he has no right to whine if the Davis campaign hit it. Abbott is a world-class hypocrite when it comes to policies affecting the disabled, and he deserves to be called on it.

[Omaha Steve]

15. Max Cleland!!!!!!!

Payback is a bitch.

http://www.allgov.com/officials/cleland-max?officialid=28945

In 2002, Cleland ran for re-election against Republican Saxby Chambliss, who had avoided military service thanks to a football-related knee injury. Nonetheless, Chambliss aired a TV attack ad that challenged Cleland’s commitment to defending the United States against its enemies by accusing him of voting against the formation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Cleland had voted to give DHS employees civil service protection, which Bush opposed. The ad failed to point out that Cleland supported the creation of a Department of Homeland Security before Bush did, and that Cleland’s “no” votes were on procedural questions. The Republican attack ads made it look as though Cleland was voting against Homeland Security itself, and one TV ad morphed Cleland’s face into Saddam Hussein’s while suggesting that Cleland was indifferent to the safety of the American people. The ad was so controversial that Republican Senators Chuck Hagel and John McCain both protested, leading the Chambliss campaign to stop airing it. The race was consider a toss-up, but on Election Day Chambliss won handily, 53%-47%. Nevertheless, Cleland’s loss raised him to martyr status within Democratic Party circles, where he has remained popular ever since.

[Gothmog]

61. I love Juanita Jean

[cosmicone]

16. The teabagger types and rural cons

want a tough-talking, ruthless, iron-pumping, steroid consuming, stubborn bully who talks down to minorities.

After the ad, only tough-talking is left. The ad is a win -- the very fact Repukes are whining and groaning about it shows that it has hurt.

It would have been a low-blow in California or Massachusetts. In Texas, it is par for the course.

[Paladin]

18. Nicely put. (nt)

[SunSeeker]

41. Why would the ad be a "low-blow in California"?

I am in California and I think the ad is fair and spot on. Please explain, after watching the ad.

[cosmicone]

69. California is civilized ... we rarely see the mud-slinging here

especially in the bay area. Even the repukes here are far more decent than the ones in TX or AL.

[blkmusclmachine]

66. Agree 100%. The the Repukes are whining shows how true it is. Abbott got called on the carpet, and

he doesn't like it one damn bit.

[logosoco]

19. I am not from Texas, but I do like Wendy.

I think in this context it makes sense. I was unaware of the story. It would make sense for someone in a wheelchair because of an injury to be sympathetic to others with injuries or illnesses. I think this ad puts the onus on him to explain why he is not in that position.
But, I am not a republican, so I don't look at things the way they seem to.

[Gman]

21. This is s great and devastating commercial

The wheel chair has NOTHING to do with the commercial if you listen to it and the FACTS the commercial lays out. If you focus on the image of the wheel chair and only talk about the wheel chair you ignore the hard hitting facts in the commercial.

It's exactly what her campaign needed at this point. I was told yesterday at one of her HQ's there's a poll out that says she's onky down 6.

[Sweet Freedom]

34. The six-point spread

happened before this ad aired. I wonder if it remains unchanged or if a new poll has yet to be taken.

[YarnAddict]

23. I don't know . . .

I understand the point the ad is trying to make, but coming on top of the images of her campaign workers laughing (literally) over his disability, it just looks like her campaign is totally insensitive.

[cannabis_flower]

32. Every campaign ...

has people that say things that are out of line and that the candidate wouldn't endorse.

[Igel]

38. And both sides play up that kind of insensitivity.

Oddly, both sides also think it's a great move when they highlight that kind of insensitivity and "hate" in the enemy's ranks. After all, what candidate for public office hires such oafs, continues to allow such oafs on their staff (until, at least, it's a public scandal)--or is such a poor judge of character.

As soon as their guys (or gals) do it it's just a simple oversight and the candidate can't be blamed. After all, who's got the time when dealing with Big Issue and the stress of campaigning to vet each employee individually. Only an insensitive, hateful oaf would dare to accuse us.

"Us," of course, as Jakobson pointed out, is a shifter. It's referent depends upon whose mouth the word "us" proceeds from.

[DallasNE]

25. There Is A Right Way And A Wrong Way To Present Such Issues

It seems like Davis is just pointing out that Abbott doesn't walk the walk (pun intended). As long as she stays clear of attempting to use his physical disability as a reason he cannot effectively serve she should be fine. It is a graphic way to drive home the obvious hypocrisy involved with Abbott's public and private lives.

[Gothmog]

26. This ad is accurate in all respects

The attacks on this ad are simply off base

[elleng]

27. It focuses on his HYPOCRICY

and is well done.

[pangaia]

28. Where can I find the ad before I comment?

[TexasTowelie]

52. I included the video of the ad in this thread.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/107821269

[pangaia]

58. Thanks.

[George II]

29. BAD idea!!

[butterfly77]

30. Good Idea..

He got his ,now shut the door on others. Hypocrite.

[Recursion]

31. Running that ad when you're behind looks bad

I have to question this call, and it doesn't seem to be playing well.

[cannabis_flower]

33. The question is...

who is it not playing well with. Democrats will still vote for her. It's not playing well with Republicans who are calling foul. What about independents?

[Recursion]

35. Excellent point

I have no numbers for that. My instinct is that low-information voters see a woman beating up on a dude in a wheelchair. I could be wrong. I hope so.

[SunSeeker]

40. The ad does not show Abbott in a wheelchair. What difference does her sex make?

Of course she is beating up on him. He is her opponent and he is a consummate scumbag and hypocrite. The ad is spot on and fair. Did you watch it?

What is your point about her being "a woman beating up on a dude in a wheelchair"? Is he untouchable because he is in a wheelchair and she is a woman?

[Recursion]

44. I don't think her gender is relevant here, though I may be wrong

I did watch the ad. It was devestating. And sometimes in politics you shouldn't run a devestating ad.

I've donated more money to Wendy's campaign than I should have. Don't start to act like I don't want her to win.

[SunSeeker]

46. Then why would you say such a thing? nt

[Recursion]

51. Because I live in the actual world inhabited by actual voters

And I've actually had a job getting those voters to vote for things and people.

[SunSeeker]

54. Then you know any voter who wouldn't vote for a woman wouldn't vote for Wendy anyway.

Anyone who is put off by a strong woman attacking her male opponent's hypocrisy would never have voted for Wendy Davis in the first place.

[Recursion]

56. Wendy has run the least-gendered campaign of any female D I've seen in years

Look, once again, I've given more money to her than I should have and I'm hoping my wife doesn't happen upon this post as my admission of that. But the ad was IMO an uppercut that hit the gloves. We'll see how it goes. I'll be making calls once polls open.

[blkmusclmachine]

68. Ppl who whine about the "tone" of Wendy's ad were never going to vote for her anyway. I think her ad

was spot on and I approve 100%.

[DamnYankeeInHouston]

37. The ad is legit.

It is not about Abbott being in a wheel chair. It is about Abbott denying other people in wheel chairs the same settlement he received. It is about his cruelty and hypocracy.

[SunSeeker]

39. The headline is a LIE- the ad NEVER shows Abbott in a wheelchair.

An.EMPTY wheelchair is flashed for a split second while talking about how Abbott denied benefits to paralysis patients after collecting millions for himself.

That empty wheelchair is a symbol of the benefits Abbott denied so hypocritically to his fellow Texans.

The ad focuses on Abbott's HYPOCRISY, not him "in a wheelchair." When you do see Abbott in the ad, you do not see his wheelchair.

[subterranean]

43. You're right -- the headline is false!

I don't see anything offensive about the ad at all. It's not as if his use of a wheelchair was a big secret before this.

Since no one has posted it yet, here is the actual ad in question:

[SunSeeker]

47. Thank you. It appears folks are commenting without watching the ad. nt

[sammy750]

50. Wendy Davis has a clever ad and it really show the real Abbott.

Abbott has spent his entire political career taking away from the people, Wendy is now telling the TX voters the real truth about Abbott. He allows chemical company owned by the Koch brothers to operate with school and residential areas. He does not allow any regulations or inspections of these firms. Remember a town blew up a year away.
He and Gov. Perry has been reducing the funding for health care facilities over the past years. Banning people from getting HC insurance or even approving the Medicard extensions. This ban has cost the tax payers of TX over a billion a year to support the uninsured people. The logic doesn't make sense to those with brains. Now we see the Ebola outbreak in TX, with TX being rated the lowest of the states for health care.
So why would people elect Abbott to Governorship with his blocking of any help for the people. The voters need to kick Abbott under his chair.

[freshwest]

63. +1

[The Wizard]

55. The whining hypocrits

Are expert professional victims. I for one have heard enough of their whining bigotry.

[Horse with no Name]

57. The people who hate Democrats are still going to hate Democrats

The people that are going to vote for Wendy are not going to not vote for her.

The people on the fence haven't drank the Teabilly Koolaid so I think it is a fair shot she is going to make her point with them.

[pangaia]

59. To me, the ad looks ok,

especially as Abbott used his disability in his own ad previously.
However, knowing whom the ad was aimed at, it may have been better to leave out the wheelchair visual.

I hope this ad doesn't sink Wendy.

[EEO]

62. Ad is pretty bad in delivery. Have the people involved in the examples cited in the ad.

Not some narrator who seems like he is talking about a serial killer.

[INdemo]

64. Havent Democrats lerned about the Republican ways yet

especially with the current RNC chairman Priebus where anything goes. Republicans are desperate and they will attack anything or anyone that they think will give them an edge. This was pretty stupid for the Wendy Davis campaign to pull even if their intentions were to show how dumbass would restrict civil suits amount.
But the Republicans are after everything and anything this year. Just like Kerry in 2004 " I was for it before I was ageist it" statement.
Don't give these a-holes any ammunition. THINK

Now of course had this happen with a Republican candidate we all know how Faux news would handle this,how O'Reilly would say it was perfectly ok for a Democrat to be attacked.Republicans have every base covered for this election just waiting for screw ups like this and Democrats don't seem to have their shit together. But they better get it together soon

[sendero]

65. Pointing out the rank hypocrisy of Abbott..

.. IS getting their shit together. It's what Democrats should be doing all over the country, because our opponents demonstrate reprehensible hypocrisy at every turn.

The moronic hypocrites who are always for a "balanced budget" but never saw a pointless expensive war they wouldn't happily fund. Those who opine about "keeping government out of our lives" but who want to tell women what to do about contraception and abortion. I could cite examples forever.

Their nose needs to get rubbed it in 24/7. Forget the paid-to-be-outraged idiots, they really don't have that big an audience and 99% of the people who are in their audience will never vote for a Democrat anyway. When they start crying foul at Democrats for DARING to do what they do every damn day, you know they are afraid.

[supercats]

67. She's Right On Point Here....

All she is saying is that he got a wheel barrow full of money for his accident and now he doesn't want anyone else to be able to do the same thing! That is hypocritical and flat out wrong. She needs to say this at every campaign stop, every time she is interviewed and basically wherever they stick a microphone in front of her. It goes to how he governs...I /we got ours and too bad for you because I'm changing the rules so you can't get/have any!

[blkmusclmachine]

70. Love Wendy's ad. It's even better cuz the faux DEM "Centrists" hate it...they whine about her "tone"

just like full-fledged Republicans.

Go, Wendy, go!

[hlthe2b]

71. Locking... LBN is limited to news no greater than 12 hours old..

Feel free to repost in GD, in Politics21014 ....