Tokin’ support
Memo to the Talent campaign: Judging from media coverage of the Willie Nelson concert, it appears as though Claire has the tax-evading, pot-smoking hippy vote locked up. Cancel the Jefferson Airplane reunion fundraiser immediately. Your only hope to win the election is to focus on people who pay their taxes and wake up before noon.
I have Willie Nelson on vinyl, tape, CD, and DVD. “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain”? Delightfully wistful. “Always on My Mind”? Makes Elvis’ version sound like drunken karaoke. “Whiskey River”? Don’t let her memory torture me.
I love Willie. We all love Willie. But why do we pretend that his opinion matters on anything except music or the making of “The Dukes of Hazzard?”
For the McCaskill campaign, the concert/endorsement was a good way get some positive, if unsubstantial, earned media — Lord knows Jim Talent is owning her every day in the paid media battle. When asked about the endorsement, the candidate was almost able to keep a straight face when she told a television reporter that it might sway some farmers. Please. The only “farmers” supporting Claire McCaskill are the ones who measure their crop yield in ounces instead of bushels.
Willie Nelson coming in for Claire is like if Ted Nugent would come in for Talent. Reporters get to write a fun story, staff can get their picture taken with the entertainer, and then everybody has to start talking about real issues again.
(P.S. Speaking of real issues, the drug stuff is not among them. I linked to the videos in 2004, and nobody cared. Nor should they have. Let it go.)
Comments to john {at} johncombestblog {dot} com. E-mail rules here.