ANDY MARTIN: Alexi Giannoulias is running a poor campaign for the U. S. Senate

Illinois political expert Andy Martin explains why Alexi Giannoulias is running a weak campaign for the U. S. Senate. Martin says Giannoulias has failed to capitalize on Mark Kirk’s character flaws and is probably allowing Kirk to ambush G in October. “To paraphrase Casey Stengel who said ‘Can anyone here play this game?’ can anyone in Giannoulias’ campaign run an aggressive campaign against Mark Kirk?” Andy asks. Andy has been producing TV and radio ads for over forty years.

Illinois political expert Andy Martin questions the flaccid performance of Alexi Giannoulias’ advertising

Martin says Giannoulias must talk directly to the people/audience if he expects to win

NEWS FROM:
ContrarianCommentary.com
“The Internet Powerhouse”
Andy Martin
Executive Editor

“Factually Correct, Not Politically Correct”

AMERICA’S #1 POLITICAL
BLOG FOR THE 2010 CAMPAIGN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Andy Martin says Alexi Giannoulias is running a terrible advertising campaign for U. S. Senator

Martin says Mark Kirk’s ads are much more effective than Giannoulias’

Martin may comment on Christine O’Donnell’s disastrous ad

(CHICAGO)(October 6, 2010) I’m in New York to see a Broadway play, review senate races in New York and New England and provide some national perspective on the upcoming election.

Of course I’m watching a lot of television. Today we often see political ads in small computer “windows” on web sites. Seeing an advertisement as it actually pops up on a TV screen is obviously a different experience.

Republican Linda McMahon is running a very effective series of ads for the U. S. Senate in Connecticut. The Connecticut race is particularly interesting because it features an issue in common with Illinois—a lying candidate who exaggerated his military career and sought to steal the valor of brave heroes for his own political aggrandizement. Mark Kirk, meet Richard Blumenthal.

Watching Giannoulias’ ads on Chicago TV and comparing them to Kirk’s efforts leaves me with the distinct impression Kirk’s ads are much better than G’s.

Here I must make the “full disclosure” that I am actively opposing Kirk’s election to the senate. I am no friend of Mark Kirk, have no intention of voting for him although I will be voting a straight Republican ticket (with the exception of Kirk), and believe Kirk is unfit for any public office because of his military misrepresentations.

I am also conscious of the fact that Illinois voters don’t like either candidate. Kirk has schmutzed-up Giannoulias with attacks on G’s former family bank. Giannoulias has run some mildly effective ads against Kirk.

Visiting my mother in Florida I have also watched ads for Marco Rubio, the Republican running for the U. S. Senate. Marco Rubio makes very effective use of his immigrant roots and connects his family history to the American Dream. Giannoulias’ spots are nowhere near the quality and effectiveness of Rubio’s ads.

In my opinion, Giannoulias’ ads are the weakest of the four. Here are my reasons.

First, it is a truism that when voters don’t trust a candidate, he or she must speak directly to the voters. Look’em in the eye. Voters don't really want Kirk or Giannoulias. But Kirk's most recent disclaimer says he will “spend less, tax less…” He delivers it well. Frankly, it’s an effective disclaimer. Giannoulias’ disclaimer is a wide shot of Giannoulias and Obama. Very weak.

Giannoulias has a great story to tell. He’s not telling it. His ads look as though they are being mass produced on an assembly line.

I have been producing TV and radio ads, and especially negative ads, for over forty years. So I know of what I speak.

First, let’s look at the “Mob banker” issue. What has Giannoulias done to counter this smear? Nothing. How’s this for an ad:

I’m Alexi Giannoulias and I approved this ad
because Illinois voters deserve the truth
about Mark Kirk’s lies.

My family immigrated to America and lived
the American Dream. We worked hard, saved,
and in time mom and dad founded (purchased?) a small bank.
My family grew the bank by making loans in the
local community. Together they prospered.
Then Mark Kirk’s greedy Wall Street campaign
contributors threw our economy into a
tailspin. Like any bank, some loans went sour. Kirk’s New
York moneymen could care less about Illinois;
Mark Kirk’s moneymen simply broke the bank when it could have worked its way out of the recession.

Mark Kirk’s money men: bad for Illinois, bad for your local neighborhood bank.

This ad has two benefits. First it rebuts Kirks attacks on Giannoulias’ bank and places the bank’s failure in perspective. Wall Street engineered a financial collapse to seize money that had been saved up on Main Street. Wall Street is as fat and sassy as ever (I see it in New York; Broadway is sold out, the expensive restaurants are packed). Main Street, Illinois is suffering. Badly.

Second, the ad allows Giannoulias to address the voters face-to-face. (You can see I like face-to-face ads.) Bottom line: If Giannoulias does not start making ads that speak directly to voters, he’s a sure loser.

Gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott was smeared by the Republican establishment in Florida. Scott’s former company had been caught in a $1 billion plus Medicare scandal. Scott faced the voters in his ads—and won the primary. Giannoulias has to face reality, and adopt an aggressive strategy to counter Kirk. Scott knocked off a well-established party favorite. Kirk, on the other hand, is disliked by Illinois voters.

Let’s try a second ad.

I’m Alexi Giannoulias and I approved this ad
because Illinois voters deserve the truth
about Mark Kirk.

Over the past ten years Mark Kirk lied
repeatedly about his military service. Kirk
claimed to have fought in wars where he
never served, and won medals that don’t exist.
Kirk dishonored his military uniform. What
kind of a man would do that?

As your Illinois State Treasurer you trust
me with your state revenues every day. I have a
record of honesty and integrity you count on,
every day. Mark Kirk’s lies, or my proven record
of performance? The choice is yours. I ask you
to choose me based on the fact I have already
proven you can trust me.

Once again, Giannoulias puts a spin on Kirk and drives a nail through Kirk’s lies. Because Giannoulias delivers the ad himself, the presentation gains force and credibility. Then, when G segues into his own performances (“trusted me with your state revenues”) voters are ready to choose G’s proven performance. After all, G is a state official who handles the cash. What better kind of trust can you show? Do you find this anywhere in Giannoulias’ ads? Nope.

Giannoulias is blowing the opportunity to prepare the voters for Kirk’s likely smear campaign in October.

The two short ads that I knocked out in maybe a minute each present Giannoulias in a positive light. They show you how Giannoulias could improve his performance by answering Kirk’s lies, and why G is falling so far short of Kirk in the advertising competition.

Take a look at Linda McMahon’s new ad:
http://blogs.courant.com/capitol_watch/2010/10/
new-mcmahon-tv-ad-hits-blument.html
The “If I get to it” department:
I predicted Christine O’Donnell would win the Delaware U. S. Senate seat. Hmmm. She is an exceptionally attractive woman with a great story to tell. Her first ad, “I’m not a witch,” is a big disappointment. What idiot is producing her commercials? If I get the time, and I’m not too busy on Broadway (but please don’t call me “Broadway Andy,”) I’ll provide some remarks. O’Donnell’s ad is a disaster. She needs Andy to produce local “Delaware friendly” advertising for her campaign. O’Donnell has the money; she’s blowing her great opportunity.
-----------------------------
ABOUT ANDY: Andy Martin, who Chicago Public Radio calls a "boisterous Internet activist," is the legendary New York and Chicago-based muckraker, author, Internet columnist, radio talk show host, broadcaster and media critic. He has over forty years of background in radio and television and is the dean of Illinois media and communications. He promotes his best-selling book, "Obama: The Man Behind The Mask" and his Internet movie "Obama: The Hawai'i years." Martin has been a leading corruption fighter in Illinois for over forty years. He is currently sponsoring www.AmericaisReadyforReform.com
Andy is the Executive Editor and publisher of the "Internet Powerhouse," www.ContrarianCommentary.com. He comments on regional, national and world events with more than four decades of investigative and overseas experience. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois College of Law and is a former adjunct professor of law at the City University of New York (LaGuardia CC, Bronx CC).

UPDATES: www.twitter.com/AndyMartinUSAwww.facebook.com/AndyMartin Andy's columns are also posted at ContrarianCommentary.blogspot.com; contrariancommentary.wordpress.com.
contrariancommentary.typepad.com[NOTE: We try to correct any typographical errors in this story on our blogs; find our latest edition there.]

MEDIA CONTACT: (866) 706-2639 or CELL (917) 664-9329E-MAIL: AndyMart20@aol.com © Copyright by Andy Martin 2010

PALM BEACH [CHICAGO] NEWS CONFERENCE: Sunday, September 5th

Andy Martin says Mark Kirk’s efforts to demonize Alexi Giannoulias by connecting Giannoulias to financial problems in Greece are ethnic scapegoating

Martin says the slimy politics of Pat Brady and Mark Kirk is going to backfire in the Greek-American community

ContrarianCommentary.com
“The Internet Powerhouse”
Andy Martin
Executive Editor

“Factually Correct, Not Politically Correct”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

ATTENTION DAYBOOK/ASSIGNMENT EDITORS

ANNOUNCEMENT OF SUNDAY NEWS CONFERENCE IN PALM BEACH

Andy Martin says Greek-Americans should send Mark Kirk a message: They will boycott the Republican Party as long as it is led by racist drunks and punks such as Pat Brady and Mark Kirk

Martin says Kirk’s attempts to demonize Alexi Giannoulias by connecting Giannoulias to economic problems in Greece is nothing more than ethnic McCarthyism.

Martin says he is taking the lead in “taking down” Kirk because Illinois’ Greek-American leaders are afraid to stand up and condemn the bigotry of the Republican Party

(CHICAGO)(September 5, 2010) Internet Powerhouse Andy Martin will hold a Palm Beach news conference Sunday, September 5th to accuse Mark Kirk of being “racist, repulsive and repugnant” for attacking Alexi Giannoulias based on the financial crisis in Greece.

“Mr. Kirk and his slimy patron, the drunken brawler Pat Brady, have been attacking Alexi Giannoulias as a Mafioso. They have now begun to demonize Giannoulias for problems in Greece having nothing to do with Giannoulias:


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/02/
alexi-giannoulias-mark-kirk-greek_n_703230.html

“I do not support Alexi Giannoulias, have never spoken to him, and have no connection with his campaign. But my mother’s parents immigrated from Greece, and they came to the Chicago area about a hundred years ago to work on building the railroads. My family was involved in founding some of the earliest associations of the Greek-American community. If my late Uncle Bill Vasiliou was still alive he would be outraged by Kirk’s demagoguery.

“Where are Illinois’ ‘usual’ Greek-American leaders? Are they afraid to stand up for Greece? Are they political hypocrites? If so they are cowards, and they are no better than Mark Kirk.

“I am not an ‘ethnic’ politician and I usually run away from appeals based on parentage. But I was baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church. I will not allow Kirk to conduct his slimy politics and to denigrate Greek-Americans with his malignant campaign tactics. [I later joined the Episcopal Church where my father worshipped.]

“If anyone should be considered an agent of a foreign government, it is Mark Kirk. Kirk takes campaign cash to be a mouthpiece for the Israeli military junta in Tel Aviv. It is Kirk who sabotaged America’s foreign policy interests for campaign cash, not Alexi Giannoulias. Kirk is the one who lied about ‘weapons of mass destruction’ in Iraq the same way he lied about his own military career. Some ‘intelligence officer’ Kirk is. Kirk dragged us into a war that virtually bankrupted ordinary Americans, damaged our economy and cost us thousands of dead troops and tens of thousands of disabled veterans.

“Kirk has a lot of nerve bragging about his Navy service, where he has spent two decades doing little more than enjoying buggery. Kirk’s attempt to link Giannoulias to the financial problems of the European Union are laughable. Kirk’s comparison of his disgraceful behavior in the Navy to Giannoulias’ basketball playing is a complete non sequitur. Kirk is a disgrace to every American, to the U. S. Navy uniform, and to the Republican Party.

“Kirk’s anti-Greek smears are desperate acts by a desperate man whom I previously exposed as America’s greatest liar and the biggest embarrassment to the U. S. Navy in years.

“Spain has financial problems similar to those in Greece. I don’t see Kirk insulting Hispanics. Ireland is a financial mess. Should we blame Pat Brady and hold him accountable for Ireland’s economy? Not at all. Even I won’t blame Brady for Ireland’s problems. Brady has enough problems of his own. He’s in bed with Mark Kirk.

“The bottom line: both Kirk and Giannoulias have failed to ‘close the deal’ with Illinois voters. Both men are flawed in different ways. But in the days ahead they should make their cases to the voters without engaging in ethnic slurs. Kirk’s anti-Greek behavior is an embarrassment to the Republican Party, locally and nationally.

“If Mr. Kirk expects to continue to represent the Republican Party through November, and he could always decide to step down after we dump more embarrassing disclosures on him in a few days, he should not be insulting Greek-Americans and should stop trying to link Giannoulias to the nation of Greece. If Kirk keeps up the anti-Greek attacks, he is going to be very unhappy when I expose his unsavory links to Israel and Mark Foley.

“Greece has been a loyal friend to America, through World War II, Korea and in the Cold War. To see Kirk smearing Greece to gain a few Neanderthal votes tells you what kind of a senator Kirk would be: divisive, corrupt and totally without any moral scruples.

“Kirk is a despicable human being who devastated and destroyed his wife, and left her an emotional basket case. Our investigation of the Kimberly Vertoli tragedy is continuing; we will also have forthcoming exposes on Kirk’s unfitness to hold any public office.

“I was the person who exposed Kirk’s military lies in January. I exposed him as a Navy imposter long before the national media did so. We have more negative facts on Kirk and we aim to see that the Illinois public knows who Kirk really is before they vote on November 2nd. He is a sick, sick man,” Martin will charge.

Martin is on vacation visiting relatives in Florida and also meeting with supporters to plan the 2012 defeat of Barack Obama.

------------------------------------
September 5 news conference details:

WHO:

Internet Powerhouse Andy Martin

WHERE:

Sidewalk news conference, in front of 95 N. County Road, Palm Beach, FL (Palm Beach Post Office)

WHEN: Sunday, September 5th 12:00 P.M.

WHAT:

Andy Martin says Mark Kirk is defaming Greek-Americans with his constant criticism of Greece. Martin calls Kirk “racist, repulsive and repugnant”

MEDIA CONTACT:(866) 706-2639; Cell (917) 664-9329

WEBSITE: http://www.AndyforUSSenator.com

E-MAIL: AndyforUSSenator@aol.com
-----------------------------ABOUT ANDY: Andy Martin, who Chicago Public Radio calls a “boisterous Internet activist,” is the legendary New York and Chicago-based muckraker, author, Internet columnist, radio talk show host, broadcaster and media critic. He has over forty years of background in radio and television and is the dean of Illinois media and communications. He promotes his best-selling book, “Obama: The Man Behind The Mask” and his Internet movie "Obama: The Hawai'i years." Martin has been a leading corruption fighter in Illinois for over forty years. He is currently sponsoring www.AmericaisReadyforReform.com
Andy is the Executive Editor and publisher of the “Internet Powerhouse,” www.ContrarianCommentary.com. He comments on regional, national and world events with more than four decades of investigative and overseas experience. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois College of Law and is a former adjunct professor of law at the City University of New York (LaGuardia CC, Bronx CC).

UPDATES: www.twitter.com/AndyMartinUSAwww.Facebook.com/AndyMartin Andy's columns are also posted at ContrarianCommentary.blogspot.com; ContrarianCommentary.wordpress.com.
ContrarianCommentary.typepad.com[NOTE: We try to correct any typographical errors in this story on our blogs; find our latest edition there.]

MEDIA CONTACT: (866) 706-2639 or CELL (917) 664-9329E-MAIL: AndyMart20@aol.com © Copyright by Andy Martin 2010

ANDY MARTIN: Mark Kirk is defaming Greek-Americans with his efforts to smear Alexi Giannoulias

Illinois corruption fighter Andy Martin says Mark Kirk’s efforts to link Alexi Giannoulias to the financial problems of the European Union are scurrilous. Martin says Kirk is engaging in “ethnic McCarthyism” by seeking to link Alexi Giannoulias to economic difficulties in Greece.


PALM BEACH [CHICAGO] NEWS CONFERENCE: Sunday, September 5th

Andy Martin says Mark Kirk’s efforts to demonize Alexi Giannoulias by connecting Giannoulias to financial problems in Greece are ethnic scapegoating

Martin says the slimy politics of Pat Brady and Mark Kirk is going to backfire in the Greek-American community

ContrarianCommentary.com
“The Internet Powerhouse”

Andy Martin
Executive Editor

“Factually Correct, Not Politically Correct”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

ATTENTION DAYBOOK/ASSIGNMENT EDITORS

ANNOUNCEMENT OF SUNDAY NEWS CONFERENCE IN PALM BEACH

Andy Martin says Greek-Americans should send Mark Kirk a message: The Republican Party will be boycotted as long as it is led by racist drunks and punks such as Pat Brady and Mark Kirk

Martin says Kirk’s attempts to demonize Alexi Giannoulias by connecting Giannoulias to economic problems in Greece is nothing but ethnic McCarthyism.

Martin says he is taking the lead in “taking down” Kirk because Illinois’ Greek-American leaders are afraid to stand up and condemn the bigotry of the Republican Party

(CHICAGO)(September 5, 2010) Internet Powerhouse Andy Martin will hold a Palm Beach news conference Sunday, September 5th to accuse Mark Kirk of being “racist, repulsive and repugnant” for attacking Alexi Giannoulias based on the financial crisis in Greece.

“Mr. Kirk and his slimy patron, the drunken brawler Pat Brady, have been attacking Alexi Giannoulias as a Mafioso. They have now begun to demonize Giannoulias for problems in Greece having nothing to do with Giannoulias:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/02/
alexi-giannoulias-mark-kirk-greek_n_703230.html

“I do not support Alexi Giannoulias, have never spoken to him, and have no connection with his cmampaign. But my mother’s parents immigrated form Greece, and they came to the Chicago area about a hundred years ago to work on building the railroads. My fmaily was invoved in foundng some of the earliest community association of the Greek-American commnity. F mylate Uncle Bill Vasiliou was still alive he would be outraged by Kirk’s demagogery.

“Where are Illinois’ ‘usual’ Greek-Ameircan leaders? Are they afraid to stand up for Greece? Are they political hypocrites? If so they are cowards, and they are no better than Mark Kirk.

“I am not an ‘ethnic’ poltiican and I usually run away from appeals based on parentage. But I was baptised in the Greek Orthodiox church and I will not allow Kirk to conduct his slimy polticis and to denigrate Greek-Americans with his malignat campaign tactics.

“If anyone should be consdiered an agent of a foreign governent, it is Mark Kirk. Kirk takes campaign cash to be a mouthpiece for the Israeli military junta in Tel Aviv. It is Kirk who sabotaged Ameirca’s foreign policy interests for campaign cash, not Alexi Giannoulas. Kirk is the one who lied about ‘weapons of mass desrtruciton’ in Iraq the same way he lied about his own military career. Kirk drew us into a war that virtually bankrupted ordinary Americans, damaged our economy and cost thosuands of damaged and dead troops.

“Kirk has a lot of nerve bragging about his Navy service, where he has spent two decades doing little more than enjoying buggery. Kirk’s attempt to link Giannoulias to the financial problems of the European Union are laughable. Kirk’s compaprisonof his disgracvefuil embarrassment to the nacvy, with Giannoulias’ basketball playins is a complete non sequitur. Kirk is a disgrae to Ameircan to the navy uniform, and to the republican Party.

“Kirk’s anti-Greek smears are desperate acts by a desperate man who was exposed as America’s greatest liar, and the biggest embarassment to the U. S. Navy in years.

“Spain has similar financial problems to those in Greece. I don’t see Kirk insulting Hispanics. Ireland is a financial mess. Should we blam Pat Brady for being a drunken fisticuffer and hold him accountable for Irelands economy? Not at all. Even I won’t blame Brady for Ireland’s prblems. Brady has enough problems of his own. He’s in bed with Mark Kirk.

“The bottom line: bgoh Kirk and Giannoulias have been rejected by Illinois voters. Both men are flawed in different ways. But they should make their cases to the voters without engaging in ehtnic smears. Kirk’s anti-Greek behvauior is an embarrassment to the Republcian Party, locally and nationally.

“If Mr. Kirk expects to continue to represent the reopublcian party, ansd e may decide to step down ater we dump more dirtonhim in a few days, he should not inslting Greek-Ameircans and stop tryignto link Giannoulias to the naitonof Greece. If he keeps it up, Kirk is going to be very unhappy whenI expose his unsvaiorty links to Israel.

“Greece has been aloyal friend to Ameircan, through Wirld war II, Krea and in the Cold war. Tyo see Kirk smearing Greece to gain a few votes from neanderthanl voters tells you what kindof a senator Kirk would be:” divisive, coirrupt and totally withotu nay moral scruples.

“Kirkis a despciablehiman beign whio devastated and destroye dhis wife,andleft her an emotional basket case. Our investigaiton of the Kimberly Vertoli ragedy is continuing, as oa are out other forthcomign exposes onKirk;s unfitness to hold any publicoffice.

“I was theperson who expose Kirk’s milutary lies and I exposed him as a nacvy imposter long before thenaitonal media did so. Weer have more dirt, and we aimto see that the Illinosipubklic knows who Kirk really is. He is a sick, sick man,” Matin will charge.

Martin is on vacation visiting relatives in Florida and also meeting with supporters to plan the 2012 defeat of Barack Obama.
------------------------------------
September 5 news conference details:

WHO:

Internet Powerhouse Andy Martin

WHERE:

Sidewalk news conference, in front of 95 N. County Road, Palm Beach, FL (Palm Beach Post Office)

WHEN: Sunday, September 5th 12:00 P.M.

WHAT:

Andy Martin says Mark Kirk is defaming Greek-Americans with his constant criticism of Greece. Martin calls Kirk “racist, repulsive and repugnant”

MEDIA CONTACT:(866) 706-2639; Cell (917) 664-9329

WEBSITE: http://www.AndyforUSSenator.com

E-MAIL: AndyforUSSenator@aol.com
-----------------------------
ABOUT ANDY: Andy Martin, who Chicago Public Radio calls a “boisterous Internet activist,” is the legendary New York and Chicago-based muckraker, author, Internet columnist, radio talk show host, broadcaster and media critic. He has over forty years of background in radio and television and is the dean of Illinois media and communications. He promotes his best-selling book, “Obama: The Man Behind The Mask” and his Internet movie "Obama: The Hawai'i years." Martin has been a leading corruption fighter in Illinois for over forty years. He is currently sponsoring www.AmericaisReadyforReform.com
Andy is the Executive Editor and publisher of the “Internet Powerhouse,” http://www.contrariancommentary.com/. He comments on regional, national and world events with more than four decades of investigative and overseas experience. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois College of Law and is a former adjunct professor of law at the City University of New York (LaGuardia CC, Bronx CC).

UPDATES: www.twitter.com/AndyMartinUSAwww.FaceBook.com/AndyMartin Andy's columns are also posted at ContrarianCommentary.blogspot.com; ContrarianCommentary.wordpress.com.
ContrarianCommentary.typepad.com[NOTE: We try to correct any typographical errors in this story on our blogs; find our latest edition there.]

MEDIA CONTACT: (866) 706-2639 or CELL (917) 664-9329E-MAIL: AndyMart20@aol.com © Copyright by Andy Martin 2010