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| ...though I can't as I live in the US |
The DUP are up and running with their billboard campaign. And as we will all find over the next few weeks we will be inundated with the things.
However, as with social media, you can get caught out very easily indeed if you are not being as true to your brand as possible. Which in this case, has happened. Woops
The billboard reads,
I want an MP who answers to us - not the Tories. I'm voting DUP
All well and good until..........you find out that the lovely young lady can not actually vote for the DUP. She is not even on the electoral register. In fact, she is not even in the country. She is an American lady and can be bought, if you so desire, over the old interweb from a stock photo vendor at iStockPhoto.com
Now this is not the first time political parties have used this here. there was the rather awful Ulster Unionist Party stock photo for its 'Decent People....' campaign a number of years ago. The genius of Newton Emerson and his acerbic wit did a wonderful rehash of the poster, with a more cutting and probably accurate strapline. 'Decent people.......Leave Ulster'. And I am not totally sure the people in the picture could take part in voting for any of our political parties, either.The Labour and Conservative parties are real experts in the 'poke fun at the opposition' game.
Labour have MyDavidCameron and Conservatives have The Department of Government Waste.
Labour also tried to have a go at David and the Tories by photoshopping him onto the body of Detective Gene Hunt from 'Ashes to Ashes' with the strapline 'Don't let him take Britain back to the 1980s'. A good poster, but it seriously backfired when the Conservative wags got their hands on it they turned a negative spin into a positive spin.
While i am a geek regarding the serious conviction of how politics can be a driver for the good of society, I really do love to see witty, funny and wit filled party campaigns as well. its good to have a sense of humour, and there is the old saying 'If you couldn't laugh, you would cry'
