Mitch McConnell’s campaign ads have become too funny to ignore. There was this classic, which showed the constantly tight-lipped and vaguely turtle-esque Senate Minority Leader staring at a camera, wordless, while music played.
Again, no words. Just staring. It was weird!
After Jon Stewart and the Daily Show added new tunes over the two-and-a-half minute clip—a personal favorite is “Whatever You Like”—the campaign circled back this week with something new to add to the McConnell canon. It didn’t disappoint.
Featuring some of your standard boilerplate stuff, including horses, coal, and “Working for Kentucky,” the commercial includes images of the state’s recent dominance in the NCAA Tournament. You see the Louisville Cardinals celebrating. Natch. Then, uh, Duke.
Blue-and-white, right? Same thing? Fuck it, same thing.
Of course not! Angry tweets followed, the campaign pulled the ad, and the Duke montage was replaced with video of current Wildcat Julius Randle.
Which was also not… good. Randle is a current Kentucky player (for the next week at least), meaning his image cannot be used without the school and NCAA’s permission. Kentucky sent McConnell a cease-and-desist letter.
The University of Kentucky consulted with the NCAA earlier today regarding footage of Julius Randle in a Mitch McConnell advertisement. Although the use of the student-athlete’s image in the advertisement is not permissible,because it was done without the knowledge or permission of the university or the student-athlete, it is not an NCAA violation. The University of Kentucky has sent a cease and desist letter and will continue to take appropriate measures to ensure improper usage of a student-athlete’s name, image or likeness is prevented.
The young Don Draper in charge of the McConnell account is really just killing it. A+ effort.
[H/T: KSR]