Monday, November 5, 2012

Ten Things You Might Not Know About Campaign Slogans-- Part 1: We Polked You in 1844

From the October 28, 2012, Chicago Tribune by Mark Jacob and Stephan Benzkofer, researchers par excellent.

Currently, you see lots of Mitt Romney's "Believe in America and Barack Obama's "Forward" for some reason, hopefully not after tomorrow.

But here are some more campaign slogans.

1.  Democrats hoping to get FRANKLIN PIERCE elected in 1852 reminded voters of James Polk, eight years earlier:  "We Polked you in 1844; we'll Pierce you in 1852."  Wonder if there was any double meaning there?

2.  "Sunflowers die in November" doesn't seem to be too catching of a slogan, but FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT used it in 1936, referring to opponent Alf Landon home state of Kansas and use of the state flower on campaign buttons.  They did.

3.  In 1997, Liberian rebel CHARLES TAYLOR intimidated, suggesting a civil war would start again if he was not elected president: "He killed my ma, he killed my pa, but I will vote for him."  He won, but later was arrested and convicted of war crimes.

4.  The 1884 U.S. election was nasty.  New York Gov. GROVER CLEVELAND was considered to be an honest man, but it came out that he had had an affair years earlier and that he was financially supporting the woman and his son by her.  Republicans enjoyed shouting, "Ma! Ma! Where's My Pa?"  Cleveland won anyway and Democrats shouted, "Gone to the White House. Ha! Ha! Ha!"

5.  In Illinois, Gov. RICHARD OGILVIE used "Charisma isn't everything" but voters still elected Dan Walker in 1972.  Dawn Clark Netsch used "More Than Just a Pretty Face" but lost to incumbent Jim Edgar in 1994.

Five More to Come.  --DaCoot

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