"I Approve This Message."
As election time rolls around again, more and more television commercials touting the virtues of politicians are being aired. Most, if not all, of these commercials end with the statement, “I’m <insert politician name here> and I approve this message.”
I never did understand what that’s for and what it means. Didn’t this commercial just talk about your hard work, sterling ethics, and what you can offer the political scene? Of course you approve this message since you just said it! Would be outright dumb if you just touted yourself then didn’t approve the message. I just don’t get it.
“I’m Gee Why and I approve this message.”
September 7, 2006 @ 1:55 pm
Yeah, I think that statement is really stupid too.
I think it started during the Bush/Kerry election when a political ad went out talking stink about one of them and it left a negative impression the other candidate. So that candidate had to say, “Ho, wasn’t me brah!” After that, they started with this silly “I approve this message” nonsense.
September 8, 2006 @ 7:45 am
The statement is effective when someone else endorses your commercial. I noticed on one of Akaka’s commercials, Inouye makes the “I approve this message” statement. It works like this but not when you use it on your own message. Ron Menor, you listening?