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Monday, October 20, 2008

Palin Not Qualified For VP, Says MoveOn Moose

Filed under Third-Party AdFiled under Television Ad
Posted at 3:11 PM
Click here to watch "Trigger-Happy."

It certainly isn't your typical talking head. But, it is still a talking head -- of a moose, that is -- who has some disparaging things to say about Sarah Palin in an ad unveiled today by MoveOn.org.

"Trigger Happy" (subscription) lampoons Palin's well-known love for hunting, featuring an animated moose's head, mounted on a wall, scoffing, "You really gotta question John McCain's judgment picking Sarah Palin as his VP." Charging that the Alaska governor "doesn't have any national security experience," the moose says, "She can't even explain [President] Bush's war policies, but she supports his war" -- a reference to her interview with ABC's Charlie Gibson, in which she was asked about the Bush Doctrine. The moose is also not impressed with another Palin talking point: "And now she's an expert because she can see Russia?"

The moose expresses concern that "McCain is 72, and she could end up in charge." Then the camera pans out to show various other animals, including a polar bear (an animal that Palin has tried to keep off the endangered species list), mounted on the wall. "She may be a little 'trigger-happy' -- I should know," the moose laments.

MoveOn communications director Ilyse Hogue said the moose is the group's political version of Smokey the Bear or McGruff the Crime Dog. The group hopes to drive home the message that McCain showed poor judgment by selecting Palin, Hogue said, adding, "Who would know better than a moose from her home state?"

MoveOn's message seems to be confirmed by a Washington Post/ABC News poll released today that shows 52 percent of respondents are less confident in McCain's judgment because of his surprise choice of Palin.

The ad buy is designed to attack a moving target -- following Palin wherever she campaigns, Hogue said. The spot will begin running in Ohio on Tuesday and continue through Wednesday, when Palin will hold a rally at the University of Findlay in the northwestern part of the state. The group plans to send out e-mails notifying supporters and the media as to where Palin -- and "her moose" -- are going.