Michigan Candidate Steals "Daisy" Ad To Spotlight Debt

Bill Cooper, a congressional candidate in Michigan has updated the famous LBJ "Daisy" Ad.

Instead of framing the decision to vote around national security and fear of nuclear war, the new ad uses the young girl counting the daisy petals to mark the growing national debt.

Under a montage of grim economic headlines and images, the narrator says "years ago we feared destruction from others, now our greatest threat is from within. The stakes are too high to elect another career politician or a former athlete. Vote Bill Cooper for congress. Constitutional Conservative, Job Creator, and proven leader."

The original Daisy ad.

On his website, Cooper, a businessman who call himself a "serial entrepreneur," says he'll protect tax dollars. "My goal in Washington will be to stop the spenders of our tax dollars. I will be fighting against career politicians who have been termed-out of their current elected office and have presided over the worst state economy in the country. Does anyone really believe that sending those same tax and spend politicians to Washington is the answer?" he wrote.

The reference in the television ad to the former athlete is a swipe at one of Cooper's primary challengers, Jay Riemersma, a local high school and University of Michigan football star who went onto to play 7 seasons in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills.

Cooper is running in Michigan's 2nd Congressional District to replace 9-term Congressman Peter Hoekstra, who is retiring.

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Robert Hendin is a CBS News White House producer. You can read more of his posts in Hotsheet here. You can also follow him on Twitter here.

[Dandy1998]

whitelaketea you are RIGHT ON!!! I live in Michigan too. What don't people get about the association between Democratic policy and the state that Michigan is in??? How stupid can they be?? We are a PERFECT example of what happens when Dems are in control. Fiscal irresponsibility and policies to create jobs THAT DON'T WORK!!! People are leaving Michigan in droves because they can't find work here. Bill Cooper is a candidate of promise for the State of Michigan. We need him!! We need a state government overhaul to turn this state around.

[djh415]

Bill Cooper gets it, he understands that the deficit will ruin this country, at 13 trillion in debt and an GNP of 14 trillion, were only 1 Trillion away from a zero sum economy.

[MIpatriot]

Michigan and America need people with honesty and integrity to step up and run for office so that we can restore government to the people. I think Bill Cooper is the candidate who can and will do that for Michigan and for our country. He has the experience to know how a free market economy should work.

[wseincjudydavid]

Absolutely fantastic candidate.

[McMomX6]

There are tons of movie "re-makes" out there, why the big hoopla about an ad re-make...get over it meboard! It hasn't anything to do with LBJ...the ad just makes a good point! You sound scared that a good man (Bill Cooper) just might take away one of your handouts! You sound like a "looter" to me! If the good people of Michigan really want to save themselves, they should get the word out to vote for Cooper.

[ekucrew]

Cooper a job creator? 500 jobs in Western MI? What a chump...rehashing an ad used by LBJ to defeat the REAL conservative candidate that is the yardstick that all so-called conservations should be measured by...the man himself! AuH2O!

Cooper has clearly blundered with this ad. Running an ad like this over tax dollars while suing his opponent over name calling. Keep giving your Democratic opponent plenty of amino to use against you fellas... whoever wins this playground slapfest.

[whitelaketea]

Bill Cooper is a great candidate. As a businessman, he understands how to balance a budget and, unlike his opponents, has actually met a payroll. If you want jobs in Michigan, or anywhere else in the U.S., I suggest you support Bill. it is time to understand that electing athletes, comics, and political professionals does not get the job done. We need fiscal conservatives and courageous individuals unafraid to stand up to special interests.

[DarKiska]

YES, we need Bill Cooper in Washington DC! How can we leave a debt like this for our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren to pay? We should be ashamed if we let that happen.

[MurdochSucks]

Michigan like many states are hurting because of outsourcing and lack of industry. That is what you get with a Tea Party backed politician. Less regulation, less jobs, less cash in your pocket, unless you are a billionaire, then you will gain handily from his brand of government. You're choice.

[whitelaketea]

hmmmmmm - since we are already at 16% unemployment and have been over 10% for the past 8 years under Democrat rule - I fail to see how you connect a group that has only been around for a year to the economic disaster in Michigan. Perhaps you don't live here - I do and I certainly know it is not because we have not been liberal enough that we have economic issues - it is primarily due to a union dominated labor market that has driven jobs out of the State. By the way - most of those jobs relocated (or outsourced as you wish) to other states and not overseas. We have 2 people moving out of the state for every one moving in. Last year we were 1 of only 2 states to lose population. If we don't fix it, pretty soon the state will only be populated by Union officials, government workers and teachers. All with cadilac health care plans and pension. that should make for an interesting tax base. Kind of like a self-licking ice cream cone.

[endurorob_5]

meboard July 22, 2010 12:14 PM EDT
No enduroro_5, it wouldn't make sense to you. It wasn't intended to make sense to YOU. It was intended for people who understand associations. This is way over your head...go home.


This comment also makes no sense.