Democracy is under attack

Thought for the day

Did you happen to read "How the Jan. 6 panel is trying to reach the apathetic and apoplectic" in Saturday's The Hill?  Believe it or not, the answer to the question is simple:  Advertise. 

My good friend Harvey Englander, a very experienced and successful political strategist, and I realize urging people to watch the televised hearings is not the same as urging people to buy a car; still, we are convinced asking third-parties to endorse a product (like the hearings) will pay dividends.  Plain and simple, we believe that if the committee wants more eyeballs, then it needs to pay for them.  Especially GOP eyeballs. 

Because Fox News refused to air Thursday night's hearing, millions of Republicans don't know key players in Donald Trump's inner circle -- like former Attorney General Bill Barr and first daughter Ivanka -- were seen in videotaped depositions as debunking Trump's theory that the 2020 election was stolen.  Barr said he told the former president his claim was "bulls--t."  This, of course, was the key reason people came to Washington to storm the Capitol and prevent the peaceful transfer of power. 

With these thoughts in mind, Harvey and I urge Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, the two Republicans on the Jan. 6 panel, to ask the Lincoln Project to pay for ads on Fox.  If you are not aware of the Lincoln Project, the political action committee was created in 2019 by Republicans.  Its mission was to prevent the re-election of Donald Trump in 2020. 

To be effective, the ads need to be simple.  Something along the lines of, "To be honest, I thought the news about the 2021 riot at the Capitol was fake.  But now that I've watched the Jan. 6 committee on TV, I believe democracy is in peril.  I think you will, too.  Tune in.  Watch the hearings.  And learn the truth about Donald Trump's Big Lie."  

Virtually everyone in advertising knows third-party endorsements are key to successful marketing.  Again, Harvey and I understand urging Republicans to watch the committee's hearings is not the same as urging GOP rank and file to buy hamburgers; still, we'll leave it to you to answer this question:  Is there anything more important (i.e., priceless) than saving democracy?  Our answer is no. 

If you agree, then will you consider donating to the Lincoln Project -- with a stipulation that the money you give be used strictly for the Jan. 6 committee ads?  Let us know.

Denny Freidenrich and Harvey Englander