Fred Thompson enters the race today and he'll do it by running a 30 second tv spot at the GOP debate that he is dodging. In the spot he says the words that many candidates say either right before or right after the main content of their ad: "My name is [x] and I approve this message." Now I can kind of see why this phrase became popular to say. It is possible for someone to unofficially make an ad either pro or con to a candidate and the tv audience might get confused and think that the ad was sanctioned by a campaign. I'm sure it's happened many times. Be that as it may, I can't help but cringe every time I hear those words, especially if it's plain as the nose on your face obvious, as the Fred Thompson ad is. It's just him talking. Who else but he would make this ad? Does his campaign fear that Fred's likeness has been computer animated to say and do things he does not approve of? I think candidates feel like it's sort of authoritarian and thus empowering to "approve" something and therefore they like the sound of that phrase. Should all emperor wannabees go around stating their approval of the obvious? My name is Fred Thompson and I approve this afternoon nap. My name is John McCain and I approve this Thorazine tablet. My name is Rear Admiral Heinous and I approve tequila shots off the nipples of well paid mexican prostitutas.
