# Bush's banners (pep rallies, and speeches) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 25, 2005, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-banners-pep-rallies-and-speeches/305404 "2005-05-25T06:17:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dignan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Dignan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dignan)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-banners-pep-rallies-and-speeches/305404/1 "2005-05-25T06:17:44Z")
Is George W. the first president to employ this technique? I don’t remember Clinton having banners with messages behind him. It seems that every time I see Bush at some organized gathering he is in front of a curtain with some sort of saying, like, “Strengthening Social Security” or something similarly on message. I’m guessing its purpose is to make sure people know what he is talking about when snippets appear on the news. Have any other presidents done this before? ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Gene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@Soylent\_Gene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Gene)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-banners-pep-rallies-and-speeches/305404/2 "2005-05-25T06:29:10Z")
Not nearly to this extent in the past. This is part of the Karl Rove message machine. Just keep hitting people over the head with messages until they believe it. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-banners-pep-rallies-and-speeches/305404/3 "2005-05-25T07:26:36Z")
One advantage of the “sound bite banner” gimmick is that you’ll get the Message of the Day[sup]TM[/sup] even if you’re just watching a brief clip with the sound turned off (or can’t hear it). I find it pandering and manipulative as hell, but that’s strictly IMO. ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-banners-pep-rallies-and-speeches/305404/4 "2005-05-25T12:37:53Z")
Back to the actual question… :rolleyes: No. George W Bush is not the first president to use banners/backdrops when making speeches. Bill Clinton used them…and I’m quite certain that the practive predated him. (Clinton would also use his themes like “Bridge To The 21st Century” on the backdrops) ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Gene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@Soylent\_Gene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Gene)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-banners-pep-rallies-and-speeches/305404/5 "2005-05-25T14:16:28Z")
As I stated previously, the back drops have never been used to the extent of the Bush people. see following [article](http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-stagecraft6jul06,1,1298368.story?coll=la-home-politics&ctrack=1&cset=true) IMO, its pandering ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-banners-pep-rallies-and-speeches/305404/6 "2005-05-25T14:33:41Z")
**IMO** , y’all should join us here: > **[Same Tired Bullshit](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=318192)** > > Ya think maybe you partisan assholes could keep your opinions outta GQ? For even a single goddamned post? We get it. You don’t like the Bush machine. I’m not all that fond of it myself. There are at least three other forums here (not to mention... ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-banners-pep-rallies-and-speeches/305404/7 "2005-05-25T15:12:51Z")
> [@Soylent Gene](#): > > As I stated previously, the back drops have never been used to the extent of the Bush people. > > see following [article](http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-stagecraft6jul06,1,1298368.story?coll=la-home-politics&ctrack=1&cset=true) > > IMO, its pandering This isn’t the IMHO forum (or Great Debates) Nor is your statement an answer the OP…which simply asked if Bush was the first president to employ banners. The simple answer to the OP is No, GWB was not the first president to “employ this technique” Even your LA Times link says so: “Said Lockhart: “There’s nothing unusual or sinister about this. It’s bipartisan. We spent a lot of time on it too.”” ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Gene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@Soylent\_Gene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Gene)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-banners-pep-rallies-and-speeches/305404/8 "2005-05-25T15:44:54Z")
Beagledave, you are correct. I’ll reword my answer and then go away. Yes. Its been done before, but not to the extent that we now see. Thats why the OP probably did not notice it with Clinton. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-banners-pep-rallies-and-speeches/305404/9 "2005-05-25T22:20:28Z")
> [@Soylent Gene](#): > > Not nearly to this extent in the past. This is part of the Karl Rove message machine. Just keep hitting people over the head with messages until they believe it. **Soylent Gene**. You’re new here. You are posting in General Questions. This is NOT the forum to make political statements. It is for factual information. Don’t do this anymore. > [@rjung](#): > > I find it pandering and manipulative as hell, but that’s strictly IMO. You’re an old hand here, **rjung** , but you make these political comments in GQ about as much as anyone I encounter here. STOP doing it. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Gene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@Soylent\_Gene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Gene)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-banners-pep-rallies-and-speeches/305404/10 "2005-05-25T22:53:47Z")
samclem. I thought my last message implied that I undestood this. BTW- I’ve seen tons of opinions in GQ. New Question - Can non-administrators tell people “Dont do this anymore” ? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-banners-pep-rallies-and-speeches/305404/11 "2005-05-25T23:02:43Z")
**samclem** is a moderator. Yes, he can, and will expect to be listened to. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-banners-pep-rallies-and-speeches/305404/12 "2005-05-25T23:07:01Z")
[QUOTE=samclemYou’re an old hand here, **rjung** , but you make these political comments in GQ about as much as anyone I encounter here.[/quote] I didn’t mean for it to be political; I’d be just as miffed if \ decided that I had the attention span of a gnat and needed to stick a repeating message on a banner just to ensure I’ll get the point. **Shrug** ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-banners-pep-rallies-and-speeches/305404/13 "2005-05-25T23:10:42Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > I didn’t mean for it to be political; I’d be just as miffed if \ decided that I had the attention span of a gnat and needed to stick a repeating message on a banner just to ensure I’ll get the point. > > **Shrug** It doesn’t matter which end of the spectrum it comes from. As someone said earlier, the fact you put “IMO” in the post should have been a not so subtle hint that it doesn’t belong in a GQ thread. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-banners-pep-rallies-and-speeches/305404/14 "2005-05-26T00:23:56Z")
> [@Soylent Gene](#): > > samclem. I thought my last message implied that I undestood this. > > BTW- I’ve seen tons of opinions in GQ. > > New Question - Can non-administrators tell people “Dont do this anymore” ? You did good, all on your own. And I know you’ve seen “tons of opinions” in GQ. And I’m getting tired of it. Especially political comments. I can’t read every thread, but when a post gets reported to me, or I find it on my own, I’m going to be tougher starting yesterday. It’s out of control. And it WON’T continue. I should have put my [moderator] stamp on the post. I usually do. Sorry. Don’t worry, I’m not that upset with you. You’re new. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-banners-pep-rallies-and-speeches/305404/15 "2005-05-26T00:30:08Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > I didn’t mean for it to be political; I’d be just as miffed if \ decided that I had the attention span of a gnat and needed to stick a repeating message on a banner just to ensure I’ll get the point. > > **Shrug** I understand that you didn’t mean for it to be political. You just can’t help yourself. 😃 And I truly believe that. But, you are gonna have to mend your ways. If you can answer a question in GQ with factual information, and leave the political potshots and opinions for somewhere else, then do it. Otherwise, motor on over to another forum.