# I approve the abolition of "I approve this message" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 5, 2006, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-approve-the-abolition-of-i-approve-this-message/355500 "2006-05-05T03:32:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-approve-the-abolition-of-i-approve-this-message/355500/1 "2006-05-05T03:32:03Z")
Look, (insert politician’s name here), I kind of ASSUMED that you approved the message because YOU APPEARED IN THE GODDAMN AD!!! If you were worried that I thought that you DIDN’T approve the message, but were forced at gunpoint to mouth the words anyway, you shouldn’t be! I’m going to take you at your word! Now CUT IT OUT! I just saw back-to-back-to-back political advertisements, and I wanted to kiss the subject of the third simply because he managed to avoid using it. Incidentally, is anyone aware of a politician before George W. Bush using this irritating phrase? I’d hate to blame him for unleashing this on the world if he simply appropriated some other politician’s gimmick. Then I would merely blame him for popularizing it, which is nearly as heinous. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-approve-the-abolition-of-i-approve-this-message/355500/2 "2006-05-05T03:36:20Z")
If I remember right, it’s there because of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law. It’s become a little tiresome, but I think it’s a good idea in principle. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-approve-the-abolition-of-i-approve-this-message/355500/3 "2006-05-05T03:48:46Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > Look, (insert politician’s name here), I kind of ASSUMED that you approved the message because YOU APPEARED IN THE GODDAMN AD!!! If you were worried that I thought that you DIDN’T approve the message, but were forced at gunpoint to mouth the words anyway, you shouldn’t be! I’m going to take you at your word! Now CUT IT OUT! They are forced “at gunpoint” by McCain-Feingold. They actually have to say the words. The fact that it’s television and a disembodied voice is ridiculous when you’re paying for the ad anyway dictates that the candidate will be seen saying it on TV. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-approve-the-abolition-of-i-approve-this-message/355500/4 "2006-05-05T04:14:25Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > They are forced “at gunpoint” by McCain-Feingold. They actually have to say the words. The fact that it’s television and a disembodied voice is ridiculous when you’re paying for the ad anyway dictates that the candidate will be seen saying it on TV. OK. But like I indicated, the third ad didn’t include it. Which kinds of ads don’t need the magic words? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-approve-the-abolition-of-i-approve-this-message/355500/5 "2006-05-05T04:16:57Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > OK. But like I indicated, the third ad didn’t include it. Which kinds of ads don’t need the magic words? Presumably, the ones the politicians don’t endorse. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-approve-the-abolition-of-i-approve-this-message/355500/6 "2006-05-05T04:18:42Z")
I think it is important, but I’d like to see it on print ads too- with thumbprint. I am soooo tired of some hack pol ordering a hit piece on his opponent (cough- swift boats- cough) then saying afterwards "I didn’t authorize that! :eek: " :dubious: :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-approve-the-abolition-of-i-approve-this-message/355500/7 "2006-05-05T04:21:13Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I think it is important, but I’d like to see it on print ads too- with thumbprint. I am soooo tired of some hack pol ordering a hit piece on his opponent (cough- swift boats- cough) then saying afterwards "I didn’t authorize that! :eek: " :dubious: :rolleyes: Well, I for one would view “I approved this character assassination!” as a delightful change of pace. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-approve-the-abolition-of-i-approve-this-message/355500/8 "2006-05-05T04:23:32Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > OK. But like I indicated, the third ad didn’t include it. Which kinds of ads don’t need the magic words? Who was the ad for, what did it deal with, who funded it, and at what level was the campaign? State candidates aren’t bound by McCain-Feingold. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-approve-the-abolition-of-i-approve-this-message/355500/9 "2006-05-05T04:25:35Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > Who was the ad for, what did it deal with, who funded it, and at what level was the campaign? State candidates aren’t bound by McCain-Feingold. Ah! I think it WAS state level. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-approve-the-abolition-of-i-approve-this-message/355500/10 "2006-05-05T04:36:07Z")
I’m **Wolfian** and I disapprove of this half-cocked pit thread. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-approve-the-abolition-of-i-approve-this-message/355500/11 "2006-05-05T04:41:24Z")
Well, if you like you can beat up the OP for attempting to give the screws to Bush from the outset (yeah, like any politician, Bush included, really wants to be tied to any negative ad). That sort of thing is always good for a few pages. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-approve-the-abolition-of-i-approve-this-message/355500/12 "2006-05-05T04:43:19Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > Well, if you like you can beat up the OP for attempting to give the screws to Bush from the outset (yeah, like any politician, Bush included, really wants to be tied to any negative ad). That sort of thing is always good for a few pages. Bush honestly was the first politician that I recall doing it. Don’t know what else I can tellya. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-approve-the-abolition-of-i-approve-this-message/355500/13 "2006-05-05T04:45:38Z")
You don’t have to explain it to me. What I would like explained, however, is how Al Gore invented the Internet and how Bill Clinton, a Rhodes Scholar and attorney, doesn’t know the definition of a word as simple as “is” is. There, maybe that will kick this thread into high gear. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-approve-the-abolition-of-i-approve-this-message/355500/14 "2006-05-05T04:52:59Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > What I would like explained, however, is how Al Gore invented the Internet. Al Gore didn’t invent the Internet. So it’s good that [he never said that he did](http://www.snopes.com/quotes/internet.asp). ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-approve-the-abolition-of-i-approve-this-message/355500/15 "2006-05-05T04:57:11Z")
I know that. I’m obviously trolling here. In fact, it’s so obvious that it’s funny, which is the point. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-approve-the-abolition-of-i-approve-this-message/355500/17 "2006-05-05T15:19:13Z")
It’s silly, but it serves a purpose. When a really heinous misleading ad goes out, I like to be sure who precisely deserves my contempt for it. When the candidate say he approves the ad, the “but my campaign manager did it without my approval” bullshit is a little harder to use. Yeah, they can still use that excuse and claim they recorded it for another ad or something, but it’s still something of a hit to their credibility.