# Pro-Trump ads on MSNBC **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 16, 2020, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-trump-ads-on-msnbc/855774 "2020-06-16T12:51:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2020, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-trump-ads-on-msnbc/855774/1 "2020-06-16T12:51:54Z")
I gotta ask – why? I’ve been noticing extremely pro-Trump ads being run on Rachel Maddow’s show and other high profile shows on MSNBC, and I don’t see the point. If there’s anyplace you’re likely to find the most unshakably anti-Trump viewers, it’s on prime-time MSNBC shows. These are not people likely to be swayed by the logic of these ads, or influenced by the the visceral impact of the imagery. Not only are they aware of the context and the counter-arguments, but they’re being repeated by the very shows surrounding the ads. I can understand advertising to sway the undecideds and the fence-sitters, but this seems like they’re simply throwing away their money. I’m not _[opposing_ the ads, mind you. If the pro-Trump group wants to drop their advertising budget in such hard soil, go ahead. And I think it’s perfectly reasonable for them to reach out to new markets, and for MSNBC viewers to be exposed to new viewpoints. But I can’t see it having much of an effect. It seems like a very expensive hobby. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2020, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-trump-ads-on-msnbc/855774/2 "2020-06-16T12:59:52Z")
They allocated campaign budget for _‘make libtards cry’_ ad buys. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2020, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-trump-ads-on-msnbc/855774/3 "2020-06-16T14:22:18Z")
I’m more surprised that MSNBC would allow such ads than that Trumpers would want to run such ads. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2020, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-trump-ads-on-msnbc/855774/4 "2020-06-16T14:33:45Z")
The Trump re-election campaign is finding great ways to waste money. They spent $400,000 on ads to run in D.C. just so Trump would feel better. > **[The Trump campaign spent $400,000 on largely pointless TV ads in DC just so...](https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-campaign-400k-dc-ads-to-flatter-potus-beast-2020-6)** > > The president has been angered by negative polls and attack ads run in DC by a GOP group campaigning to end his presidency. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2020, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-trump-ads-on-msnbc/855774/5 "2020-06-16T14:34:19Z")
I think there are rules that govern that. > **[Political Broadcasting Rules Q&A](https://www.commlawblog.com/2018/02/articles/deadlines/political-broadcasting-rules-qa/)** > > With primaries in some states happening as soon as March, the 2018 election cycle is certain to be contentious and hard-fought. Now is the time for I don’t have time to dig into that cite, but maybe someone else does? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2020, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-trump-ads-on-msnbc/855774/6 "2020-06-16T14:46:26Z")
Their supply of money is pretty limitless, so I doubt it hurts the campaign much. I suspect that if Individual One spots a Biden ad on Fox, he’s going to pitch a fit unless one of his ads runs on MSNBC. Probably about as effective as feeding brussel sprouts to a dog but whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2020, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-trump-ads-on-msnbc/855774/7 "2020-06-16T15:05:45Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I’m more surprised that MSNBC would allow such ads than that Trumpers would want to run such ads. I’m not surprised MSNBC runs the ads at all. They pay, and as the OP notes, no harm will be done. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2020, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-trump-ads-on-msnbc/855774/8 "2020-06-16T15:14:58Z")
As I like to say, it is in the interest of corporate media to look at the bottom line rather than ideology. Besides, many reporters need money to send their kids to college. If it becomes clear that there is no horse race, then one side or both will not bother to spend enough on old time media or other outlets; so, the horse race needs to be pushed hard, up to the point to allow the underdog to keep up. As for no harm being done, that is like Trump telling us “what do you have to lose?” > **[Opinion | Trump is actually an expert on snake oil](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/04/08/trump-is-actually-an-expert-snake-oil/)** > > He has a genius degree in it. ---
**Author:** ![ThisIsTheEnd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisistheend/32/4713_2.png) [@ThisIsTheEnd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisIsTheEnd)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-trump-ads-on-msnbc/855774/9 "2020-06-18T12:29:29Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I’m more surprised that MSNBC would allow such ads than that Trumpers would want to run such ads. What kind of look would that be? The Trump campaign will eventual bait them into turning one down due to content, or more likely before that, they will run one that causes a Twitter meltdown and apology cycle, etc. see _ **Cotton op-ed, et al.** _ ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-trump-ads-on-msnbc/855774/10 "2020-06-18T12:38:25Z")
Mom might like Biden and MSNBC but Pop is undecided . ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-trump-ads-on-msnbc/855774/11 "2020-06-18T13:41:35Z")
It seems that the Lincoln Project has been buying ad time on Fox News. Money is money. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-trump-ads-on-msnbc/855774/12 "2020-06-18T14:13:14Z")
There are liberals who watch Fox News and there are conservatives who watch MSNBC. Both sides have people who enjoy feeding their outrage. These Trump ads may be targeted to those conservatives. The Trump campaign wants to remind them of their true allegiance when they’re traveling in enemy territory. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-trump-ads-on-msnbc/855774/13 "2020-06-18T14:37:49Z")
The Trump ads don’t bother me. The Russia Today ones – now thankfully not running – did, though. Also the Exxon Mobile, Koch Industries and massive numbers of pharmaceutical ads. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-trump-ads-on-msnbc/855774/14 "2020-06-18T14:50:05Z")
Not all people solely watch media that conforms to their point of view. ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-trump-ads-on-msnbc/855774/15 "2020-06-18T14:53:27Z")
Trump won by stumping in areas that are not traditional republican areas in 2016. “I’ll reopen your factories” (that have been closed since Reagan but that’s another thread). ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-trump-ads-on-msnbc/855774/16 "2020-06-18T16:03:38Z")
Simply put - advertising works. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-trump-ads-on-msnbc/855774/17 "2020-06-18T16:20:10Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > I think there are rules that govern that. > > [Political Broadcasting Rules Q&A | CommLawBlog](https://www.commlawblog.com/2018/02/articles/deadlines/political-broadcasting-rules-qa/) > > I don’t have time to dig into that cite, but maybe someone else does? The cite says that the FCC regulates **broadcast stations**. The FCC does not and never has had any power over cable. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-trump-ads-on-msnbc/855774/18 "2020-06-18T16:53:18Z")
Haven’t seen the ads, but one of the accepted strategies of campaigning is to tamp down the enthusiasm of the other guy’s supporters. Maybe the Trump campaign is betting that they can get a few liberals to not donate as much money to Biden, or better yet, convince them to not vote at all. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-trump-ads-on-msnbc/855774/19 "2020-06-18T16:59:17Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > Haven’t seen the ads, but one of the accepted strategies of campaigning is to tamp down the enthusiasm of the other guy’s supporters. Maybe the Trump campaign is betting that they can get a few liberals to not donate as much money to Biden, or better yet, convince them to not vote at all. However, I would expect the opposite effect. Those ads enrage me and motivate me to defeat him.