# Say it ain't so: A political ad slung mud **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 7, 2005, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-a-political-ad-slung-mud/329932 "2005-11-07T18:16:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-a-political-ad-slung-mud/329932/1 "2005-11-07T18:16:22Z")
No, really. Believe it or not, I saw a political ad on TV the other day that was, let’s just say, not exactly complimentary of the opposing candidate. Shut up! I ain’t kidding! A political candidate stooped so low as to sling mud! Honest! The thing is, I never expected it from someone like Maura Hennigan. Hey, I like Maura. I’ve met her, and I like her ideals, and I was planning on voting for her. The only thing that had me on the fence was that her opponent, Tom “Mumbles” Menino, has done a decent job so far. At least he hasn’t done an “I outed Plame, started a war, and proposed and amendment against Teh Geys” sort of bad job. Yet. I’ll give the guy his props. As Mayor, he’s been inoffensive at worst. So the political commercial ran like this (paraphrased): “When the Patriots won the Superbowl, Boston erupted in riots. Hooligans burned Boston down, and the police did nothing to stop it. And now Mayor Menino wants to put NUCLEAR MISSILES right IN YOUR OWN BACK YARD! We can’t afford to let Menino destroy our city any more. Vote Maura Hennigan for Mayor.” While this is playing, the screen is flashing words like “Crack Houses”, “9/11”, and “Islamic Terrorists Stike Boston.” Sorry, I can’t remember it more accurately, Giant Mutant Islamic Rabid Terrorists with Freakin’ Crack Pipes on Their Heads were flying planes into my apartment at that very moment, singing Heil Menino. But sheesh, Maura, use false and shrill alarmist rhetoric much? If you were trying to pull me towards your side of the fence, you’ve failed. That was quite possibly the most offensive ad I’ve ever seen. Yes, worse than the Daisy ad. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-a-political-ad-slung-mud/329932/2 "2005-11-07T18:19:33Z")
Boston burnt down? No wonder I can’t find any Boston Baked Beans! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-a-political-ad-slung-mud/329932/3 "2005-11-07T18:53:33Z")
Looks like someone wasn’t paying attention when the Sox took the penant on September 11th. It burned, baby! ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-a-political-ad-slung-mud/329932/4 "2005-11-07T19:04:37Z")
I found a downloadable TV ad on her website, although it mentions the Red Sox and bioweapons, rather than the Patriots and nuclear weapons. [Is this the ad?](http://www.maurahennigan.com/ads/Unprepared_FINAL.wmv) (Warning: wmv video file) If so, it’s not _quite_ as bad as the OP suggests, but is still pretty fucking awful. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-a-political-ad-slung-mud/329932/5 "2005-11-07T19:14:07Z")
That’s the one. Sorry I couldn’t remember it more accurately. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-a-political-ad-slung-mud/329932/6 "2005-11-08T01:25:21Z")
Does Mumbles at least promise that the bioweapons will only be used in the event of a Yankees sweep? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-a-political-ad-slung-mud/329932/7 "2005-11-08T04:30:12Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > So the political commercial ran like this (paraphrased): “When the Patriots won the Superbowl, Boston erupted in riots. Hooligans burned Boston down, and the police did nothing to stop it. And now Mayor Menino wants to put NUCLEAR MISSILES right IN YOUR OWN BACK YARD! We can’t afford to let Menino destroy our city any more. Vote Maura Hennigan for Mayor.” > > While this is playing, the screen is flashing words like “Crack Houses”, “9/11”, and “Islamic Terrorists Stike Boston.” If the ad were exactly like ths I would vote for her in a second, because it would be the most hilarious piece of political satire in many a day. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-a-political-ad-slung-mud/329932/8 "2005-11-08T04:48:08Z")
I’m shocked! Shocked that gambling is going on at this establishment! ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-a-political-ad-slung-mud/329932/9 "2005-11-08T05:49:48Z")
At least Mumbles doesn’t have a Kevin White combover. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-a-political-ad-slung-mud/329932/10 "2005-11-08T14:11:14Z")
> [@Sublight](#): > > Does Mumbles at least promise that the bioweapons will only be used in the event of a Yankees sweep? Depends on how broadly you define “bioweapons”. Before the 2004 playoffs, he had opined: ''Much like a cookie, I predict the Yankee dynasty will crumble, and the results will be delicious for Red Sox fans." At least that’s what the team of trained Mumbles interpreters \*thought \* he most likely said. Hennigan had always seemed levelheaded before this. Looks now like she’s just another Boston pol, personalizing every issue and concentrating more on vendettas than public service. Shut up and take your loss like a grownup, Maura, okay? Sheesh.