New Albany is a state of mind … but whose? Since 2004, we’ve been observing the contemporary scene in this slowly awakening old river town. If it’s true that a pre-digital stopped clock is right twice a day, when will New Albany learn to tell time?
The use of Diane's son as an attention grabber for her ad is no different than any celebrity endorsement.
Rick Pitino spoke out for one of the presidential candidates several elections ago. Hollywood notables are sought out to tout candidates all the time. Within our smaller sphere, Justin Benedetti is a celebrity and no one should be surprised or offended that his recent accomplishment in winning a national championship is used to further his mother's campaign.
On the very next page Jeff Gahan's sister is used as a hook to draw the attention of those who know her, and presumably like her, to her brother's mayoral bid.
Both uses of someone other than the candidate to draw attention to the candidate may be critiqued as an oblique appeal of questionable value, but I don't see either use as an embarrassment. And I would treat both ads as equivalent.
Finally, the use of the term embarrassment in some way casts a pall over Justin Benedetti's athletic accomplishment. I don't know the young man, but what he has done has surely put him on top of the world for while. I think he's earned the right to stay there a bit longer.
I'll speak up for Diane Benedetti on this.
ReplyDeleteThe use of Diane's son as an attention grabber for her ad is no different than any celebrity endorsement.
Rick Pitino spoke out for one of the presidential candidates several elections ago. Hollywood notables are sought out to tout candidates all the time. Within our smaller sphere, Justin Benedetti is a celebrity and no one should be surprised or offended that his recent accomplishment in winning a national championship is used to further his mother's campaign.
On the very next page Jeff Gahan's sister is used as a hook to draw the attention of those who know her, and presumably like her, to her brother's mayoral bid.
Both uses of someone other than the candidate to draw attention to the candidate may be critiqued as an oblique appeal of questionable value, but I don't see either use as an embarrassment. And I would treat both ads as equivalent.
Finally, the use of the term embarrassment in some way casts a pall over Justin Benedetti's athletic accomplishment. I don't know the young man, but what he has done has surely put him on top of the world for while. I think he's earned the right to stay there a bit longer.