It is very depressing to watch television during election season. It's always sort of been so, but it was only maybe 15 years ago when everyone generally agreed that the Willie Horton ad had been gross. Now, every commercial break I'm treated to scaremongering about how some Mexican cartel member is going to cross the borders so that he can do murders and join my daughter's basketball team. It's nonsensical and it's mean and it's tiresome. Thankfully the fifth inning of Game 5 of the World Series happened to sweep away some of the negativity, but it remains a very sour feeling.
So, in between all of the garbage coming out of AmericaCarnagePAC and the like, I want to personally thank Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon for the funniest commercial of the 2024 campaign cycle:
— Brandon Williams (@Brandon4ny22) October 23, 2024
A transcript, in case the Tweety gets taken down:
Blue suit guy: The future of Central New York is bright. As County Executive, I have proudly worked with Republicans and Democrats **awkward pause** to deliver for our community. Real leaders don't care about political labels. That's why I'm **awkward pause** voting for Brandon Williams. From supporting local law enforcement to securing critical funding to modernize our local infrastructure (oops) and housing and we prepare for historic economic growth **waves arm in awkward circular motion**. Brandon Williams is working with ME to deliver real results for Central New York.
"Real leaders don't care about political labels."
One thing that has struck me since moving to Central New York is how much those in the political and media circle love to talk about bipartisanship as a goal, rather than as a means to good policy. In fact, schoolchildren have told me that if you look in the mirror and say bipartisanship three times, the Syracuse Post-Standard will appear and endorse you. I am not a superstitious man, but I am far too scared to try this.
This setup, with McMahon talking about how and what real leadership looks like, seems like it would lead to him endorsing someone he doesn't share a label with but works hard to get results for our community despite their differences. But that doesn't happen. No, reader, it does not happen. The first half of the ad is McMahon patting himself on the back for what "real leaders" would do, and then the second half is him not doing that at all. He endorses the do-nothing clown currently in office because it's the person who his party nominated. He's set up a scenario in which the only logical conclusion is "here is what real leaders do... and you ain't getting that from me!"
What makes it so funny is that nobody is expecting him to endorse someone outside of his own party. He could've just made a generic ad about endorsing Williams talking about issues he agrees with Williams on, probably some nonsense about "Albany bail reform" which, you know, has nothing to do with the United States House of Representatives. No, McMahon can't do that because he so loves the smell of what a leader he, himself, is that he has to tout his own leadership even in a spot when he's not doing the thing he says a real leader does. He centers himself and his esteem of his own leadership but in the most awkward and self-owning way possible.
I'm Jim Dunne, and I approved this message.
