Unintentionally Hilarious ‘Republicans Are People Too’ Campaign Provokes Online Disbelief
A new social media campaign designed to persuade Americans that “Republicans Are People Too” is being dubbed an “epic failure,” and widely ridiculed online for its attempt to portray Republicans as fitting a stereotype normally applied by Republicans themselves to liberals.
Kicking off with a video created by one of 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s top media advisers, the campaign wants Americans to know that “Republicans have feelings.”
“It seems like it’s okay to say mean things about someone just because they’re Republican,” the Republicans Are People Too campaign wrote on a YouTube posting of the online ad that can be viewed above. “That isn’t right. Before you write another mean post about Republicans, remember Republicans are people, too.”
The video then lists a variety of activities and traits that, it says, are common to Republicans. For example, “Republicans have tattoos and beards.”
According to the video, created by Republican media consultant Vinnie Minchillo, Republicans drive Prius automobiles, shop at Trader Joe’s, recycle, use Mac computers, and “read The New York Times — in public,” among other activities stereotypically associated with liberals, at least by Republicans.
The ad also lists the types of ethnic and social groups that, it claims, include Republicans, including doctors, welders, and teachers — as well as white, black, and Asian people.
Notably missing from the inventory of Republican social groups listed in the video, however, is “gay.”
The campaign also includes a website, RepublicansArePeopleToo.com. So far, the minimal site includes only the video and some text, which portrays Republican as victims of “bullying” as a result of their political beliefs.
“It isn’t easy being a Republican these days. There are people who will stick up for Genghis Khan before they’ll defend a Republican. (Genghis was just misunderstood.) We love political discourse. We encourage political discourse. But when did ‘Republican’ become a dirty word? Here’s the deal: before you post another bullying comment, think about this: Republicans are people, too.”
The campaign has also introduced a social media hashtag, #ImARepublican, encouraging “real” Republicans to tell their personal stories. But the hashtag has produced such sarcastic contributions as:
I believe all Muslims are suspicious and should be rounded up into internment camps. #ImARepublican
Why, yes, my tattoos include swastikas #ImARepublican
“Redskin” is a term of respect, honor, tradition. #ImARepublican
My father punched me when I was a kid, and I TURNED OUT FINE! Right? RIGHT?! #ImARepublican
I am stupid, evil, and utterly devoid of humanity! #IamARepublican
Among other, similar remarks.
One commenter on the liberal-leaning site Talking Points Memo appeared to sum up the bottom line of the Republicans Are People Too campaign, saying, “When you need to remind people that your party’s members ‘have feelings’ or ‘are people, too’ you definitely aren’t winning.”
