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22 Comments:
He's got my vote. I'm voting for Yaphett too.
7/29/2006 12:01 PM
Well, I think this is a good ad.
I like the bloopers, and no-scripted BS attributes of it too.
I don't really know much about the T.D. but he seems like a nice guy, and if I knew more about him, and lived in that district, he might have my vote.
Now, I am not voting for his wife though, as she is a bit to divisive.
I am voting for the "known caucasian" Jeff Smith, and definately not the "known republican" Gambaro.
7/29/2006 12:47 PM
Kudos again, Antonio. You keep upping the bar. Hope it pays off for you.
7/29/2006 12:55 PM
Antonio:
Now, I know you have to pay the bills, but come on....
7/29/2006 3:17 PM
Doug,
" I dont really know much about about T.D. but he seems like a nice guy...he might have my vote."
Nice, suck up!
7/29/2006 4:35 PM
Travis, you didn't say that when I produced an ad for Peter Downs. And I doubt you would say the same thing if I do an ad for Jeff Smith.
I make no apologies for selling ad space on this site. At least I clearly indicate what is a paid advertisement. You probably have no idea what you read in other publications has been paid for.
The money PUB DEF earns between now and November will allow it to continue to operate through this year and into the next. There's not a lot of political advertising going on after November.
So unless you want PUB DEF to die and for me to go back to covering the Hazelwood and Normandy school districts for the Suburban Journals, please get off my ass.
7/29/2006 9:23 PM
Thanks, Anony #2. Despite Travis' grumbles, I do think commercials on blogs is pretty innovative. That's part of my goal here; to use free technologies to get information (even paid info) out to our community.
I'm glad Talib was open to the idea and I enjoyed producing it. I hope one or two more pols will let me do it for them.
7/29/2006 9:27 PM
Antonio:
First, I am not on your ass about the ad. I made a small comment about it.
I've not seen the other ads you've made for others, which is why I've not commented before. Frankly, I have nothing against T.D. El-Amin, and have nothing against you doing an ad for him, after all that's your main job as a consultant. Merely because he is the husband of someone running in another race against a candidate whom I support doesn't get me worked up, as I suppose it might some. And, I would feel the same way if the ads were for any candidate, including Gregg Daly, Mike McMillan, Jeanette Mott Oxford, or Jeff Smith, all of whom I am supporting in their races.
I think you produce great content. I've never been shy about saying that. It is your site, and you are of course free to do with it as you please, and you did put a very clear disclaimer about the content being an ad, which was a honorable move. That all being said, I think it is a slippery slope to begin to put ads where, typically, your content goes, as opposed to restricting ads to your normal adspace: your side bars. I hope this clears up the sentiment of my comment.
7/30/2006 5:58 AM
Antonio-
I really respect that you continue to allow someone like Travis to post on this blog. By that I mean someone who is full of nothin but himself. Never ran for anything, never ran a campaign, doesn't have his own website (not even his own blog. Just like Howard Cosel - can't do it himself but loves to bitch, moan and complain about others who are doing the real work. It is only when you do something that supports his agenda is it worth a compliment. I wish I had a business so that I could by ad space and support this site becasue it is the best thing going - bar none - in the whole damn St. Louis media market. Keep up the good work and you will be blessed.
Sincerely, The Watcher
7/30/2006 8:34 AM
And before you open you bigasscorrectivemouth Travis, I'm awarethat I mis-used "by" instead of "buy".
*The Watcher
7/30/2006 8:37 AM
I think T.D. El-Amin will do a fine job. I live in the 57th District where his wife is currently the representative and I think she'd done a good job. I've seen both of them lots of times out in the community and I think its good to support young blacks willing to put up with all the b.s. in politics.
7/30/2006 9:37 AM
Anon:
In typical blogger fashion, you failed to do any fact-checking. I do indeed have a blog, and I have run a political campaign and am currently assisting with some issue campaigns.
I too think that Antonio does a great job here, but I disagreed with his placement of this ad. I've been very vocal about my support of Antonio and his websites/blogs.
Finally, I would never pick on someone for a typo, nor the misuse of a word. As I am sure I have made plenty a typo, and have misused a word or two before. So, no worries there. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
7/30/2006 10:50 AM
Love or hate the ad as part of the blog, how many ads allow you to make comments directly below it? I may not necessarilly agree with the man, or especially his wife, but I'm fine with the ad if it keeps this site up.
7/30/2006 1:12 PM
I think that a political advertisement that allows rebuttal dialog directly underneath it is a very brave undertaking. I cannot believe that bloggers have not tried to hijack the commentary. I wish you well in your sales of these spots, but do not think that they will sell. (My .02)
7/30/2006 2:48 PM
I'm totally against empowering another political dynasty in this town. As someone who's had it up to here with the Webbe's, the Slays, the (Wayman/Chris/Robin) Smiths, and the Roberts Bros., I am opposed to creating yet another family of entitlement. And the fact that Eddie Hasan now has a newspaper only makes things even more troublesome. I see nothing in T.D.'s website other than the ordinary pandering to vague Democratic ideals--no specifics, no vision, no goals. I will not be voting for him or his wife.
7/31/2006 9:12 AM
Antonio, I've got no problem with this. You did label it as a paid advertisement.
That said, I can't support a candidate based on skin color. As is usual in our society, we tend to support those who look most like us, rather than who might help us the most.
The African-Americans in the city of St. Louis (of which I am, that is African-American) seem to be supporting in a large part only African-American candidates. This exacerbates a racial divide in the social climate in the city that must stop. Likewise, our Caucasian voters chiefly support only Caucasian candidates (in the case of Italian-Americans, the only logical choice , possibly to their detriment or success, is Derio Gambaro). When I go various places the divisons are obvious. Jeff Smith has strong support in the more liberal white and mixed areas, whereas El-Amin is supported to the exclusion of others in black areas, and the same is true of Gambaro in the Hill.
What is interesting in Botanical Heights/McRee Town is that the politically motivated (a pitifully small number) seem only to see one Candidate; El-Amin. This is disturbing. Jeff Smith may have more to offer, but sadly, around here, he wasn't born African-American.
Antonio, I'd love to see more of these from other Candidates (aforementioned Smith, Gambaro, etc). This is a good idea.
7/31/2006 10:43 AM
Mr. El-Amin (Yaphett's husband) is running on the coattail of his wife's name, which is the only thing he has going in this race. Mr. El-Amin was appointed just a year ago to Committeeman by his wife (Yaphett) to the horror of the 1st Ward residents. He has yet to run for Committeeman in the 1st Ward, and needs a victory bad in this current race to have something to put on his resume other than being Yaphett's husband.
Yaphett's shoulders have to be hurting when she has to carry herself and her husband in this current election. Mr. El-Amin has no political experience of his own other than what Yaphett has given him. In fact, if Yaphett was not the State Representative and Committeewoman, he would not have been chosen Committeeman.
Everything Mr. El-Amin has gained in politics is due to Yaphett being his wife. Yaphett should be commended for carrying her husband through life and creating opportunities for him that he would never have received if it were not for her.
If Mr. El-Amin was to win easily, nobody will be fooled about why he won! It will be as it has always been, because of Yaphett!!!!! Hell, most people even refer to him as Yaphett's husband, as if he does not have his own identity.
Most people still think Yaphett is running for re-election and that there is a mistake going on with the campaign signs. Carry him on Yaphett, go hither!!!!
Good luck in the State Representative race Mr. Yaphett El-Amin!!!!
7/31/2006 11:56 AM
I have never heard a politician say that his greatest trait is sincerity. Who does this guy think we are? He sounds like he wants to date the people of his district, and is desperately trying to convince them that he won't cheat on them.
I don't trust this guy, and he comes across like he has multiple personalties. He comes across like he is repressing some fustration, but is trying to keep his cool before he explodes. Kind of like a controlling guy that fools women into thinking that he will be committed to them, until they commit to him and maybe have children. Then this type of guy runs out the door and starts a new relationship with another woman, never to return.
This isn't the guy that refused to pay his child support for years until the newpeople caught him is it.
If it is, he definitely won't get my vote. If he has to be forced to take care of his own children, then he definitely won't be sincere in taking care of the voters that he represents.
7/31/2006 12:11 PM
Many blogs incorporate ads into the content stream because it is the best way to get hits. Newspapers do it as well. I'd do it if I had time to do more than blogads.
The key is disclosure---Antonio did it--so it's cool. It might be good to highlight it--making it look slightly different than other content. This would have two advantages. First, it would clearly delineate editorial content from advertisement content.
Second, it would draw attention to the ads.
Everyone wins. ;)
7/31/2006 12:16 PM
I agree with anony. #8, that we don't need another political dynasty in this town. That is why we have the situation we have right now in the 4th District race.
Jeff Smith was paid off by the Carnahans to stay out of the 3rd Congressional District race, because Jeff Smith could have beat Carnahan. Stupid move, if Jeff Smith wins this race he is going to run against Russ Carnahan in (4) years anyway. He has secretly told this to people, and if he has a strong showing over (4) years as a State Senator he will beat Russ Carnahan.
However, Yaphett El-Amin is working with Jeff Smith to help him become State Senator, because she wants that Senate seat in her family. That is why Talib El-Amin gave $1500.00 (sincerely) to Jeff Smith when he ran for Congress against Carnahan, through a slush PAC fund. Team El-Amin wants the Senate seat in (4) years, and after Yaphett loses she is going to run against Charles Q. Troupe for Alderman in the 1st Ward.
This is all about helping Jeff Smith and keeping power in the El-Amin family. For the person that commented about the wife being a good legislator, so lets for vote for the husband-search your records! The wife doesn't have any troubling court records, but the husband sure does, does that make the wife a criminal too! I think not!
Russ Carnahan lacks any pizazz at all, and he is about as exciting as
7/31/2006 12:31 PM
a cactus. Russ you better watch out, because if the Smith and El-Amin win-YOU LOSE!!!
7/31/2006 12:33 PM
===Jeff Smith was paid off by the Carnahans to stay out of the 3rd Congressional District race, because Jeff Smith could have beat Carnahan.
No, Russ pretty much hates Jeff from what we can tell. Russ didn't even offer to help pay off Jeff's campaign debt from last time like a gracious winner. Would you care to offer some evidence of this 'payoff' other than your imagination?
===Stupid move, if Jeff Smith wins this race he is going to run against Russ Carnahan in (4) years anyway.
No, in fact, last Thursday, as Antonio can attest, Jeff said Russ was unbeatable as an incumbent. The problem of raising money only becomes greater against an incumbent and the environmental groups amongst others aren't going to endorse against a generally friendly incumbent.
---He has secretly told this to people, and if he has a strong showing over (4) years as a State Senator he will beat Russ Carnahan.
Who has he told this to? I'd be one of the first people who'd have heard this, and I have not been told such a thing?. Seriously, the only thing Jeff is worried about is the 8th.
==However, Yaphett El-Amin is working with Jeff Smith to help him become State Senator, because she wants that Senate seat in her family.
Umm...no. That's pretty funny actually. You'd have to ask why they gave Jeff the $1500 in 2004, but Jeff was planning on winning that year so I'm not sure I get the cause and effect....
7/31/2006 1:02 PM
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