Republican White House speechwriter-turned-Hollywood celebrity Ben Stein has brought back his signature performance from the classic 1986 movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" to help Sen. Chuck Grassley stave off his Democratic challenger Patty Judge.
Instead of "Bueller? Bueller?", a professorial Stein calls out "Judge? Judge?", vainly seeking her attendance in his classroom. Between his monotone pleas, the screen shows empty chairs and text accuses Judge of poor attendance in her various public service posts: "Patty Judge Marked Absent at 76& of State Fair Board Meetings," "Judge Missed 69 of 72 Meetings of Iowa Economic Development Commission" and "Judge Missed 1 Out of 5 Iowa Executive Council Meetings." (That last one doesn't sound so bad!)
Stein then tries calling for "Grassley?" and receives a quick off-camera "Here!" "He's always here" Stein mumbles to himself. The screen trumpets "In 23 Years, Chuck Grassley Hasn't Missed a Single Vote."
Grassley is well ahead in the polls, and until this campaign, hadn't run a negative ad in 18 years. But with Republicans worried about how the Donald Trump campaign might affect turnout, Grassley's political consultants don't want to take any chances.
But did Grassley get a little too aggressive? The Judge campaign fired off an angry statement to Politico, noting Judge recently took time off the campaign trail because her father passed away.
Instead of "Bueller? Bueller?", a professorial Stein calls out "Judge? Judge?", vainly seeking her attendance in his classroom. Between his monotone pleas, the screen shows empty chairs and text accuses Judge of poor attendance in her various public service posts: "Patty Judge Marked Absent at 76& of State Fair Board Meetings," "Judge Missed 69 of 72 Meetings of Iowa Economic Development Commission" and "Judge Missed 1 Out of 5 Iowa Executive Council Meetings." (That last one doesn't sound so bad!)
Stein then tries calling for "Grassley?" and receives a quick off-camera "Here!" "He's always here" Stein mumbles to himself. The screen trumpets "In 23 Years, Chuck Grassley Hasn't Missed a Single Vote."
Grassley is well ahead in the polls, and until this campaign, hadn't run a negative ad in 18 years. But with Republicans worried about how the Donald Trump campaign might affect turnout, Grassley's political consultants don't want to take any chances.
But did Grassley get a little too aggressive? The Judge campaign fired off an angry statement to Politico, noting Judge recently took time off the campaign trail because her father passed away.