When we last saw Indiana Republican Senate candidate Mike Braun, he was mocking his two primary rivals, Todd Rokita and Luke Messer, as cardboard cutouts. Now Braun's media consultants have come up with another way to caricature his opponents as likeminded Washington politicians, and distinguish himself as an outsider: imagine how they all were as kids.
Rokita and Messer groom themselves in front of their locker door mirrors, giving themselves finger guns. Then they stump in a classroom, spouting increasingly ludicrous talking points designed to peg them as free-spenders and free-traders.
"And this is why we must fast-track free trade deals," says the young Messer. "Put it on the credit card, China will pay for it," assures the young Rokita. "Send the jobs to Mexico, we don't need them!" cheers Messer. "When I'm in Congress, maybe one of you will be my driver. See? Job creation!" offers Rokita.
The scene shifts to present day, as the narrator says, "Todd and Luke spent 40 years in politics, voting for billions in debt." As Braun works in an office, the narrator tries to give a contrasting portrayal, "Mike spent 40 years building a successful business, creating jobs and--," but then Braun gruffly interrupts, "Hey I'm trying to work here."
For a finishing touch, the cute actor playing the young Braun mouths the words actually said by the candidate, "I'm Mike Braun and I approve this message."
Mike Braun Imagines His Opponents As Kid Politicians
"This is the true story," claims the narrator of "The Choice," "of three men, politicians Todd Rokita, Luke Messer and businessman Mike Braun." We see the three as elementary school children, standing at the schoolhouse steps. The suit-clad Rokita and Messer exuberantly hand out campaign fliers while Braun studiously reads a magazine called "Stocks and Commodities." "Growing up in Indiana," the narrator shares, Todd and Luke wanted careers in politics. Mike wanted a career in business."Rokita and Messer groom themselves in front of their locker door mirrors, giving themselves finger guns. Then they stump in a classroom, spouting increasingly ludicrous talking points designed to peg them as free-spenders and free-traders.
"And this is why we must fast-track free trade deals," says the young Messer. "Put it on the credit card, China will pay for it," assures the young Rokita. "Send the jobs to Mexico, we don't need them!" cheers Messer. "When I'm in Congress, maybe one of you will be my driver. See? Job creation!" offers Rokita.
Don't Interrupt Mike Braun When He's Working
As the Rokita-Messer debate descends into childishness, the young Braun buries himself in an economic textbook.The scene shifts to present day, as the narrator says, "Todd and Luke spent 40 years in politics, voting for billions in debt." As Braun works in an office, the narrator tries to give a contrasting portrayal, "Mike spent 40 years building a successful business, creating jobs and--," but then Braun gruffly interrupts, "Hey I'm trying to work here."
For a finishing touch, the cute actor playing the young Braun mouths the words actually said by the candidate, "I'm Mike Braun and I approve this message."