Campaign slogans should be memorable, but not for all the wrong reasons. Casual innuendo, deliberate threats, brazen flirtations, and good old-fashioned apathy have all been employed in the pursuit of political power. From presidential candidates to small-town mayors, here are 10 worth remembering.
10. "He makes things"«
What makes Senator A.D. Stevens's campaign slogan so comically memorable is not just its general vagueness, which, as notes one blogger , seems like just half a sentence, leaving the mind to fill in the blanks: "He does things... terrible." things..."?
No, what makes this slogan so funny is that, despite how dull and open to ridicule it is, it was copied by Saunders Norvell—just a few years later, when he ran for mayor of St. Louis. Also, unlike Republican Senator Stevens (1903–1910), Norwell was a Democrat. . So, whatever "things" Stevens did, one can assume Norvell never dreamed of.
9. "It would be fair to keep Taft in his chair."«
William Taft hated campaigning. He preferred to spend his time on the golf course, believing that voters they don't like him . This slogan largely sums up his position. In his apathy, he reveals not only his laziness (the desire to remain in office), but also his sense of self-importance. By offering nothing to the people, it's all about his the right to govern their compatriots.
At first glance, it's an odd choice of slogan. But the context of the 1912 election explains why someone (whether Taft himself or someone on his campaign team) thought the slogan made sense. Taft was the incumbent president, having won in 1908 thanks to the support of the popular Teddy Roosevelt. This time, however, Roosevelt was running. against him , seeking a third term as the Progressive Party or Bull Moose Party candidate. Thus, the apathy of Taft's slogan reflected his chances of winning.
His doubts were well founded. Woodrow Wilson won the Democratic nomination, with Roosevelt trailing in second place. Taft, who finished third, received only 231,000 votes.
8. "He saved us from war"«
Wilson proved popular and won a second term, in part thanks to this powerful slogan. During his first term, keeping America out of World War I was a major priority. According to his propagandists, he advocated military preparedness and neutrality rather than armed conflict, having grown up in the Civil War and saw the horrors of battles.
Naturally, his Republican opponent, Charles Hughes, was critical, but Wilson won by nearly 600,000 votes. His anti-war platform resonated with the electorate.
So what makes this slogan a failure? Five months after his reelection, Wilson led America into war, deploying American troops to distant battlefields in Europe. Supporters argue that Germany left him no choice . But this move advanced his vision of a "general association of nations" that he presented to Congress in 1918.
7. "Make Your Wet Dreams Come True"«
Running as a Democrat in 1928, New York Governor Alfred E. Smith was the first Catholic presidential candidate from either of the two major parties. Needless to say, this gave his opponents, who included Ku Klux Klan , plenty of ammunition for shooting. In their view, Smith was a puppet of the Pope and an enemy of religious freedom in the United States, especially Protestant, i.e., "American," freedom. They also claimed that he would annul all Protestant marriages, thereby rendering millions of good, honest American children "illegitimate.".
Even more absurd were rumors that the recently completed Holland Tunnel was intended as a secret passage between the Vatican and New York City. It was claimed this would allow the Pope easy access to America after the election of his favorite.
But the worst thing was that, besides his Catholicism, his anti-Prohibition (i.e., "wet") stance was associated with Irish stereotypes—drunks in gutters and so on. As governor of New York, he had already legalized light beer in the city's licensed establishments, and later decriminalized liquor, so voters knew he wasn't joking. After all, it wasn't because of this unfortunate slogan that he lost to Klan favorite Herbert Hoover. And yes, Then It meant the same as it does today.
6. "One More Rise"«
British politician Jeremy Thorpe had great ambitions. As an Oxford student, he was elected president of the Liberal Club, the Law Society, and the Oxford Union. However, even then, accusations of vote rigging .
Nevertheless, he enjoyed sympathy during the election campaign — was known for his progressive views and wore a brown derby hat inspired by New York Governor Alfred E. Smith. His 1974 slogan «"One more lift" hints at a collective effort. But since this was his run for prime minister, it could also be seen as a personal mantra—one more step toward securing the top job at Westminster.
Unfortunately, however, this also suggests vomiting. Given Thorpe's connection to the attempted murder of an alleged gay lover named Norman Scott and the actual murder of Scott's pet dog, this takes on a darker undertone. Presumably, Thorpe, who openly (and privately) declared his homosexuality, wanted to silence Scott to remove any obstacles to his rise to power. Instead, the scandal ended his career and ruined his reputation.
5. "We weeded you in '44, we'll pierce you in '52"«
Have you ever wondered if the electorate like , When they're bossed around? He poked, prodded, and lied nonstop? This slogan is a telling example.
Since 1852, "Polked" has referred to James Polk's victory in the 1844 presidential election. A Democrat's victory over Henry Clay, a relatively unknown candidate, was considered unlikely. Consequently, when the same doubts surrounded the lack of recognition for Franklin Pierce in 1852, the slogan connected him with the Regiment . It worked; the former New Hampshire senator defeated his Whig opponent and became the 14th president of the United States.
As for the violent language, it wasn't a threat or a sexual innuendo. The only people Polk and Pierce poked and prodded in the office (at least according to the history books) were Mexicans. during the Mexican War .
4. "It can't get any worse"«
In 2010, former circus clown Everardo Oliveira, also known as Tiririka ("Grumpy"), was elected federal deputy from São Paulo with an overwhelming majority of 1.3 million votes. He was by far the most popular candidate in an election characterized by irreverence and famous candidates. Also elected to official government positions were 1994 World Cup football players Romario and Bebeto. Apparently, Brazilians are tired of career politicians and professional lies.
Grumpy's campaign was quite populist, with comedic viral YouTube ads. In one, he asked, "What is the federal government doing?" MP? Honestly, I don't know. But vote for me, and I'll find out for you." He was serious; Grumpy had joined the circus as a poor eight-year-old and knew little about national politics. In fact, after his victory, newspapers claimed he can neither read nor write , which forced him to prove his literacy in order to keep his position.
After all, it was he who rejected the institution. After serving two terms after his reelection in 2014, he refused to run again , declaring he'd lost respect for politics. According to Grumpy, only eight of the 513 members of Congress paid to sit in the lower house regularly did so. "I'm one of those eight," he added sadly, "and I'm a circus clown.".
3. "Two Big Arguments"«
In 2011, Sole Sánchez Mohamed made international news with her slogan and accompanying photo, in which she posed topless with a man covering her nipples. Essentially, her platform—her "two big arguments"—was her breasts. She believed this had earned her the mayoralty of Ciutadella in Menorca. As part of her campaign, she also appeared in a local magazine wearing only her underwear, appearing submissive.
Needless to say, she had many critics. The rival party, Esquerra de Menorca, claimed that Sánchez Mohamed's campaign was sexist and exploitative. In a complaint filed with the Institut de la Dona (Women's Institute), they claimed it was "an insult to the dignity of women and the population as a whole.".
The future mayor's office's response was dismissive. Channeling Donald Trump, she said: «There is no one else feminist than I am. People are free to express themselves however they want, and I use my breasts and body however I want.".
«"If they can only watch," she added, it's their problem. ”
2. "I'm not a witch, I'm you."«
While running for the Delaware Senate, Tea Party candidate Christine O'Donnell took the opportunity to address revelations that she dabbled in witchcraft, a big no-no among her right-wing religious voters . "I'm not a witch," she said. in his election video, before immediately questioning that statement with the supernatural addition: "I am you." She was only dabbling; she never joined a coven; she'd always been clear about that. And although one of her "first dates with a witch was on a Satanic altar... a little blood and all that," she was definitely not a witch.
The bizarre video itself was almost a parody, but that didn't stop Saturday Night Live from making fun of it. "I'm nothing like what you heard," she said. Kristen Wiig as O'Donnell , "I am you. And just like you, I have to constantly deny that I'm a witch." Alluding to the retrospective politics of the right-wing Tea Party, Wiig added, "Delaware hasn't had a candidate like this since 1692.".
1. "He killed my mom, he killed my dad, but I'm going to vote for him."«
War criminal Charles Taylor was convicted in 2010 of helping to found the Revolutionary United Front, a guerrilla army in Sierra Leone known for amputating people's limbs. Taylor also invaded his own country, Liberia, in 1989 to overthrow despot Samuel Doe. The conflict lasted seven years and claimed the lives of approximately 200,000 civilians, many of whom were taken by Taylor's child soldiers.
In 1997, after the ceasefire, the United States encouraged Taylor to run for reelection as a legitimate path to the presidency. Among his biggest supporters were children, chanting, "He killed my mom, he killed my dad, but I will vote for him. However, in reality, most voters were frightened. They were also exhausted and couldn't bear to continue the war. Another of his slogans, "Better the devil you know," speaks volumes about how Taylor was perceived. According to John Lee Anderson of The New Yorker , the Liberians seemed to see him as "« a kind of Nosferatu , which must be appeased." He even thought that he kept a bucket of human blood next to his bed, which he renewed every day.
He won with 75% votes. And, of course, there was another civil war, which killed more people. Taylor was finally ousted in 2003.