Censorious Ned Disappears. Governor Highlights “Sh*t” in Campaign Ad.

Ned Lamont is delighted. A supporter became the big closer in a campaign ad by declaring, “Lamont gets shit done.” The vulgarity is bleeped in the 30 second ad, but there’s nothing mysterious about it.

In case anyone is confused by the ad’s final compliment, Lamont’s campaign is highlighting the testimonial in the ad “Main Street.” A release from the campaign Tuesday features the headline “Lamont Gets Sh*t Done.”

Lamont spent nearly $50 million of his fourth generation banking fortune in his three statewide campaigns. He has announced he will do the same with this year’s re-election bid. Lamont’s Sh*t ad, according the Courant’s Chris Keating, will be broadcast in Connecticut and New York media markets.

The ad presents a distinct contrast to Lamont’s consternation last October when protesters shouted obscenities at President Joe Biden while he visited a Hartford daycare center. The Courant’s Keating reported Lamont’s dismay at the time:

“It was something these kids will never forget for the rest of their lives,” Lamont told reporters Tuesday outside the state Capitol. “And right across the fence were angry protesters — yelling, cursing, dropping the F-bomb, and it was embarrassing.”

Lamont continued, “I contrast that moment with watching some of the eulogies for General Colin Powell. I heard him say this morning, as I was on the Stairmaster, that democracy and American democracy are the last great hope on Earth. We have many, many faults, but go out and fix those faults. Don’t curse the faults. Fix the faults. That’s what we’re trying to do.”

Language is vital and the language of politics continues to coarsen. Republicans have created a collection of ugly chants as they have embraced loathsome demagogue Donald Trump. Lamont and his campaign team may have been inspired by an ad New Jersey Democrats created during Governor Phil Murphy’s unexpectedly close re-election campaign. The digital ad used Republican Jack Ciatarelli’s 1994 vote for a local ordinance banning profanity. The short ad featured voter reactions to the ordinance. Their f-bombs were the focus of the ad, which has had 1.3 million views.

Democrats were alarmed by Murphy’s close call in Democratic New Jersey, which public polls had not detected.

Published May 17, 2022.