Politics and Advertising: Do They Mix?

I don’t have a problem with political ads. In fact, I think the whole campaign finance reform issue is ill conceived and does the opposite of what we really want. People, including political candidates, have a right to run ads ad nauseum. The more information we have, the better.

I’m not afraid of occasional political references. In fact I’ve been known to make my political and even religious views known here on this blog, but I never go so far as to preach those views to my audience. I think it’s silly and bad for business. If you’re looking for controversy, I don’t think that’s the smartest way to drum it up.

When businesses mix politics with their advertising campaigns, you have to start wondering about how much benefit they get from it. Especially when dealing with hotly debated and deeply personal issues.

The ad to the right is for a storage company based in Manhattan. Manhattan is liberal territory, but I can’t help but think that this type of ad is just bad overall. Not only will it alienate a fraction of their audience (the political right) but it is probably even turning off many others that are not entirely leaning to the political far-left. Did you catch the dual use of the coat hanger? Closets? Back alley abortions? This is pretty sick imagery.

But that’s just the opinion of someone who leans to the political far right. What do you think? Should a business’ politics bleed over into their ads. Is there an level where it’s acceptable and a line that should not be crossed? What do you think?