It’s Christmas in April for Orange
“Orange the Democrat” radio ad (MP3 format, 1.3 MB)
Ward 5 Councilmember Vincent Orange has always been a master showman. He never seems the least bit embarrassed by the props he uses on the council dais or by the sometimes hokey rhyming phrases that color his political prose.
But his new ad campaign, designed to kick-start his foundering mayoral bid, strains even the Orange standard. The one-minute jingle began running on WTOP radio today and is scheduled to run for one week, according to Orange. A television version of the ad, complete with a bouncing ball over the lyrics, will also run on Comcast cable.
Make no mistake, Orange’s ad is must-listen stuff. To the tune of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”—you read that right, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”—the singers run through a list of Orange accomplishments. With absolutely no regard for rhyming, the ad hits on Home Depot’s opening in Ward 5, D.C. Emancipation Day, and, of course, Orange’s “three E’s.”
Orange isn’t the least bit concerned that the jingle will make people think he is a less-than-serious candidate for mayor. “There is a little light humor in the ad,” says Orange. “But it also talks about our great plan. It talks about the three Es.”
As to the seriousness of his candidacy: “I think my record speaks for itself,” he says. “How can you not take a person seriously who has created the only city holiday legislatively? People take [Ward 4 Councilmember Adrian] Fenty seriously and what has he done?” asks Orange.
“I am extremely comfortable with who I am. If the people can’t accept it, that’s OK. I know who I am,” he continues.
Well, not exactly. During an interview about the ad, Orange launched into a campaign speech that suggested his ride in the white horse-drawn carriage with Mayor Anthony A. Williams in Monday’s Emancipation Day parade might have gone to his head. “Some people are running for mayor,” says Orange. “I am the mayor.”
Of course, the voters will be the final judge as to whether silliness is an effective attention grabber in the oh-so-serious world of D.C. mayoral politics. And Orange isn’t about to concede it’s desperation time for a campaign that sources say is polling in the single digits. For Orange, the ad is just the beginning of a huge electoral surprise.
“You are getting ready to witness something that no other candidate can show you but me,” says Orange.
April 18th, 2006 at 12:21 pm
I listened to the Orange for Mayor jingle and I barfed all over my computer screen!
How corny can this guy not be?
April 18th, 2006 at 3:32 pm
The reason Adrian Fenty is taken seriously is because except for Vincent Orange everyone else knows what he has done.
He has dictated the issues of the current Mayoral campaign by his legislation and his work on the Council. He introduced the School Modernization Act, the Affordable Housing Task Force legislation, legislation to force a change to a real Community Policing Model and the first no-smoking legislation.
He is an activist who deals with the issues people care about and he is out in the community 24/7. He is known for his constituent service and for his ability to connect to people from Ward 8 to Ward 3. He comes from a business background with his parents owning a small business in the District for over 20 years and understands the need to continue economic development in the City and to move it into the neighborhoods.
But the difference between Adrian Fenty and the other candidates is he will give new entrepreneurs and businesses a chance to bid and get work in the District. He is not in the pocket of the same 100 people who seem to continuously feed at the trough of the District’s budget. He will make it exciting again to work for District Government and will attract a new generation of leaders.
For these and so many more reasons people take Adrian Fenty seriously and will elect him the next Mayor of the District of Columbia.
April 18th, 2006 at 5:28 pm
Could’nt he have at least used Here comes Peter COttontail, hoppin down the mayor trail….or something….jeez….
Martha Baer
April 18th, 2006 at 6:46 pm
I will not have anyone bad mouth Vincent.
He is the best slum lord I have ever rented to as he has a few nice slum houses here in the NE.
This guy really knows how to pinch pennies.
April 18th, 2006 at 11:07 pm
There’s really 100 people feeding at the public trough in dc? I figured it was more like 25 or so, with a lot of little guys clambering over around their ankles for left-over scraps.
April 19th, 2006 at 8:46 am
All I ask is: please be a better representative for DC, than you are a jingle-writer..;-)
I will Listen.
April 19th, 2006 at 9:30 am
CEOs from large corporations use jingles to a capture the attention of the public all of the time. Give Orange credit for being creative. Many “will listen” even if they don’t care for the tune or the message. I think Orange is working hard to make DC a better city. He certainly has improved the quality of life in Ward 5.
He will get my vote. AW