Readers Weigh In: More Political Slogans
Readers were quick to let us know about memorable omissions from the Capitol Monitor’s “Political Slogans, Parts One & Two” series. Here are just a few of the more colorful additions that we’ve received.
“You Can’t Have it Both Ways, Jim” – In the 1984 US Senate Race between Republican Jesse Helms and Democrat Jim Hunt, a series of 10-second ads were produced by the Helms campaign that demonstrated that Hunt was a “flip-flopper.” The ads gave specific examples, such as Hunt’s assertion that he favored a longer school year while later showing support for a shorter year. In another ad, Hunt expressed disdain for Reagan’s budget cuts, but he later praised them.
“Keep the Big Boys Honest!” – Several readers submitted this favorite, which was offered by Wilbur Hobby as a challenge to big business during his failed bid for governor in 1972. Hobby, who headed up the state chapter of the AFL-CIO, was later convicted of illegally obtaining $34,000 in Comprehensive Education & Training Act funds in a scheme in which Howard Lee and Jim Hunt were implicated, but never charged. The former labor leader was imprisoned for his crimes in 1981. Hobby’s slogan targeting “the big boys” was even more ironic, given that he was, to put it kindly, a very large man.
"Preyer is a Liar” – This slogan was used during a three-way primary in 1964, when Greensboro native L. Richardson Preyer faced off against Dan K. Moore and I. Beverly Lake for the Democratic nomination for governor of North Carolina. Moore won the race after a primary run-off with Preyer and went on to serve one term as governor of the Old North State. The slogan was reportedly coined by budding political activist John Blust, who adapted it from a Preyer campaign jingle. Blust, who was then in the fourth grade, is currently serving his fourth term in the North Carolina General Assembly.
“AU +H2O=H2SO4” – In an ad targeting Republican Barry Goldwater during the 1964 presidential election, Democrats offered this equation to describe the Arizona Senator. “AU” is the symbol for gold and “H20” designates water – but when the two elements are combined, the result is sulfuric acid.
“GOP: Generation of Peace” – The presidential election of 1972 marked the first election following an extension of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 in 1970. The anti-Vietnam War movement was at its peak, and college students across the country lined up to register to vote for Democrat George McGovern, who was running against incumbent Richard Nixon on an anti-war platform. Republicans sought to soften their image with regard to the war by using the GOP acronym to mean “Generation of Peace” in campaign advertising.
“White People Wake Up” – In an unauthorized campaign flyer touting former NC Speaker of the House Willis Smith in the 1950 Democratic primary for the US Senate seat from North Carolina, Smith’s supporters implored voters to defeat the more racially tolerant Frank Porter Graham. In an extraordinarily racist campaign that was helped along by the inability of most African Americans to participate, since they were largely prohibited from voting at the time through Jim Crow laws, Smith won after a divisive runoff election. When he went to Washington, Smith took along a young political strategist named Jesse Helms. Updated October 28, 2008
