By DAVID W. CHEN
Published: October 26, 2005
“Carl, “a 30-second commercial from United States Senator Jon S. Corzine, the Democratic candidate for governor of New Jersey, began running on Monday on cable and network television stations in Philadelphia and New York.
PRODUCERS S.D.D. Media and Message & Media
ON THE SCREEN The ad opens with a close-up of a young man identified as “Carl Riccio, Warren, N.J. “He talks about being injured three years ago in a high school wrestling match that left him quadriplegic as the ad opens to a wider shot of him in a wheelchair. The ad then cuts between images of Mr. Riccio, talking about the differences between Mr. Corzine and his Republican opponent, Douglas R. Forrester, on embryonic stem cell research, and still photos of Mr. Riccio in a wheelchair on the beach, surrounded by relatives and friends.
THE SCRIPT “Almost three years ago now, I was in a wrestling match for my high school. I went to do a move and I was paralyzed from the neck down. Quadriplegic. Right now the most hopeful thing for spinal cord injuries is embryonic stem cell research. Doug Forrester doesn’t support embryonic stem cell research; therefore, I don’t think he supports people like me, and doctors who say a cure is coming. Jon Corzine supports embryonic stem cell research. I think he’s the best candidate for our governor.”
ACCURACY Mr. Riccio, 19, a student at Villanova University, is right in suggesting that most scientists agree that embryonic stem cell research is more promising than adult stem cell research for finding cures for injuries and diseases. He is right in noting clear differences between Mr. Forrester and Mr. Corzine. While Mr. Forrester said during the primary that he opposed embryonic stem cell research – thereby aligning himself with anti-abortion groups and President Bush – he has suggested recently that his main objection was to public financing of such research. But tellingly, Mr. Forrester never uses the loaded term “embryonic “in public statements, saying only that he supports “stem cell research “in general. Indeed, he often seems uncomfortable discussing the issue, and has been criticized by abortion rights advocates and anti-abortion groups for waffling.
SCORECARD The ad promises to be potent, because it lures viewers into thinking that it is a positive, uplifting message, but instead turns into a biting and personal critique of Mr. Forrester, over an issue on which Democrats believe he is vulnerable. Mr. Riccio’s comment that “I don’t think he supports people like me “is one of the most memorable from Mr. Corzine’s ads, and the way he says it – by using the limited mobility of his arms to point to his chest, emotionally – stings. The commercial also reinforces a common Democratic theme: that Republicans like Mr. Bush and Mr. Forrester often don’t relate to the travails of people like Mr. Riccio.
DAVID W. CHEN
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