Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Let’s grab a seat and discuss something so preposterously modern it makes my old typewriter weep in a corner—yes, we’re talking about Brad Parscale and his love affair with Facebook ads. Remember the 2016 election? Seems like it happened just long enough ago that we might have learned a thing or two, but oh, no, here we come trotting back to Facebook ads like they’re the second coming of political genius.
Now, Brad’s whipping out the AI evangelism as if it’s a new seasoning he’s just discovered and insists on sprinkling it on everything, even though it tastes suspiciously like last week’s leftovers. He managed to pull a digital rabbit out of his hat in 2016, and guess what? He’s back at it for 2024. Somebody strap me to a chair, because this is going to be a bumpy ride.
First off, let’s talk AI and these campaigns. Political strategists seem to think AI is like some genie in a bottle. Rub the internet lamp right, and poof, you’ve got the perfect campaign. But from what I’m seeing, this genie is more interested in sifting through my personal shopping habits than enhancing democratic engagement. And if AI is learning from us, well folks, I’m not sure I want to meet this Frankenstein’s monster.
What’s next? Will our prospective leaders just be a series of Tweets bot-created and committee-approved? Maybe if we’re lucky, they’ll come with user reviews and ratings. Four stars! Politician occasionally malfunctions when questioned on real issues.
Now, Parscale is a savvy guy—no doubt about that. Savvy like that raccoon that figured out how to open my garbage can last Thursday. But embracing technology with the gusto of a kid in a VR candy store doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best for Joe Voter. Is it just me, or is making a political campaign depend so heavily on Facebook ads sort of like wanting to lose weight by only shopping at the candy store?
Let’s break it down. Facebook ads: Not exactly the bastion of nuanced, philosophical debate. If our political future hinges on who clicks the most ads, then I’ve got some oceanfront property in Nebraska to sell you. What happened to pounding the pavement, kissing babies, and, you know, actually talking to people?
I can just see it now. Campaign rallies replaced by shared posts. Debates swapped out for meme wars. Constituent concerns? Don’t worry, there’s an emoji for that. The art of persuasion is getting an upgrade and, folks, it looks a heck of a lot like your spam folder.
And let’s talk about the creepy side of this tech. Brad and his crew are perfecting the art of whispering sweet nothings into the ear of the algorithm. It feels less like democracy and more like a very sophisticated dating app for power seekers. Swipe right for lower taxes, swipe left for healthcare reform!
I’m all for using what works, but leaning on Facebook ads and AI like a crutch might just mean our politics limp along rather than stride into a future where we all matter. Maybe it’s time we recalibrate our trusty old moral compasses a bit—preferably one that doesn’t require a software update every two weeks.
We’re on a carousel that’s spinning us around so fast, it’s no wonder we can’t keep up. Maybe it’s time we slow it down, get off, and remember that a truly great leader doesn’t need to be a tech whiz. They need to be, first and foremost, human. We should demand our political champions fight for us in the real world and not just in the pixelated battleground of our newsfeeds.
This reincarnation of the digital strategy muscle is setting up a scene that I’m not sure I paid the price of admission for. It’s like watching a movie where you can predict every plot twist but you sit through it because you’ve already bought the popcorn. And somehow, there’s always more popcorn.
So, Brad, while you’re here turning Facebook campaigns into your own personal circus, remember—a lot of us are still here eating the peanuts, waiting for a show that speaks to us. Not just our data profiles.
Source: Brad Parscale helped Trump win in 2016 using Facebook ads. Now he’s back, and an AI evangelist
