A Crime? NY NARAL Videos Challenge Pols

NARAL Pro-Choice New York has released a couple of great videos this campaign season to make sure that voters to about the positions of candidates who are not interested in keeping safe and legal abortion care available in New York.


One takes on Carl Paladino, the Republican candidate for governor. Its sharp style and strong points make it an exemplar for other campaigns seeking to "out" anti-abortion candidates. In addition to its YouTube presence, it has appeared on television spots, as well.


The simple and effective imagery shows women being measured in height with a light bulb flashing, as if they are being "booked." The text in this 30-second take is simple. "Carl Paladino has one word when it comes to women's right to choose: no... If Carl Paladino had his way, abortion would be a crime and women would be treated like criminals." A pounding drum underbeat helps drive home the point. All in all, the ad is crisp and inventive: a highly effective tack.

Other videos, not quite as highly produced, also offer important commentary. One on the race for attorney general merely shows screens with text describing how attorneys general in other states have undercut and undermined women's right to choose, just as, it says, candidate Dan Donovan would do in New York. Called "It Can Happen Here," on YouTube, it ends with: "Think it can't happen here? It can." The visuals on this video are nicely done, but without any spoken audio, the music choice definitely could have been stronger. Still, it's excellent to see the information flowing to audiences.

NARAL Pro-Choice New York also produced a video to draw attention to the anti-choice position of U.S. Senate Candidate Joe DioGuardi. This video has a couple of clips of DioGuardi, screens with text, and a woman's voice narrating. A third style, and one that is probably more familiar to campaign ads.

This 360 embrace of video and online marketing is an interesting direction for this very large and powerful NARAL chapter. Its whole YouTube Channel boasts 48 uploads (some are repeats)now, and, at this rate, good chance that it will keep growing.

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Above: NARAL Pro-Choice New York "No" Video

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