Ad Parodies on Web Poke Fun at Minnesota Congressional Campaign; Minnesota Children’s Author Finds Fans in ‘Enemy’ Camp

The Web site Lakevilledad.com has published the second in a series of faux ads lampooning Minnesota’s 2nd district Congressional race.

The race pits 9/11 whistleblower Coleen Rowley against entrenched incumbent John Kline. “It’s like the classic Jimmy Stewart movie ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington’ in which a boy scout goes up against the corrupt Washington machine … this race has a really compelling ambiance for satire,” said Chuck Smith-Dewey, creator of the http://www.lakevilledad.com site.

Lakeville, MN (PRWEB) October 23, 2006 — The Web site LakevilleDad.com has published the second in a series of faux ads lampooning Minnesota’s 2nd district Congressional race.

The race pits 9/11 whistleblower Coleen Rowley against entrenched incumbent John Kline. “It’s like the classic Jimmy Stewart movie ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington’ in which a boy scout goes up against the corrupt Washington machine … this race has a really compelling ambiance for satire,” said Chuck Smith-Dewey, creator of the http://www.lakevilledad.com site.

His newest “faux” ad lampoons a recent John Kline appearance on local FOX News 9. In the interview, John Kline repeats a charge he made in a flyer last summer, charging that his opponent Rowley would work to legalize crystal meth.

“The charge that a 24-year FBI veteran and national heroine like Coleen Rowley, would support legalization of ANY drug is such a hoot that this interview practically demanded the addition of a laugh track,” chuckled Smith-Dewey. “I think he confused ‘heroine’ with ‘heroin’ — that’s what can happen when a conservative has an accidental vowel movement.”

The site’s first spoof was called “Stay the Course”, which shows a line of zombie-like Congressmen obediently walking over a cliff in support of the war in Iraq. “That one has a little darker tone,” Smith-Dewey explained, saying “sometimes satire has a little more bite than humor.”

Smith-Dewey is a regional children’s author, who writes under the pen name of “Uncle Hyggly” which is Norwegian for “happy.” His best-known book is a seasonal bovine classic entitled “Mr. Gonopolis And His 12 Holsteins — A Christmas Story,” about a dozen cows and a portly farmer that fill in for an ailing Santa Claus.

Smith-Dewey said that Kline staffers Marcus Esmay and Diana Bratlie are fans of the story. “I visited the campaign office after taking part in an anti-torture protest outside the Congressman’s office. I walked in and these two staff members I’d never laid eyes on said greeted me with a ‘hi, Uncle Hyggly — we like your book.’ “It was a little creepy,” he smirked. More information on Uncle Hyggly’s bipartisan-pleasers is available at http://www.woundedcoot.com.

“I need to do a riff on the ‘Mr. Smith’ movie,” Smith-Dewey said, “because I read an interview with Rowley where she professed to be the worst cookie seller in her Girl Scout troop, and it seems like John Kline takes all the cookies he can get from everyone!” he laughed.

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