Deconstructing That Lynn Jenkins Video

So yesterday we linked to a post on Kansas Watch, a blog run by political savant Todd Epp, about Kansas congressional candidate Lynn Jenkins. Lynn is currently the state treasurer of Kansas (or, as she pronounces it, “tray-zher”) and is running as some sort of fanatical tax-hater – provided you ignore the fact that taxes currently pay her salary. Todd made a joke about her not wearing pearls, and we L’edOL at the video he posted. Later, though, we took a second look. And now we have to ask: what the hell is going on in this video?

Maybe this is all a moot point since none of us live in the second district, but let’s examine it anyway. We’re having problems embedding this video, so watch it over on Todd’s site and then come back (please).

First, what’s with the giant screen? We have Lynn talking to us outside of a barn or something, but we also have this huge projection screen displaying graphics and stuff. Then at the end it splits into some bizarre, Blade Runner-ish dichotomy where the projected Lynn says “I’m Lynn Jenkins” and the real/miniature Lynn says “and I approve this message.” Stop messing with our heads, Giant Lynn Jenkins!

Second, what’s with the no-tax pledge obsession? You see this in all of Lynn’s commercials: she signs a some pithy pledge to Americans For Tax Reform (maybe not the group you want to be associated with these days, Lynn) and boasts that she’ll never ever raise taxes. You know, sometimes we honestly wonder if conservatives understand anything. Who does Lynn think financed the roads she drives on? Or who probably provides assistance and subsidies to that farm where she’s filming? Lynn, the problem isn’t that taxes are too high; the problem is that our spending choices are unwise (see, e.g., “Iraq War, the”).

Third, the whole CPA thing may have helped you when you were State Tray-zher, but it probably won’t come in handy in DC. What we need in Washington are people who will carefully consider complicated, nuanced proposals with reason and fair judgment. What we don’t need in Washington are anti-tax zealots who will simply denounce the government as evil in all respects — thus solving no problems and proposing no ideas.

So the message from Lynn, we guess, is this: never support taxes, or my giant televised counterpart will destroy you. And apparently coming from a small town farm teaches you some kind of invaluable lesson that we latte liberals will never understand.