Giffords’ Secret Message

I was more than a little annoyed at Gabby’s failure to put the word "Democrat" anywhere on her signage during the primary. But now that has passed, I can appreciate the strategy of giving a bi-partisan appearance during the general in a Republican plurality district and not having to switch all the signage. However, I think I have discovered a clever subliminal message in Giffords’ signage.

I was pretty unimpressed when I first saw these signs. In fact, I was struck by the similarity to Mike Hellon’s design.

The big difference being his rather boring san-serif font and the use of his party’s name. But the underlying similarity is striking, if not terribly surprising.

However, it wasn’t until I put a Giffords sticker on my truck that I began to notice a subtle but powerful hidden message in Gifffords’ signage.

The effect is certainly more pronounced in the bumpers, but I whipped out the ol’ 12 inch and sure enough, it’s there in both the bumpers and the signs.

Have you spotted it yet? The blue field (generally a color used to represent Democratic control) is slightly larger than the red field (generally a color used to represent Republican control). Giffords’ signage subtly implies a new Democratic majority. The U.S. Congress is currently controlled by the GOP, and is thus on a red field. Giffords is Democrat, and her election will contribute to a new Democratic majority, represented by the slightly larger area of the blue field.

You are probably thinking that the effect is so subtle that even the designers didn’t notice. In fact, you’re probably thinking, "Bullshit!" You may be right. After all the blue field is larger on Hellon’s signs, too. But in the end, maybe that’s the reason why his campaign never caught on, even though he was likely the most viable Republican for the general electorate of CD 8. His signage turned off core Republicans at a subliminal level.

All bullshit aside, let’s hope that the subliminal effect of Giffords’ signage works some mojo in the general. But they can’t do their psychic judo unless they’re out there. So get those Giffords stickers on your vehicles, and those Giffords signs on your lawns, and let’s win one for the Giffer. ::Groan::

Sorry.