This version doesn’t pack the punch that the original did.  The original version (below) aired only once in 1964 and is arguably one of the first pieces of paid media that received massive earned media (created purely to start a conversation in the news that carries on for free).  We live in a world now where far, far too many of the political ads that are put out are done purely to create buzz in the echo chamber of the cable news networks.  For those under 50, not a political pundit or student of political advertising, the daisy ad itself is probably not well enough known now to immediately evoke a reaction.  The effort with this ad is clearly to get people like Chris Matthews riled up and talking about it on air.  The conversation inevitably involves talk of both Guantanamo and nuclear weapons (the original focus of the ad)–a strong and scary image when thinking about terrorism.

All of that said, I think the ad is too disjointed to be much more than laughable.  The splicing of footage from today (color) with the nearly 50 year old footage of a girl picking a daisy is visually disjointed.  Further, the new voiceover  is clearly an adult woman’s voice and a phrase that has no context with the scene.  Rather than being scary, which the original was, this ad is just confusing for someone who doesn’t get the reference, and overdone for anyone who does.

Sadly, however, artistic merit and how it will be received by the public probably won’t be factored into whether or not Chris Matthew or Bill O’Reilly’s decide to play it endlessly.

All of that said, Steele went way beyond a lack of empathy on Saturday when argued that same sex marriages shouldn’t be legalized because it would cost small business.

Republicans can reach a broader base by recasting gay marriage as an issue that could dent pocketbooks as small businesses spend more on health care and other benefits, GOP Chairman Michael Steele said Saturday.

Steele said that was just an example of how the party can retool its message to appeal to young voters and minorities without sacrificing core conservative principles. Steele said he used the argument weeks ago while chatting on a flight with a college student who described herself as fiscally conservative but socially liberal on issues like gay marriage.

Steele, who is proven time and again that he is beyond out of touch, clearly has no sense of what it means to be “socially liberal.”  This is about equality and fundamental fairness.  People who support gay marriage don’t suddenly sacrifice their sense of fairness and equality because it has implications.  People who support equality believe that the relationships between two people of the same sex should be valued as much as heterosexual couples.

Finally, if he’d get on the band wagon for health care reform, rather than trying to be an obstructionist, perhaps health care coverage would be more affordable and those small businesses could handle the cost of covering gay couples.  Looks like signing on to the full Democratic agenda could solve all of Steele’s problems.

“David Axelrod is here.  David and I have been together for a long time.  I can still remember…I tear up a little bit when I think back to the day I called Axe so many years ago and said, ‘we can do wonderful things together,’ and he said the same thing that partners all across America are saying to each other right now.  ‘Let’s go to Iowa and make it official.’”

I also love the dig at Michael Steele and the Clinton jokes.  Well played.

And oh yeah, “friggin’” is real classy.  Nice.

SLIWA: Because he is — when guys look at him and young women look at him — they say oh, that’s the slumdog millionaire, governor. So, give me some slum love.

STEELE: I love it. (inaudible) … some slum love out to my buddy. Gov. Bobby Jindal is doing a friggin’ awesome job in his state. He’s really turned around on some core principles — like hey, government ought not be corrupt. The good stuff … the easy stuff.

Ben Smith has the rest of the interview and audio.