2008 FactCheck Awards

Summary
Politics is bizarre. Nobody knows that better than we do. But sometimes the real twisted weirdness is subtle and complicated, taking days of research and interviews to tease out – and other times it's right on the surface, in the form of a hippie in a suit and tie or a close-up shot of dog feces. For those readers who've stuck with us through a lot of in-depth reporting on complex issues, we offer these just-for-fun awards for some of the most entertaining, most egregious, most off-the-wall or just plain grossest ads this election cycle. (Article continued below...)

Analysis
Best Actor
Winner: Chuck Norris
Our FactCheck Wire may be faster than the speed of spin, but it's not faster than a roundhouse kick to the face from Chuck Norris. And while election ads may have come fast and furious, none delivered the same punch as those starring Chuck Norris. During the Republican primaries, Gov. Mike Huckabee and Norris provided an instant classic with the duo plugging each other's resumes. Huckabee lifted gems from the venerable Chuck Norris Facts Web site, such as: "There is no chin behind Chuck Norris' beard. There is only another fist." Norris recited Huckabee talking points about being a conservative and gun enthusiast.And as a late election season surprise, Norris put in a new starring role in a National Rifle Association ad advocating for gun rights. We foundfault with earlier NRA pieces, but we're not quibbling this time. Whatever you say, Mr. Norris.

Best Actress
Winner: Paris Hilton
The errant heiress made a surprising number of appearances in campaign ads this season. First, there was John McCain's well-known "Celebrity" ad, which likened Obama to Hilton and Britney Spears. That prompted this announcement of candidacy from Hilton, and another spot in which she seeks fake presidential advice from consummate fake president Martin Sheen – both of which are funnier than most real ads we've seen. Then in September, Hilton reappeared in an ad for Nick Leibham, running to represent California's 50th congressional district. "What do Paris Hilton and [opponent] Brian Bilbray have in common?" the ad asks. "Well, they both do nothing." Aw, lay off, Nick. Paris only found out she was running a few months ago – she hasn't had time to be an agent of change.

Least Convincing Hippie
Winner: Freedom's Watch
The freewheeling soul introducing us to the "Department of Peace" in this ad from Freedom's Watch hasn't been spending much time in his suspiciously smoky van—he's not even relaxed enough to take off his blazer and tie. We suspect that ponytail's really a wig, too. Groovy!

Rep. Mark Udall, who is running for Senate in Colorado, did support a 2003 bill establishing a Cabinet-level Department of Peace, proposed by Rep. Dennis Kucinich. In fact, he cosponsored the bill at one time, though he withdrew that support in March 2003. The department was described as focusing on disarmament, human rights, nonviolent conflict resolution strategies, and education on communication and peaceful intervention. Crystals and transcendental meditation were not mentioned.

Your 2:51 of Zen
Winner: Mike Gravel
If you can't make it through this ad (or whatever it is), we'll sum it up for you: From 0:00 to 1:10, Mike Gravel stands on a lake shore and stares into the camera. At 1:11 he turns around. At 1:21 he picks up a rock, and at 1:26 he heaves it into the lake. Then he walks away. For another minute and 25 seconds.

To get the full effect, you must stare deeply into Mike Gravel's eyes for at least the first minute. At that point you will either achieve enlightenment or start channeling Gravel's support for the FairTax.

Brobdingnagian Nightmare Award
Winner: Jim Slattery
Whiz kid Jim Slattery is running for Senate in Kansas, where he is looking out for number one with this ad condemning opponent Pat Roberts for failing to protect constituents from high gasoline prices. If you happen to like video of besuited man-mountains unleashing suspicious yellow liquid on tiny voters, well, you're in luck. It's enough to make you flush with embarrassment. But at the end, it turns out just to be gasoline. Aren't you relieved?

The ad could use a wee bit more context, though. When Slattery says that Roberts "voted to repeal laws that have protected Kansans since the Great Depression," he's referring to Roberts' vote in favor of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which allowed mergers between commercial banks, investment banks and insurance companies. The act has taken some heat for the current financial crisis, but as we've written, that stale claim is not really justified. And implying that it's to blame for high gas prices is just drippy.