Truth, lies and Obama / Contending Israeli parties kick off TV campaigns

Contending political parties Tuesday evening launched their televised election campaigns, presenting the best of advertising companies and Israel's most influential strategic political advisors.

The broadcasts, once an integral part of the election process, have lost a significant number of viewers over the years. Their assessed rating is quite low and it can be assumed that not many viewers will tune in on Tuesday to see political propaganda at its finest.

Israel's growing number of television channels over the years is said to be one of the leading causes for the broadcasts' low ratings, but increasing public apathy and lack of interest in politics may also account for the notable change.

Kadima's ads were the first to be broadcast, emphasizing that party chairwoman Tzipi Livni did not give in to corruption after elected to lead the party in September 2008, and preferred to go to elections rather than establish a broad coalition with religious party Shas.

The broadcast went on to show United States President Barack Obama and Livni sitting together on a joint tour, their heads bowed in discussion.

The Labor Party presented its chairman, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, as an authentic and credible leader, and someone who tells the public the truth.

The Likud party worked a similar idea, depicting its chairman, opposition leader MK Benjamin Netanyahu as someone who is not afraid to face the truth, "even when it's not popular."

It seems Labor and Likud chairmen will have to determine which of the two tells the public more truths, and which truths are less popular.