Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Mark Neumann, Common Man

If you've seen the latest Neumann TV ad you probably think his campaign couldn't possibly produce anything more lame or contrived.

You would be wrong.

Neumann's new documentary,"A Common Man" makes the Stepford Wife commercial staged in a spotless barn with red,white, and blue bunting look authentic by comparison.

The nearly seven minute documentary begins with the self described global explorer and investigative journalist, Jon Helminiak, pulling his white SUV into the driveway of Neumann's pillared mansion on Moose Lake.

Once inside the Neumann's kitchen, Helminiak asks Mark and Sue Neumann if it would be OK if they didn't talk business or politics for the day.

The documentary then proceeds to lay out Neumann's resume from his college graduation through his tenure in the U.S. Congress. Peppered in between the biographical narrative are heartwarming scenes of Mark and Sue fishing in their backyard, playing with the family dog, and taking their expensive pontoon boat out for a spin. Nothing screams common man like a mansion on the lake. The gold Rolex watch on Neumann's wrist is nice touch too.

While on the boat ride, we are again treated to the story of the Neumann family trip to Washington, D.C. The trip that changed the Neumann's lives forever.

Of course no common man story would be complete without a close up of antlers from the deer Neumann and his sons have killed over the years. I must say they really make the two story foyer.