Visigoths Sacking Washington

Visigoths sacked the great capital of Rome on 24 August 410 A.D. because of high taxes, corruption, devaluation of the currency and the Romans generally looking down on them, and now they are sieging Washington:

It appears the Capital One is using the commercial as a platform:  while the Visigoth commericals have entertained viewers in-between television shows, this "veil" of entertainment may be just enough to hide a more aggressive message:  the two people seated behind the Visigoth addressing the audience prompts speculation about the President and current Minority leader.  Having a very specific tribe (the Visigoths) with a very specific history makes a very specific message, especially in these heated debates regarding the direction the country is headed, and I believe that Capital One knows exactly what they are doing.
There are three "agendas" hidden within this commercial that makes it a revolutionary keg of dynamite for disenfranchised Americans.

Visigoths sacking Rome . . . 

First, "No new axes!"  Of course, this is a play on the tired, old campaign promise of both parties, "No new taxes," however, "axes," suggests the phrase, "an axe to grind," so the phrase translates from Visigoth into English:  "Don't give us anymore axes to grind with Washington or we will grind them!"

The man who set the standard of leadership for the
United States, President George Washington.
Painting by Gilbert Stuart, 1797.

Secondly, the young boy Visigoth with the cherry tree and his axe summons up the great American legend of our first President George Washington:  "George," said his father, "do you know who killed that beautiful little cherry tree yonder in the garden? " This was a tough question; and George staggered under it for a moment; but quickly recovered himself: and looking at his father, with the sweet face of youth brightened with the inexpressible charm of all-conquering truth, he bravely cried out, "I can't tell a lie, Pa; you know I can't tell a lie. I did cut it with my hatchet." "Run to my arms, you dearest boy," cried his father in transports, "run to my arms; glad am I, George, that you killed my tree; for you have paid me for it a thousand fold. Such an act of heroism in my son is more worth than a thousand trees, though blossomed with silver, and their fruits of purest gold."

How many press conferences does it take to
finally get the truth out of a career politician?

By bringing up the legend of Washington, Capital One is also bringing up the golden standard of leadership that once existed in this country.  By juxtaposing the absurdity of the young boy blaming a goat to the first President of the United States and "leaders" in Congress, demonstrates that "passing the blame" onto "scapegoats" is not only a symptom but a consequence of the crisis in leadership facing the country.  For the American people, it is tempting to feel compared to a goat because "goats will eat anything" and our leaders look at us as goats who will eat any story they feed us.  

The cartoon that gave Democrats their identity:  "The Modern Balaam and His Ass"
was about President Jackson whom a political opponent referred to as "Jackass"
instead of "Jackson"; true to Jackson, he liked it and the jackass has forever
been associated with the political party. 

Thirdly, Capital One gives us a very, very literal translation of what has always represented the Democrats and how they are thought of today:  the jackass.  "So, you're a Democrat?" It might be a question in Visigoth, but in English this translates as "You are a Democrat."  By visually reminding the viewer of the traiditonal symbol of the Democratic Party, Capital One is aligining the Party to those characteristics and traits associated with that animal (there isn't an elephant in the commerical anywhere, is there?).
But the most important part of this commercial has been their recurring question that, in this context, takes on an entirely different meaning:  "What's in your wallet?"
What is in you wallet?
Like it or not, Americans define ourselves by what's in our wallets:  while some of our ancestors came over seeking religious freedom, that quickly changed into economic prosperity (please see blog below on American Gothic, American Theology: Grant Wood).  Well, what is in your wallet, since the new administration took over?  An unemployment check?  Maxed out credit cards from buying groceries and paying bills?  Or maybe there's just not as much in there as there was a couple of years ago. Or maybe you're one of the fat cats from Wall Street that made a fortune in bail out funds after running the stock market into the ground?
Well, what's in your wallet?