Congressional candidates in the 6th take part in the viral campaign to strike out ALS — a movement that has raised over $40 million to combat the disease so far.
Rep. Mike Coffman goes first, appearing in what looks like an abandoned parking lot in front of two obedient staffers holding a “Mike Coffman for Congress” banner. He promises to donate $1 for every “like” the video gets, then braces himself with tense shoulders and a slight grimace for just a beat too long before getting drenched by cooler full of ice water. “In the spirit of forming a united front to combat this terrible disease,” Coffman says, soaking wet, “I nominate my opponent Andrew Romanoff. You have 24 hours to complete the challenge or donate $100 to the ALS Association.”
In the early days of this philanthropic internet meme, the challenge was framed as an either/or: either dump a bucket of ice water on your head or donate money to support ALS research. Since this construction was criticized by many as counterproductive, the challenge has evolved into a both/and: both dump a bucket of ice water on your head and donate money to support ALS research.
Andrew Romanoff went with the both/and version of the challenge. In a YouTube video uploaded yesterday, Romanoff walks through his campaign office and out onto the sidewalk in a series of super fancy panning and tracking shots. He nominates Vice Chancellor Lilly Marks and Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan before his obedient staffers dump what looks like more than the requisite gallon of water on his head. Romanoff walks off screen laughing.
Meanwhile, Colorado and the rest of the Southwest is in its fourteenth year of drought.
