Slate's Bizbox
politics: Who's winning, who's losing, and why.

It's 3 A.M. What's Your Ring Tone?New from Slate: The Hillary laugh and more political sound bites for your phone.


Updated Friday, May 9, 2008, at 5:54 PM ET
Illustration by Robert Neubecker. Click image to expand.

Already got a dozen Barack Obama headbands? Worn out your "Hot for Hillary" T-shirt? It's time for a new campaign accessory: Slate's political ring tones. Get one of these clips, and you'll hear John McCain say, "My friends," every time you get a call. Or if you're in a less friendly mood, you can switch to the "Shame on you, Barack Obama!" ring tone.

To get a ring tone, send a text message with one of the order codes listed below to the number 98999. For the Hillary laugh, for example, text SLATE LAUGH to the number 98999. We'll send the ring tone to your phone as a text message that includes a downloadable link. For more detailed instructions, click here. Or if you just want to listen to the clips on your computer, click one of the embedded players below or use the "Download MP3" links to save to your hard drive.

Slate's political ring tones are free of charge, though standard text-messaging rates may apply. Please see our terms and conditions for more details.

Ring tones are available only for AT&T, Cellular One, T-Mobile, and Sprint. (Downloading by Verizon customers is currently unsupported.) In order to download ring tones, you must have text-messaging and data-download services enabled on your mobile phone. If you're not certain whether your phone is SMS-enabled or Internet-enabled, please check with your wireless carrier. Unfortunately, there's too much variation among phones to describe the download and installation process for each handset. Please don't blame us if you can't get your ring tone to work—blame the wireless carriers for failing to come up with a simple, common procedure to do this sort of thing. Good luck, because we think the payoff is worth the minor hassle. (And a reminder that if you need more detailed instructions, click here.)

THUMBNAIL OF WRIGHT DAMNING



The Rev. Wright proclaims, "God damn America!"
Order code: SLATE WRIGHT
.........Download MP3 (100KB)

THUMBNAIL OF CLINTON LAUGHING



The Hillary laugh.
Order code: SLATE LAUGH
...........Download MP3 (107KB)

THUMBNAIL OF MCCAIN GESTICULATING



John McCain calls a young questioner a "little jerk."
Order code: SLATE JERK
...........Download MP3 (58KB)

THUMBNAIL OF OBAMA AT VICTORY PARTY



Barack Obama shouts, "Yes we can!"
Order code: SLATE YES
...........Download now (54KB)

THUMBNAIL OF CLINTON GIVING SPEECH



Hillary Clinton says, "Shame on you, Barack Obama!"
Order code: SLATE SHAME
...........Download MP3 (69KB)

THUMBNAIL OF MCCAIN AT VICTORY PARTY



The John McCain "my friends" compilation.
Order code: SLATE FRIEND
...........Download MP3 (175KB)

Print This ArticlePRINTDiscuss this in The FrayDISCUSSEmail to a FriendE-MAIL
Share on FacebookPost to MySpace!Share with MixxDigg ThisShare with RedditShare with del.icio.usShare with FurlShare with Ma.gnolia.comShare with SphereShare with Stumble Upon
Illustration by Robert Neubecker. Photograph of Hillary Clinton laughing by Sloan Breeden/Getty Images. Photograph of John McCain winking by Carl de Souza/AFP/Getty Images. Photograph of Barack Obama by Chris Hondros/Getty Images. Lower photograph of Clinton by Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images. Lower photograph of McCain by Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images. Photograph of Jeremiah Wright by Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images.
Join the Fray: our reader discussion forum
What did you think of this article?
POST A MESSAGE | READ MESSAGES