Obama And Dems Celebrate 73rd Anniversary Of Social Security With Hit On McCain
Barack Obama and the DNC are seizing on Social Security's 73rd anniversary to launch a series of attacks on John McCain on the issue that try to link McCain with the original opponents of the program back in the 1930s (no, it's not a dig at McCain's age).
Obama uncorked a statement today hitting McCain for describing the program as an "absolute disgrace," adding: "The Bush privatization plan that Senator McCain now embraces would tell millions of elderly Americans that they're on their own, putting them at risk of falling into poverty...It's time to reclaim the idea that in this country, we're all in it together."
Meanwhile, the DNC has a new web vid featuring the grandson of Franklin Delano Roosevelt directly linking McCain to FDR's arch foes, who didn't want a government role in helping bail out the elderly, and saying that McCain "agrees with that old way of thinking" (Hmm, maybe it is an age dig?)...
The Dems are banking on the continued unpopularity of privatization to appeal to retirees, who could prove pivotal in some battleground states, and to offset whatever difficulties the younger Obama may have among elderly white voters. The DNC is also staging a series of Social Security events around the country, though absent any paid media it's unclear what sort of resonance this nostalgia play will have.
Late Update: In fairness, such events do have a real shot at getting local press around the country, which is their main goal.
Unfortunately, I think that this play will not resonate with most voters (particularly young voters).
For those of us under the age of 35 or 40, social security is not a top issue. I'm not saying that this is a good thing -- it's not. Social security is an important issue -- I just think that the war(s), the economy and the environment are examples of issues that are more prominent in the minds of younger generations.
However, I will commend the Obama campaign for continuing to take the fight to McCain, ON THE ISSUES.
http://thepajamapundit.com/
August 14, 2008 10:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Unfortunately, I think that this play will not resonate with most voters (particularly young voters).
It'll play well with older voters (John McCain's base).
It has the added benefit of reminding folks what the Democratic Party stands for - lifting up the poor, elderly, disabled, and widows and their chldren. And, that the R party was opposed to it back then and they still are today. Shame on them!!
August 14, 2008 11:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes. A corollary to the 50-state strategy is an all-demographic strategy.
Just because it doesn't target your demographic, doesn't mean it's not worthwhile.
August 14, 2008 2:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Unfortunately, I think that this play will not resonate with most voters (particularly young voters).
It's not intended to. Obama doesn't have a problem with young voters. But if he can swing a significant number of older voters in these states, McCain is toast.
Just as the Democratic primary was, this election is ultimately a generational battle.
August 14, 2008 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Of course, I'd add that older voters are probably not going to be watching a lot of web ads, so that will probably diminish the effectiveness.
They really should get a condensed social security ad out on TV in these states.
August 14, 2008 11:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
I disagree. We all have parents collecting or near collecting and know how important their independence is to them.
August 14, 2008 11:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Decent ad. Could have been better had Obama also noted the wealth of McCain and how he could afford to lose the $24 grand a year that he gets. Hit the "out of touch" with ordinary people meme.
May also be nice to have a chart of the Dow 500 since Bushy took charge and ask whether you really want that to be the fate of your retirement funds when you are ready to draw on them. Bonus points for noting that a privatized scheme would benefit the many campaign advisers in McCain's campaign from the financial and related lobbying firms.
August 14, 2008 10:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, btw, this is a web ad. You will primarily get those who are already supporters. Needs to be on tv.
August 14, 2008 10:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
agree, absent paid media hard to see what sort of effect it has
August 14, 2008 10:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
1. There are plenty of seniors on the web -- many of them very active, if the number of viral emails and grandkid pics I get from my aunts is any guide. There are also plenty email lists (AARP, various retirees groups) in which to plant this type of thing in the hopes of generating viral distribution.
2. Even more important in reaching older voters, though, is exactly the type of direct mail appeal the AFL-CIO is doing here. (Greg, wtf are you talking about "absent paid media"? -- they're doing both).
3. It's becoming clear that what's being generated from Chicago is a coordinated, cohesive strategy that focuses nationally on positive, feelgood appeals (e.g. the Olympic ads that stand in such contrast to McCain's super-downer liefests), while attacking McCain with issue-specific messaging that is specifically targeted (by region and/or constituency). The strategy seeks to coordinate all available resources (campaign, DNC, allies) and venues (paid, free, viral, word-of-mouth) while being flexible enough to tailor message to medium.
August 14, 2008 1:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
New Obama's Olympic ad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktlbQRQGi6Y&eurl
Another winner!
August 14, 2008 10:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Another winner!
Absolutely.
O's ad team is real good, and they look even better when you stack their output up against the fifth-graders who do McCain's ads.
August 14, 2008 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
From MSNBC's First Read:
Olympic ad watch: As good NBC-Universal employees, we continue to watch the Olympics (and lose sleep in the process, given those primetime 11:00 pm to midnight ET events). And while watching, we noticed that McCain seems to have changed his Olympic ad traffic -- replacing the “celebrity” hit on Obama with the more positive “Washington is broken” ad. While “Washington is broken” is all about McCain, it’s still somewhat dark. Meanwhile, the Obama campaign says it will unveil a new Olympics TV ad today that “highlights Obama’s “plan to put the middle class first.”
Looks like McCain's strategy is REALLY backfiring!
August 14, 2008 12:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
There have to be scores of websites dedicated to Sr Citizens and this would be a good place for the ad to run. (It is nice and slow and repetitive for the folks out there.)
Moreover, if my relatives are any indication, Srs seem to forward dozens of emails each day to their family, friends, friends of friends, friends of friends or friends, etc . . .
I suggest we all send this link to one sr we know, and the message will certainly get out there. They are more viral than we think.
August 14, 2008 10:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's blatantly racist, they link McCain to a bunch of "old white" politicians that he has nothing in common with but his race, and there was a picture of two black women at the end...obviously a "dog whistle" to the black racists out there who didn't realize McCain is white.
August 14, 2008 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
haha.
August 14, 2008 10:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
I figured it works for you guys...so I'll find the coded racism in all of Obama's commercials...It's not as hard as I thought it would be...
August 14, 2008 10:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
SFC, i understand, and at some level, respect what you are trying to do here, as a lot of people are being very jumpy about watching for racism in these ads. Are some of those conclusions reasonable? Not my place to say? Are some of them ridiculous? Absolutely? Are the some of the ads being accused of racism deliberate? Tough to say, I for one am not about to start running around like Chicken Little on the issue, but it is something to consider. However, your statement there is even less likely to fly than the most ridiculous claims some people have made about McCain/RNC ads. That said, you make a decent point, and the jumpiest of us Obama supporters need to calm down, and save the outrage for any ads that may come out that are worthy of it.
August 14, 2008 11:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's a great idea, MercerReader. I have a few in mind I plan to send it to.
August 14, 2008 10:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Stupid using the grandson of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Never heard of the guy. He is famous for being someones Grandson in the fake celebrity way that Oilbama and Paris Hilton are famous.
August 14, 2008 10:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
It got GW elected governor and president, didn't it?
August 14, 2008 11:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
You earned your $ 1 today.
August 14, 2008 11:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
He's been active in Democratic Party politics for years:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Roosevelt,_Jr._(lawyer)
August 14, 2008 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Proving that Dem BillC gets the majority of his arguments from his ass..
August 14, 2008 11:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Right. Because ya know - it's not like his grandfather did anything noteworthy.
August 14, 2008 11:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
They should also add the "fact" that McCain's social security number is 000-00-0003. /snark
August 14, 2008 11:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
The DNC needs to air this on TV
August 14, 2008 11:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Totally agree. Edit it down for time and then run it every 5 minutes in FL from now until the election.
August 14, 2008 12:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now they are on the right track! Instead of responding to attacks about "celebrity" and nonsense issues, Obama needs to hit McCain with some cruel facts about his positions on issues that are important to most of America. Social Security is only one of those issues.
August 14, 2008 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
The add needs to begin with McCain stating that Social Security is a disgrace, and keep interjecting that between other sentences. Play the hell out of it during the Olympics.
August 14, 2008 12:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, this one was a scorcher! Audio from the Social Security ad is up.
August 14, 2008 2:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Considering the sad state of our economy and the market crashes of recent months, can anyone imagine what the country would be like today if Bush and McCain and the republican party had gotten their way in privatizing Social Security? Think Katrina x 50.
August 14, 2008 3:21 PM | Reply | Permalink