In Two-Minute Ad, Obama Directly Addresses Voters About The Economy
The Obama campaign goes up with a two-minute ad in which Obama directly addresses the camera as he lays out his plans to rescue the economy:
The Obama campaign seemed caught off-guard by McCain's rather dramatic effort to transform himself into the race's real change agent. But this new spot, coming after days of ratcheted-up attacks on McCain over the economy, suggests that Team Obama is determined not to get outflanked by McCain's newfound effort amid the financial crisis to remake himself as a fire-breathing populist who will take on Wall Street.
The long spot, which doesn't mention McCain, gives Obama a chance to accomplish a bunch of things at once. He alludes to today's financial turmoil, which Dems hope will transform the political environment to ensure that the economy decides the election, while also pointing out that he'd been addressing people's economic concerns far before the real crisis started.
He lays out his plan with more specificity than you ordinarily get in an ad. He gives his call for an economic fix a patriotic cast: "We're Americans. We've met tough challenges before." And, in an effort to use the crisis to rise above the current political battles that have damaged him, he returns to his theme of new, post-partisan politics: "I approved this message because bitter, partisan fights and outworn ideas of the left and the right won't solve the problems we face today."
Full script of the ad, which will air in battleground states around the country, after the jump.
In the past few weeks, Wall Street's been rocked as banks closed and markets tumble. But for many of you -- the people I've met in town halls, backyards and diners across America -- our troubled economy isn't news. 600,000 Americans have lost their jobs since January. Paychecks are flat and home values are falling. It's hard to pay for gas and groceries and if you put it on a credit card they've probably raised your rates. You're paying more than ever for health insurance that covers less and less.This isn't just a string of bad luck. The truth is that while you've been living up to your responsibilities Washington has not. That's why we need change. Real change. This is no ordinary time and it shouldn't be an ordinary election. But much of this campaign has been consumed by petty attacks and distractions that have nothing to do with you or how we get America back on track.
Here's what I believe we need to do. Reform our tax system to give a $1,000 tax break to the middle class instead of showering more on oil companies and corporations that outsource our jobs. End the "anything goes" culture on Wall Street with real regulation that protects your investments and pensions.
Fast track a plan for energy 'made-in-America' that will free us from our dependence on mid-east oil in 10 years and put millions of Americans to work. Crack down on lobbyists -- once and for all -- so their back-room deal-making no longer drowns out the voices of the middle class and undermines our common interests as Americans. And yes, bring a responsible end to this war in Iraq so we stop spending billions each month rebuilding their country when we should be rebuilding ours.
Doing these things won't be easy. But we're Americans. We've met tough challenges before. And we can again.
I'm Barack Obama. I hope you'll read my economic plan. I approved this message because bitter, partisan fights and outworn ideas of the left and the right won't solve the problems we face today. But a new spirit of unity and shared responsibility will.
I like it other than the weird background....
September 17, 2008 7:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
what's weird about it? it's a hotel room, i think. it's like he put down whatever he was doing and just hit up the camera right there.
i like it ... it sort of subconsciously gives the impression that he's ALWAYS thinking about this stuff, that's he's "on it," whether he's on the stump, at invesco field, or taking a break in his hotel room ... that he doesn't have an "off" switch. of course, i'm biased and that's probably reading way too much into it.
September 17, 2008 8:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
I like the background. It has a kitchen-table-esque type appeal to it.
September 17, 2008 9:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
The background is innocuous.
September 17, 2008 10:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
As someone who has slammed Obama's ads repeatedly, I have to say he's got it almost exactly right this time.
The tone, the tenor, the connecting to everyday troubles, it's exactly what he needs at the right time.
I hope many people see this.
http://strategy08.wordpress.com
September 17, 2008 7:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
This would be a great ad for selling to independents; but I wonder how many *actual* undecided voters there are out there. . .
I hope enough.
September 17, 2008 11:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know how effective well thought out, smart, informative ads are. Mudslinging and name calling seem to be more effective and do a much better job of getting the blathering blowhards of bias talking.
I see two things going on here: 1) Obama is overestimating the intelligence of the US voters 2) McCain is underestimating the intelligence of the US voter.
And at 2 minutes long how many places can Obama afford to air it? Usually a 30 second ad gets played by the media over and over, but I've been watching Morning Joe and they've talked about this ad, but only showed portions of it.
September 17, 2008 7:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
at 2 minutes long how many places can Obama afford to air it?
Well, one way to help him get the ad out would be for YOU to donate to his campaign.
September 17, 2008 8:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ads are now spread far wider then the places they are pinned to be shown. Aside from the Internet you get extra play on the 24 cable news shows. We are heading into the final stretch. Now is the time to do what has to be done. If the campaign needs extra money it can be hustled up. At this point there is no holding back. Also, you cannot always be on blast. Many people are in shock right now. Sometimes when people are in shock the listen to a voice that will assuage their pain. Commercials should be delivered like pitches, some fast, some slow and some delivered with a curve.
September 17, 2008 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Generally speaking, the longer an ad is, the more effective it is.
And talking head ads are usually most effective (though agencies hate them b/c they don't get credit for creatvity).
They did a bunch of these in Iowa, where ad time is cheap.
Don't know how often you could run it in the NoVA suburbs, but you could hammer the s*** out of it in Dayton, Richmond, Reno, Albuquerque, Lima, OH, Grand Junction, CO and some other small cheaper markets.
September 17, 2008 9:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
I hear you. I think he needs to run a short ad that says this: I promise tax cuts for 95% of Americans. Health Care for all. No income taxes on seniors that make less than $50,000. Just those three sentences. Repeatedly. That's what people need to hear and aren't hearing from his campaign.
September 17, 2008 11:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
This ad is an interesting marketing device. This isn't about communicating Obama's plan, as he could have gotten the same points across in a minute or less using a standard campaign ad with screen text.
No, there is a simple, but subtle message here. To wit: "Obama is serious about the economy." THAT is what this ad is trying to embed in the voter's subconscious.
It may work. The ad stands out as unique: no screen text, no music, no gravely voice, and at 2 minutes much longer than your typical ad. Being unique, it will generate media buzz.
Futhermore, your average TV view using TIVO to fast forward through ads is likely to stop and look at this one because it has Obama's head on screen for a long time -- unique. And even if he/she doesn't actually listen to it all, the impression -- "Obama just spent two minutes talking about economic solutions" -- will last.
Couple this ad with all that "McCain is out of touch" buzz going on now this could be a real winner.
September 17, 2008 7:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
I heartily agree with this take. This is a case where the medium is really the message.
The length and relative wonkiness of the ad are themselves the point. Whether viewers follow the details of O's plan or not, the gesture itself cements his claim to be the kind of grownup you want to have managing the economy. It's a great move to make at a moment of crisis.
September 17, 2008 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama has been plenty specific about his plans for the economy, not only in this ad but in his speeches. Here's what I think his main problem is -- he lists his policies in a laundry list fashion. All he needs to do to convey this better is signpost where he's going and recap when he's done. I.e., "I want to share with you five ideas I have to fix the economy..." 1,2,3,4,5. Brief hit on each of those; a phrase is better than a sentence. Then go through them more substantively (which is what he does now). Then, at the end, hit them again. 1,2,3,4,5. It's not that he's not laying out his plan. He's just not distilling it down and repeating it enough for it to sink in. Ideally in the ad, I'd like to see a small graphic at the bottom displaying each numbered point. It's like what your high school english teacher taught you: tell em what you're gonna tell em, tell em, tell em whatcha told em.
September 17, 2008 10:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
I've found for my undecided friends, that the "laundry list" format actually works the best. Most of them don't want to spend a great deal of time debating the in-and-outs of each candidates background and plans. They also don't pay much attention to lengthy emails full of generalities and rhetoric--words like "change," "reform," "maverick" just don't mean that much to them. In exasperation, I emailed out a link to CNN money's article "What they'll do to your tax bill." It shows both candidate's tax plans in a simple list that is categorized by income level. I actually received overwhelming responses from this simple link, rather than fancy, bedazzled arguments.
September 17, 2008 1:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
From:
Head of State
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/09/mccain-invents-fire-wheel.html
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
McCain Invents Fire, The Wheel
From ABC News:
This morning McCain domestic policy adviser Douglas Holz-Eakin was asked what Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., could point to from his work on the Senate Commerce Committee that would prove to the American people that he has experience on technology issues.
"He did this," Holz-Eakin said, holding up his BlackBerry. "Telecommunications in the United States, the premiere innovation in the past 15 years comes right through the Commerce Committee. So you're looking at the miracle that John McCain helped create. And that's what he did."...
Even more remarkably, he did this using only a piece of flint and crude stone tools.
The first message he sent: "Watson. The fundamentals of the economy are strong."
Cite:
Head of State
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/09/mccain-invents-fire-wheel.html
September 17, 2008 8:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
No need to be spamming the Cafe with entire excerpts from your blog. Bad form, as others have said.
A better way to go: just put your URL at the bottom of all your Cafe comments... and make your comments interesting.
September 17, 2008 8:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
can we please moderate this spammer already?
September 17, 2008 9:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
The ad Barack should have used
Is his direct hit at McCain in his speech he made yesterday in Colorodo wherein he said we do not need another 911 Commission, we know how we got here and what we need is Leadership!
That is the ad we need.
September 17, 2008 8:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not bad. I agree with Monument that this more about Obama coming across as a "leader" who is willing to sit down with his subjects and tell them how he plans to get us out of this mess. Will it be effective? I'm not sure. The knock on Obama is that he's full of it and will say anything, so I don't see how this helps convince undecided voters.
Here's what I'd like to see - an ad with a few simple graphs and charts. Perot style. This has the effect of showing viewers that Obama is not only serious, but he knows his numbers. Additionally, it's a great way to transmit information. That way Obama, or someone, can say, LOOK! THIS is how many foreclosures there were in 2000. THIS is how many there are now. THIS was the DJIA in 2000. This is the DJIA now. THIS was the unemployment rate in 2000. THIS is the unemployment rate now. Changes in median income. Changes in gas prices. Changes in the federal deficit.
I know Perot was hokey, but why do you think he got 20% of the vote? The charts, man, the charts! The charts work!
September 17, 2008 8:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Charts don't always work, but somehow I think Obama's team would be smart enough to hire someone who had studied Edward Tufte's work.
On a tangent - the "Judgement" video comparing Bush's popularity ratings to McCain's record voting in concurrence with Bush, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRpIfTDHG2U is an example of really good presentation of data using a graph - quite dramatic, following the leading edge of graph as it's being drawn rather than presenting a static image. (It reminds me of the recurring motif in The Unforseen, used also to a very powerful effect in that documentary.)
So the charts don't have to be the hokey posters on an easel that Perot used (and anyway he owns that brand); a lot of info can be presented concisely but in a compelling and memorable way with a well-thought graphical presentation.
September 17, 2008 9:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
I wish thoughful clear logical discourse could actually make a positive difference in the election... He're to hoping it will!
September 17, 2008 8:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
*ahem* "here's"
September 17, 2008 8:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, and also, Obama has a problem if he can't get his message his across in 30 seconds or a minute. He did the 2 minute ad thing in Ohio before the primary there and it didn't do a lick of good.
I'm hoping this ad has the effect that Monument thinks it will - showing Obama exuding confidence on the economy - but at some point there needs to be a punchy contrast ad.
September 17, 2008 8:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not sure about that. Ohio was closer than it appeared at first glance and there was a "Limbaugh-for-Hillary" factor. The longer ad got some buzz -- relatives mentioned how unusual it had been. Don't know if it changed their vote, but at least it did get their attention in a favorable way.
September 17, 2008 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama's got enough cash that he can do these and the 30-second quick hits. Media saturation will increase message absorption.
September 17, 2008 8:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
eerie. yesterday morning, i was telling a friend that i thought obama should do a series of one minute commercials just like this one -- just him, talking to americans -- with a different issue every week. the economy, healthcare, foreign policy, etc. run each one for a week, like a mini-series.
September 17, 2008 8:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
mccain just came out with an ad sayins that obama has offered no solutions...then he says HE will fight for them, when obama says we will fight together. The message is clear, McCain will fight for us while Obama offers the message that we will fight together...nice contrast
September 17, 2008 8:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is not just another ad. This is a message of reassurance and leadership for difficult times. Some will see this as a gamble, but trust me, it's not. Obama knows exactly what he's doing here:
1. Presenting himself as someone who can be in control of this situation.
2. Giving away the basics of what "Real Change" is.
3. Treating people like grown ups, not like cattle.
This ad maybe is part of a bigger offensive that started with the speech on Colorado. The point is that Obama has the initiative now and he must hold it until election day. The narrative it's changing.
PD: Yes, 2 minute ads are expensive, but he has now 77 million available and more on the way. He can afford it.
September 17, 2008 8:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good points.
A lot of critiques of Obama's ad seem to come from the pov of this being the only ad that Obama offers. In reality, it is one of many that people will see. Given that most of them have been mostly against McCain (at least here in Indiana), this one is about why you should vote FOR Obama.
No one ad will win this election.
September 17, 2008 8:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
From a purely visceral point of view the two best things about this ad:
1) It is steady and reassuring.
2) His tone of voice is adult-to-adult, not lecturing ( parent to child), and not whining (child to parent)
September 17, 2008 11:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
I hate it. Hate it. Still with the "post-partisan" bullshit. [gag] And the "policy prescriptions" are, let's face it, pure hot air.
Stop pussyfooting around and make the Republicans own Big Shitpile. Jesus. This isn't rocket science, Barack. And by the way exactly what are those "outworn ideas of the left"? Enforcing regulation of the financial industry, perhaps?
Stop running against your own fucking party, dude. I thought lately you'd finally gotten it, but apparently not.
September 17, 2008 8:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
The undecideds (as evidenced by the fact they are undecideds at this point) don't loathe the Republicans as much you do. This isn't about firing up the base, but gaining the trust of the undecideds. Calling someone else a shitpile ain't going to do it.
September 17, 2008 8:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's exactly why they need to be told, over and over in simple words, that the Republicans own this mess.
September 17, 2008 8:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Do you really think that after the last eight years hasn't turned them fully against anything remotely resembling the GOP, that some 30 second ad that Obama does would do the trick?
I just think that there is some dreaming of the magic ad that make all the scales drop from these undecideds' eyes. It's going to take the rest of the election and many kinds of ads and speeches (along with the ground game) to pull these people over to Obama's side.
September 17, 2008 8:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
If you even never plan to start explicitly tying the Republicans to their diasters, then that's exactly what happens- low-information "swing" voters won't get it.
I supported Obama in the primaries mainly because I thought he understood the importance of rebuilding the Democratic Party (which the Clinton faction had treated merely as their personal fiefdom). Without significant realignment, President Obama's not even going to be able to clean up the mess successfully, let alone actually accomplish anything. And you don't get there with bullshit like "outworn ideas of the left and right"- since when has anything from the "left" come even close to being tried?
September 17, 2008 9:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
They've been hitting McCain with "four more years" and the "failed Bush policies" since before he wrapped up the nomination. I think they have started.
Right or wrong, McCain has been able to separate himself from Bush and the GOP to a large degree. Obama still needs to go after on this, but this line of attack has its limits.
And "worn out ideas on the left" is talking to the undecideds who see the political landscape as the right, left, and center. The Democrats controled Congress for a long time until the 90s. Of course they didn't actually do much which could be called "the left" but that is how much of America sees them.
September 17, 2008 9:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, I'll just point out again that winning a narrow victory running as a High Broderite will earn him a mandate to do precisely nothing.
September 17, 2008 9:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, when Obama says "all ideas on the left are tired and worn out," or starts to attack good policies on the left, then maybe he undermine his ability to bring people together. He's not attacking liberal and progressive approaches entirely. Especially since the thrust of this is for government to go and regulate and provide oversight on the markets.
I think Obama has been and will continue to be specific about how he wants to approach health care, the economy, foreign policy. When he wins, he will able to say the majority want this direction and approach from my administration. Congress will be in Dem majorities and they will be eager to accomplish things (given where their approval rating is at now).
September 17, 2008 9:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hi Steve,
This is a message to undecideds and middle of the roaders for one thing, thus the rational approach. Also remember it's for swing states. I know one cannot please everyone, but I'm really amused how pissed off you are about what I thought was a good ad with the audience in mind.
September 17, 2008 2:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
This ad is PERFECT.
September 17, 2008 8:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think this is a very good ad at all. It does have the air of seriousness about it. And it does have the feel of being informative and detailed. And I agree with the assessment that is the message it's really trying to get across.
But unfortunately, I think most will find It boring and pedantic and after a few seconds will want to change the channel or mute the TV.
It always strikes me that Barack Obama talking calmly and deliberately comes across as more the nuanced professorial type than charismatic politician type. And that takes away the thing main that got him where he is in this race -- his soaring and inspiring rhetoric that made him seem larger than politics.
By contrast in this kind of let's get serious kind setting, as in debate settings, he seems either unsuited to politics and more suited to a think tank or seminar room.
Similarly, in a debate setting, he often seems too arrogant, because his high regard for himself comes across loudly and clearly. Plus he's often unable to deliver a succinct punchy line.
I think his campaign is probably correct in that going with what brought him here may not get him across the finish line. But I'm deathly afraid that the other stuff he's been trying out lately might not suffice either.
We may just be seeing the limits of Obama's appeal. I hope not. But as one who has never really warmed up to him, but who nonetheless, desperately wants to see a democrat in the White House, I wouldn't be surprised if he tops out at 48-49% or so.
September 17, 2008 8:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
If we're seeing the limits of Obama's appeal, we're also seeing the limits of McCain's appeal. So neither wins?
Personally, I think it's a mistake to assume that all of the undecideds are a bunch of low-information idiots who will only respond to the most base and negative messages.
Reagan won in 1980 in large part because he offered a positive message about the future and not just because he made Carter look incompetent.
September 17, 2008 8:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, I do think there is a limit to McCain's appeal as well. So the question who wins the "I'll vote, but only with my nose held tightly" vote. For some 3-4% of voters, I'd predict, it will come down, at the last minute, to a "which is the lesser of the two unappealing evils" kind of vote.
I FEAR that for that kind of voter, voting for an Obama that they don't find terribly appealing, will feel like taking a risk, while voting for a McCain, that they also don't find terribly appealing, will feel like a safer bet, since he's been around longer, looks more like presidents look, etc.
So i fear that if enthusiastic to moderately enthusiastic supporters can't get Obama over the hump on his own, the unenthusiastic probably won't be enough to do the trick.
But that's just an early morning guess. I could definitely be wrong.
September 17, 2008 8:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
And this ad works to make Obama look more presidential and less of a risk. So it serves a specific purpose.
It won't alone do the trick, and if it was his only ad I would say he would be in trouble. But it isn't his only ad.
September 17, 2008 8:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good point about the ad making Obama look more presidential.
Which makes me think - where is Bush during this crisis? Why hasn't he addressed the nation? Or maybe he has and I missed it (no TV). Not that I think for one minute his opening his mouth on the subject would reassure anyone, but, hey, last I heard he's still at least nominally the leader of the country.
OK, I just checked google news: he was going to make a statement yesterday but it was cancelled at the last minute. "We decided it would be best to limit public comment about markets today."
September 17, 2008 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good point about Reagan - however, he really didn't need to spend a lot of time convincing Americans that Carter was incompetent. They already believed that, more or less. Obama still has to make sure the "incompetent" tag sticks to McCain, because it's not at all clear that voters regard him that way yet.
However, I think this is a good ad that offers a positive, thoughtful vision of the future. Hopefully it will be heard above the noise of lipsticks and BlackBerries.
September 17, 2008 9:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
ou'd be surprised how well people respond to the human face making eye contact and talking. Ron Popeil is shockingly more effective than most fancy brand advertising.
Also, research pretty consistently shows that longer ads are more effective.
Funny thing is in advertising, the ads you watch and say "OMG that's a great ad!" are often the least effective ones. We'd have to see some large-scale focus group data to know exactly how it plays.
But just a priori, it's a long ad with a human face talking directly to the viewer, with a lot of first- and second-person pronouns. Those factors alone suggest it should be effective.
September 17, 2008 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
I like it. He can buttress with shorter ads.
September 17, 2008 8:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
I like it.
That is all.
September 17, 2008 8:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Because imitation is the best form of flattery...
Guess who decided to imitate Obama again? You know who...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRg8kaKfLXs&
The difference can't be bigger. Obama offers real solutions. McCain insists with only attacks ans lies.
This confirms my previous point that Obama has regained the control of the narrative.
September 17, 2008 8:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Reform Wall Street and Fix Washington" are not actual ideas. They're slogans. Cut with the tough guy shit, old man, and give us a real policy proposal.
September 17, 2008 8:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Lynn Forester de Rothschild, a prominent Hillary Clinton supporter and member of the Democratic National Committeeโs Platform Committee, will endorse John McCain for president on Wednesday, her spokesman tells CNN.
Well, fuck you very much...
September 17, 2008 8:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Isn't she like one of those elites they hate so much. If she is the one I'm thinking of, Obama should run an ad in the rust belt with her image and say "these are the people that support McCain."
just a little about her:
Today the New Jersey-born Lady de Rothschildโthe flashiest hostess in Londonโis mates with Tony and Cherie Blair, among other topflight Britons. She's also mistress of the former John Singer Sargent home in Chelsea and of Ascott House, the 3,200-acre Rothschild family estate in Buckinghamshire, and the chief executive of E.L. Rothschild, the holding company that she owns with her third husband to manage investments in the Economist and various enterprises in India.
Yeah she understands what the little guy is going through.
September 17, 2008 9:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh goodie. That would be the same de Rothschild who raised her glass of Chateau Lafite and said she didn't like Obama because he seemed like an "elitist."
Gee, sorry to see you go Lady de Rothschild. Let me drop a curtsy as the door hits you on the way out.
September 17, 2008 9:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Forester de Rothschild
Won't that just give more wind to the "out of touch" narrative?
September 17, 2008 9:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think this ad is a stunt. These kinds of ads are typically run the last few days of a campaign but Obama is running it with weeks to go.
As an Obama supporter I like the ad because I am voting for Obama but if I was an undecided voter, I don't think it would persuade me because it speaks to the head and not to the heart and gut which is what people vote on.
However, I think that it may accomplish it's goal of "shaking things up" because people are talking about it because it's unusual thus people may be curious and watch it.
Apparently the McCain camp has seen the ad and have decided to release their own ad in which McCain directly talks to the camera. McCain's ad will be called "Foundations".
September 17, 2008 8:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Will the backdrop be a green screen?
September 17, 2008 8:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's right here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRg8kaKfLXs&
September 17, 2008 8:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
The tone, and his demeanor, are perfect: concerned and realizing how grave the situation is, but not alarmed. It's less of the effortless, cool persona that we've seen before, which some people wrongly dismiss as a sign of naivete.
September 17, 2008 8:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
So, they seemed 'caught off-guard' just because you say so?
September 17, 2008 8:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's why the word "seemed" is in there. It's an opinion. If he said they actually were caught off-guard, he'd need a quote to back it up.
Not too challenging.
September 17, 2008 9:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
By the way, why is he apparently afraid to ever mention McCain's huge take HIKE on the middle class- the proposal to make health benefits taxable?
That idea alone ought to be more than enough to cost McCain the election but nobody on our side seems willing to talk about it. I really don't get that.
September 17, 2008 8:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
I keep asking myself this. I have heard both Biden and Obama mention this in stump speeches that I've been able to watch on video. It is also bubbling up in MSM, like WSJ, NYT, and even LAT. The SEIU ad also featured this.
So I am a little bemused. All I can think is that Obama is saving the hard hitting ad for when McCain will find it difficult to fight back?
Because the captions just write themselves:
"John McCain doesn't think you pay enough for health care."
"John McCain is lying again, this time about taxes, because he plans to raise both your taxes and your employer's!."
"John McCain's plan will cause 25 million more Americans to lose their coverage because, you know, too many of you already have insurance!"
September 17, 2008 8:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
From:
Head of State
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/09/parachutes-away.html
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Parachutes Away!
From ABC News:
Cite:
Head of State
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/09/parachutes-away.html
September 17, 2008 8:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Dude, cut it out. It's very annoying.
September 17, 2008 8:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's starting to go beyond annoying.
September 17, 2008 9:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
john mccain should start a commission and find out who actually reads head of state, and who wants to reads head of state. This commission will have carly fiorina and mitters. The results will be presented to us in 4 months.
September 17, 2008 9:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think this is exactly the approach he should take. Real straight talk, directly to the voters. Obama makes his own case more effectively than any traditionally-produced ad and, frankly, I haven't exactly been blown away by the ads the campaign has been putting out. Let voters see for themselves that Obama is the real deal. And let voters realize that when the president of the United States goes on national television to speak from the Oval Office, they'd much rather be seeing him than Gramps McShame.
My only quibble is I wish there had been a line in this ad about how the Republican/Bush/McCain ideology of less government and deregulation is what caused the crisis in the first place, and how could anyone want more of that?
But I'd like to see a lot more of these as Election Day gets closer.
September 17, 2008 9:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
I still want to see the ad regarding McCain's health care plan and how millions will be taxed and forced into the individual health care market, which is horrible. This cries out for a union ad since they are the ones who obtained those gold plated benefits for the workers in the first place.
The two issues which I have used to successfully convert mainstream Republicans are the health care taxes and Palin's refusal to pay for rape kits. Normal people are shocked at the first (because they had not heard about it) and appalled at the second.
September 17, 2008 9:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'll redirect my campaign contributions to the first 527 that runs an anti-McCain health care ad.
There are a lot of moderate McCain voters who don't know about his proposals and would be scared shitless if they did.
September 17, 2008 9:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Agree with you on this ---- hardly anyone knows about McCain's health care proposals .... which are as horrifying as his VP pick!
September 17, 2008 10:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
SEIU ad does mention this.
There are some academic studies now being published on the impact of McCain's plan -- maybe Obama wants to wait to use them as objective sources for the information?
I'm a little stymied about this too. I suspect it's an issue of in the right time and in the right place. He's a little too tactical for me -- for some things repetition is just as important as timing.
September 17, 2008 9:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
This ad effectively plays off the "they must think you're stupid" line. It goes a long to way to reassuring folks that "I don't think you're stupid" and I know you're concerned, and I'm concerned enough to talk directly to you without all the bells and whistles usually in ads. In addition, it says I've already a plan in place, and not shifting with the prevailing political winds.
A serious ad for serious times from a serious candidate.
September 17, 2008 9:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
One of the constant criticisms of Obama is that he's all flash and hype and no substance. It's impossible to reconcile all that with something like this, which is why it's a smart ad.
Well, that and just the fact that it's really nice to see him treating Americans like grown-ups.
September 17, 2008 9:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
I like the background. It has a kitchen-table-esque type appeal to it.
September 17, 2008 9:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Nice ad. Too bad it won't work.
This is the Ross Perot approach only not quite as dull and taped in a hotel room. Axelrod and company have obviously lost their minds and have no idea how to respnd to the Republican onslaught.
Obama is obviously totally resistant to the idea of attacking the Republicans for their lies, malfeasance and corruption. It's a shame he is so incredibly naive and amtuerish. He might have been a good President.
September 17, 2008 9:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Ross Perot approach was incredibly successful with a large number of people. It is good to take multiple approaches to catch the attention of voters who respond to different stimuli. Me, I like charts, I like thoughtful, I despise ads like the 1982 (or was it 1986) ad.
This ad is trying to address the problem as a national leader rather than as a politician. It is appropriate for the time. The statement that the working class American has stood up to his responsibilities but the powers that be haven't resonates. And then even better, he says we'll all have to be working together to fix it. Americans want to be called to action. I truly believe that.
September 17, 2008 1:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
I understand what you're saying, but you have to think beyond what you personally prefer and think about what works. Amongst the people Obama needs to attract, this approach is totally ineffective. Older people, people who lack a college education, etc... This is a dud.
September 17, 2008 1:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
can we please moderate this spambot already?
September 17, 2008 9:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
in reply to personal blog ads upthread. oops.
September 17, 2008 9:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
What I find most promising is the argument that we are witnessing a unique moment of crisis that will only be worsened by divisive politics. If he can win this framing of the event, it will make John McCain's mudslinging a liability--and it's been the GOP strategist's line that if the race gets in the mud, McCain has a chance while if it stays lofty, it's Obama's to win
September 17, 2008 9:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ah, the old "I-get-it-but-everyone-else-is-dumber-than-me" argument.
McCain probably locked up the slack-jaw vote long ago. Undecideds are apt to be those who want some serious, specific solutions to consider.
Good ad. And not the only ad Barack will run before election day.
September 17, 2008 9:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
This was in response to Thinkingman above.
September 17, 2008 9:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think Obama's ad is very good for a number of reasons, but mostly because it is Obama speaking directly to the camera. No flashy overlays, no emotive music; just speaking. I saw McCain's ad - it is glib, and full of glitz and support mechanisms, you know, like a walker perhaps, or a lawn chair...
McCain's stage presence can't hold a candle to Obama's. And McCain's team knows this.
I'm looking forward to a complete meltdown when the two candidates meet in the debates (provided the setup isn't as stupid as the Gibson/Stephanopoulos debate in April).
September 17, 2008 9:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
The production values are bizarrely low here - I want to hope that this is intentional to present Obama as being "down to earth." However, it can come off making him look amateurish (we still have this sort of low impact duo-tone color scheme) - a serious problem when running against ye olde standard white guy and an audience that is *tremendously* media savvy regardless of income. ie - low income folks may actually relate more to something high impact and less dull (think tv news) contrast with the educated left who "get" the "low key" tactic that is more "documentary" or youtube style. I have to say I'm still perplexed at the low quality of Obama's advertising this entire month - I'm baffled. However, I liked the first 30 seconds of this ad - and I felt viscerally emotionally re-assured after the ad - which is very good. They have got to get some serious ads out directed at older women and rural voters with serious calls to action soon though.
September 17, 2008 9:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's pretty good, rb6. I was about to say the issue is pretty convoluted for easy explanation. But you give good copy.
September 17, 2008 9:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
How about a much shorter ad that directly responds to McCain referring to the american worker as an economic fundamental.
'My opponent says the fundamentals of the economy(the american worker) are strong. Then why does he support legislation that encourages our corporations to ship jobs overseas and harm our economic fundamentals?
If elected, I will work to stop jobs being sent overseas by rewarding companies that keep jobs here and stop rewarding companies that send our jobs out of the country. My opponent will only pay lip service to the problem, spending years to research a problem we already understand. '
Why not throw Grampy's words right back at him?
September 17, 2008 9:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
I like the ad: it's straightforward and honest. It doesn't try to sugarcoat anything, but neither does it try to scare anyone.
Obama comes across as intelligent but not haughty. A good, thoughtful, honest public servant. By not bashing the Republicans, he's not turning off anyone.
People who have been told to be afraid of Obama may see this ad and think, "He doesn't seem that scary to me." They just may be willing to start listening the next time they hear him.
September 17, 2008 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, but his wife hates America, so this is all just a ruse to help him destroy America.
Sorry. . . sorry. . . I only recently found out my best friend in a new town is an O'Reily-bot and it's resulted in some cognitive dissonance.
September 17, 2008 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Just watched both ads. Obama's ad makes McCain's look like cheap shot riding the coattail shit. period.
now get out there and volunteer.
i do my regular wednesday night at obama Santa Fe headquarters tonight. Its fun, and it WORKS!!!!!
September 17, 2008 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Many folks are under the impression that talking about the issues never work. This year could be an exception? People are truly concerned about the issues this time around, in my opinion. Barack Obama needs to pin John McCain down on the economy and other "issues".
September 17, 2008 10:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am a librarian at a university in Texas and teach a session where students research and evaluate campaign ads.
Interestingly, students didn't really buy what Obama was selling in the economy ad that was run during the Olympics because it wasn't Obama's voice.
They felt that from a rhetorical perspective Obama was detatched from those policies/iniatives outlined and therefore, less likely to follow through.
Although this viewer reaction is anecdotal, I think it shows that having Obama voice his own promises to the American people has the potential for greater impact.
September 17, 2008 10:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think it's an effective ad because of its timing. For days, the MSM had been yacking about the increased negativity and -- because they favor balance over accuracy -- have lumped Obama in with McCain. And we've also seen many talking heads in the MSM saying that neither candidate is talking substance. The news this week shows that issues DO matter.
This ad capitalizes on that. It says that Barack is more than a soundbite; it says there is a time to rise above the negativity; and it says he's got the substance to do it. People may find it boring, but I think many of them will say, "finally, an ad that just talks to me about the issues." For the undecideds looking for that, this ad works.
It would not be effective if this was the only approach, but as others pointed out, this is not the only ad he's running or will run.
September 17, 2008 10:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think it's an effective ad because of its timing. For days, the MSM had been yacking about the increased negativity and -- because they favor balance over accuracy -- have lumped Obama in with McCain. And we've also seen many talking heads in the MSM saying that neither candidate is talking substance. The news this week shows that issues DO matter.
This ad capitalizes on that. It says that Barack is more than a soundbite; it says there is a time to rise above the negativity; and it says he's got the substance to do it. People may find it boring, but I think many of them will say, "finally, an ad that just talks to me about the issues." For the undecideds looking for that, this ad works.
It would not be effective if this was the only approach, but as others pointed out, this is not the only ad he's running or will run.
September 17, 2008 10:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Great ad.
September 17, 2008 10:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Agree with the positive assessment --- AND, a point I don't think was mentioned, for a lot of people just tuning in to the presidential race (yeah - really!!) the old "Obama is exotic" and "Obama is frighteningly different" idea is still out there. This ad puts him in the "presidential position" -- speaking directly to the Am. people about a complex issue. Once folks have seen him there, doing it effectively and reassuringly it's not going to be so difficult to picture this 'exotic' and 'different' person in that role. ------- In addition to someone you can drink a beer with, some voters are supposed decided based on "who do you want to invite into your living room to talk to you for the next four years?" This will help with those people (and I'm not able to see the McCain 'response' but if he's being snide and giving that rictus grin, it may help even more).
September 17, 2008 10:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
I had to spend the morning listening to Glenn Beck carpooling to work and it irritated me to my core listening to him compare Sarah Palin to the Dark Knight and Barack Obama to two-face. WOW!
So I came in, fired up TPM, saw this ad and it brought peace to my soul. Seriously, it made me feel a lot better about the course of things.
It scares the hell out of me to have McCain/Palin in there. If they start winning, i'm going into the business of bomb shelter making. Anyone wanna join?
September 17, 2008 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Vote for Barack right now in a new ATT-Yahoo poll. As of 10:00 a.m. Central time, McCain was leading 54-41. Go and cast your vote now for Barack to ensure the press doesn't pick up this outlier and run with it!
September 17, 2008 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
I do wish he'd have looked at the camera a little more. It's obvious he's reading. Memorize just a little more or familiarize yourself a little more, read a little less. Make that "eye contact" with the viewers.
September 17, 2008 11:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Simply outstanding. Makes me proud to have contributed to this campaign. Thanks, Barack!
September 17, 2008 11:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
I want to hear more things like this.
September 17, 2008 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
The ad is perfect.
Hopefully he's putting it out widely in battleground states, and people listen.
September 17, 2008 11:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think the new Obama ad is very good, very reassuring to folks who might still be skeptical about him. But what I want to know is this: When in God's name are the Obama people (or the 527s) going to bring up McCain's role in the Keating 5 scandal? It has NEVER been more relevant than it is today. Can you imagine if Obama (or Biden) had been involved in such a scandal? There would be ads saturating every key state, running over and over and over. I can understand why the campaign might have been reluctant to bring this up before now, but with McSame up in the polls and (ludicrously) trying to reinvent himself as a "crusading reformer," it is high time to pull the trigger on this.
September 17, 2008 11:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
McCain is calling for a 9/11 type commission. McCain is ridiculing last night's Obama Beverly Hills fundraiser. Unlike Obama,Clinton,Biden and Dodd, McCain couldn't be bothered to vote on the real 9/11 commission's recommendations because HE WAS AT A BEVERLY HILLS FUNDRAISER.
September 17, 2008 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Great ad, would love to see more just like this - Barack and/or Joe looking into the eye of the camera and speaking plainly. My favorite part, bringing two big issues together:
Nation Building Begins at Home!
September 17, 2008 12:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
For ME, this ad is a welcome relief from ALL the campaign ads we've been subjected to this year. No crawling text of doom, no flashes of 'button-pushing' imagery or mind-numbing narrations over canned theme music.
HOWEVER, I'm not the market for this ad.
At times like this, I turn to my 'mother-meter' and wonder, "what would Mom think?"
Sadly, the answer's not good.
Reasoned discourse doesn't cut it.
Barack might as well be talking in Klingon.
The obstacle here, is, that 'change' is being campaigned to a faction of people, who, (though seeing a need for it), traditionally fear it.
And truth be told, to look at Barack, is to see change. (The same would have applied to Hillary.)
McCain is now campaigning on change, but I can just hear my mother giving a mental sigh of relief, knowing they are around the same age...
and Mom hasn't changed in years.
JR
September 17, 2008 12:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
"You cannot treat it as you would treat an ordinary nomination in an ordinary time. We people in the United States have got to realize today that we face a grave and serious situation.
Therefore, this year the candidate who is the President of the United States cannot make a campaign in the usual sense of the word. He must be on his job.
So each and every one of you who give him this responsibility, in giving it to him assume for yourselves a very grave responsibility because you will make the campaign. You will have to rise above considerations which are narrow and partisan.
You must know that this is the time when all good men and women give every bit of service and strength to their country that they have to give. This is the time when it is the United States that we fight for, the domestic policies that we have established as a party that we must believe in, that we must carry forward, and in the world we have a position of great responsibility.
We cannot tell from day to day what may come. This is no ordinary time . No time for weighing anything except what we can do best for the country as a whole, and that responsibility rests on each and every one of us as individuals.
No man who is a candidate or who is President can carry this situation alone. This is only carried by a united people who love their country and who will live for it to the fullest of their ability, with the highest ideals, with a determination that their party shall be absolutley devoted to the good of the nation as a whole and to doing what this country can to bring the world to a safer and happier condition."
Eleanor Roosevelt, Democratic Convention Speech, 1940.
September 17, 2008 1:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
WHAT PART OF GO FOR THE JUGULAR DOES OBAMA NOT UNDERSTAND???????
The Dems have the perfect opportunity to absolutely DESTROY McCain...but what do they do? Stupid sh!t like this calling for an end to "partisan bickering". Look...I'm as big of an Obama supporter as they come...but for him to put out a 2 minute ad and not criticize McCain by name even once is ridiculous! McCain put out a 30 second ad that is far more effective than this, because he never misses an opportunity to smack Obama around.
The GOP will bring up pointless crap like Ayers and Wright, but Obama and his surrogates won't bring up the Keating 5???? Are you kidding me? It's sickening! Now is not the time to hold back...now is the time to go guns blazing and try to open up as big of a lead as possible. If we keep these things close, if we let McCain wiggle his way out of the disastrous policies he has championed...then we're in for big trouble! I'm not being doom and gloom, I'm just being real.
September 17, 2008 1:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Directly Addresses Voters
Praise god! Finally! About time!
Been waiting to see him talk to the camera for about a year! He always talks to the people in the room, sometimes even ignores them and just talks to the moderator. That is not the way you run for president since they invented TV.
Next step, trainers, please remind him to ask for the job somehow. Doh, Barry, you are not in a tenured position yet, not the time for lectures yet--ask for the job, ask for the job, ask for the job.
Keep doing it, puhleez, puhleez, all the allegations of arrogance will fall flat if he does. Since they're not towh hall debates, all he's got to do is talk to the camera and ask for the job.
September 17, 2008 1:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
P.S. My irrational exuberance is real, I really really thinks this was one of his main problems, not talking to the camera. He is virtually always so removed, like a analyst talking about his own campaign. He gets personal with the interviewer and ignores the audience. He can do that when he gets the job as much as likes, but right now, he's got to remember he is applying for job. Running for president is a sales position, your job is to make a sale (you can drop the sales thing if you like after you get the job, if that's your governing personality, but not now.)
September 17, 2008 1:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why so much preposterous resistance and outrage against this ad on this forum?
It's not like this is the only ad on the economy Obama will run or can run this election. It's a good experitment- at minimum.
September 17, 2008 1:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Trolls, my friend. If you don't recongnize the handle- there is a reason. Quite simply McCain is worried, as he should be- his numbers are sinking like a stone. 36% approval on how McCain would handle the economy- OUCH! Trolls to the rescue!
September 17, 2008 1:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Far and away the best thing about this ad is that Barack shows emotion.
It's not a lot of emotion, but it's enough. It's sincere.
More emotion, please.
September 17, 2008 1:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
A typical example of why he is trailing McCain. Wasting all that money on a two minute ad that most voters will tune out in the first twenty seconds. He would be better off not to run any ads at all, than to run ads that are guaranteed to bore and irritate the undecided voters he's trying to reach.
Earth to Obama: STOP with the long winded lectures, professor. Rather than trying to impress people with your eloquence, find one or two catch phrases and start repeating it over and over and never let go. Something like "If you agree that the economy is sound, vote for John McCain. If not, vote for me." This isn't rocket science. It's called advertising.
It's amazing to me that someone handed this golden opportunity to sharpen the focus between himself and McCain, ends up in the same old whining about partisan politics. He never even mentioned McCain's name. Pathetic.
Earth to Obama: There is partisan wrangling over important issues because you're in the middle of a presidential election. So start acting like it. You can go back to playing the boring, bi-partisan professor if you win. But if you don't win, nobody will ever again care what you have to say.
September 17, 2008 1:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Come on, not everyone's big on sound bites. This is an ad that requires viewers to listen. Maybe some will.
September 17, 2008 2:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
The only people who will listen to that 2-minute snooze-athon are people like yourself, who helped pay for it.
September 17, 2008 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Um, HELLO. Obama is now leading in every daily tracking poll except Rasmussen, where he's only down by 1. The momentum is clearly on his side, and if you haven't noticed, he's been releasing ads ripping McCain for the last five days. This ad is a refreshing change of pace. The only people worse than Chicken Littles are uninformed Chicken Littles.
September 17, 2008 2:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
The only reason that Obama is ahead is because America is fed up with the Republicans and the disaster they created. If Obama simply shut up, he'd probably jump 10 points ahead in the polls. People are getting tired of his sanctimonious lectures, and the real danger is that they become so tired of it by election day they vote for McCain just to shut him up.
September 17, 2008 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good point rstephen!
The sanctimony is not deliberate or intended but it certainly comes through that way. Not exactly an attractive quality when you're looking for a leader.
September 17, 2008 6:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Some of the most effective print advertising campaigns were heavy with text. It seemed to catch the attention of many readers, that the message was important enough to warrant time to read. This could be a similar situation.
As noted by Kash79 and others, it's not as though this is the only ad that O and Joe can or will run.
September 17, 2008 3:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama's real problem is that he's a mamma's boy whose instinct is to run away from a good fight. That's what happens when you grow up without a father. And the problem is that he's convinced himself that his non-confrontational style is a virtue, rather than the character defect that it is.
September 17, 2008 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
A lot of the commenters who think this ad is not effective seem to be forgetting that he's running any other ads. If this were the ONLY type of ad he was running, I would agree that this isn't effective.
However, you must have seen his ad ramming McCain's honor, and his one yesterday that hammered him on his Fundamentals comment in a very effective way. So, this ad has to be taken as part of the larger strategy. He has gone for the jugular. Yet part of McCain's mistake is that he ONLY goes for the jugular and does nothing else.
In fact, I think that in every program Obama runs ads he should run an attack, followed by this more serious "talk to the camera" ad in the next break. That balances his message and gives him the two-fold element: aggressive and yet serious.
September 17, 2008 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Given the dow just lost another 450 points today, I'd say this ad is prescient. We are in the midst of a serious financial meltdown. We need a calming voice right now, somebody who will keep their cool and fix this problem. If I see that 2 minutes ad on TV tonight, I can tell you it would make me feel better.
September 17, 2008 4:36 PM | Reply | Permalink