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The Obama Infomercial: How To Spend Their War Chest Before The Election Is Over
Here it is -- Barack Obama's prime-time infomercial:
The piece itself -- with a mix of Obama's life story, praise from Democratic leaders and some discussion of policies we've all heard before -- is less interesting than its own existence and what it represents. Nobody has attempted something like this since Ross Perot, and he had his own money to bankroll his informercials.
It's intriguing to consider the enviable problem the Obama campaign has on its hands: Their small donors have been giving them so much money, they're left to think up new ways to spend the cash before the election is over.
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I'd like to see a one or two point bounce on this. The clock is ticking on McCain!
October 29, 2008 9:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe. Hard to say how cynical and entrenched McCain supporters are, or whether the remaining undecideds are even paying attention.
What I suspect is this message will actually resonate more several months from now, presuming Obama wins. A lot of moderate McCain supporters will see this, and even if they still vote for McCain, it'll be harder to really hate Obama or pretend he's a terrorist/communist/whatever.
This TV spot is a bit like respectfully and formally asking your fiancee's parents for their blessing. Even if they're hesitant they'll appreciate it and it's a first step towards proving oneself.
October 30, 2008 12:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am so happy to have had the chance to watch the presentation. I was in class last night and was unable to watch it live. There were many students in my class of various races, ages and backgrounds that wanted to view it live but were unable to.
After watching it I know that Barack Obama and Joe Biden are the better leaders for this great country. And people have to get out and vote and get others they know or don't know to vote.
And infomercial is not the right name for this; it should be something like 'Democratic Presidential Candidates Closing Address'... I don't know, too wordy???
October 30, 2008 1:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Infomercial is so much the wrong name for this 30 minutes. It is campaign genious. So warm, so caring, so impressive both in content and execution. As it approached 28 minutes, I said to my husband, "If they can pull off a live ending, as promised, it's all over but the shouting." And, then, OMG! They did it. Perfection.
October 29, 2008 9:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, Alice I too was impressed with the precision of coordinating a last 2 minute LIVE message...and how the timing was just incredible for him to be right on point in FL.
This man has done something the likes of which this country has never seen before and likely will never be seen again. Many will try to replicate this and fail...only THEN will the media acknowledge the awesome brillance of what we have been priviledged to witness.
The way the pundits so easily have taken to calling this an infomercial is just another way of refusing to acknowledge how superlative Obama is as a politician, tactician and strategist. They are unable to even comprehend what they are experiencing and so they just attack it cause they cannot come up with any words to combat it.
Neither could HRC and WJC who up until now the pundits all considered master politicians running the best political machine, they have all kowtowed to Rove and his rovian smears and hate campaigns.
But Obama is a juggernaut that is blowing the top off of what a politician can do...the pity is that they all will diminish it until they see how few can repeat it...it any.
My bet is we will never see this again,,,it took 40 more years after MLK, RFK and JFK for this type of impressive human being to come again.
He excells beyond measure.
October 29, 2008 9:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm in agreement. By my thinking, Obama might just be the best, natural policitian we've ever had, going back 220 years. Accept, I think Roosevelt approached his greatness, as a politician. Roosevelt's 1932 campaign was perhaps the best organized until that time.
Like Obama, what distinguishes Roosevelt from more pedestrian politicians is that he was both tactician and strategist. Hillary was a tactician, a street fighter, but very week on strategy. Both Roosevelt and Obama were geniuses at administration. (Roosevelt got 8 years of practice as assistant secretary to the Navy during the Wilson years and that skill paid off handsomely as he skillfully managed his subordinates). Roosevelt loved to campaign, he thrived on it - he was probably better in a street fight than Obama. They both had great charisma and temperament. They both attended Harvard. In addition to Charisma, Obama is a great Orator, better than Roosevelt, and is complemented by his 'booming' voice. Obama writes more of his own stuff, but Roosevelt was very involved in the writing of most of his speeches - indeed, he was a great speaker partly because he had worked so much on his speeches that he pretty well had them fully memorized by the time he gave them.
Going in, I would say that Obama is the better gifted politician, but not by too much. And if he gets elected on Tuesday, it remains to be seen whether or not he'll be as good of a President as Roosevelt. It is quite ironic that they have inherited similar troubling times. We got extremely lucky in 1932. It looks like we might get lucky again.
October 29, 2008 11:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gee willikers, I don't think Obama is a superlatively gifted politician.... too introverted for that, and not nearly glib enough.
And I don't say that in the sense of "evil is good"... but in the sense that a politician needs to have a certain readiness with the quip, the response and the comeback... an ability to think on his feet... all of which consistently seem to be somewhat lacking in Obama. He thinks with his pen, I would guess.
Of course he speaks well... but that is really just translating the written word... where he excels. In interviews and debates... much less impressive as a speaker. Obviously sincere, but not obviously eloquent.
He's smart as anything, sincere as all get out, he'll make a fine administrator and leader, and probably a pretty good strategist... but as a campaigner I think he benefits enormously from the lousiness of the competition.
He's kind of B plus as a politician... he'll be much better in other roles.
October 30, 2008 12:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
October 30, 2008 3:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
I did close that blockquote. I know I did...
October 30, 2008 3:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think his qualities as a politician really matter that much. Surely, McCain has run a crappy campaign, but how much of that crappiness is a desperate response to the difficulty of attacking Obama? Heck, Obama is even hard to lampoon on SNL, much less credibly attack in a political campaign.
What makes Obama so perfect for these times are 1)his willingness to speak the truth in language people can understand and 2) a pragmatic yet hopeful approach to our problems. This comes on the heels of two and a half decades of bitter partisanship sustained by the co-opting of language to distort the truth.
Info-mercial notwithstanding, Obama is the anti-marketer. His simple and hopeful message is what we have been craving to deliver us from our cynicism.
FDR or not? Who cares. he is the right person at the right time for a country on the verge of disappearing down the rabbit hole.
October 30, 2008 7:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree completely, given that the label "politician" has become derogatory.
Barack is a gifted communicator. That's what it takes for a President to get things done effectively.
Of course, there are other ways to get things done without communicating at all, e.g., the present administration. One can bully his/her way into having his/her way, but the cost is very high in the long run.
October 30, 2008 9:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama himself called it an infomercial, just now on the Daily Show.
October 30, 2008 12:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Indeed.
Perfection.
(sniff)
October 30, 2008 1:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is a silly cynical post.
October 30, 2008 4:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
...and now to wait for the Daily Show trifecta!
October 29, 2008 9:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the reminder.
October 29, 2008 9:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Beautiful. I think it did the most important thing: It reminded Americans what's at stake. I'll feel a little easy tonight about the fate of this election, before we begin bickering about robocalls and poll numbers at sunrise tommorow.
He is a running a great campaign.
October 29, 2008 9:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Word. He's whupping McCain's ass at every turn.
And memo to Kerry: when you run for president don't hold back. Spend the dollars you got.
http://pufferfish.typepad.com/
October 29, 2008 10:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Best ever.
October 29, 2008 10:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
The only point (which Eric missed entirely) - Do you want this man to be your President?
Saw it on Countdown and am going to watch again at 8 PDT
October 29, 2008 9:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
I believe the West Coast airing will have a "live" ending of it's own.
Number of viewers pool - I'll say 12M watched.
October 29, 2008 9:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think you're probably right, Jonze - somewhere around 20M. Olberman said it could reach 40M based on the World Series numbers, but I think that's awfully high.
October 29, 2008 10:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is an interesting write-up... After everything that was said and done in the ad, the assessment is that it was a way to spend money? I mean, there's not even a note that it was a good way to spend the money -- prime time viewership, right before the election, positive spot to combat attacks -- no mention of any of that.
October 29, 2008 9:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Eric is playing the jaded cynic. He clearly spends too much time hanging around with other jaded cynics.
October 29, 2008 9:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is a great site in many ways. But who are these jokers like Eric who write this nonsense?
How does Josh, who is so cool, engage these clowns?
October 29, 2008 10:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, he is so jaded until he could not be bothered with analysis. analysis that would have noted that the human interest stories were virtually all in key battleground states, like NM, OH, KY, and MO.
Yeah, sure they were just trying to figure out what to do with all the money...and while playing with that they just happened to focus dead on target with a message aimed straight at the states they want to win.
Not to mention how Governor Kaine spoke as well as Strickland...again key battleground states.
October 29, 2008 10:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly. Nothing was coincidental there -- it was very well thought-out. The moment Strickland showed up, I thought "OK, we'll probably be seeing a lot of battleground guys," and we did.
October 29, 2008 10:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm with you in not being terribly amused by this so-called analysis. It was a cheap takeaway from something that, in the long run, will likely be viewed as meaningful and significant.
October 29, 2008 10:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe a better headline would have been:
McCain campaign speechless.
Disturbing new video reveals Obama is as American as apple pie.
October 29, 2008 11:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
So you're suggesting that the only reason they did this was because they had some extra money to blow? With all we've seen from this campaign--their discipline, their strategy throughout this race--this is all the credit you're willing to give them? They just threw this together because they wanted to blow through some extra bucks? Sorry, but that's ridiculous.
October 29, 2008 9:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, he did...yep..he damned Obama with faint praise. Like saying Einstein was good at math, or Donnatelo liked playing with hot metal, or Bach banged on the piano as a child.
Obama is so beyond measure that folks like Eric cannot even comprehend what they are witnessing...they do not understand they are speechless because they lack the mental capacity to process the greatness they are witnessing.
So, they damn with faint praise instead.
October 29, 2008 10:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
oops that should be Ghiberti...not Donnatelo
October 29, 2008 10:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree: The notion that this was a money-dump shows a willful unawareness of how this campaign has been run throughout. I write "willful" because I think you're right that Eric is "playing the jaded cynic." What's interesting is even Olberman was doing the same thing tonight. A lot of commentators, even those generally friendly to Obama, seem embarassed to even try to find any substance in this piece.
That's not to say there's anything wrong with detached analysis about the composition or strategic success of the piece. (I did a little of that myself below.) But aren't we always lamenting the soundbite culture that reduces our political discourse? Isn't this ad (or whatever we choose to call it) an attempt to create another opportunity to address the voters in a more substantive and comprehensive way?
Beyond simple exhaustion, I think it's a good thing this campaign is coming to end. The point may be getting lost in the shuffle.
October 29, 2008 10:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wondering if Eric is suffering from election fatigue. The dump the cash theory is pure speculation and comes across as trying to write something, anything new.
But sometimes you just need to write about what happens. Not a coincidence that families were from MO, OH, NV & KY or that the live shot was from FL.
Even if the infomercial is a variation of what he's heard dozens of times before, believe it or not, there are people who haven't. Moreover, the infomercial serves to encourage the fence sitters to jump off, and to remind his supporters why he needs their vote. You don't stop asking people to vote for you a week before the election.
October 30, 2008 8:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Eric is a child. He doesn't grasp that this isn't the way it usually goes. He has so little perspective.
October 29, 2008 10:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Eric Kleefeld -- Sometime after election day you'll realize what a douchebag you were with this comment.
October 30, 2008 12:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
My comment was directed at Eric Kleefeld -- just wanted to clarify. What a douche!
October 30, 2008 12:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
It was that or Vegas, but Vegas would've looked bad...even if Nevada is a swing state.
October 29, 2008 10:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
What happens in primetime stays in primetime.
October 29, 2008 11:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain would have taken up the Vegas idea if he had the extra campaign stash. :)
October 30, 2008 12:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, I helped to pay for this. I'd like to see a point or 2 myself!
October 29, 2008 9:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
A good ad. Not great. At least no negatives. No mention of ..... oh, I've forgotten his name already.
October 29, 2008 9:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought it was well done. When you think about it, there was a sort of commercial-within-commercial structure to it. The human-interest stories were the compelling part, which likely drew the viewer in. The moments of Obama laying out policies, promises, etc. were inserted in between like they were commercials within the "show." This kept the drier parts from boring the viewer too much (pay attention, Mr. Perot) and kept it from seeming like an Obama vanity piece.
I also think it served as sort of a fourth debate, insofar as the debates served to remind people periodically amid the endless barrage of all-over-the-map McCain/Palin attacks that Obama is believable as president and not a terrorist/socialist/communist/babykiller/etc.
October 29, 2008 9:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
PUHHHHLEAZE, I got an email 10 minutes after the infomercial asking for MORE MONEY. I gladly gave, but trust me they are spending i all over the place.
October 29, 2008 9:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Are you kidding me?
Remember when McNasty was on air with Britney and Paris and everyone was screaming put a rebuttal ad- we are paying for it afterall?
This is money well spent, and let me use the word I don't use often- money very well spent.
October 29, 2008 10:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was making the point that they aren't just lookign to waste money. You and I agree alike my friend, this is money very well spent.
October 29, 2008 10:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oops sorry. Snark meter is a little rusty tonight.
October 29, 2008 10:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Forget a preview button, we need an EDIT button.
October 29, 2008 10:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nothing surprising coming from Eric...
It was pure genius in terms of strategy!
October 29, 2008 9:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Second that. I just love Eric's "analytical skills"...
October 30, 2008 2:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Eric,
You must be very young, because this was the most callous posting I have read in quite a while.
Too bad people's stories about how difficult it is just to maintain a day-to-day existence with some dignity in today's economy was not "interesting" to you.
Too bad...
Too bad that people sharing their secrets of desperation (i.e., rationing out food for each child) is not "interesting" to you. I suspect that reality of that woman's life is not something she shouts to the other parents at the PTA.
Too bad a woman taking 12 medications a day (reminding me of my deceased mother-in-law in Detroit, MI)and her husband working at Wal-Mart at 72 years of age is not "interesting" to you.
What a crappy thing to post.
You must be very young. That's the most generous explanation I can muster.
Also: The increasingly loud snarkiness about Obama's fundraising abilities is beginning to sound like "who does he think he is?"
Amazing...
October 29, 2008 9:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree. It was beautiful. I watched it 3 times. This post is world-class d-baggery.
October 29, 2008 10:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly, mphillip. This was the post of a kid who can't imagine or apparently feel for an old man who has worked all his live having to go to freaking WalMart with a little badge on. Hey, maybe Eric has a soul; we don't know him. But he sure hides it well. This was more than an exercise in spending, for God's sake. The damn country has been driven into the ground; it's not a game.
October 29, 2008 11:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
If they want help paying for the inauguration, I'll gladly pitch in!
October 29, 2008 10:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Same here.If he wants to do a couple more before Nov 4, I'm in as well.
October 29, 2008 10:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just for a moment, suspend the need to be detached, cool, jaded. That was a half hour of America the Beautiful. It was unifying and heart warming and uplifting and hopeful. For every single person in this YoYo country who, for the last eight years, has been fighting every day just to keep afloat, that 30 minutes was an affirmation that they're not alone. You're not alone. I'm not. Things can get better and we can do it together. Suspend disbelief and practice hope.
October 29, 2008 10:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Amen
October 29, 2008 10:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes.
October 29, 2008 10:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
And "Boom" goes the dynamite.
In January of 2001, I responded to the Bush inauguration by saying out loud, "What's the worst that can happen?" And the worst has happened every single day since.
I remember in November of 2004 walking the dogs after the election and wondering "have I gotten America all wrong? Are we really a majority of hateful, war-mongering, xenophobic Christians? Am I the only one who expects more from my country than this?"
If we're lucky, a resounding Obama victory on Tuesday will be payback for all the times we were called unpatriotic, unAmerican, and so on.
I'm going to vote my freakin' heart out on Tuesday. You?
October 30, 2008 7:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not one word of negativity. No attacks. No smears. No mention of his opponent. No talk of polls.
The individual stories of real families weaved into policy proprosals was brilliant. It brings the viewer in emotionally and educates them on how Obama's proposals address issues that families are facing. Once again, the theme was not to focus entirely on Obama, but rather to focus on us. Watching this video, one gets a sense that Obama gets it.
October 29, 2008 10:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, Obama gets it.
What America saw in those 30 minutes was LEADERSHIP and STATESMANSHIP a PRESIDENTIAL candidate the likes of which this country has not seen in such a long time, that many can't wrap their heads around it other than to ridicule and be dismissive of the greatness of it all.
Let's face most Americans have forgotten what leadership looks and feels like..they no longer believe that the President of the United States is the most powerful man on earth.
Not with this economic crisis..how can they? Bush did not call for a world economic summit... FRANCE did.
There is a vacuum of leadership globally because GWBush is an incompetent asshole.
The world turns to America when there is a crisis and there was no one home in the White House and Americans across this nation from sea to shining sea ALL felt adrift. They all feel out of sorts yet they don't know why or what is wrong.
It is that Leadership is missing...and that was the entire point of the ad.
This is the first time this nation has heard a politician express caring for them, and their families and their economic plight. Bush didn't. This is the first time this nation has listened to a man say he will fight for them in the white house..fight for their pensions, fight for healthcare, fight for education.
Americans like Eric...no longer recognize leadership even when it is right there in front of their face and culminates with a LIVE message from the biggest battleground state that the US Supreme Court stole the election from by overruling the STate Supreme Court.
Florida is where it began and Obama said HERE I STAND in FLorida...asking you to vote for me because this time we can change this country and make government work for us again.
Eric just plain didn't get it.
October 29, 2008 10:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
WTF? Why don't you kill the crusade against Eric now? I think we all got it. You disagree with Eric. Ok, already.
October 29, 2008 10:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't disagree with Eric. I think Eric failed to provide analysis.
now why don't you get a grip and manage that cognitive dissonance of yours that disables you from comprehending what you read?
October 29, 2008 10:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
You sound like John McCain on acid. I suggest you get a grip yourself, and quit with the personal attacks.
Also, I think you're a chickenshit for whining about merely being in disagreement, when you clearly feel personal antipathy toward anyone who doesn't behave and speak as you wish.
October 29, 2008 10:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wrong. There is no antipathy...but lots of disdain. I have contempt for those who fail to do their jobs. I feel the same way about Bush. This post by Eric was pathetic and he has a long track record of this sort of posting. I have been at this site for several years. So, it ain't personal it is simply well earned feedback.
When Eric fails to provide analysis...I get to point it out and when it is so boldfaced obvious as this, it needs to be pointed out.
Now, since you have an issue with reading this feedback...how about you just keep scrolling pass these posts that you find so annoying cause you do not have a leg to stand on.
If you think this post is defensible, then put up some actual factual support of Eric or STFU!!
October 29, 2008 10:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
1.) I never STFU for anyone - ever. Furthermore, I never tell anyone else to STFU - not even you.
2.) I don't have an issue with reading this 'feedback'. Your critical comments were just fine by me, until the post above, in which you begin to make Eric an outsider, an other, not one of us, with the phrase, "Americans like Eric..."
3.) I think that's a leg.
4.) STFU... just kidding.
October 29, 2008 11:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's face most Americans have forgotten what leadership looks and feels like..they no longer believe that the President of the United States is the most powerful man on earth.
_____
Give the jingoism/chauvanism a rest, okay?
The US has the largest military budget on the planet, and the lowest moral standards in that it approves and practices the war crime of torture, while condemning others who do exactly the same.
October 30, 2008 12:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Bob and I just watched the Obama infomercial and he just laid out the same plan he has laid out every time he speaks but he does it with such conviction that one has to believe he can do it.
This ad, which aired on CBS, NBC, Fox, BET, Univision, MSNBC, and TV One, was powerful. If this doesn't put the man in the White House, it will be because of America's racism.
I particularly liked it when he said, "I will not be a perfect president, but I can promise you this, I will always tell you what I think and Where I stand." That's so refreshing after eight years of a man who cannot bring himself to admit he was wrong.
He discussed health care as well as the nation's economic problems. He stressed his plan to offer tax cuts to the middle class and raise taxes on those who make over $250,000 a year. And, once again, he referred to our present situation as the "final verdict on eight years of failed policies." The video showed a lot of his supporters as well as ordinary people.
McCain, whose campaign could not afford to do this, sniped at Obama. "He's got a few things he wants to sell you. He's offering government run health care, an energy plan guaranteed to work without drilling, and an automatic wealth spreader that folds neatly and fits under any bed." Sour grapes, I'd say. McCain needs to check with FactCheck.org.
The ad did not appear on ABC because by the time they decided to sell Obama the time, the buy was already made.
Obama's eldest daughter, Malia, 10, was afraid the ad was going to make her miss her programs. Obama had to tell her that they did not buy the Disney Channel. That relieved her.
This is a good and decent man and we don't see a lot of those in Washington. I urge all my readers to vote for him.
Oh, as a postscript:
Joe the Plumber says Obama hates Israel. The Republicans had better put a bucket over that guy's head. Between him and Palen, they are going to lose all credibility with intelligent voters.
October 29, 2008 10:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I must take issue with your statement. While Obama's infomercial was powerful, emotional feeling isn't how we should decide who will govern our country. Then, you go so far to say that if he doesn't win, it will be because of racism. While we will all be disappointed and even incredulous at a McCain victory, we can't approach an election as 'agree with me or you're racist.'
I agree with where we're going, but not how we choose to get there.
October 29, 2008 10:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's not the intelligent voters that are still up for grabs.
October 29, 2008 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is it acceptable to appeal to unintelligent people by making them feel good? Is this different from the McCain campaign tactic of unsubstantiated fear and doubt?
Does the end justify the means in politics?
October 29, 2008 10:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Absolutely. If there is absolutely zero chance to convince a certain voter other than using their gut reaction, then it would be pretty dumb to not use that. Different groups of voters are going to respond to different tactics.
If at this point these voters do not see the positive things that Barack Obama has to offer them, if they have ignored all of the evidence and STILL are going off their "gut reaction"... what would the smart candidate do?
October 30, 2008 1:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
From a technical viewpoint, Obama's infomercial was masterful. It grabbed the viewer immediately and held him/her throughout. The human stories interspersed with policy details was a perfect blend and flowed easily from segment to segment. The camerawork, narrative and background music provided a sense of professionalism, warmth and clarity.
Obama's half hour spot transcended the limits of an infomercial -- it was a moment of significant political history. The bar has been raised for all future presidential candidates.
October 29, 2008 10:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, I couldn't agree more. I heard someplace that it was put together by the same folks who did Inconvenient Truth.
Very, very well done, and perfectly targeted to exactly the folks who needed to hear this stuff - who needed to see Obama on his terms instead of McCain's.
October 29, 2008 10:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Stop piling on Eric. I thought it was a little too downscale and a little too down. He's never quite managed to make the link between concern for the little guy and his hope message. He's lucky he's running against McCain and not Reagan.
October 29, 2008 10:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
You are, presumably, Eric's mother.
October 29, 2008 10:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seriously, you weren't paying attention then.
October 29, 2008 10:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, right.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrBKC3nQHYk
Reagan on Bush.
October 30, 2008 12:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
as a political commercial it had "morning in america" visuals. Morning in america was uplifting because of the economy of the preceding 4 years, this one was more visual, although the themes were more about how screwed we are thanks to the economy...anyways, visually, very morning in america
October 29, 2008 10:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
But it wwasn't as hopeful as "morning in America". It was emotional but it wasn't inspirational.
October 29, 2008 10:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
'That's your opinion.
I disagree.
And that's a crock - he specifically makes the link between his hope and his concern - the hell he doesn't. What he tells people over and over - when he tells his own story - is that he has walked in their shoes and he gets it.
That entire bio is all about that - Jeez.
October 29, 2008 10:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly. I thought the feature made the connection between his message and reality.
October 29, 2008 10:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
He would have beaten Reagan. I think, that would be the greatest presidential race ever.
October 29, 2008 10:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fantasy politics. I actually thought that was a good idea for a minute.
ffs. I need help.
October 29, 2008 11:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks a lot for making me spew my morning coffee. I had the same thought, BTW.
October 30, 2008 9:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed. I've heard him say all of these things dozens of times. He's made this link throughout.
October 29, 2008 10:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not inspirational to you and your kind, evidently.
But, really ...
October 29, 2008 10:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not sure I agree with her on this one, but bluebell brings intelligence and insight to these threads on a regular basis. I, for one, welcome her "kind."
October 29, 2008 10:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with you. There is no cause to personally attack those who disagree, especially when it's a fellow traveler.
October 29, 2008 10:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope my contributions will get me a seat in the 345th row of the inauguration, or at least a place to wave a flag in the parade! Ha, no.. I"ll be watching on TV with champaign glass in hand!
I HOPE! 6 days.
October 29, 2008 10:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now how can you be a limousine liberal, if you can't even spell champagne ;)
October 29, 2008 11:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Even Wonkette was less cynical and, um, bitter than this post.
October 29, 2008 10:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
They could put some money into the Georgia, Kentucky, and Mississippi Senate races.
They could spend some on helping people get to the polls to vote.
Both of those could provide a very good return on their money.
October 29, 2008 10:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought the infomercial was fine, and did its job well, though personally it bored me out of my skull.
I'm not the target audience, I know. The target audience probably hasn't already listened to all these talking points, with rapt attention, for 365 days.
It's been a long campaign, and I think we're all more than ready for it to be over.
October 29, 2008 10:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jesus y'all are fucking downers.
I watched it on the lower thread with some people who felt like I did.
I'm out of here - I don't think it was the genius film of all time, but I thought it pretty fucking good - excellent production values, excellent way for him to tell voters one more time who he is, what he is trying to do and why.
I'd just as soon hang with people who swooned - cynicism is just so last century.
This is a new century and enthusiasm rules.
October 29, 2008 10:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree. My Republican girlfriend (who just voted for Obama on PA) was balling the whole time. Man, if you felt that was boring, sucks for you.
October 29, 2008 10:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, if it got Republicans bawling, I'm happy!
(I'm going to let you slide on the spelling of "balling" . . . but just this one time, or they'll revoke my wiseguy credentials.)
October 29, 2008 10:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
balling
transitive verb
1: to form or gather into a ball 2usually vulgar : to have sexual intercourse with.
I guess y'all enjoyed yourselves more than the rest of us.
October 29, 2008 11:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tena, I'm totally with you on this. This was amazingly well done without being 'slick' or overdone. The first family that they showed grabbed me and I was along for the whole ride after that.
One of the reasons we're seeing a black guy winning a race for the White House--just to help you keep it in perspective--is that people are sick and tired of all the cynicism. They can believe in him and not feel like they're being taken. He's speaking straight to them from the heart and they know it.
Think about the acceptance speech in Denver and how that won over so many people that very few conservative pundits dared to say anything critical of it. This went beyond that. It had visuals. It had stories told by ordinary people.
If nothing else impresses about the infomercial, one has to at least concede that Barack Obama has a clear and calming voice. It's a speaking style and a tone that one can easily stand to listen to over a four or eight-year stretch. I'm not sure I can stand to hear McCain or Palin's voice for another 6 days. And, I've been muting Bush for the better part of eight years now.
October 29, 2008 10:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Wall Street Journal wants you to grade Obama's special:
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/10/29/how-would-you-grade-obamas-infomercial/
October 29, 2008 10:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, I voted. Boy, there are some real asshats posting in the forum. To hell with 'em. Obama's grade at present is off the charts.
October 29, 2008 10:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's getting annoying that anything short of absolute cheerleading for Obama by TPM writers is met with such contempt by the comments. You're right, this was the best candidate sponsored media since Triumph of the Will! This does represent the tremendous amount of support that Obama has collected. Obviously, TPM is an openly left-leaning blog, they don't need to compromise themselves by creaming themselves at everything Obama does.
October 29, 2008 10:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
O please. We don't need cheerleading...but damning brillance with faint praise is contempt for the friggin people who visit the site.
Cheerleading no...but a little analysis beyond 'they have money to blow' and just couldn't figure how to spend it...is absurd on it's face.
Particularly, when the man covered most of the battleground states and then ended with a LIVE message from FL the biggest battleground state responsible for the situation we have today in the white house and the loss of America's moral authority and leadership credibility in the world?
Hell, we deserve respect...we sure got a lot of analysis about Dole and Palin and their NEGATIVE comments and ads
but all that can be mustered up for Obama is...well he has money to blow?
Riiiiight.
October 29, 2008 10:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have to be honest. Perhaps it’s because I know so much more about the guy that I felt he could have expressed more; but I thought the ad a bit boring at times.
I wasn’t crazy about the American families stories - I know what he was doing by telling Americans these stories, but it didn’t ‘do’ anything for me. I got more choked up over his mom’s cancer story then all three of the family’s stories combined. I would have liked to have seen more about his family and his life. People know very little about ‘him’ — except for what his opponents keep pushing.
It was meant to make him appear presidential and a caring thoughtful man, because of that, I suppose it was successful.
I saw one thing that might come back to bite him and that’s his comment about taxcuts, “if you make less than 200,000 a year you will get a taxcut”. That’s all fine and dandy but for most of the campaign and even after the infomercial his surrogates were saying the amount was 250,000 or less. McCain caught Senator Biden saying another figure yesterday and commented about it.
They really need to clarify that better. Maybe the $200,000 is for a single person and maybe the $250,000 is for a couple?
Anyway, I don’t have a clue how the voter that hasn’t been paying attention for the past 21 months will think about this infomercial; but I’m pretty sure they won’t hate him for it or not vote for him - because of it.
http://coonsey.wordpress.com/
October 29, 2008 10:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I pretty much agree there. For one thing, I don't think there really are any more undecided voters. The only decision is whether they bother to vote at all. I think it might have been better to have reinforced the motivation to VOTE for change.
October 29, 2008 10:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
You have, evidently, had your heart removed.
October 29, 2008 10:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Coonsey,
You have it muddled. There are 2 separate statements. The first is that Obama will not RAISE taxes on anyone making $250K dollars a year. The second is that Obama will REDUCE taxes on those who make LESS than $200K dollars a year.
The overlap is those who make 2-250K do not get a tax reduction...their taxes stay the same.
Ergo...he does not RAISE taxes on anyone making LESS than $250K.
The message gets confusing because McCain talks about RAISING taxes and Obama talks about REDUCING taxes. When you give the specifics folks get lost in the sauce...cause they are use to hearing the $250K number as a counter to the RAISE taxes...and then get it twisted when he says who will see a tax REDUCTION.
Even the people making over $250K only have their taxes raised 3% from 33 to 36%.
So...the point to clarify is that the folks making between $2-250K their taxes STAY the same.
Folks under $200K get a reduction.
Those making less than $250K do not have a tax INCREASE.
October 29, 2008 10:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's nice to see a candidate have high expectations. Bush said "I'm all about low expectations" and he didn't disappoint. Enough of that soft bigotry.
I can't imagine the McCain campaign filling a half-hour with as much positive information as Obama did. Lately, all they're saying is to fear Obama.
October 29, 2008 10:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'll fucking say - not to mention one whom one can actually believe completely feels the compassion he claims to feel for people.
I really think cynicism is just too fucking immature and boring for words these days.
October 29, 2008 10:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tena I'm 57 and I can be cynical at times but you are right; now's sure not the time. I thought the show was great and touching and effective ... the country has been run into the ground and it makes me angry, not cynical; not when Obama is six days away. The man is exceptional and there's just no two ways about it. Dammit I want people who work and commit in this country to not get screwed over ... I'm sick to death of the GOP bullshit. This is a man who can help us be America again.
October 29, 2008 11:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey Nate Silver of 538.com is on countdown right now.
October 29, 2008 10:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nate is 100% nerd.
October 29, 2008 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was about to post the exact same thing. Hilarious!
I think he intentionally makes himself look nerdy to improve his credibility on TV.
October 29, 2008 10:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nah, I'm pretty sure Nate has been just that nerdy his whole life. Really, I think being a nerd is a prerequisite for being a sabermetrician.
October 29, 2008 10:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
No one would pick out those glasses unless he wanted to look nerdy. He would look a lot better (IMO) if he got some nice rimless glasses and fluffed up his hair a little.
That said, he’s clearly brilliant and I love his site.
October 30, 2008 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
He's just embracing his natural style instead of trying to fight it, I think.
Either that, or his mom picked his glasses out for him.
October 30, 2008 2:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
He really did look extra-nerdy tonight. hi-larious.
i love fivethirtyeight.com!
October 29, 2008 10:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't believe I'm going to do this, but I'll put aside all snark and be positive for a moment.
I was not bored at all.
I thought there were some beautiful moments. A 72 year old forced to work at Walmart tugs at my heart. Very old women and men hugging a black candidate and smiling genuinely moves me.
Yes it was Hollywood. And yes, it sucks that we still live in a time when a black man has to "humanize" himself to win public office.
I can be as cynical as the next person. But not now, not at this moment in our history.
Now, back to snark central.
October 29, 2008 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bless you!
I honor you and your kind!
October 29, 2008 10:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks you sir. And you are quite handsome to boot.
October 29, 2008 10:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
So are (were?) you!
October 29, 2008 10:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tonight was all about:
Closing. The. Deal.
And SchrodingersCat upthread got it right:
Money is a weapon that wins elections.
If John McCain hadn't married a sugar-momma, and was more of a capitalist, he'd might have realized the need to build a supporter base that gladly pours $25 donations into the hopper to kick ass. But he relied on socialism to fund his campaign. L.O.S.E.R.
October 29, 2008 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Since January I have been giving this campaign $100 a month from the scholarship stipend I receive. And even if I have to do it for a few more I would give it- no questions asked.
My one hundreth of a penny spent on this ad is fully justified.
October 29, 2008 10:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
You are a great American.
Thomas Jefferson would know you as one of his own.
October 29, 2008 10:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you. But frankly, calling me a "great" American is a overreaction, to the levels of funny. I'm now laughing at myself. LOL.
My story is niether the saddest or the greatest by a long stretch. I'm just a student in New York psyched about this campaign.
Let's no spend flatter in unwarrented places.
I'm a more than willing to join you however in hoping for Obama nation in 6 more days.
October 29, 2008 10:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Kash, I think I'm in love.
October 29, 2008 11:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorter Eric: Obama said "blah blah blah" during a half hour ego strokefest on the dime of the supporters.
Nice analysis. What, do you have a hangover? I thought it was pretty damn good. It was a nice contrast to the incessant attacks of the last few weeks. Not everyone can go to a rally (or has become jaded by covering them) - those people got to see beyond a 30 second sound byte commercial tonight without distraction.
Sure it's enviable to be able to afford the airtime, but focusing on that was pretty lazy reporting. IMO it seems to have been money well spent - there's minimal (if any) backlash with sports fans over a perception of bumping baseball (an idea wingers really tried to push) while there has been major coverage in the political and US news categories of a generally positive nature. For many campaigns, that would be a win.
I'm totally stoked with it!
October 29, 2008 10:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I liked this ad, and here's why. Nobody except absolute whackjobs can watch this and say, oh no, that guy's scary!
He comes off as the most sane, sensible candidate on the planet. He's not scary socialist. He's not radical leftist. He looks safe. He belies everything McCain has tried to say about him.
October 29, 2008 10:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
You are so right.
Even if Obama turns out to have been an absolute fraud who deceived us and enslaves us and ships our grandmothers off to concentration camps, McCain has been a moron to portray him as something that anyone with a teevee can see that he manifestly is not.
Gobama.
October 29, 2008 10:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Obama thing was good and all, but what I find myself wondering is if Joe the Plumber can do the Macarena. You know, now that he is getting an agent and all...
October 29, 2008 10:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I really think a few folks in here need to lighten up on Eric. Eric is a media guy. It's his JOB to be analytical about media - ALL FUCKING MEDIA. All professionals have to be objective about the subject of their jobs.
Additionally, criticizing Eric's comments as to the mind-blowing affluence of the Obama campaign is just fucking silly. Don't be so damned sensitive - he's not Hannity, he's one of us.
Also, I really liked the show. I think it will touch a lot of Walmart moms right where they need to be touched right now. My wife cried all the way through it.
October 29, 2008 10:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with you, mikebbme, but you need to lighten up on the caffeine...
October 29, 2008 10:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
So a "media guy" doesn't have to hew to rational standards?
I'm a "media guy," too. And I think Eric is a very strange artifact. Full of shit? Or on the dark side?
October 29, 2008 10:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
lol... I don't have a problem with anybody criticizing Eric's analysis. I just think it's silly, and counterproductive to go on and on about it in comment after comment.
Some of the comments upthread are coming dangerously close to questioning Eric's lineage. I'm kidding, but c'mon, we all our personal style.
October 29, 2008 11:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Your are right skymodem it IS his JOB to be ANALYTICAL.
The problem is he didn't DO his job!
Saying Obama just had money to blow is not analysis!!
Got that?
October 29, 2008 10:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
lol.. as I said in reply to your last STFU comment above - when you say "Americans like Eric...", you are going to far. Really. That sounds like something a Redstate drooler would say.
C'mon man, lighten up.
October 29, 2008 11:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Eric's comments are being criticized because Eric's comments are ridiculous. If he didn't like it, thought it was "too much", thought it was ineffective or poorly executed, he has a platform to say any and all of those things. Instead, he reacted to something that is largely unprecedented by making an observation that Rudy Giuliani might've made to Pat Buchanan on Morning Joe. This is a tough business. (Just look at Senator Dole's face if you need proof.) Sometimes you're the dog and sometimes you step in dogshit. Eric stepped in it tonight...
October 29, 2008 10:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sure. But to say, "Americans like Eric...", is over the line. I've heard enough of that crap for the last 8 years directed at people like us - which includes you and me.
Really bothers me to hear one of us use that kind of language to describe anybody - especially to describe one of our own.
October 29, 2008 11:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
So did mine...
...and *gasped* when she saw the 72-year-old man pin a Wal-Mart tag on!
October 30, 2008 12:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
My guess is this ad went directly to the demographic he was going for. This ad wasn't for the well off. This ad was obviously for the struggling blue collar workers and retires out there that are doing everything right but can't keep up with medical costs. I'd be amazed if this didn't connect with them in a way many of us can only imagine.
October 29, 2008 10:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agree completely. Masterfully targeted. It wasn't made for us. It was made for them.
October 29, 2008 10:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
2 thoughts:
I'm with Bluebell: The only think that I think would have made it better was a bit more of a tone of hopefulness from the profiled "real Americans." At least an explicit statement that they think Obama will make it better. Did any of them even explicitly say they're voting for him? (Don't flame -- I honestly don't remember).
Second ... it looks like I'll have to be the first to mention that neither Bill nor Hillary made it into the march of Democratic stars...
October 29, 2008 10:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's possible that choosing not to have them say, "And that's why I'm voting for Obama" was deliberate. That leaves the question in the hands of the viewer.
If they had said it (I don't remember hearing it--because hearing it signals the end of the commercial, traditionally), I would have been a little turned off--like they were scripted to say it.
So I think it was good they didn't. But my memory may not be good either. ='*'
I thought it was absorbing, moving, and well-paced. I was embarrassed at how much I liked it, and was choked up a lot, too. The man putting on a Wal-Mart button was very effective (that that, Wal-Mart! Heaaah!).
Hope I hope I hope I hope.
October 29, 2008 11:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Peaceful revolutions happen sometimes, even as we are watching.
This day's events portend a new future for political cxampaigning.
October 29, 2008 10:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought it was beautifully done. Yeah, I'm one of the faithful and have heard/seen some of this before, but I choked up several times. It was very well-paced, moving, and direct. It left me thinking, more than ever before, that it would be a tragedy for America not to elect this man as president.
October 29, 2008 10:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm watching Olbermann right now, and once again, to counter Rashid Khalidi attacks against Obama, all they bring up is that McCain gave him money. Why not stop smearing this poor guy's name. He's not a radical! Just because he has different views on the Israeli-Palestine situation does not make him a radical! This is absurd.
October 29, 2008 10:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
But he has a foreign sounding name and doesn't unconditionally support Israel! I hear he is also concerned about the rights of Palestinians! What a radical guy.
October 29, 2008 10:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
When that women was rubbing her hands and you saw how arthritic it was, BOY did I realize how much we need to fix that haelthcare system. That stuff scared me into paying attention.
October 29, 2008 10:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is to infomercials what "An Inconvenient Truth" is to PowerPoint Presentations...
(Yeah, I know they were both directed by the same cat :)
October 29, 2008 10:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know, I think he should have been talkin' about this troublin' relationship with Rashid Pilates that I've been hearin' about.
October 29, 2008 10:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good one!
October 29, 2008 10:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Then McCain can talk about his relationship with the same man! Followed by Palin talking about her buddies at the Alaska Independence Party having a relationship with Iran...
October 29, 2008 10:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Getting ready to watch it now on the West Coast. First, have to prep my Ted Stevens massage chair. Pillow? Check. Lysol? Check. Finding the $250,000 in payoffs in the cushions? Double check.
October 29, 2008 10:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought it was outstanding. Beautifully-produced and taking full advantage of the fact that Obama is the best communicator the Democrats have had since JFK. (Yes, as good as Bill Clinton was, I think Obama's better in his own way.)
It was master stroke to have Obama narrate it off-screen as well as on-screen. What other presidential candidate could have pulled that off? I suppose Reagan could but he was a pro -- a SAG member. No one else I can think of.
October 29, 2008 10:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
My favorite story right now is Sarah Palin virtually announcing her candidacy for 2012.
I swear, I *love* that gal. She's like a bottomless goodie basket for Dems -- an infinite pinata.
October 29, 2008 10:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh shit. I thought this was just in general, the idea that she seems to want to run later. I didn't realize she had actually come out and said it! Gotta love it. Really.
October 29, 2008 10:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep Alex...they didn't call her barracuda for nothin in High School!! You betcha!
O McCain and them loved their pitbull with lipstick when she was smacking Obama..but when girlfriend said she was 'in it to win it' for herself...now they have another toon.
Haahahaha...how dumb could they be?
They even touted how she ran against the sitting governor of her OWN party...so what in the hell made them think she wouldn't turn on their asses too?
Dumbshyts...taken in by a pretty face...with a track record of doublecrossing party folks, she even blew the whistle on the former 2-term Governor.
What's that song?
You knew I was a snake when you took me in?
Palin the barracuda...pittbull...hockey mom my ass!!
She is a pageant queen and there is no rougher, backstabbing, lying ass..everyman for himself competition than that!!!
Pageant folks are cunning...just like Palin...they have animal cunning and now McCain has been bit...
serves him right for being distracted by her ass!!
As if, she and Todd both didn't know exactly how they lured them into their lair..First Dude been pimpin Sarah a loooong while....they are one fine pair those two.
hahahahahahahahaha
October 29, 2008 11:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're good. I hope you'll be her opponent's manager!
October 30, 2008 12:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Nobody watched this except the already converted.
His ability to waste immense amounts of money is the takeaway. And that is his presidential plan too.
Is Tena crying yet?
October 29, 2008 10:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
What did you think of it? Did you watch? Did you like it?
October 29, 2008 10:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can anyone else smell that? Hmmm, tellmemore, I think you stepped in your own bullshit.
Presenting your case in a simple, positive way to as many people as you can reach, a week before the election, when sports fans from PA and FL will be watching: is not a waste of money.
October 29, 2008 11:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, she's crying with laughter at your stupidity. Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia all going for Obama. Obama fights for the 95%, McCain holds on to his 5% super-rich and corporate crowd. The video was perfectly aimed and produced.
October 30, 2008 12:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
I have a new top-of-the-line computer and a fast internet connection. Why can I practically take a shower or pop a pot of corn while my posts go through?
October 29, 2008 10:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I feel ya!!...I suppose this is the price of success? Maybe the server just can't handle the load...and they do not want to upgrade again, since the traffic will likely drop significantly by Thanksgiving?
October 29, 2008 10:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Eric, its official.
You're a prick. Your headline and your "analysis" is what I would expect from a fox pundit.
Shame on you.
October 29, 2008 10:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
If there's still more excess money, it would be nice to lay some on the guys who are running against McConnell and Chambliss, two of the skankiest blights on the Senate since Joe. McCarthy.
October 29, 2008 10:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
And Norm Coleman, too.
October 30, 2008 12:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wasting immense amounts of money is Obama's intent.
October 29, 2008 10:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think you died a little inside tonight. So did Rob Fournier. We're buying you guys a tombstone is six days.
October 29, 2008 10:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Awesome smack by kicking Ron in the nuts as well. :)
"Rack him!"
-Jim Rome
John
October 29, 2008 11:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
I heart John McCain's health care plan! I like my health care benefits, but they just aren't taxed.
October 29, 2008 10:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dude -- what was the deficit in 2000 as opposed to now? I forget. You too, apparently. Enjoy election night! We will!
October 29, 2008 11:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I had a huge lump in my throat the entire time.
Could the last eight years finally be coming to a close?
October 29, 2008 10:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
And that's exactly what this is all about, closing the worst chapter many of us have ever know.
Thanks for this concise post.
October 29, 2008 10:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I swear, I *love* that gal. She's like a bottomless goodie basket for Dems -- an infinite piñata.
I agree - she makes Mark Foley look like a one trick pony. Sarah can do it all - corruption, stupidity, gaffes galore, book burning, sex scandals, laughable diction.
"Nobody doesn't spite Sarah P"
October 29, 2008 10:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's all true, and thanks for silently giving me my missing tilde on the n.
This latest trick is beautifully timed. If you want to pump up turnout, just hint that you're looking forward to running in 2012 after your running mate loses.
Message to base: "Stay home, folks, and vote for me next time around."
October 29, 2008 11:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's all true, and thanks for silently giving me my missing tilde on the n.
This latest trick is beautifully timed. If you want to pump up turnout, just hint that you're looking forward to running in 2012 after your running mate loses.
Message to base: "Stay home, folks, and vote for me next time around."
October 29, 2008 11:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Timba, very funny.
October 30, 2008 12:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why is he having the rally with Bill so late tonight?
October 29, 2008 11:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Didn't want to distract from the video's release, and he still makes the evening news. Very smart.
October 29, 2008 11:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
So the west coasters can have a live message at the end of the ad buy...
October 29, 2008 11:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
We just saw it out here. Fantastic! George W. Bush dug us a huge hole now Bush wants to hand the shovel to McCain.
October 30, 2008 12:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
Another thing - World Series. GO PHILLIES!!!
October 29, 2008 11:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
He has elegantly and eloquently communicated to the world that his campaign is about the people and for the people.
October 29, 2008 11:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
People, watch C-Span now. Obama and Bill are having a rally.
October 29, 2008 11:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I desperately hope Obama wins, but this thread reminds me of why I supported Hillary during the primaries. The vast majority of his blogosphere cult are a bunch of complete and utter nutjobs. Please don't mess it up for the rest of us with your ridiculous diatribes.
October 29, 2008 11:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
We love you to Heretic
October 29, 2008 11:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
No way, man. I'm going to keep posting my fanatical diatribes here so I can lose the election for Obama. Only six days to go, and I know this is where I can alienate swing voters fastest!!
October 29, 2008 11:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
If everyone on this thread posts nutjob comments on five other threads, and those people post nutjob comments on five other blogs, we'll not only lose TPM for Obama, we'll lose the blogosphere, and we'll lose the world!
October 30, 2008 12:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Whatever. I'm inspired by a politician for the first time in my life, and I (and others) will wax poetic all we like. Honestly, what do you care? If this kind of passion turns into votes for Obama, I don't give a hot damn if they write him a sonnet.
Just fucking vote.
October 30, 2008 12:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Am I the only one that thinks Bill Clinton and Barack Obama have the most intelligent conversations ever. I don't know why but that always crosses my mind when I think of the two of them.
October 29, 2008 11:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great medium for his message.
Great timing.
Great placement (who needed ABC? Anyone? Anyone?)
Great visuals.
Great testimonies.
Great music.
Great use of time and money.
Great. Just great.
Thank you, Barack Obama, for letting me dare to hope again.
October 29, 2008 11:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bill's still got it. That was masterful.
October 29, 2008 11:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Their new nickname will be BubububuBARACK.
October 29, 2008 11:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!
October 29, 2008 11:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exceptional. The points made in the comments section are all spot on.
I look forward to Greg and Josh doing pieces on this. I think both have memories going back Perot trying this with his charts and whatnot.
Some of my money went into this. I consider it well donated money.
John
October 29, 2008 11:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
John, I like to read your comments, but your avatar scares me.
October 29, 2008 11:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's Toshiaki Kawada after he'd been dropped on his head & neck a few too many times by his rival, who he almost always lost to.
As a Evil Liberal DFH Dem, I've often felt like ol' Tosh over the years getting dropped on my head by those pain in the ass conservative Repubs. So that's where the username and avatar come from. :)
John
October 30, 2008 2:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Goddamn. That's exactly how I've felt over the last 8 long years. I always thought your avatar was somehow compelling - but sick in a modern primitive way. Glad you explained that. I like it better now.
October 30, 2008 3:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
And Kleefeld remains the absolute worst political analyst in American politics, amid a field of extremely bad political pontificators. Can TPM find someone even marginally better than Eric Kleefeld to offer analysis? My guess, reading the insightful other comments to this post, is certainly yes.
Will they listen? Given the lengthy tenure of Wolf Blitzer at CNN, obviously not.
October 29, 2008 11:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
The other amazing thing of how the Obama campaign has timed this out:
The "follow up" to the Prime Time show is to have Obama and the Big Dog together for their first time. Talk about eating up the rest of the discussion in the cycle. It's like back-to-back homers.
John
October 29, 2008 11:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
I chose to watch the daily show. I kind of regret it, it wasn't that great. I'd rather have seen Obama-Clinton.
October 29, 2008 11:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's still on! Hurry!
October 29, 2008 11:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
One of things that impressed me about the broadcast was that the first half of it, approximately, was not so much about Obama himself as it was about the Americans -- and the America -- Obama wants to lead.
October 29, 2008 11:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought it was great. It was totally down to earth and very real. Obama's campaign is an example of how well he will lead. He has picked the best people to run his campaign and he has talked to the right people about the issues. you know if he is voted President he will surround himself with terrific people not like Bush with his questionable selections he made of people who had little experience and were his friends. Obama is totally informed and in touch.
October 29, 2008 11:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought the "Obamamercial" was great. It was a very emotional piece; he was smart to take it to down to a human level. It was also a great way to reel in those voters on the fence and hopefully many of those voters act!
October 29, 2008 11:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
New word, this is called an Obamamercial!
October 29, 2008 11:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
I see.thanks for the heads up.
October 29, 2008 11:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
It was not coincidence the states the people were from: MO (toss up), OH(leaning), NM(leaning), KY(South OH - leaning), and throw in views of PA (solid) when talking about Biden. Very savvy. I expect they had more states they could plug in.
1) A white family from suburban Missouri, 2) A devout Christian African-American couple from Ohio, 3) A Hispanic family from New Mexico and 4) A white autoworker from Kentucky.
Well played.
October 30, 2008 12:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yup. Very well thought-out.
October 30, 2008 12:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Now I know. The Obamamarcial (thank you for the word),the date at midnight with Bill and Stewart it's to make sure we remained pumped.
It's workimg.
October 30, 2008 12:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Just finished watching the "Infomercial" (technically it's correct to call it like that, even if doesn't feel like one of those that you usually find late at night). Damn, it was good!
Kudos to all the people involved in the making of this wonderful piece of work.
Good night! Only five days away!
October 30, 2008 12:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
It was a very beautiful night. The well-executed broadcast, DS, and the Obama/Bill FL rally, everything well-timed.
And another day has passed. Six days (inc. 11/4) to go.
October 30, 2008 12:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
And the Phillies won the World Series! Amazing night.
October 30, 2008 1:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
And the Phillies won the World Series! Amazing night.
October 30, 2008 1:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
proof that 30 mins is too short to discuss the problems and solutions for the country and is better used than to slam your opponent.
by not mentioning mccain obama made him irrelevant.
October 30, 2008 12:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Who?
October 30, 2008 12:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Barack and Bill were great tonight. Barack had Bill genuinely cracking up with the PB+J sandwich line.
What I love most, and what inspires me the most is the depth and diversity of people who support Obama. In the crowds, I see a true representation of what America is made up of.....so very unlike the McShame/Failin rallies which are a sea of WASP's.
October 30, 2008 12:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hee hee.
http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/sprinttotheoval/archive/2008/10/29/raising-arizona.aspx
I won't be greedy, but... wouldn't it be great?
October 30, 2008 12:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
That socialist! Everyone should fight for their own sandwiches instead of waiting for government handouts.
October 30, 2008 12:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
An earlier commenter surmised that Kleefield must be quite young. I have to agree with that assessment. He reminds me of debaters I see at high school tournaments who while having never experienced anything or so dead certain they know how the world works and want everyone to know it.
October 30, 2008 12:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
You don't need to surmise. You can view his TPM bio. He is indeed quite young.
FWIW, I don't get any impression at all from him of being cocky or self-important.
October 30, 2008 1:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sheesh...check out this story of McCain people ejecting people from their Iowa rally.
http://www.iowastatedaily.com/articles/2008/10/28/news/local_news/doc49068f6ccce49245010961.txt
Here is an excerpt...
“I saw a couple that had been escorted out and they were confused as well, and the girl was crying, so I said ‘Why are you crying? and she said ‘I already voted for McCain, I’m a Republican, and they said we had to leave because we didn’t look right,’” Elborno said. “They were handpicking these people and they had nothing to go off of, besides the way the people looked.”
October 30, 2008 12:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
The infomercial was the icing on the cake for me. I can remember clear back to the Adlai Stevenson vs. Ike campaign in 1956 (just barely!) and I don't think I've ever seen a campaign as cool and coordinated as Obama's. Apart from the huge bankroll, I don't know if it has been luck, timing, genius or poor performance by McCain that helped bring it all together. A huge pile of money is not the answer unless you know how to use it. It will take a while for the experts to get this campaign analyzed and fully appreciated. Meanwhile...enjoy.
October 30, 2008 12:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
The piece itself -- with a mix of Obama's life story, praise from Democratic leaders and some discussion of policies we've all heard before -- is less interesting than its own existence and what it represents.
Eric Kleefeld, if you find political reporting this boring, perhaps you should find another profession. This "I'm a jaded dude who has heard this stuff a thousand times before" is exactly what TPM is supposed to be the antidote of.
Your boredom does not equal insight.
It is just your boredom.
October 30, 2008 2:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Your boredom does not equal insight".
Well said.
I don't know which of Eric's avatars sucks the most - Political anaylst or Polls analyst.
October 30, 2008 3:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Heh. My girlfriend has trouble with me being overly literal. In that vein, I have trouble finding fault with Eric's text that you quoted.
It's got two parts. Let me rearrange the outer part into something semantically equivalent.
The infomercial's own existence and what it represents is more interesting than the piece itself.
Sounds more positive that way, but it's saying exactly the same thing.
For myself, I found the piece to be quite interesting. But I can see his point about its mere existence and what that represents (as opposed to its content). I'd have a hard time arguing that one was objectively more interesting than the other.
... with a mix of Obama's life story, praise from Democratic leaders and some discussion of policies...
Seems like a fair description so far.
... policies we've all heard before...
I suspect that's the part that triggered your jaded dude reaction.
Well, I didn't hear any policy stuff that I hadn't heard before. Did you?
Eric's stretch might be saying we've all heard that policy stuff before. Surely some haven't, but I'd guess that a huge majority of us TPM EC readers have. It boils down to this: When Eric says we, he's talking about himself and who else?
October 30, 2008 3:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
If you want something substantive to pick on Eric for, I'd suggest this:
This infomercial has been planned for a long time. It wasn't placed six days before the election because the end was drawing near and they were sitting on this pile of money wondering what to do with it. It was placed six days out because strategically that's where it belongs.
Put that together with the headline, and I think Eric's characterization of this half-hour ad buy as a last-minute shopping spree is definitely way off.
October 30, 2008 4:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
In contrast to Eric Kleefeld, Tom Shales at the WaPo wrote a piece which describes and summarizes the content of the 30 minute piece. My problem with Eric's blase summary is that it is like an Onion story: "Candidates debate taxes, war, old age and birth and then ask for peoples' vote."
Cheers.
October 30, 2008 5:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
I did think people reacted to that exact part. I didn't feel like bashing Eric (quite honestly, I'm so tired of his daily poll update writeups that I've sorta given up on him about analytic comments, LOL!), but I too thought that part was extremely poorly written, both in style and contents. He could be critical about the informercial, he doesn't have to like it as many supporters here. That's not the point. The point is we tend to expect in-depth political reporting and analysis from TPM, and that part of his writing failed to meet that expectation miserably -- like you said, that infomercial was obviously planned long time before (so was the Keeting video). That "spend the cash" comment is simply factually off base in the first place.
All that said, communication in text is often difficult. Perhaps, few of us would have been pissed by his comment if it had been a face-to-face conversation. He might have said that jokingly or sarcastically. It might have been even sorta funny. Who knows.
I'd rather save my harshest words to mock and attack rightwingwhackjobassheads.
October 30, 2008 9:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Zogby poll has Obama back up by 7 and he is over 50% for first time in a wee while. Of course I take all Zogby polls with grain of salt, however, might be a sign the tightening has reached its endpoint.
October 30, 2008 2:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
Eric I know you dont have to play rah rah cheerleader but Christ man you write with less enthusiasm than a 3rd class passenger on the titanic
October 30, 2008 2:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's worth remembering that Obama booked the time when he was nowhere near his current position in the polls. IIRC, he and McCain were neck and neck when he scheduled it. Things looked tougher then, and he needed to make sure he had a really strong plan for the closing week.
Peace,
Paul
October 30, 2008 2:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
For what it's worth -- oh, sorry: FWIW, lol -- I thought it was a great 30 minutes. Tears in my eyes and everything. My wife was the same (though she did think that they should have just played the actual West Wing music itself full-on.
But a really great use of their money, strategically brilliant, and I was genuinely moved.
October 30, 2008 2:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here's the missing parenthesis -- wish we could edit posts:
)
October 30, 2008 2:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, where I am it's the west coast and I'm always catching up very late to you guys who snatch up reality so early. But I feel more like a warm, comfortable fly on the wall in the 18c than I did a year ago because of your involvement. I so love this man, this blog, this country. I remember back to Adlai Stevenson too, and JFK. Difference here is McCain is no Eisenhower.
October 30, 2008 2:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
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