I’m embarrassed for my country that a candidate needs to be presented in this way, but it seems well-done. But of course, I’m not the target audience. I hope it’s as effective with the undecided and the people who still aren’t quite sure Obama isn’t a scary Muslim-socialist-terrist-pal, because they have sure gone to a lot of trouble to make this thing.
I wonder it the people out there who think Obama is lying about cutting taxes, etc. will find this infomercial credible.
I wonder if the people out there who think Obama is lying about cutting taxes, etc. will find this infomercial credible.
Watching it, I wondered the same thing. Anyone predisposed to hate and fear Obama would flip around the channels, and see the multi-network ad as some new tentacle of the global Islamowhatever conspiracy. And there’s more than a few folks like that.
But the ad wasn’t skeezy, as I’d feared it would be. I thought the vignettes about real, struggling Americans was effective. Audiences are used to that format from Oprah, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, and the slicked-up network news. If bloggers want to go fact-checking, I’ll bet they’ll find all the people in those examples were real, their stories were true, and they’ve been paying their taxes.
As this mess winds down, I think the pro-middle class, pro-small business message is exactly the right one. We’ve had eight years of government by Big Oil, Big Pharma, Big Finance, etc., and of course it turned out to be the Big Rip-off. Like Linda Loman said, “Attention must be paid to this man!” (And woman.) Attention must be paid to us working stiffs. Barack’s our guy, and I think the ad showed that.
Obama’s strength is in how genuine he is — the intelligence, the caring, the strength, it doesn’t seem staged and this is so wonderful especially after eight years of nothing but stagecraft. The piece was nice, but it seemed slick in a way that wasn’t Obama. Even the address at the end. He’s given me goosebumps, but that live ending wasn’t there. Didn’t have the flow, the build, the humor, the authenticity of a real Obama speech.
It’ll do it’s job in capturing an entire news cycle — incredibly valuable real estate at this pont in the race, but not a wow.
I wonder it the people out there who think Obama is lying about cutting taxes, etc. will find this infomercial credible.
I spent an hour or so this morning hanging out on various FoxNews forums, and I can tell you that those folks simply do not trust anything Obama says. The level of rancor was shocking, even for Fox. A few diehard asshats were going on about how Obama’s infomercial was keeping their kids from watching the World Series, and when I pointed out that it was only the pre-game show that would be delayed, I was subjected to a pretty steady barrage of comments about my patriotism. Most of the folks who were posting when I was there were clearly not going to be watching this evening’s broadcast, and they weren’t shy about saying so.
So, I think it’s a pretty safe bet that many of the people who distrusted Obama earlier today will probably continue to distrust him after tonight.
I have yet to watch the whole thing – too many people trying to see it at once from YouTube – but right off, I like the setting. It looked somewhat like the Oval Office, like the man is all ready to go.
He’ll be a welcome change!
Not bad. I liked the individual stories. It made the point that here are people who have worked hard, played by the rules, and they’ve got it very tough. Of course they worked in cultural diversity, too, but without being obvious about it. He personalized some of the fights and also gave specifics. More socially conservative folks on the fence might have been reassured by the consistent emphasis on family, and he never mentioned Bush or McCain by name that I remember, which was a classy, wise move. I was glad Iraq got at least brief mention. He had the money to burn, so why not? I think it was a good “closing argument” overall, and may allay some jitters for softer supporters.
I liked it. Obama presented his views and his plans for the country succinctly and with the montage of snippets from his best speeches blended with interviews, he came across as a serious, passionate, and dedicated candidate.
As I watched it, I tried to envision McCain doing the same thing, and I couldn’t. I could not inject him into any scenario with any credibility. Not getting hugs from old ladies, not seeing his wife sitting comfortably and talking about what a devoted dad he is, not grasping the hand of a crowd member in a genuine handshake. Obama has it, McCain does not.
Now, was this preaching to the choir? Can there possibly be any undecided voters left? I don’t know if this tipped the scales in any way. I would expect that dedicated Republicans would refuse to watch it simply on principal.
But it was worthwhile and it showed Americans once again that Obama has class, dignity, and a plan to help us out of the disaster we’re in right now.
Now, was this preaching to the choir? Can there possibly be any undecided voters left?
The (highly unscientific) poll on CNN’s website this morning (Thursday) indicates 93% of voters have already made up their minds.
Still, I feel the ad was useful in reminding me how to explain the Obama administration to the fearful types I know. They aren’t going to vote for him, but it would help if they gave him a chance once he’s in office.
I’m embarrassed for my country that a candidate needs to be presented in this way, but it seems well-done. But of course, I’m not the target audience. I hope it’s as effective with the undecided and the people who still aren’t quite sure Obama isn’t a scary Muslim-socialist-terrist-pal, because they have sure gone to a lot of trouble to make this thing.
I wonder it the people out there who think Obama is lying about cutting taxes, etc. will find this infomercial credible.
I wonder if the people out there who think Obama is lying about cutting taxes, etc. will find this infomercial credible.
Watching it, I wondered the same thing. Anyone predisposed to hate and fear Obama would flip around the channels, and see the multi-network ad as some new tentacle of the global Islamowhatever conspiracy. And there’s more than a few folks like that.
But the ad wasn’t skeezy, as I’d feared it would be. I thought the vignettes about real, struggling Americans was effective. Audiences are used to that format from Oprah, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, and the slicked-up network news. If bloggers want to go fact-checking, I’ll bet they’ll find all the people in those examples were real, their stories were true, and they’ve been paying their taxes.
As this mess winds down, I think the pro-middle class, pro-small business message is exactly the right one. We’ve had eight years of government by Big Oil, Big Pharma, Big Finance, etc., and of course it turned out to be the Big Rip-off. Like Linda Loman said, “Attention must be paid to this man!” (And woman.) Attention must be paid to us working stiffs. Barack’s our guy, and I think the ad showed that.
Obama’s strength is in how genuine he is — the intelligence, the caring, the strength, it doesn’t seem staged and this is so wonderful especially after eight years of nothing but stagecraft. The piece was nice, but it seemed slick in a way that wasn’t Obama. Even the address at the end. He’s given me goosebumps, but that live ending wasn’t there. Didn’t have the flow, the build, the humor, the authenticity of a real Obama speech.
It’ll do it’s job in capturing an entire news cycle — incredibly valuable real estate at this pont in the race, but not a wow.
I wonder it the people out there who think Obama is lying about cutting taxes, etc. will find this infomercial credible.
I spent an hour or so this morning hanging out on various FoxNews forums, and I can tell you that those folks simply do not trust anything Obama says. The level of rancor was shocking, even for Fox. A few diehard asshats were going on about how Obama’s infomercial was keeping their kids from watching the World Series, and when I pointed out that it was only the pre-game show that would be delayed, I was subjected to a pretty steady barrage of comments about my patriotism. Most of the folks who were posting when I was there were clearly not going to be watching this evening’s broadcast, and they weren’t shy about saying so.
So, I think it’s a pretty safe bet that many of the people who distrusted Obama earlier today will probably continue to distrust him after tonight.
I have yet to watch the whole thing – too many people trying to see it at once from YouTube – but right off, I like the setting. It looked somewhat like the Oval Office, like the man is all ready to go.
He’ll be a welcome change!
Not bad. I liked the individual stories. It made the point that here are people who have worked hard, played by the rules, and they’ve got it very tough. Of course they worked in cultural diversity, too, but without being obvious about it. He personalized some of the fights and also gave specifics. More socially conservative folks on the fence might have been reassured by the consistent emphasis on family, and he never mentioned Bush or McCain by name that I remember, which was a classy, wise move. I was glad Iraq got at least brief mention. He had the money to burn, so why not? I think it was a good “closing argument” overall, and may allay some jitters for softer supporters.
I liked it. Obama presented his views and his plans for the country succinctly and with the montage of snippets from his best speeches blended with interviews, he came across as a serious, passionate, and dedicated candidate.
As I watched it, I tried to envision McCain doing the same thing, and I couldn’t. I could not inject him into any scenario with any credibility. Not getting hugs from old ladies, not seeing his wife sitting comfortably and talking about what a devoted dad he is, not grasping the hand of a crowd member in a genuine handshake. Obama has it, McCain does not.
Now, was this preaching to the choir? Can there possibly be any undecided voters left? I don’t know if this tipped the scales in any way. I would expect that dedicated Republicans would refuse to watch it simply on principal.
But it was worthwhile and it showed Americans once again that Obama has class, dignity, and a plan to help us out of the disaster we’re in right now.
Now, was this preaching to the choir? Can there possibly be any undecided voters left?
The (highly unscientific) poll on CNN’s website this morning (Thursday) indicates 93% of voters have already made up their minds.
Still, I feel the ad was useful in reminding me how to explain the Obama administration to the fearful types I know. They aren’t going to vote for him, but it would help if they gave him a chance once he’s in office.