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The commeercial Obama needs now
If I were Obama’s ad guy, here’s a 60-second commercial I’d saturate the airways with right now.
(Camera is FPPOV on Obama, backdrop is like the bio spots from earlier—American flags, quasi-oval office setting)
“I’m Barack Obama. Some people are telling me I need to react to John McCain’s negative commercials, to stoop down to his level and sling mud back at him. But I have more respect for our campaign, and for the American people and the issues that matter most to them.
I want my campaign to be about honor and decency. To be about change in Washington, and change from the same people doing the same old things— the same old George Bush/Karl Rove style of politics, the style of politics John McCain thinks we need four more years of.
So for now I want to keep our campaign on higher level. I’ve said all along this campaign isn’t about me; it’s about you—families who are worried about their future, and their economic security.
But at some point if John McCain turns from an ankle biter into an attack dog, I’ll have to defend myself. And I will. I truly hope and pray it doesn’t come to that. After eight, long dreary years of the same old politics, the American people deserve better.”
Comments (16)
He used to be so good at attacking while pretending not to attack. He's got to figure out how to make the anti-Clinton formula work against McCain.
August 3, 2008 11:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
He just tried with the dollar bill remark and failed. His Clinton strategy was based on attacking her character. It won't work with McCain because he pre-emptively struck with Obama=Airhead Celebrity.
As to the post, all McCain will need to say in response is this: "Once again, it is beneath the worldwide celebrity of Barack Obama to engage in dialog with the American people".
The only response Obama has now is to change the subject, hopefully to jobs and economy. Which would leave him open to flip-flopper charge due to his FISA antics.
August 3, 2008 11:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here's an ad that neither you nor the Obama campaign will ever make:
Image of Paris Hilton from McCain's ad
"McCain launched ads to tie Obama to Paris Hilton. How ironic because in reality, McCain's the one who dumped his wife to tie the knot with a younger, blonde, rich heiress who had brushes with the law."
Image of Paris Hilton morphing into Cindy McCain, next to John MacCain.
August 3, 2008 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
see next post
August 3, 2008 1:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's precisely what he doesn't need. That ad is completely about John McCain - and his tactics that, sadly, appear to be working.
August 3, 2008 8:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree. We need to throw in some critisms directed at John McCain while relating those critiques to solutions Obama intends to provide.
As to what ads Obama should role out, well, like everyone else I've got plenty of opinions based on nothing but more opinions. But here's what we know: 1) McCain's celebrity ads seem to be working; 2) McCain's campaign has very little energy from people on the ground; and 3) many people - maybe because of Obama's professorial nature, maybe because of race, who knows - seem to think Obama talks down to them. So...
Let's use Obama's celebrity. Let's use our own energy. And lets' bypass the whole arrogant, "he's talking down to me" meme.
Let's gather some of Obama's "fans", and use them in ads. Have them talk about solutions Obama offers, while throwing relevant critques at McCain. Let people know why Obama has a following, instead of letting McCain paint O's popularity as a negative. And play to people's hearts, not just their minds. (After all, this is the country that voted Bush. Twice. With 12 million more votes for him in round 2.) Have the young talk about the war and the needless loss of lives that could have easily been their own. Have the middle aged talk about Soc. Security disappearing and/or Jobs going overseas and/or gas prices. Have the old talk about health care and how affordable health care can help them live (and die) with dignity.
We should be focusing our ads on problems, the people affected by those problems, and the solutions an Obama presidency offers.
August 4, 2008 12:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
well dang. I meant to say "criticisms"
August 4, 2008 12:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree that the ad isn't what we need. But I'm quite confused about how McCain's ads are "working"? Part of me thinks it's just our own fears working against us, not necessarily any empirical evidence to suggest that McCain's making huge inroads. Unless you're talking about national polling. And there's more counters to the accuracy and importance of national polling in American Presidential Politics than there is defending it's accuracy.
August 4, 2008 8:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Great point Sci - we need to be hitting McCain where it really hurts on the economy and his lack of solutions for the problems facing most Americans.
BTW, the new avatar scares me. I miss Huey. Please bring him back.
August 4, 2008 10:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am among those who agree that the Obama Campaign needs to go on the attack, but it needs to be the right kind of attack, one that reinforces Obama's message, one that is over the top enough to get the MSM talking, and which puts McCain on the defensive in such a way that reinforces the memes of the attack. Obama hasn't found his attack voice yet.
He needs something like this: Voice: "George Bush: arrogance with confidence:"(Images & clips of Iraq war, corruption, stonewalling, lieing etc.) "John McCain: arrogance without confidence" (cuts from the infamous green-screen speech, clip of hedging on the surge etc.) Barack Obama: "Confidence without arrogance "( great speech clip, list of compromises-- ) Tag line: "It isn't a matter of style; it's the kind of leadership America needs."
It is impossible to defend oneself against attacks of a lack of confidence without looking like you in fact lack confidence--Kind of like its impossible to defend oneself against subliminally racists attacks without appearing like you're race-obsessed yourself.
August 3, 2008 9:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
maybe something a little simpler and more devious.
"Why is John McCain obsessed with young, naughty blonde women." Show pictures of said blonde women and none of McCain.
make the jerk look like the dirty old man he is.
Why is it that the Democrats can't seem to play hardball?
August 3, 2008 9:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Obama just needs to talk about the issues.
August 3, 2008 9:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
I kinda think it's a lot simpler. Somebody, not necessarily Obama, has to put out the meme that McCain is DANGEROUS... because he is. He's got a terrible temper, he's impulsive and reactive and not very intelligent. And did I mention he's a warmonger? Remember that old saying about how if you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail? Well, here's Johnny!
August 3, 2008 10:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama needs to do an ad showing the number of appearances McCain has been on pop tv over the last 2 yrs of the campaign (ie. Jay Leno, The View, Letterman, Conan, cameo in 24, Daily Show, SNL, etc). Contrast that with pictures of O (in that same 2 yr time frame) working hard,
campaigning in towns all across America,listening to everyday people. (Hollywood vs. the Hearland theme). End commercial with: who do you REALLY think is the biggest celebrity? End statement: O cares about real issues impacting America, not who's the biggest star. Flip the script on him with pictures and all. I think attention seeker McCain has made way more appearances on celebrity tv than the O man.
August 4, 2008 3:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Personally I think Obama and the DNC need to fight back.
Idea #1
Show the McCain ad of him saying how he is environmentally friendly in the background and have Al Gore standing in front of it laughing like crazy.
Idea #2
McCain on the Economy. Hammer him with Keating 5 ads. Over and over and over.
Idea #3
Why doesn't McCain support the GI Bill?
Idea #4
Hire Chiat Day
McCain and Rove are mean spirited little men and will not stop. I am shocked and ashamed of this country that we are allowing these ads against Obama to happen.
Reason I supported Hillary? She would have slapped them.
August 4, 2008 6:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
I know it's sinking to McCain's level blah blah blah but I can't get the following ad out of my head:
Music: Money for Nothing and Your Chicks for Free
text: John McCain divorced his injured wife to marry an heiress worth $800 million.
He has 8 houses.
He wears $700 shoes.
He continues to pick up his Senate paycheck, but hasn't attended a vote in months.
Nice work if you can get it!
And he says Senator Obama is out of touch with ordinary Americans?
August 4, 2008 8:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
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