Obama's "The closing argument"-Infomercial

[Hokulele]

My husband and I just watched it (we are currently 3 hours behind the U.S. mainland) and discussed the various points as they came up.

I don't think the main audience was the undecideds, but the core constituency. Based on the results of the past 5 presidential elections, if your base doesn't actually make it to the polls, you don't stand a chance. I believe this was a reminder to those who support Obama to VOTE, hence the blurb at the end regarding knowing where your polling place is located.

 

[Gurdur]

I think they're simply attempting to drive the McCainiacs mad through sheer bombardment. This isn't likely to sway anyone at this stage, but it might irritate the other side into a grumpy, ill-considered reaction...

Like irritating the Pope into being a Catholic?

 

[bozothedeathmachine]

I watched it...

The best parts were when they had this skit where you saw an Obama marionette being manipulated by Bill Ayers. In turn, other marionettes would dance up to Obama and embrace. Barrack would accept some money and then scribble something on what looked a replica of the Constitution. First was Karl Marx, followed by Yassar Arafat.

But the best scene was at the end. Obama put on ceremonial Muslim garb, raised his hands and whispered Allahu Akbar, turned and walked up to Lake Michigan and, are you ready, started walking on the water. I know crazy mixed religious messages, but damn, he's the Anti-Christ, what do you expect.

(after watching a cult brainwash film)Homer: Wait, so the cops new internal affairs was setting them up?
Cult Member: What? Mr. Simpson, there was nothing like that in the movie.
Homer: Yeah, when I get bored I make up my own plot

 

[Ryan O'Dine]

Yeah, people will be wondering why he didn't spread any of that wealth around.

You mean the people who voluntarily donated money to the Obama for president campaign will be wondering why he didn't give the money to someone else rather than spend it on the Obama for president campaign?

Really?

I'm a little confused by Wangler's response, too, but he may be saying that it would be foolish to have so much money and not use it for fear of seeming to have too much money. Pretty hard to argue with.

As for the informercial itself, I was expecting a bit of a minor disaster, but I'd say my worst fears were unrealized. Too shmaltzy for sure, but the man knows how to campaign.

 

[Alferd_Packer]

So, do we add a new term to the lexicon?

Obamercial

 

[Pookster]

The infomercial likely didn't sway many voters (if any), but Obama really didn't need to. The most important thing it did was dominate much of the news for the past 24 hours. It's a day when people are paying attention to Obama instead of McCain, when he desperately needs the spotlight to sway people to him.

This was like the winning team running down the clock in the final minutes of a football game. It takes precious seconds away from your opponent.

 

[DanishDynamite]

Aren't you guys tired of the apparently endless campaign? In my country a campaign usually lasts 3 weeks.

 

[Alferd_Packer]

Aren't you guys tired of the apparently endless campaign? In my country a campaign usually lasts 3 weeks.

No, the is the ultimate reality TV show.

 

[ProbeX]

Aren't you guys tired of the apparently endless campaign? In my country a campaign usually lasts 3 weeks.

Tired? Yes. But 3 weeks sounds foolishly short to me.

 

[Cicero]

I think he should do a magic trick:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXGl9W6XeKE

Must be an old trick. Gallon of gas average is $2.50.

Obama's disclaimer that he won't be a perfect president should stop any criticisms of his executive decisions should they turn out to be blunders.

 

[BenBurch]

Aren't you guys tired of the apparently endless campaign? In my country a campaign usually lasts 3 weeks.

If you think this one is long; I hear the GOP is planning to start the 2012 campaign late next week.

 

[ProbeX]

In the infomercial, Obama talked about his tax plan and how those of us making less than $200k would get a reduction. I thought he'd been telling people that number was $250k (?).

 

[dirtywick]

In the infomercial, Obama talked about his tax plan and how those of us making less than $200k would get a reduction. I thought he'd been telling people that number was $250k (?).

I recall that as well.

 

[Oliver]

I thought it was a great infomercial.

Did someone notice that McCain's name wasn't mentioned at all.
I can't think of a 30 Minute McCain/GOP ad without attacking Obama.

 

[dudalb]

Aren't you guys tired of the apparently endless campaign? In my country a campaign usually lasts 3 weeks.

YES

But when you have election on a regular schdule, mandated by the Basic Law Of The Land (The Constitution ) you have longer campaigns then in a Parliamentary, where a single vote in Parliament can bring about a election in a few weeks time.
I am not saying one is better then the other, but pointing out why US elections do have a longer campaign then the Euro elections generally do.
But a Two Year campaign..which is what we had, the candidates were out campaigning in Jan 2007, less then a few weeks after the 2006 midterms, is ridiculous. Just a few years ago, the heavy campaigning did not begin until Nov/Dec of the year before the election, now it begins about 8 months before the first primary/Caucus.

 

[dudalb]

Not a lot new in the infomerical, although once again I had to laugh at the "I will go through the budget line by line" routine, I don't think many people are buying that. (They are not buying McCain's promises on the budget either).
The only thing that perked my ears was the lowering of the Tax Break numbers and that Obama left the door open to possible new Oil Drilling.

 

[ProbeX]

I recall that as well.

Glad to hear I wasn't hallucinating this. Found an article from MSNBC where Obama's tax assignment discrepancies are discussed:

The Obama campaign tells First Read that this is how Obama's plan breaks down: People making less than $250,000 will not see their taxes increase, and people making less than $200,000 will receive some type of tax cut.

... But the table displayed below that statement, shows a tax increase of $121 for those making as low as $226,919 a year. That seems disingenuous to me.

 

[Ausmerican]

In the infomercial, Obama talked about his tax plan and how those of us making less than $200k would get a reduction. I thought he'd been telling people that number was $250k (?).

Then I think you are misremembering. For as long as I can remember he has said the same thing: If you make less than 250k your taxes will not go up, if you make less than 200k you will get a reduction.

 

[GeeMack]

I thought it was a great infomercial.

Did someone notice that McCain's name wasn't mentioned at all.
I can't think of a 30 Minute McCain/GOP ad without attacking Obama.

That's because this election isn't about McCain. It's about electing Obama or not electing Obama. Even McCain knows that.

 

[ProbeX]

Then I think you are misremembering. For as long as I can remember he has said the same thing: If you make less than 250k your taxes will not go up, if you make less than 200k you will get a reduction.

Found an article from MSNBC where Obama's tax assignment discrepancies are discussed:

... But the table displayed below that statement, shows a tax increase of $121 for those making as low as $226,919 a year. That seems disingenuous to me.