New medium carries Obama's message

[sniffa]

A college student we know recently switched his allegiance from John McCain to Barack Obama. Watching ads and videos for the Illinois senator, he explained, "gave me chills, and made me think that these were the feelings people felt when JFK, my political idol, was running."

The student included a YouTube link to the "most influential" video he'd seen so far. Called "Yes We Can" and created by singer will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, it sets the words of an Obama speech to music. And in just a few weeks, it has become the unofficial anthem of the Obama campaign.

Consider the reaction of Mark Anthony Neal, a professor of African-American studies at Duke University who watched the video with his 9-year-old daughter. As Neal told the Washington Post, his daughter turned and asked: "Daddy, why are you crying?" His answer: "It really pulls at our heartstrings the way more mundane political songs don't."

There are many reasons why Obama has surged into the lead for the Democratic nomination (which widened in Wisconsin and Hawaii this week), but this is an important one. More and more voters are getting their information about the candidates directly from the Internet, outside the filters and frameworks imposed by the mainstream media.

"Yes We Can" is the archetypical example of this shift. Yes, will.i.am and his pals (30 of them join the sing-along) are polished professional performers, but the video acquires its power from a fresh, even naive, approach that would never occur to your average, hard-bitten media consultant.

and much more by Steve and Cokie Roberts.

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/opinions/x1116892729

[K Gardner]

1. Cultist !

[texas_indy]

14. No, he must be a republican plant! After all, they are so much smarter than us Obamatrons, right?

After all, we know that they know that we think that they figure that we thought that they saw that we ...... ??? dang it, I forgot how it goes again.

Oh well, never mind. The Obamatrons will slowly assimilate them and before they know it those nasty republican 5th wingers will be ours! HAHAHAHAHA!!!!
And the indies were so much easier since they were open to either side with their empty heads!

Oh blast it, gotta run. I'm late for the N. Texas midnight Obamatron indoctrination mass. Now, how does that secret handshake go again??

Catch my fellow Obamatrons on the flip side.


Texas is Obama country!

[tabatha]

2. Amazingly neutral article from them. What a surprise.

[babylonsister]

3. Cokie Roberts?

:wow:

[sniffa]

13. Is that a reference to Obama's coke use?

:grr:

[babylonsister]

20. ...

:spray:

[Coexist]

15. I know - since when is she not anti-anything-left.

[Metric System]

4. More proof people are being suckered by the advertising. Obama is the latest in a long line of fads

to sweep American, from Cabbage Patch Kids to New Kids on the Block to Power Rangers. He's the latest must-buy product and all the kids want him for Christmas!

[Starbucks Anarchist]

6. Nobody buys stuff from the Hallmark Channel.

[FrenchieCat]

8. Keep calling Obama supporters Suckers!

Just keep it up!

[dkf]

5. The best part is that people aren't being forced to watch it

like how we have to suffer through TV commercials. Instead we click because we want to see it. And if it leaves us cold we can turn it off.

[TexasObserver]

7. It hit me the same way, and it reached many young people.

Wow, just wow!

[Scurrilous]

9. K & R

:thumbsup:

[blogslut]

10. The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

The revolution will not be televised.
The revolution will not be brought to you by Xerox
In 4 parts without commercial interruptions.
The revolution will not show you pictures of Nixon
blowing a bugle and leading a charge by John
Mitchell, General Abrams and Spiro Agnew to eat
hog maws confiscated from a Harlem sanctuary.
The revolution will not be televised.

- Gil Scott Heron

[BattyDem]

11. His political idol is JFK and he was going to vote for McCain?

I don't get it. :shrug:

[Alhena]

12. Here's the youtube video of the song ...

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

[FrenchieCat]

16. I just went and listened to the song, Yes We Can......

and I'm fired up and ready to go!

Now, I'm going to donate.

[better tomorrow]

17. and then of course there is this one.....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0fd-MVU4vtU


for all Hispanics.....

[texas_indy]

18. Thanks! Didn't see this. You can't go wrong with a Tejanos music endorsement like that! nt

I had to add that if you haven't seen this and you like Tex-Mex music, then WATCH IT!

Makes ya want to dance from the very start! Viva OBAMA!!


Texas is Obama country!!

[flor de jasmim]

19. You beat me to it-- it's great

There is also a reggae version, but the lyrics here are just great! (With POLICIES as well as inspiration!). It not only conveys the idea that the American dream is still alive and possible, but that Obama wants to bring us all together in this nation. United families - even with a health plan! A candidate fighting for our nation... Viva Obama!