Obama buys 2-minute commercial on economy

[Fluffdaddy]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D938K0P83&show_article=1


BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) - Barack Obama sought to put a personal stamp on his economic policies in troubled times, appearing Wednesday in a two-minute television commercial to outline his plans and caution it won't be easy to fix the nation's worsening financial problems.
The new ad was filmed in Denver on Tuesday and was to be broadcast nationally in the wake of one of the worst days on Wall Street, as the stock market, reeling from the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers and the takeover of Merrill Lynch, fell 500 points. The turmoil continued Tuesday when the Federal Reserve forged an extraordinary $85 billion rescue of insurance giant American International Group Inc.


The ad and a hardening of Obama's rhetoric reflected a turning point in the campaign to zero in on the economy as the No. 1 issue for voters.

Obama's point was that Americans didn't have to read newspapers or watch television reports to know that the economy is struggling.

Obama said: "600,000 Americans have lost their jobs since January. Paychecks are flat and home values are falling. It's hard to pay for gas and groceries and if you put it on a credit card they've probably raised your rates.

"You're paying more than ever for health insurance that covers less and less," he said. "This isn't just a string of bad luck. The truth is that while you've been living up to your responsibilities, Washington has not. That's why we need change. Real change."

Taped in a living-room like setting, Obama spoke directly to the camera and did not mention Republican rival John McCain.

The Obama campaign also released an ad highlighting the closure of Corning Inc.'s plant in State College, Pa., and accusing McCain of selling out its workers.

The ad, which is set to air in Pennsylvania and 12 other states, features photos of blue-collar workers and claims that in 2004 the company hired back many of its workers to dismantle the equipment for shipment to China. McCain, it says, supported breaks to companies that moved jobs overseas and voted against a crackdown on unfair trade practices.

"Washington sold them out with the help of people like John McCain," the ad says.

[pinto]

1. Good move. A little more context than a simple spot provides. And timely.

:thumbsup:

[ColbertWatcher]

2. Direct link to video!

http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=176813

Thank you for posting!

[magellan]

3. Wow wow wow!

After viewing this ad, I've gone from being a jaded citizen and reluctant supporter of Obama (i.e. anyone but McCain) to a wholehearted Obama supporter with hope. He hits all the right notes, it's a 2-minute thing of beauty. And this will go straight to every living room!

I don't expect miracles from the man. But I do feel much better about giving Obama my vote now.

:woohoo:

[ColbertWatcher]

5. "I don't expect miracles from the man" You shouldn't ...

... and I don't think he's promised any.

He's merely trying to lead us so we'll get off our asses and take control of our government!

The GOP has done so much damage to this country that it's going to take every Democrat working day and night for years to get us back to where we were before the GOP decided to "reform" everything.

[magellan]

9. "I don't expect miracles from the man" was my way

...of acknowledging all of that. I'm certainly aware that he's promised no miracles; I'd think he was a fool if he did.

I'm originally a Kucinich supporter. Realistically I knew that was never going to happen, nevertheless DK's ideas and hopes for this country are most in line with my own. Please allow me to come to Obama on my own terms.

[ColbertWatcher]

10. "Please allow me to come to Obama on my own terms." um, o-kay ...

... I don't know where that came from.

[magellan]

13. Your last post sounded

...like you were chiding me over my "I don't expect miracles" remark. On re-reading it, it could be you were simply underscoring the complexity of the crisis the Repubs have brought us. I apologize if I read you wrong.

[ColbertWatcher]

16. Oh, I'm sorry. No, that was not my intent.

I meant it more in a general sense. I've heard lots of people say what they're expecting Obama will do (miracles or otherwise), despite his repeated comments, like "we are the change we've been waiting for."

There's always going to be a leader, but there are more people on the ground doing the actual work. Not saying that a leader doesn't have important work to do, but there are more of us, and yes, there is so much work to do.

We really do need a nation of community organizers to fix what the GOP are leaving behind.

You probably didn't read me wrong; I just wasn't clear.

[magellan]

18. Maybe we should just stick to 2 or 3 word posts

We seem to do much better with them! ("Prescription drugs!" "Bar tabs!" lol)

No harm no foul, mutual misunderstanding. I could have communicated better too. What I hoped to convey was how powerful I think Obama's new ad is and might prove for others like me who are feeling less than enthused with the whole dog and pony show.

I agree with you completely about us being the change we want. I think this ad will inspire people. Thank you for sharing it.

[ColbertWatcher]

23. "No harm no foul" Agreed! n/t

[zonkers]

14. you are right. It nails it. nt

[DevonRex]

17. That is wonderful and thank you very much for saying this.

We need personal stories like yours more often. :)

[magellan]

21. Oh thank you

That's why I shared more than a "woohoo", I was hoping it would be useful feedback. I'm a progressive indy and pretty darned critical of the Dems at this point, partly for their lack of spine on important issues. But Obama has been eroding my discontent with his will to take the fight to the Repubs. God, after all this time, a donkey with some kick...finally! I wish ALL the Dems would follow his lead and stop being doormats.

[wryter2000]

4. That sounds great!

Go get them, Obama.

[dana_b]

6. k&r!!

can't wait to see it.

[radfringe]

7. saw it, it's good -- and now he needs to really get out front on this

get his plan into the hands of the Dems in congress and start pulling together some legislation - even if it goes no where due to repubs/bushies


congress has no freaking idea of what to do

bush is staggering through the halls of the white house looking for his next bottle

cheney is piling money into suitcases and planning his exits

mccain wants to have "investigations", palin is memorizing her next speech of lies


the DOW is 31 points higher than it was when bush took office in JANUARY 2001

tomorrow is going to be a boom or bust day

[FVZA_Colonel]

8. Ross Perot had what amounted to infomercials, and some were pretty popular.

I doubt the length will really be a problem.

[LanternWaste]

11. Wonderful ad!

Wonderful ad and very topical too. I think this could being in some swing voters.

[brettdale]

12. Very Good ad indeed

Smart move.

[Fluffdaddy]

15. This is what I like to see

[Lex]

19. 5th rec

right here! :thumbsup:

[tinrobot]

20. In Bush's silence, Obama will appear very presidential.

It's the type of talk a real president would give.

[MiniMe]

24. He seems more presidential when

* opens his mouth and speaks.

[progressive_realist]

22. Obama has been on fire this week.

Dems are always at their best when they start talking economic populism, but Obama nails it without making extravagant promises.

Any still-disgruntled Edwards or Clinton supporters should really take a listen to this ad and/or to the speeches Obama has given this week in CO and NV. It's not empty "hope and change" fluff.

I especially like that he explicitly calls for a middle-class tax cut. There are still an amazing number of Republicans who think McCain is going to cut their taxes and Obama will raise them, even though the exact opposite is true for at least 95% of voters.