Where are the ads from the Democratic National Committee?

[yardwork]

My mom watches the local evening news every night. Sometimes I sit with her. Every night there are negative ads directed at Democrats and President Obama, full of lies. Tonight's was a play on the 3 am phone call ads from the 2008 election. In this version, the worried mom can't sleep. She's worried about her children's future. She voted for Obama because he gave "such beautiful speeches" but now he's ruined the economy, put everybody out of work, and he wants to raise taxes and spend even more. Standing in the doorway of her sleeping children's bedroom, the woman says "we have to take away Obama's blank check before it's too late."

Ok, typical attack ad, Republican style. Since the Supreme Court gave corporations more rights than people, my local stations are flooded with these kinds of ads, paid for by shadowy groups with names like "Americans for freedom and kittens." It's the American way to allow unfettered freedom of speech, even if every word is a lie. I get that.

So where are the opposition ads? Where is our side telling Americans the truth? Where are the ads containing information about how the top 1% of income holders control 40% of the assets, and the top 20% control 84% of everything? Where are the ads showing that the income gap between the rich and poor is greater now than it was during the Great Depression? Or that military spending makes up 58% of federal spending? Where are the ads saying these things?

My belief is that we won't see those ads because the Democrats don't dare anger the corporations and the wealthy individuals who control who gets elected and who gets swift boated.

As long as the Democrats accept their role of Republican-lite we will lose elections.

[yardwork]

1. I'd be interested in hearing the thoughts of folks who defend the centrists.

If it all it takes is being a centrist, then why isn't the centrist DNC taking out ads telling the centrist story?

[Zenlitened]

2. "Centrist story." That's kind of a contradiction in terms, no?

Centrists, almost by definition, don't really seem to have a story.

They gravitate to wherever the supposed "center" happens to be at the moment, because... well, just because.

That's why there is no centrist narrative to share, no centrist values that can't be quietly dumped for the sake of expedience, no centrist ideals to motivate and animate people.

[yardwork]

3. I think that you just described the Democratic Party platform.

[AndyTiedye]

4. Progressive, Centrist or Whatever, Democrats Don't Have that Kind of Money

We are probably being outspent by 10 to 1 if not more. It will be a lot worse next year.

Citizens United changed everything.

[yardwork]

5. The DNC has some money. Where are the ads?

[AndyTiedye]

6. The DNC Must Conserve its Resources for 2012, Obviously

Next year is gonna be ugly. The airwaves will be wall-to-wall with Repug attack ads.
DNC may have to book (and pay for) its election year ad time far in advance to avoid being locked out.

[yardwork]

7. Ok, and what will the DNC ads say?

[AndyTiedye]

9. I Don't Know. I'd Like Them To Use This One

http://www.huliq.com/12079/throw-grandma-cliff-video-targets-paul-ryan-video

[indurancevile]

10. well, if they're that poor, maybe they should just fold now & concede that money is the only deter-

minant in politics.

then at least people would be clear on the actual state of affairs & the kind of regime they really live under.

this says they still have some cash, however:

Despite all of the budget drama, President Obama and the DNC continue to make it rain! The DNC raked in $86 million in the last three months for the 2012 election campaign.

Obama’s campaign took in $47 million, while some $38 million is being earmarked for the DNC’s war chest. The total, which came from about 552,462 people who donated an average $69, far exceeded a combined goal of $60 million...

What’s more, the $86 million trounces the $35 million raised so far by Republicans, but we should point out that some candidates haven’t announced their totals yet.

http://www.blackmediascoop.com/2011/07/13/election-scoop-2012-obama-raises-86m/

[AC_Mem]

8. We have a big fight ahead of us

The GOP is going to make 2010 look like a walk in the park. Right now it should be all about US. You and I. It is time to do something besides watching the negative ads - it is time to volunteer your time to speak to people and bring them together to turn things around in 2012.

It is actually pretty easy and fun. There are interns all over the country right now, organizing groups and showing us how to prepare and talk to others. The President wants us to relate to others on a personal, one-on-one basis.

We had a table at a local flea market this past weekend, on the table we had "Promises Kept". We had a hater in the booth across from us that made a couple comments - we were polite to him while we said we supported our party, etc. About half way through the morning he came over to our booth and started flipping through the brochure. Then he went back to his booth (he was selling gold jewelery - surprise surprise) and from that point on he made no more rude comments! We also had an elderly woman in the booth next to us who said she was a strong democrat but couldn't tell anyone in her community. She said that her church would literally throw her out! She said that her pastor actively teaches the GOP doctrine and talks about the "evil democrats" who want to kill babies. sigh. She saw our t-shirts and said "I wish I could wear one of those! But I would be thrown out of my church."

We got ALLOT of support though, probably 10 positives to 1 negative throughout the weekend.

www.barackobama.com - find your city, and volunteer :)

Annette