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Obama Infomercial Thread

By TChris, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 07:02:18 PM EST
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Barack Obama's half hour advertisement/infomercial is starting now. This is your place to comment.

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    Obama Infomercial Thread | 99 comments (99 topical)

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    As Far As (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by zvs888 on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 07:15:06 PM EST
    Extended political commercials go, it's pretty good.

    He's doing a pretty good job narrating the people's lives, and it does a good job of telling people's stories while mixing in his policies.

    Whether this swings anyone? Your guess is as good as mine...

    He swung at least one. My husband who (5.00 / 11) (#10)
    by Teresa on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 07:37:42 PM EST
    wasn't going to vote. I didn't think he would even watch so I didn't remind him. I heard him turn on the TV upstairs. I stayed in the bedroom and watched.

    After it was over, I went upstairs and he was sitting there looking really sad. The older man who had to go back to work because of his wife's health just about made him cry. It did make me cry.

    No country can call itself a great country when it won't supply medical care to a woman whose family had worked so hard just to have a decent life.

    My husband is bitter over the primary. Tonight, he decided to vote tomorrow. If it affected him, I doubt he is alone.

    Parent

    Interesting Theresa. Maybe the Obamercial (5.00 / 3) (#18)
    by CaptainAmerica08 on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 07:44:26 PM EST
    will have a bigger positive effect than I thought if your husband wasn't even going to vote.

    Parent
    He truly wasn't. I went yesterday and he (5.00 / 4) (#21)
    by Teresa on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 07:50:41 PM EST
    wouldn't go with me. He is going tomorrow. Reality hit him.

    Parent
    I think that it will have a positive effect. When (none / 0) (#77)
    by DeborahNC on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 01:29:22 AM EST
    the man whose wife had arthritis put on his Wal-Mart tag, it really touched something in my heart and gut. I've seen many seniors working at Wal-Mart, stocking the shelves at grocery stores, etc. It's obvious they've retired, then found it necessary to get a job to make ends meet. I suspect that many people can relate to that, whether personally or someone they know.

    The ad allowed people who don't necessarily follow politics regularly to get a sense of Obama the man. His personality projected well on screen. True undecideds might be influenced by it. And, the issues that he focused on are those that are important to most Americans. My brother-in-law, who has never voted for a Democrat said that he was voting for Obama--a really big step for him.

    Parent

    That was the most intense moment of the video (5.00 / 9) (#50)
    by TheRealFrank on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 08:59:58 PM EST
    It got me teared up. It got me so angry about the selfish bastards who go on about evil socialist taxes.

    I was brought up in, yes, a socialist family in the Netherlands. My parents and grandparents fought hard for unions and healthcare. And what the hell is wrong with that?

    Screw you, McCain, and your selfish, ignorant, destructive ideology. You're not worthy to kiss my dad's or my granddad's feet.


    Parent

    Nothing is wrong with it Frank. (5.00 / 5) (#51)
    by Teresa on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 09:04:43 PM EST
    That's my hope for us. I envy the way you guys live over there. It is something for us to reach for and I don't understand why people here don't see that.

    Parent
    Thanks :) (5.00 / 7) (#54)
    by TheRealFrank on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 09:13:02 PM EST
    Of course, I now live in the US, and it just pains me to see things like the healthcare situation. And how right-wing ideologues have somehow managed to get it into people's heads that the government helping out is somehow evil.

    It's weird to see that, coming from Europe. And it's sad, because the US has a lot of potential, but it's being squandered by sloganeering Republicans.


    Parent

    The bad thing is, it's not just Republicans. (5.00 / 5) (#55)
    by Teresa on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 09:21:06 PM EST
    We have a lot of work to do on the Democrats, too. I think Obama's health care plan is just baby steps and I hope the Senate sends him something better to sign. I'm not holding my breath though. As more people lose coverage, or can't afford it, they will have to put a lot of pressure on.

    Parent
    Yep, it's me too, unfortunately. (5.00 / 4) (#69)
    by blogtopus on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 11:45:57 PM EST
    Seriously, will Obama cap the prices people have to pay. He says the companies have to take people with pre-existing conditions, but what's stopping the companies from charging an arm and a leg more for it?

    UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE, not COVERAGE. Get the insurance companies out of the loop.

    Baby steps are better than no steps, but I'm hoping that Hillary will create a better plan (or just put forward her own) for him to sign.

    Parent

    I also hope she introduces her own bill. (5.00 / 2) (#73)
    by Teresa on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 11:58:41 PM EST
    They'll cut some of it but we might end up better than with Obama's starting point.

    To this day, I don't know what my benefit under Obama's plan is other than if I lose my insurance, the pre-existing clause, which is brutal, will be gone (I hope). How will my huge premiums go down? Mine is through my employer but he doesn't subsidize the premiums so you can imagine how high they are.

    Parent

    Republicans are highly skilled at transforming (5.00 / 4) (#79)
    by DeborahNC on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 01:51:12 AM EST
    a positive concept into something that seems like an affront to humankind. They know that they can't attract voters based on their policies, so they distort a postive plan for Americans, i.e., improved health care coverage, into something the populace will fear.

    They frame these types of issues in ways that will be misleading. Republicans have some Americans convinced that universal health care will bring Marxism to America. It's deceptive and despicable!

    Parent

    It's like a Britsh style .... (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by Salo on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 08:20:54 PM EST
    ....party political broadcast.  

    Although with that set up each parliamentary party gets free air time.  

    whicjh is a oly fair.

    maybe that is a reform Obama might want to look into hen he sits at the right hand of the FCC.

    Parent

    Political commercial is right, (none / 0) (#89)
    by AnnC on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 08:44:27 AM EST
    This was a chance (and really, a chance very few candidates can afford) for Obama to specify how in this economy he could still reach his goals, and I don't think he delivered.

    Parent
    They are supposed (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by CoralGables on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 07:18:46 PM EST
    to go live from Ft Lauderdale at the end of the 30 minutes where Barack and Bill Clinton will be together according to the local newscast.

    I didn't see Bill (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by sallywally on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 07:50:52 PM EST
    Joe Biden walked off with Obama afterward. Was I paying too much attention to the computer and not enough to the tv?

    Parent
    Im trying to figure this out too... (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by Thanin on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 07:52:41 PM EST
    if they werent going to show up together tonight, which is what I thought, when are they going to?

    Parent
    Could have been convoluted news (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by CoralGables on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 07:59:18 PM EST
    Bill was with him earlier today in Orlando. Maybe the local station in Miami thought he was coming down here too, or maybe Bill spoke earlier in the rally prior to the 3 minute live shot at the end.

    Parent
    They Are Tonight (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by zvs888 on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 08:00:13 PM EST
    It's a slow rollout.

    Obama Commercial ended with Biden.

    Obama on ABC with Gibson.

    Obama on Daily Show.

    Finale: Obama and Clinton at 11pm EST live from Orlando Florida I believe.

    Parent

    Ahh... (5.00 / 2) (#28)
    by Thanin on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 08:04:27 PM EST
    Ok thank you.

    Parent
    That's it (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by CoralGables on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 08:07:48 PM EST
    good call, you are right Orlando is supposed to be live during the 11pm news in Florida. I can't keep up with this many stops around the state in one day.

    Parent
    Isn't the Daily Show on at 11 EST also? n/t (none / 0) (#57)
    by sallywally on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 09:30:23 PM EST


    Parent
    It's taped late afternoon (none / 0) (#59)
    by TChris on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 09:36:53 PM EST


    Parent
    I figured that out.... (none / 0) (#62)
    by sallywally on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 09:51:25 PM EST
    I'm taping it to watch the Obama/Clinton event.

    Parent
    Thanks for the tip! ;-) (none / 0) (#63)
    by sallywally on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 09:52:30 PM EST


    Parent
    I heard Bill & Barack (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by BackFromOhio on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 08:46:38 PM EST
    to appear together tonight at 11 p.m.  

    And Barack will be on the Daily Show tonight.

    Parent

    I'm completely biased, (5.00 / 6) (#9)
    by indy in sc on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 07:33:40 PM EST
    but I thought that was awesome.  Cheerleading aside--it was very well produced and the vignettes were powerful.  

    Well, I'm not :). I didn't even want to vote (5.00 / 3) (#11)
    by Teresa on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 07:38:37 PM EST
    for him, but I did. It was tremendous, I think.

    Parent
    It obviously wasn't for partisans (5.00 / 5) (#13)
    by CaptainAmerica08 on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 07:41:23 PM EST
    like me for and against Obama, but clearly targeting undecideds and uncommitteds vulnerable to the GOP smear and scare 11th hour campaign. Obama came off as responsible, mainstream, and "American" to send a subtle message to voters not to buy into what the Obama's opposition is selling. Deft and subtle move by Obama.

    Parent
    It made me proud (5.00 / 5) (#15)
    by barryluda on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 07:42:23 PM EST


    I heard (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by connecticut yankee on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 07:43:39 PM EST
    Mark Halperin on CNN, "It was f'ing well done".
    anyone seen Blair's PPB... (none / 0) (#34)
    by Salo on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 08:22:17 PM EST
    ...from the time he beat major?

    Parent
    I'll have to watch it later (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by lilburro on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 08:07:35 PM EST
    I walked in the door more than halfway through.  But it seemed exceptionally well-produced.  I like how the focus was on other people.  He seemed to be focused on point by point things he wanted to do as well.  I liked the white text recaps of his plans in the corner.

    not bad really (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by Salo on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 08:24:55 PM EST
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iovmJQZTQpk

    remind you of anything?

    Parent

    Very good video (none / 0) (#65)
    by BackFromOhio on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 10:00:48 PM EST
    of entire Obama infomercial is available on home page of mydd.com   Just scroll down a story or 2; you may see first some "updates" from the live blogging, but the video is there too.

    Parent
    every time I see something personal (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by Howard Zinn on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 08:33:01 PM EST
    Obama does, it comes across as magic.  He actually makes me want to be a better person.  And I type that knowing how thoroughly sappy and ridiculous it would look to some.

    Yep. (5.00 / 2) (#70)
    by robert72 on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 11:46:57 PM EST
    It's an INFOMERCIAL. He paid millions to make it and have it shown. It's like selling anything. Money made it happen. Magic it ain't. Some of the infomercials for can-openers that don't work are really well done, too.
    The people in it may or may not be real. Scripted. Hollywood, my friends.

    Parent
    I understand that (none / 0) (#86)
    by Howard Zinn on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 07:53:29 AM EST
    and it's not the first time I've felt like this.  Every moment a candidate has with the public is scripted and crafted too -- as are the moments shared between a president and the public.  It really doesn't matter.  Obama inspires people, including me, and he will continue to do so as president.  That's a quality he has that McCain and every candidate I've ever seen doesn't.  

    If we continue to say, "yeah, but it's all political posturing" every time a candidate touches people emotionally, we'll never be able to move away from the shallow, divisive politics we're so sick and tired of.

    He makes me feel less jaded and that's something that can't be diminished by knowing the marketing behind it all.

    Parent

    He is (5.00 / 2) (#84)
    by Wile ECoyote on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 06:06:01 AM EST
    on script.  Hard to beat him on script.

    Parent
    Whoever they hired (5.00 / 3) (#42)
    by flyerhawk on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 08:45:44 PM EST
    to make that movie was really really good.  

    Excellent production values.  Pacing is well done.

    Really the only criticism I would have was the self-congratulation they gave each other in the middle of it.

    Hard to see how this will hurt and it should help quite a bit.

    Davis Guggenheim (5.00 / 2) (#71)
    by BackFromOhio on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 11:53:41 PM EST
    who also worked on "An Inconvenient Truth."

    from Bob Shrum talking on Hardball.

    So Obama is getting help tonight from both parties to the Clinton-Gore team.

    Parent

    By the way (5.00 / 2) (#72)
    by BackFromOhio on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 11:55:19 PM EST
    Pat Buchanan saying (on Hardball) that Obama will get a 1 - 3 point boost from the infomercial. Say what you will about Pat B's values, but he usually calls things as he sees them.

    Parent
    I liked it, My husband liked it. (5.00 / 2) (#48)
    by No Blood for Hubris on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 08:52:52 PM EST
    So far so good.
    CNN saying Obama and Clinton to appear (5.00 / 1) (#61)
    by sallywally on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 09:45:44 PM EST
    together in a few minutes (now 10:43 pm EST).

    Looking at polls. CNN pretty much gives the election to Obama. John King talking about it, but says there are unknowns, will AAs really come out in greater numbers, what about the fundamentalists ...etc., etc.

    Obama making his way to the campaign site.

    I'm going to tape the Daily Show since it's also on at 11 pm EST.

    It's on live on CSpan too. They are (none / 0) (#64)
    by Teresa on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 09:59:59 PM EST
    showing the people but the guys aren't there yet.

    Parent
    I think it could go either way (5.00 / 2) (#90)
    by jar137 on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:02:18 AM EST
    For some undecided voters the fear factor (things are bad and the republicans will just let it get worse) will work because people are desperate.  However, for others who have not been sold on Obama, it may come off as just another hope and change feel good speech.  My mother, a lifelong Dem from Pa, was not convinced.  She wants real answers, not unsupported promises.  She's actually leaning towards Ralph because she saw an interview with him recently (not sure where) and said he spoke in specifics.  She would never vote for a republican.

    No live blog? (none / 0) (#1)
    by oculus on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 07:03:19 PM EST
    P.S.  I'm waiting for the baseball game.

    You and me both. (none / 0) (#2)
    by Pegasus on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 07:08:56 PM EST
    Pretty boring so far, but I guess that's because we knew all this stuff already.

    Parent
    I wonder (none / 0) (#5)
    by lentinel on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 07:16:19 PM EST
    whether people waiting for the game will be put off by this display.
    The ads could backfire.

    Parent
    It's just replacing the pregame though (none / 0) (#6)
    by zvs888 on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 07:17:45 PM EST
    It's not like they delayed the game for this...

    Parent
    I didn't actually watch the infomercial. (none / 0) (#31)
    by oculus on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 08:18:31 PM EST


    Parent
    There is a replay on MSNBC, I think. (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by Teresa on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 08:26:03 PM EST
    It was really good oculus. You know how I feel about this election, but it made me feel better. It was all about people like all of us. I hope he can make his dreams happen because we will all be better off. I don't envy him in the current environment, though.

    Parent
    I've done my one political act (5.00 / 4) (#38)
    by oculus on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 08:32:11 PM EST
    today--filled out my absentee ballot.  That's enough for today!

    Parent
    You did the most important (5.00 / 2) (#41)
    by IndiDemGirl on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 08:41:20 PM EST
    thing - vote.  

    Parent
    Well, except I haven't (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by oculus on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 08:47:33 PM EST
    mailed it yet!  (Local Nimby issue to resolve; sealed, signed, and stamped now.)

    Parent
    Ha! I was going to ask (none / 0) (#81)
    by IndiDemGirl on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 02:02:03 AM EST
    if you mailed it yet, but I thought that was being too pushy!

    Parent
    Seems to me (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by BackFromOhio on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 08:50:57 PM EST
    that as the rapprochement between the Clintons & Obama has gotten more palpable, so has Obama's willingness to play to the working class crowd. He had to realize in the last month that he must win PA to win the election, and having Ohio would make the rest easier.  Although he can win the election without either PA or OH, I don't believe he can win without both those states.  

    Parent
    I hope that is the real Obama and not (none / 0) (#52)
    by Teresa on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 09:07:24 PM EST
    the red state/blue state guy. I like this one better.

    Parent
    A shortened last act of a convention (5.00 / 1) (#47)
    by Molly Bloom on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 08:51:03 PM EST
    First the candidate film, part bio, part policy info. Then the live speech accepting the nomination.

    Well done. I don't think many will emulate it in the future. The novelty will be gone.

    Now I have more phone calls to make.

    Parent

    It's starting off well (none / 0) (#3)
    by indy in sc on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 07:09:57 PM EST
    but I wonder how many people will watch the whole thing.  I'm sure the ratings will be out early tomorrow.

    Fyi, I heard today that 26 million (5.00 / 2) (#33)
    by Cream City on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 08:21:59 PM EST
    watched the last time a presidential candidate did this, Ross Perot's infomercial.

    It was a memorable hoot. :-)

    Parent

    Actually (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by cal1942 on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 08:56:09 PM EST
    the Perot spots (I think he did more than one) seemed well received.  

    I know a lot of people appreciated the graphs, charts, etc.

    I know I was impressed.  Voted for Clinton but still impressed.

    "it's pennies on the dollar, pennies on the dollar"

    Parent

    I don't recall the Perot infomercial... (5.00 / 2) (#53)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 09:12:51 PM EST
    I thought this thing was unprecedented. Was the Perot spot a half-hour long as well? How was it received/reviewed at the time?

    Personally, the whole thing feels un-Democratic to me.

    I keep wondering how it would have come across if the situation were reversed. What if McCain had spent 150k on a three network, prime-time infomercial and Democrats were left out in the cold, having opted for public financing.

    I think progressives would have screamed bloody murder. It would have been characterized as the apotheosis of money-squandering, power-drunk Republican hubris.

    Silly me. I thought regular prime-time programming could only be preempted by a national state of emergency, a State of the Union Address, etc. There's something really crass about having the money and chutzpah to simply purchase a privilege of that magnitude.

    Parent

    Perot did several of them (5.00 / 1) (#58)
    by gyrfalcon on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 09:36:17 PM EST
    as I recall, and at least the first one got excellent ratings because he didn't use it just to yammer, he had all those charts and graphs and was genuinely trying to explain stuff to people.  He was running sort of as a mechanic who was hoping to fix things, not as a partisan or an ideologue or etc.

    He was really intriguing until he sort of imploded on his own craziness about peripheral things.

    Oh, and FWIW, I couldn't disagree with you more about political infomercials like this.  I don't have any interest in watching, but it seems to me an entirely legitimate use of campaign cash.

    What annoys me no end is that CNN and MSNBC have been for several weeks now running every single campaign speech by every one of the four candidates, most in their entirety.  Fox is also doing it, but when there's something more interesting, like today's high-speed police chase, they do that instead.

    I guess that's an improvement over past history, when the most you got of a candidate's stump speech on anything other than C-Span was a half-minute excerpt at best, but ENOUGH ALREADY.


    Parent

    Money = speech remember? (5.00 / 1) (#96)
    by jondee on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 01:23:25 PM EST
    And trusts and corporations are indivual citizens.

    Democracy in the U.S was, quite intentionally and with malice of forthought, maimed beyond almost-all-recognition quite awhile back.

    Parent

    The difference is... (none / 0) (#56)
    by Thanin on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 09:29:21 PM EST
    most of the money for this came from normal, everyday people.  I mean I know the people personally who helped it happen.  In fact, the money hes raised, the average being what, 86$ donations, is democracy.  Im glad that people are able to have their voice in a campaign at this magnitude.

    Parent
    Obama didn't exactly canvass his (4.25 / 4) (#75)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 12:57:08 AM EST
    "normal, everyday" campaign donors as to whether he should spend $150k of their money on a 30 minute infomercial. So, in that respect it wasn't "democratic"; meaning representative of what the majority of his constituents might consider the most optimum use of campaign funds.

    He certainly wasn't reflecting, or "voicing" my judgment on the issue. As for the content and style of the infomercial itself, I found it Disneyesque: cliched, treacly and emotionally manipulative.

    My heart went out to the older couple: particularly the woman with the arthritic hands. But, I've spent a good deal of time on film/video sets. So, I could just hear the director, presumably Axelrod, saying: "The hands, the hands, we need more shots of those gnarly hands. That's real tearjerker material". I have no doubt Axelrod is that cynical.

    The grandiosity of the whole production was reminiscent of Obama's other questionable self-aggrandizing choices: like the convention speech at the humongous stadium, the European tour, the Berlin speech at the Victory Column, etc.  

    Parent

    I can agree with you... (5.00 / 1) (#85)
    by Thanin on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 06:53:33 AM EST
    to an extent, since its kind of like how I feel about my tax dollars are spent.  So I can understand your cynicism, but people donated so Obama could win, and if this helps him win, then so much the better.  If it doesnt then I'll acknowledge you were right.

    Parent
    how would he spend the $ (5.00 / 1) (#87)
    by Howard Zinn on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 08:00:48 AM EST
    to make his "normal, everyday" campaign donors happy?  Running more attack ads? Running 30 sec slots as opposed to 30 min ones?  The cash is intended to go towards campaigning of one kind or another, not some sort of charity.

    Parent
    Maybe by using the dollars (5.00 / 1) (#91)
    by sj on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:32:58 AM EST
    in hotly contested races downticket?

    Parent
    Good point, but I'd say (none / 0) (#92)
    by Howard Zinn on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 09:52:08 AM EST
    you'd get just as many donors saying, "I donated money to Obama, whom I support, not some random congress person whom I know nothing about."  Can't please everyone.

    Parent
    Maybe not (none / 0) (#94)
    by sj on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 11:28:49 AM EST
    I think "most" Dem donors realize that a strong Dem majority benefits O "whom I support" when it comes to governing.

    Parent
    I'm certain they focused on the hands, but that (none / 0) (#76)
    by DeborahNC on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 01:15:04 AM EST
    wasn't the most poignant aspect of that scene for me. I was really affected when her husband (age 72 years old) put on his Wal-Mart name tag. This was a man who had retired, paid for his home, but health costs made it necessary for him to go back to work. And as we all know, Wal-Mart is not an optimal place to work. It was just so sad. And it's happening more and more across the country.

    Overall, it was a good presentation. The ad was probably created to influence the undecideds--the ones who were perhaps having doubts about Obama. In that respect, the presentation has potential to be effective.

    Parent

    That WalMart name tag was an odd touch... (none / 0) (#78)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 01:36:30 AM EST
    It ended up being a form of product placement. WalMart must have had some say in that. After all, they pimp themselves as a kindly employer of the, otherwise unemployable, elderly.

    When a corporate logo/name shows up in a "candid" context, it usually gets blurred out; unless the corporation gives their express permission and/or pays for the product placement. Either way it's a form of advertising.

    I'm really curious about the back-story here.

    Parent

    reverse product placement (5.00 / 1) (#95)
    by coigue on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 01:03:26 PM EST
    it's a nightmare to have to come out of retirementy to work there for many many seniors.

    Parent
    More on the name tag (5.00 / 2) (#97)
    by boyzoid on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 01:28:26 PM EST
    Did anyone else notice that even though we were seeing the gentleman's reflection in a mirror, you could read the name tag clearly? Since we were looking at a refelction of him in a mirror, I expected to have to read the name tag backwards, but it was not.

    Parent
    Wow...Wal-Mart has the power to (5.00 / 1) (#99)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 01:46:20 PM EST
    reverse the optics of the way reality is usually reflected in mirrors. That's a lot of purchasing power.

    Thanks for calling that stunning detail to our attention.

    Parent

    Interesting, I don't know how it would be a plus (none / 0) (#80)
    by DeborahNC on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 02:00:03 AM EST
    for Wal-Mart though, because I got a lump in my throat when I saw that. You're probably right about the message--"We employ the elderly when no one else will hire them." Basically, they capitalize on the misfortune of others.

    If this was intended to project a positive image of Wal-Mart, they need to hire a new marketing director. Please post if you get some back-story.

    Parent

    Maybe the WalMart product placement (none / 0) (#82)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 02:20:26 AM EST
    (via the elderly man's name-tag in the infomercial) was Obama's peace offering to WalMart. The Obama's have a conflicted on/off relationship to that corporation as seen here in this column by Lynn Sweet.

    Imo, there's still something fishy here.

    Parent

    It'll be interesting to see if there's any media (5.00 / 1) (#83)
    by DeborahNC on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 02:53:51 AM EST
    commentary about it. Also, I'll be interested to see if others react the way I did to it.

    Parent
    I think (5.00 / 2) (#93)
    by TChris on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 11:17:49 AM EST
    it's more likely a slap at Wal-Mart ... as in, "your life really sucks if you have to work at Wal-Mart" which is widely regarded as the nation's worst major retail employer.

    Parent
    No. If it was an intentential (5.00 / 1) (#98)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 01:32:55 PM EST
    "slap at Wal-Mart", Wal-mart would NOT have allowed it.

    I agree: Wal-Mart is "the nation's worst major retail employer". And my first reaction was also: "your life really sucks if you have to work at Wal-Mart".

    That response was immediately followed by another realization: Wal-Mart is probably the only corporation in the country who would hire a 72 year old man. So in the end, Obama and Wal-mart managed to elicit a mixed reaction to Wal-mart rather than a purely negative one.

    For Wal-Mart, that's an improvement: in view of Michelle O's resignation from the board of Wal-Mart, in 2007, after Obama had made public statements that he wouldn't shop there because of their anti-labor practies.

    Parent

    I thought that wasn't quite true.... (none / 0) (#60)
    by sallywally on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 09:38:04 PM EST
    does anyone know about this?

    Parent
    Is there a 1-800 number? (none / 0) (#8)
    by ThatOneVoter on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 07:31:41 PM EST
    Can I order some crow for my Republican friends?

    I Thought that he was trying to imitate the (none / 0) (#12)
    by GeekLove08 on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 07:39:53 PM EST
    Oval Office in the opening scene.  I was expecting to see the the Resolute Desk.

    He got ripped off (none / 0) (#14)
    by rdandrea on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 07:41:48 PM EST
    Here in Grand Junction, CO, only MSNBC carried the address in its paid-for time slot.

    The local Fox affiliate ran "The Simpsons."  As I write this, the World Series is on.  Nobama.

    I don't know who monitors this stuff, but he did not get the time slots he paid for.

    TV guide... (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 07:58:34 PM EST
    ...is showing it starts at 7p for those of us in MDT.

    Parent
    7:00 PM here in MDT (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by rdandrea on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 08:01:36 PM EST
    World Series still on Fox.

    Not that I want them to pre-empt it.

    Parent

    Isn't it on prime time? (none / 0) (#16)
    by Teresa on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 07:43:38 PM EST
    Won't you see it at 8:00 your time?

    Parent
    Yes, prime time in whatever time zone (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by akaEloise on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 07:46:07 PM EST
    Not sure how it's going to work on Fox if the ball game is still going on....

    Parent
    Prime time is relative (5.00 / 2) (#20)
    by rdandrea on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 07:49:03 PM EST
    This is butt-freakin' Egypt.

    Parent
    The infomercial (none / 0) (#37)
    by GGINPB on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 08:30:09 PM EST
    The Obama campaign didn't offer it to Fox so they couldn't carry it.

    That was Fox News (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by rdandrea on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 08:35:54 PM EST
    Fox the network carried it (except here so far).  McCain even took a swipe at Obama today over it, saying that he caused the start of the World Series to be delayed 10 minutes, and that such a thing would never happen in a McCain administration.

    Parent
    Except that (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by indy in sc on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 08:46:16 PM EST
    the start of the NFL season was moved for McCain's convention speech.  I guess since it was played earlier instead of later, that doesn't count in his world.

    Parent
    yeah but they only moved a football game (none / 0) (#66)
    by white n az on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 10:19:28 PM EST
    that 30 million would watch whereas McCain was worrying about a World Series game that about half as many would watch.

    Actually, the negative flow from McCain's camp has been bountiful and never ending and it hasn't done them a lick of good...in fact, I suspect that it has turned off a lot of independents and people who might have otherwise supported him.

    Parent

    CNN and equal time for Obama infomercial (none / 0) (#67)
    by obiden08 on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 11:27:54 PM EST
    AC360 (well, AC) just said CNN was airing a McCain interview to give equal time to the McCain campaign. Is this required?  It wouldn't seem so since Obama's was a paid ad.  Do you think the other stations will follow CNN?

    Alternatively, since CNN just gave McCain 30 minutes of free time, are they required to give Obama the same?

    I know I'm being petty, but still. . .I want Obama's free 30 minutes from

    They meant equal time for the Bill Clinton/ (none / 0) (#68)
    by Teresa on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 11:31:13 PM EST
    Obama rally. They didn't show the 30 minute thing.

    Parent
    It really connected with me (none / 0) (#74)
    by Baal on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 12:12:13 AM EST
    I teared up several times. The guy who lost his pension, the guy who had to go back to work at Walmart at 72, and the story of his own mother.

    Clinton and Obama together in Florida, it is a thing of beauty.  

    the strategery of the ad (none / 0) (#88)
    by Howard Zinn on Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 08:18:54 AM EST
    This half hour ad comes at a time that McCain's support is growing and the national polls are tightening.  The state polls still look good, so I'm guessing that McCain's increased support mainly comes from states that were already safe for him anyway.

    However, I believe that this will help Obama a bit -- whether it increases his support by 1% - 2% or puts the brakes on what otherwise would have been a bit of a slide.  Either way, he's going to get a mini convention-like bounce from this, right at the point that he needs it the most.  

    Staying consistent with his message has certainly helped him, but the public needed something surprising this late in the game -- something to remind them why they should vote for him.  This fits the bill without straying from his message.  It's a great move, strategically, IMO.

    Obama Infomercial Thread | 99 comments (99 topical)

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