And the Nice Candidate?
Compare and contrast with Obama’s first TV ad:
Isn’t that much, much better? Well filmed, a positive (if fairly empty) message and clever imagery. Obama, relaxed in the home; a family man, then. Obama as a smiling baby with smiling parents; a normal child, not the raging fanatic indoctrinated by Islamists, Ms. Malkin. Obama, relaxed as a young man in his leather jacket; contrast this with the angry, ageing McCain. Obama with old, white people, smiling and laughing; so a caring figure able to cross racial and generational boundraries, and most definitely not a Muslim, Ms. Malkin. Some of the imagery can be very subtle in what it suggests.
More than the words, at least; they’re fairly meaningless when it gets down to it, central statements of commonly held values. But that’s the point. They paint an everyman for everyman. Note phrases such as “we didn’t have much” - connecting with less wealthy voters while countering accusations of elitism. It’s all a deliberate attempt to connect Obama’s experience and values with the voters he’s appealing to. And it’s done well.
Critics might label the ad vacuous trash which lacks any solid content or useful indication of Obama’s intentions for the presidency. But they miss the point; the ad isn’t about policy or plans, it’s about Obama and his appeal across races and generations. It’s an image thing, and it’s done very well.
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