Tonight, if you watched it, Obama aired a "feel good" 30-minute infomercial that cost by itself more money than McCain will spend on
ads in the final week of his come-from-behind race. In any other year, Obama's long TV spot may have made an impression, but this year, frankly, watching this show was not unlike watching the same fluff that nearly every network has been producing on Obama's behalf for months--at no cost to his overflowing stash of cash.The 30-minute spot was supposed to "close the deal," and I half expected the smooth salesman to end with, "Vote before midnight tonight and I'll throw in an extra set of steak knives for free." But instead, he promised the same freebies to every household making under $200,000. Wait a minute... Last week the figure was $250,000, and yesterday Biden said the figure was $150,000. (We'll be seeing less of Mr. Gaff in the days ahead.) I wonder what figure the Dems will settle on once the voters get their steak knives?
[Update: Friday, two days later, Governor Richardson says "Obama's plan kicks in at $120,000. Listen to this clip from Friday night. Watch all the way to when the Obama spokesperson concedes that the number does keep changing and ought to go down to $45,000. Back to the original post...]
The show's opening was full of heartland appeal emphasizing Obama's "Kansas roots," which, had he ever actually lived there, bare no resemblance to the rich Chicago dirt from which this liberal grew. [Senator, my wife is from Kansas. I was wed in Kansas. I've worked in Kansas. Kansans are a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Kansan. You may be many things from many places but claiming roots in the geographic center of America because of your mother's childhood before you were born is like Liza Minelli claiming she's from Oz.]
True, tonight's footage wrapped Reverend Wright's benchwarmer in the flag he was reluctant to wear a year ago, but if we've learned anything about this politician in that year it's that he can temporarily set aside personally-held views to please a target audience. It is his political shapeshifting to win over voter-groups (while still holding but downplaying his troubling influential ties) that is most disturbing to some skeptics in the crowds and listeners who once bought his words. Here is the truest message of tonight's show:
Every minute of air-time underscored and indeed foreshadowed how quickly Obama makes and breaks promises when it serves his purposes. Hat tip to CNN's Cambell Brown for having the courage last night to remind voters of Obama's broken promise that made tonight's show possible.
America, wake up and smell the coffers!
To voters like me, the promise mentioned in the following 2-minutes holds far more hope than anything Obama bought and sold tonight.
20 comments below...
1 comment:
20 Comments:
Joan B said...
I'm with you Tom!!
Freedom is never free.
And, where does OBama's money come from?
30/10/08 9:14 AM
Dr.John said...
I also think Obama is buying the election. He has people convinced all the money he is spending came from the little people so he spends on their behalf.
30/10/08 10:54 AM
IndySpS said...
If Senator Obama has only been able to help Americans acquire a taste for what he is offering with as many costly samples he has been able to offer, what does it say about America's stomach for him and his agenda?
30/10/08 11:47 AM
Anonymous said...
Without going further into specifics, I do not believe that Obama actually believes everything he says. His terms of convenience, determined by the group to which he is speaking or the actions he is defending, are obvious to thinking people. His apologies for mistakes are shallow and without sincerity. His promises are little more than conjecture, and his arrogance continues to seep through at unguarded moments. Simply defined, his mantra is "the end justifies the means."
30/10/08 12:33 PM
PI said...
Hi, Joan B.,
Thanks for stopping by. I don't think we'll know where it all came from but it's safe to assume there are strings attached to many of the donations (which is why the whole McCain/Feingold Bill started in the first place).
Dr.John,
It truly is unprecedented, and I'm hoping it's un-presidented.
indysps,
Welcome to POI. A few posts back I said something like "He will lead us to an ever-more-dependent America in which voters leave their hand out after tuning in their ballots."
Anon,
Welcome to POI. Well put. "the end justifies the means" I only hope Obama's "means" don't bring about the "end."
30/10/08 3:25 PM
SusieQ said...
I couldn't bring myself to watch Obama's infomercial. Besides, I knew I would hear plenty about it afterwards.
The amount of money Obama has spent on his campaign including the 4 million he spent on his infomercial is obscene. I do not see why we can't limit the dollar amount a candidate is allowed to spend on campaigning without it being a threat to the candidate's freedom of speech. Obama has raised close to a billion dollars for campaigning purposes. Surely he could have easily gotten his message out to the public on a budget of half that.
Obama said something today or yesterday that is really troubling to me...and foreboding. Because McCain and Palin have been critical of socialism and Obama's leaning in that direction, Obama accused them of trying to make a virtue out of selfishness. Now that should bother anyone who respects a person's right to keep what belongs to him. It is one thing to encourage people to be charitable and share what they have with others. But I see nothing virtuous about confiscating what belongs to one person who may have worked hard to acquire it and giving it to another person who may not deserve it or need it.
I suppose what Obama was really saying is that if you and I do not embrace his plan to spread the wealth, if we do not embrace socialism itself, then we are just plain selfish.
30/10/08 4:21 PM
PI said...
SQ,
Wow. I did not hear that remark, but it is a typical "turn the question back on the questioner." I can hear his voice saying the words. You make a good point about the amount of money he has spent to make sure he gains the power to "spread other’s wealth." Kind of ironic when you think about it.
You are correct that you didn't miss anything last night--same old words mixed with the images of Reagan's "It's Morning in America" from 1980. Remember that? It was that kind of video work, and for the this target audience, he was in fact, trying to sound like Reagan. The core of his supporters, typically sneers at all the flags, vets, and fruited plains, but he already has them. He was going after Reagan Democrats and gullible Republicans who have not yet figured out his words are wolves in sheep’s clothing.
30/10/08 8:26 PM
PI said...
ALL,
I FOUND THE CLIP SQ MENTIONED AND ADDED IT TO THE POST BELOW. IT FITS PERFECTLY INTO THOSE THOUGHTS.
Yep, OBAMA mocks the notion that SOCIALISM is what it is. (And since it is an IDEOLOGY SHARED BY MANY OF HIS CHICAGO FRIENDS he should know.) BUT he'd rather act like it's a boogeyman topic that would never show itself in his expressed ideas. Instead he calls anyone who disagrees with his REDISTRIBUTIVE intent to "spread the wealth"...SELFISH.
Oh, really! What Obama doesn't understand is that Americans not only don't want him taking their hard-earned money and handing it out as he sees fit. WE DON'T WANT MONEY GIVEN TO US THAT WAS TAKEN FROM SOMEONE ELSE. That's not being SELFISH. It's called WANTING TO EARN OUR OWN WAY.
31/10/08 12:30 AM
JR's Thumbprints said...
Politics is about big money. Personally, I just want the election over with. Let's move on.
Hope you entered that essay contest, Tom. Today is the deadline.
31/10/08 4:31 AM
PI said...
I did enter a post. Thanks for telling me about it. I might even enter another one--or would that be like voting twice? Ha Ha Just kidding.
I, too, and eager to vote and see what the future holds.
31/10/08 5:52 AM
Nancy said...
Great information here, Tom! As always, you are a blessing to me and I respect your opinion. My prayers continue, as we pull the curtain, on this election year!
Hello to Susie Q, I've missed you.
Have a great weekend and enjoy your extra hour. It's one of the few things in life that comes to us... free of charge.
31/10/08 5:15 PM
PI said...
Nancy,
Thanks for the reminder about the extra hour. On my home from school today, my station started playing Christmas music. It was not a joke. They will now be playing Christmas music through the holidays. The autumn leaves are at their peak. Trick or treaters are coming to the door and Christmas music is playing on 105.7. Talk about confusing! So thanks for the reminder.
Can't wait to vote! I remember my first and hope this is not our last. =)
31/10/08 5:21 PM
Tammy said...
These are such great posts, Tom...
Although I don't get political on my blog, I just may break my own rule later this weekend, so stay tuned! ;)
31/10/08 10:49 PM
PI said...
Tammy,
I know the feeling. I tried to stay out of it for so long. It's not what I want most to write about, and I've probably lost readers of my "story in progress blog" because of getting sidetracked in this underdog battle (and in fact, the counter on the bottom of my blog says hundreds have been reading each day), but I don't recall a moment in time when more was at stake.
Go ahead, Tammy. Dive in. I really do think the water is getting warmer for a McCain/Palin upset on Tuesday.
31/10/08 11:01 PM
SusieQ said...
In case you hadn't noticed, the middle class has become a moving target with the Democrats in recent days.
Initially Obama told us that a couple with an income of under $250,000 was middle class. Upper middle for sure, but definitely not rich.
Then Biden came along recently and lowered that figure to $150,000. Richardson followed on Biden's heels and the figure fell even more. To him $125,000 sounds like middle class.
You are mistaken if you think that figure could not come down any further. Today I heard an Obama supporter who was being interviewed on TV insist that nobody in the middle class makes more than $50,000.
Where will this free-fall for the middle class end? Somewhere around $41,000 is my guess, because not too long ago Obama voted to raise taxes on anyone making more than that, and we know he has promised us if elected he will not raise taxes on anyone but the rich.
I thought I was pretty middle class up until this week. Now I discover that mostly likely I am rich....and selfish too.
Let's pray that Congress ends up with enough conservative Democrats to stop the train wreck from happening if Obama gets elected.
Hi Nancy, I miss you too.
31/10/08 11:33 PM
PI said...
SQ,
I saw that same thing and added it as an update in the post below this one. I think you are right. Based on his record of saying whatever to win a group then doing whatever he pleases once in office, and due to the fact that his "henchmen" in the house and senate will lower that definition (as they already did in one vote) closer to the $40,000-60,000 range of "selfish" middle class people who don't want to "share their wealth" with those Acorn instructs to get their new-improved EITC.
I'm all for helping those in need, and we do it many ways personally and through our church and school, but federal "redistribution" is not the kind of change the givers or takers truly need.
1/11/08 12:05 AM
SusieQ said...
Tom, I see I was off by a few thousand here and there in my last post, but at least I gave everyone the gist of it.
Obama will not be able to come through with all those goodies he has promised people who are waiting with open hands. And most likely he will have to raise taxes on more than the rich. I pity whoever gets elected president because he is going to have to make some really hard choices that will not be popular with the people.
1/11/08 10:05 AM
Nancy said...
Tom~ You haven't lost me... reading here is much easier than doing the research all by myself. I just have to reread your most recent post, each time I return, because you constantly add little nuggets that are so "juicy". I LOVE it... and then when I reach the comment section, another plethora of information opens up. You are amazing with that wealth of information swirling around in your head!
I'm ready to vote too but I can't do this early voting stuff, I love the excitement of the day, standing in line, looking at the faces, and saying a few last prayers for those still left to vote.
Jump in Tammy, don't worry about loosing readers, just speak from your heart, as you always do. You are a blessing to so many!
1/11/08 10:49 AM
Nancy said...
Tom~ Tammy took the dive and she did a great post. Check it out if you have time !
1/11/08 1:22 PM
PI said...
SQ,
You were close enough--let's face it, the exact number doesn't matter to Obama why should we try to get it right for the moment? It will be lower in the future. That much is certain.
You're right about the next four years being tough for whoever gets in.
Nancy,
You have discovered a secret of my posts. I post them with as much support as possible. Then each day as more confirmation of what I said comes to light, I add the links and updates. So far, it's been so easy to predict the likely outcome of statements and events, that I feel like a "prophet." Knew they would try to bury "Joe the Plumber." Knew some idiots would test the double standard with the lynched Palin--knew it would be treated like a crime while Palin's hangin' in the breeze (they've since taken her down). I know you all can guess the same stuff, but you're right, I do add links for days after a post is up. I try to avoid links to sources that are too extreme.
When I select a Youtube link, I try to select the member who has the least offensive name or least thoughtful videos, but sometimes Youtube is impossible to predict that way.
I'm waiting until Tuesday to vote, too. (Actually, we don't have early voting in Michigan.) I have the joy of living in the most Republican county in the entire state. I can assure you that McCain will win in Michigan--according to my county. The fact is, he would easily carry the state if not for Detroit metro area. Beyond there, Michigan is very rural, traditional, conservative, etc. It was in Grand Rapids that I saw McCain/Palin at that town hall meeting.
1/11/08 4:00 PM
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