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I was looking at YouTubes this morning with DeVeria who does FDL’s accounting and I showed her this Obama video that the SEIU did as part of their "walk a day in my shoes" program. Basically, the union made all of the presidential candidates working for their endorsement spend a day with one of their members. The Obama video they created was especially touching, and when I showed it to DeVeria she said "you have to put that up on your website."
I also bring it up because although I know the Obama campaign didn’t make it, I think the creators are barking up the wrong tree with all the celebrities in this. The concern and respect that Obama shows for ordinary working people in the SEIU video is infinitely more moving.
So since I always do what DeVeria tells me to, here it is.
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The Obamas say they were still paying off student loans three years ago, it seems like they’re not far removed from your average American. Let’s hope they never lose that feeling.
hey pups
We were talking about this very topic over brunch. Came to the consensus that these are videos that were made as a result of inspiration and that is really the only thing that we should gleam from them (the person is inspired due to O’s candidacy and the possibilities that stem from it)
Is there some other message being sent that is coming in under my radar?
Okay I snuck in here while making more coffee for the guests. Be back later
Sometimes I wonder if I just put up one open thread after another if it would make the slightest bit of difference.
Depends on the topic and the vitriol being thrown on other threads. :})
Just being polite with your previous guest. *g*
OT, but I keep hearing that the Dems are caving on telecom immunity. Is there some way we can get Reid, Pelosi, and Hoyer in a room together and REALLY scare them?
This makes a difference, Jane. We were talkin’ earlier today about the importance of reaching out and making personal connections. Lots of different labels for it–face to face, engage and connect.
Whatever the label, the important thing is the bonding that builds. You and Christy are a daily example of the community activism that Obama demonstrates every day with his campaign. His personal brand. Working while he’s talking. [yes, I know, you haven’t endorsed, and that, too, is an important tool of your own vision of community activism]
We all, I think, are drawn to this particular piece o’the blogosphere for that sense of a strong personal connection that compels us to carry it forward whichever way our own lives permit and compel.
Drive by.. What a fantastic video! Inspired me to keep cleaning house too. Thanks Jane.
U agree that celebrity ads are less likely to work on TV than drawing enthusiastic people to rallys and such. But today one never really knows if the person that is portrayed AS A TEACHER really is one, or whether a steel-worker or fireman isn’t an actor.
Perhaps there should be something in campaign legislation requiring that the person portraying something actually works in that profession (i.e. belong to the union or representative professional association for at least two years) or at least a big disclaimer at the end saying the ad uses actors.
BTW Here’s a Clinton ad from an actor…and while Jack may think it’s a good ad because he gets a lot of face time, having the Joker, Col. Jessup, and his arrogant/rude to restaurant workers character in “Six Easy Pieces” come out and endorse Hillary might not actually produce the response he expects!
Jack Nicholson Endorses Hillary
Okay, I watched the video. That is a GREAT video! I’m putting it up at FarrFeed.
Did you bother to actually see the video before gracing us with three paragraphs bashing Hillary Clinton, who was mentioned in the post not at all?
I posted the onion braed/cracker recipe for you under the Rule Of Law Still Clinging To Life thread @ 299. It is the bread recipe but if you spread it out over more trays and after initial drying and cutting into squares, you can place back in dehydrator for another 4-6 hours till it is as crispy as you like.
I agree … what are they thinking ? The last two ads are really counter productive to Hillary’s campaign, IMO …
Whatever anyone says of her, I’d take Hillary over BushCo any day … even on her worst day, she’s head and shoulders above the Repugs.
Jane, thanks so much for posting this video of Obama walking in the shoes of an American. I’ve owned a housecleaning business for over 13 years now and during that time I’ve had wonderful moments with the elderly. Currently I have Orrin in my schedule who is a typical ole Mainah. Love him right to death!
Here’s a post I did on him not long ago…
http://whitenoiseinsanity.word…..nday-wife/
When you put yourself in someone else’s shoes and feel what it is they feel, it’s life changing. We all should do it and I bet most of the Fire Pups here do. ;-)
I’m posting nothing but Makita power drill ads for the next 24 hours.
((((( Jane )))))
Please take lots of time for R&R … it’s only going to get worse until November …
I think both videos have their purpose, one aimed at the working class folks and the other at the youth vote. I almost think the celebrity video was more genuine in some ways. I always think it is a little corny watching a politician running for office doing things like making beds or shoveling dirt. If Obama was in the White House, I doubt he would ever make anyone’s bed. That’s American politics though, always was and always will be.
ROFL
Why are you biased against DeWalt ?!! *g*
LOL! Not sure that would help. Maybe pictures of puppies or baby ducks? That might work.
Ah but if someone investigates, who has Markita been giving campaign donations to? After all, folks will see conspiracy behind every action. /s
That DeVeria seems like a smart cookie. :)
The video is great. It shows that Obama understands what real life is like for working people. He’s doing quite well now, but he hasn’t forgotten where he came from.
Videos like this are important, and may be more effective overall than the celebrity ones, but the trade off is that the celebrities will get some people to watch who might never see the SEIU version. They both serve a purpose.
Barack Obama seems like a real person, concerned about real people, in the SEIU ad. He comes across as sincere and genuine.
The celebrity videos are fun — oh, look, it’s her! (I never remember their names) — but do they change people’s minds or make them vote for someone? Not as much as the candidate talking about real issues and real people.
Maybe it’s just me.
Outstanding video! Very well done, with just the right amount of voice-over. Very effective.
That was pretty remarkable.
Okay, so I have been an avid Edwards supporter, and the heart of the race disappeared for me. Now, I am trying to look at the two remaining candidates with an open mind; I am trying to let my earlier opinions of both, but particularly of Obama, fall away while I reassess.
And I have to say, I really like this video. I like this side of Obama that is portrayed here.
Saw your post and had to run and post this quickly about Sake. You want to try and buy organic and unpasturized Sake. Because it is made from steamed rice it is not technically a raw food as is wine. But the Raw food police won’t smack you down if you indulge in a almost raw libation once and a while.
I loved seeing the couple of actors from “Friday Night Lights” in that video. That is the best damn show on TV.
It is a very good video. I hope either Obama and Clinton will find a Sec of Labor who truly can support labor and not just business.
Yes Jane…I did watch the video. I’ve also seen it before. It’s powerful, and will likely help him alot since it was the SEIU that has unionized many Hispanic and other custodial and health-care workers in Texas. They have been one of the few unions in the last few years to succeed in doing a successful union drive.
Please show me where in any of my comments I “bashed Clinton”? I put the ad up specifically to contrast a poor ad made by an actor with something that humanizes the candidate. And it was you that raised the issue of celebrity ads, not me.
In fact, I don’t think that Clinton is the wicked witch that many here appear to hold as a matter of faith. I’ve defended her where I’ve felt that the attacks were false, and criticized her where she, or her camapign deserved it.
What a great video. I liked Mr. Thorton’s, “she’s workin’ the hell outta him.” That made me LOL. :)
Celebrity video? I clicked thru to that one, and I didn’t recognize a single person.
Gosh I like Pauline and Sen. Obama. This was a great video. Lahoma loved it too. We are teachers in a rural, not so wealthy public school. We don’t make a lot of money and we relate to the themes in this video. Like Pauline, it is felt the work we do is ‘our calling’. We have faith we can make difference. We may be fooling ourselves, some may say, but we don’t think so.
We live and toil in a so called “right to work” state. ‘Right to work’? Just another mean spirited Republican phrase, for the right to work for low pay with little or no benefits. “Right to work” is one of the most evil concepts ever invented.
Ahhh! And here all the time I thought you were just in it for the money! *g*
One of the things that impresses us in this house is that Sen. Obama comes across as sincere.
*g* back to you, my friend. ;0)
barack knows his way around housecleaning…. thats good to see ;-)
Nice seeing “real people” in an ad. I have to admit that Will.i.am’s videos don’t do a thing for me because I really don’t know anyone that is in them – of course, I’m not in the targeted demographic either.
Not to dump on HRC, but her latest “scare ad” and repeated assertions that her experience makes her more qualified than Obama to deal with security threats just chaps my hide. Hells-bells, she didn’t even anticipate Obama being a credible threat to her nomination chances. It’s becoming a cliche of sorts, but I really do prefer good judgement over experience at this point.
Hello Jane:
with love from Paris. I got your message and I’ve responded. (Sorry, Mods–extraordinary circumstances)…
So please check your inbox..
Just to ease your mind, I don’t think you and Lahoma are fooling yourselves about teaching being your calling. I went to Catholic school for all my grade school and high school years except sixth grade. I can honestly say that pretty much all the nuns that taught me were in it because they were called to the profession (with the possible exception of one of my algebra teachers in HS, who was very sweet and a fine mathematician, but she never got the knack of maintaining any discipline in the classroom, poor thing.) They were excellent teachers, very dedicated. One knows when they are called.
Sen. Obama is inspiring. As is Ned Lamont. I would advocate that President Obama consider a place for Mr. Lamont in an Obama administration.
Well, FWIW, in ‘72, the front runners didn’t see McGovern as a credible challenger. Nor did the front runner’s in ‘76 see Jimmy Carter that way. Nor did the front runners in ‘88 envision Mike Dukakis. Nor did the front runners in ‘92 see Bill Clinton.
I did not know SEIU had this program as a prerequisite for endorsement. What an outstanding idea. A day in my shoes. Real stuff with real people involved in the daily drudgery of life. Thanks for posting this, Jane.
With economic advisors like Bob Rubin for Hillary and Austan Goolsbee for Obama, it’s unlikely we will see Populist economics after 01/20/09.
Too bad Oklahoma’s primary is over, because I could use a swamper for a day and bet I could find a hardhat to fit either Senator Obama or Senator Clinton.
Jane !
he had me at the value of union membership
was trying to remember the last time any major candidate came even close to endorsing unions and meaning it !
as more and more Americans face economic uncertainty in the months ahead, I pray his campaign continues with this theme
anecdotal observation from a Texan currently bombarded with campaign ads – it’s like it’s 1964 and he’s the Beatles, HRC is the talented but ignored Brian Wilson, and McToast is Frankie Avalon
Many of the thread contents become ectopic or varied because the nanosecond new threads are open and once they zed variants are through, people rush to them like bees on honey.
It’s not “off topic” that bothers me. It’s the knee-jerk tendency to dumb every thread down by reducing it to “my candidate is teh awesome/your candidate sucks” polemics.
If people want that they can watch Hardball, the production values are better.
I’m still waiting and it will never happen for any single person, including Clinton to substantively, intelligently show me:
1) How her 7 years in the Senate translates into any substantive credentials that spell experience in anything Obama hasn’t had. One could argue that he had far deeper community involvement right out of college and before law school–something that would have made either Clinton nervous. Clinton went straight from Wellsley in 1969 into law school. She then worked as Congressional legal counsel.
All her foreign position papers have been written by people like Madeline Albright, and Obama’s have been written by similar types of people.
I see nothing whatsoever to show she has experience doing anything that would make her a more effective President.
And as to that seven years in the Senate, she cast the vote that sent thousands of people to their deaths, possibly hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and grudingly told Tim Russert she regreted the vote (left unsaid is she regreted it most because of the votes it has now cost her as it should have).
The ad is insulting that she can do anymore towards making foreign policy decisions than most of us could. Marriage to someone who was a governor or a President does not make her any more “experienced” or capable in dealing with any foreign or domestic policy. The one large domestic issue she has actually tackled with all the resources of a President’s wife in the 1990’s she has adamantly refused to detail and refused to release the 1.6 million docs to the public.
It is really a shame that as HRC winds down her last 2 days of campaigning that FDL never did the vetting headline post on HRC that it attempted to do on Obama which drew in a lot of refutes when it hit the 200’s and word got around of it on other blogs.
I look at the Time Magazine cover I just pulled out of my mailbox and I’m tempted to paste a pic of HRC on the one they have of the back of Obama’s head because I have been questioning what possible experience she brings to this campaign as she winds down her last couple days.
She has shown me she doesn’t know how to manage campaigns or money for them. She has shown me that she has showcased enough tones and approaches to have been the basis for the screenplay of The Three Faces of Eve that starred Joanne Woodward. It’s hard to reconcile which face is HRC. Jon Stewart has done some great montages showing these faces, but I’ll bet that he doesn’t confront her with them in the taping late Monday afternoon.
I agree “the lefty lizard brains” have made the election about them and not the country. It’s going to bite us in the ass come Nov.
How so? I’d be very interested in a substantive discussion of precisely what is “going to bite us in the ass” when, and how.
By feeding the trolls, that’s how.
Against McBush and the sterling record he has to run on asses are going to get bitten? And how is the biting going to take place? Who is going to do it? I can’t imagine an 8 years that has been more of a systemic failure. There are tons of issues with which to bite Republican ass, chew it up and spit it out.
It’s been my experience, and this will work for you that every time you see a name attached to the phrase “feeding the trolls” here, you can look high and low but you’ll never seen any other substantive points made by that name on or off topic other than the phrase “feeding the trolls.” Check it out.
The only thing that needs to check out of this blog is you. What’s wrong petey boy they didn’t allow you to take the book salon hostage too?
I watched the video and have worked with and taken care of people like Pauline every single day since I graduated college and went on to my next school up through the present day. I also have taken care of people like Hillary Clinton. In many ways they aren’t that different, but the affluent group has many more tools to pay for their care. I made home visits as well that I was never required to make–a lot of them. How ’bout you tbsaey?
Pete, in two different threads today, people have asked in various ways that you stop with the Clinton bashing.
For whatever reason, you have not been able to do so.
Please stop now.
What’s a swamper?
CNN is highlighting the blog “Army of Dude”. Alex, an Iraq vet has hard hitting, and firsthand Iraq reports.
http://armyofdude.blogspot.com/
Again, I didn’t attack Hillary in my presentation of the Jack Nicholson video. I was criticizing it as an example of a “celebrity endrsement” by video that I thought was particularly ineffective, if not counter-productive. That’s all.
It was similar to the will.i.am video/song, though perhaps that was directed at an audience that was far more narrow. Except for Jessica Alba and Paul Gonzalez I don’t think I recognized very many of the people in it, but I can almost bet the kids who watch MTV know 90% of them.
I am far fromthe only person to make comments about Clinton and on both threads I responded to someone else who initiated comments about her.
And watch. Many people will make comments about her completely unrelated to me before the sun comes up tomorrow, and before the sun comes up the next day, and onward.
What say you to them?
Ah, so I’m a “lefty lizard brain” that dumbed down the discourse by putting up another video by a celebrity, and not simply following the party-line and praising the posters contribution (which I did as well, but wanted to add to the discussion).
Sorry…I apologize for actually picking up on what I thought Jane was discussing~ the ineffectiveness of celebrity videos.
I think I’m supposed to assist at a track meet for some kids…enough of this “holier than thou stuff” for me.
A brief time out folks! If any of ya are DU’ers, please recommend my post on Pelosi’s great upcoming sell out on Immunity for the Telcoms…!
http://www.democraticundergrou…..15;3205678
Hmmm… I’m 0-2, RBG with the linky! 8-(
Please see my post #11. I don’t think it’s trollish in the least. It responding directly to this remark by Jane in her post
“I also bring it up because although I know the Obama campaign didn’t make it, I think the creators are barking up the wrong tree with all the celebrities in this (link to will.i.am music video endorsement). The concern and respect that Obama shows for ordinary working people in the SEIU video is infinitely more moving.”
I put the Nicholson video up to show another case where a candidate endorsement video is equally ineffective. Jane said I attacked Clinton…I didn’t. I criticized the video.
Now I’m being called a “lefty lizard brain” and a troll.
Sheesh. And I’m late for the damn track meet! Goodbye!
Here’s a positive comment via NYT op ed on one of the candidates who is in the video that Jane made the subject of this post. I don’t know if he’s been a book salon guest here, but Jeffery Rosen is a constitutional law professor at George Washington University and has written a number of excellent books that focus on civil liberties and their acute and chronic erosion the past several years as well as the submissive, apathetic, and passive response of the Congress we’ve had during them and the Supreme Court.
A Card Carrying Civil Libertarian by Jeffery Rosen March 1, 2008 NYT
I must be a “lefty lizard brain” that dumbs down threads as well–but I always strive to improve my meager education and reading skills.
Obama continues to cast votes that send folks to their death. This whole meme that the Oborg have that Hillary is Beezlebub in a dress and Obama ‘The One’ is bullshit.
They are both flawed human beings just like the rest of us and I, for one, am sick and fucking tired of Obama supporters clogging up the dialogue with their stupid contention that Obama is anything other than what he is:
An inexperienced demagogue who’s taken to believing his own scam.
Here’s a little reality for ya pal.
Let’s all keep it civil please, or the mods will remove comments from the thread.
FDL, we are outta here.
Lahoma and okk.
As a veteran of stupid contentions I am humbly grateful that there are really bright people to guide me to some of the finer literature on the web. I also know my place and am delighted when I am called “stupid” by someone who can show me the light and make such an impact on my learning curve.
I can’t help but contrast the link you just proferred to me, and its content that stretches the mind in imagining anyone with more than a third grade education could have written it.
I prefer GWU law professor Jeff Rosen’s op ed on the candidates over the reality you linked for me but I have to say the anonymous author of the piece on Bear Republic Action Group with a real pic of a real bear is compelling and impressive as to its style and content. He/she had me with
Is that right Senator
Dope‘Hope’A Card Carrying Libertarian by Jeffery Rosen NYT
Thanks for allowing the “stupid contendors” like me to share this remarkable piece you linked, and bask in its brilliance,and I’d like to make its stunning impact available to everyone. Bear Republic Action Group OMG It’s Your Blog isn’t It–You are A Citizen
We are honored and humble and not worthy. Surely this piece will garner both a Pulitzer and a Polk award next time around, and I hope you are asking the NYT to publish this as an op-ed to counter Jeffery Rosen’s.
You have also written to explain the blog:
Here is your post in all its majesty Interesting…on Bear Republic Action Group
I see the contributions pouring in for you now after this remarkable piece:
Aloha, OKK and Lahoma! RBG, the Bosox rang up an impressive run total on Thursday, 39 in two SS games against BC and NEU… While pitching gave up no runs…! Still World Champs…! ;-)
Not gonna go there right now. See you in Late Late Night?
Well… I’m underwhelmed
I everyone knew what I was talking about. We didn’t need an example.
And what has experience got us? Oh that’s right! A war that was a big fat lie, our rights eroded, and our nation now has a big fat bulleyes over the top of it, because the whole world hates us!
What kind of experience do you believe is perfect to be the president of the US? Seems that dry drunk former chickenhawk with a fake Texan accent didn’t cut the mustard. Let’s not forget, the Clintons and the Bushes have had a love affair over the past seven years too.
BWAHAHAHAHA! Thanks! I haven’t laughed so hard in a LOOOONG time. Yeah, your average American makes a couple hundred thousand a year for a no show job. And it is SOOOOO hard spending all those thousands on piano and dance lessons and private schools while buying those mansions from your corrupt political mentor ain’t it. BWAHAHAHAHA!
So, in other words you’re voting for either Hillary or McCain because they’re in the poor house, huh? LOL! I guess this means you had a nice relationship with George Bush too who was also in the poor house. *screaming laughter*
http://hotlineblog.nationaljou…..pause.html
Okay, just watched the video. My first reaction was a cringing “is he the Messaiah or what”? I love Obama but am a bit scared about Americans ODing on his charisma. That said . . . a couple of nights ago I realized that Barack is Mac and Hillary is PC. (Aren’t you surprised you haven’t heard that yet? It MUST be out there somewhere!)
lol, Vote Linux 08!
Dear Jane,
Thank you for this video. As is clear by now, I am not a fan of Hillary Clinton. It seems clear you are. It also seems clear that you are tired of those of us who speak out against her candidacy, and somehow this video offering was meant to be a break in the action.
If so, thank you again. There’s a lot of passion in these threads. There are many good Democrats who felt a deep sense of betrayal and disappointment in Hillary’s enabling the war, and then her mostly silent stance on the sidelines as others did the heavy lifting against this unprovoked aggression. Many of us also feel, in hiring two lobbyists in Penn and Wolfson as front men for her campaign, she openly signaled business as usual as it concerns corporate influence in our government.
It took me a while to commit to a candidate. I found Obama quite stiff in the early debates I watched. I really wasn’t impressed with anyone until I heard him speak election night in Iowa, then again in defeat in New Hampshire. He blew me away, and I felt as many who have come to support him, that not only is this guy smart, but he actually rocked me with that speech. He made me feel a sense of hope that there is someone who can excite us into working harder to become better citizens, and correct the course of this country by reaching out to one another, as well the international community in a meaningful way, with a fresh face on our leadership. For many of Hillary’s supporters this is just Kumbaya BS, but this is just one of the qualities Hillary lacks – the ability to inspire. Meanwhile, his color was not a factor until after I decided he had my vote. Only then did I feel the added plus of pride that we Americans might elect a black man as our president.
This week Hillary’s campaign stooped to employ fear mongering. You chastise Russert for his free pass for McCain, but I didn’t see you come down hard on Hillary for this outrageous and transparent attempt to frighten people away from Obama.
I enjoy this site. There’s so much I learn here, and it is out of that respect for you I have been disappointed by your attempts to paint Hillary as a victim of some kind. She professes to be a strong woman who can fight the tough fight, but so much lately been about how unfair the media and “Hillary Haters” have been to her. It’s true there are many who have problems with a woman as our president. but it’s not those of us who support Obama. She just happens to be the wrong woman.
Nonetheless, from one who does not agree with your choice of senator in this race, I appreciate your throwing up an Obama piece sans comment.
I wish you a restful (politics free?) Sunday.
Linux, that’s not McCain is it? Oh, no, definitely Kucinich. . . . or maybe Ron Paul?!
hmmm, good question!
I would like to think that the linux candidate would be a strong progressive majority in congress. :)
This is not necessarily related to your comment, but I did see the video and would still bash Hillary Clinton. A few months ago I was ready to support without reservation the Democratic nominee. But, Clinton’s campaign has not disappointed me; it has disgusted me.
There has been no consistency, just a naked desire to be elected. From the canard of the 35 years of experience – or change – or whatever the theme of the week has been – to the unbelievably Rovian 3:00 am phone call ad and that mess of Penn/Wolfson/Ickes, I now put her in the category of politicians I just want to go away. It is so clear to me that it is the ambition being the President that is the force behind her campaign and nothing more.
Touching video. I hope Obama’s conern was genuine, and he remembers what matters when he’s president.
I’m not aware that Jane has chosen a prefered candidate. I’m not even, honestly, sure which one she would choose if she chose. In any case, barring an exception upset, the question is moot now.
Barack Obama is a mensch, for sure. The man obviously cares about people. I’m sure that Hillary does,too — but it’s more in the abstract. No doubt that she is concerned about the working and low-income people. That’s definitely her policy (and would be in the White House). But can you honestly picture her making breakfast for someone else? Sorry, it doesn’t compute with me. Hillary has got the right ideas, Barack has the heart and soul. That gets it for me (and I’m an old white guy).
My wife thinks I’m too tough on Hillary because I have never really forgiven her for her vote on the Resolution to go to War on Iraq. I, personally, think, I’ve gone too easy on her. After all, if she wins the Democratic nomination (which, thankfully, looks less and less likely), I will indeed vote for her for President (the Supreme Court is too important to be left in the hands of any Republican).
But that still is not an excuse for her vote or Joe Lieberman’s vote or John McCain’s vote to wage a stupid, bloody, preemptive, and expensive War on Iraq. They are all equally guilty.
This War on Iraq is going to cost the American taxpayers more than 3 trillion dollars (and it has already cost the lives of almost 4000 American soldiers, over a million Iraqi civilians, and caused over 4 million Iraqis to be refugees).
Anyone who is still excusing their vote for the War on Iraq to ignorance or faulty intelligence is not only a liar but a fool.
I don’t care who you are. You can’t be that stupid and be President (unless you are George W. Bush).
I’ll be back to your site after the Nov election I guess. I’m not participating in any campaigning of the progressive netroots. I used to beleive they could be helpful in moving this country forward. Now I beleive that its just about which young person can make a kewl video. No info necessary.