Barack Obama Goes Direct in 'Plan for Change' Ad
In his most direct address yet to voters, Barack Obama addresses the country's current economic issues and his plan for how to fix them.
Says Obama in the two-minute address: "In the past few weeks, Wall Street’s been rocked as banks closed and markets tumbled. But for many of you – the people I’ve met in town halls, backyards and diners across America – our troubled economy isn’t news. 600,000 Americans have lost their jobs since January. Paychecks are flat and home values are falling. It’s hard to pay for gas and groceries and if you put it on a credit card they’ve probably raised your rates. You’re paying more than ever for health insurance that covers less and less. This isn’t just a string of bad luck. The truth is that while you’ve been living up to your responsibilities Washington has not. That’s why we need change. Real change. This is no ordinary time and it shouldn’t be an ordinary election. But much of this campaign has been consumed by petty attacks and distractions that have nothing to do with you or how we get America back on track. Here’s what I believe we need to do..."
Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...
Posted Sep. 17,2008 at 1:40 PM EST by Andy Towle in Advertising, Barack Obama, Election 2008, News | Permalink
Like I've said before, some of the people who comment on this blog are ignorant and stupid. Now, if Andy can tell us how many of these trolls post from the same IP address, we can see how many there actually are.
Posted by: Bading | Sep 17, 2008 2:43:48 PM
Sure wish he (Obama) was more evolved on marriage -- but he's lightyears ahead of McCain and >gag< Palin.
Posted by: TikiHead | Sep 17, 2008 2:44:32 PM
Um...i'm for less taxes and people helping themselves and not the government helping them. As far as the Republicans bailing out Fannie, Freddie, and AIG, yeah that sucks. They should have been allowed to fail. It's capitalizm, not communinism. And to the comment about the stock market dropping 800 points in two days, It's really only about 600 since it was up 200 points yesterday. I personally am buying because in 20 years this beaten down market will have made me very rich.
Posted by: Matt | Sep 17, 2008 2:44:40 PM
I have to say i use to come to this site for the content but I love coming and reading the comments. The liberals here and the conservatives are so afraid of each other. Each of you are so afraid the other is going to take away some right.
Posted by: Matt | Sep 17, 2008 2:48:39 PM
"Obama is over" sounds awfully like a guy named Rob I know, who preaches the same ignorance and tired rhetoric. The truth is, it is not communist to realize that we are in this together and supporting each other is the real way positive change will occur. It's not a fantasy, it's the reality of our situation. We are one of the few nations who are so consumerist driven that when asked what we do for a living, our response usually equates to our careers. However, travel to Spain, France, Brazil, and when asked, most individuals respond with their hobbies, activities outside of their career. Why? Other cultures aren't as money driven and greedy as the free market American system established since the mid-20th century. Most American's are so focused on their careers and possessions, that we have become DEFINED by them. "That's a very Pottery Barn house" or "He dresses very Paul Smith". The comments by some who support a Republican office support this ideology. "Why should I bother to help anyone? It's about ME." America has become an isolated and selfish nation, whereas most countries are realizing we ALL walk on the same planet, and in the similar fashion as the scientific hypothesis if the "Butterfly Effect", one individuals actions may eventually, indirectly effect another. If we as a nation truly want to pull ourselves out of this mess, then we need to put our own needs aside and realize, in the end our needs are not unlike the needs of our neighbors. It a time when our stock market is crashing and companies are being sold off to the highest bidder, we have fallen behind even Canada in terms of the American dollars strength. Obama has not stated he intends on raising capital gains taxes or taxes on the middle class, just the opposite. I also find it rather amusing that people who do not own homes or stocks are complaining that Obama may raise taxes in realms that do not effect their financial situation. It is purely a Republican talking point.
Someone I knew stated that he was sick of having his tax dollars used for health care on immigrants. The sad reality is more money has been poured into Iraq than in giving health care to immigrants (illegal or otherwise). How soon we have forgotten that at one point in time we were ALL immigrants.
"They came here for several centuries for the same reasons – freedom and hope -- and then a Frenchman created a statue that embodied their hopes and dreams. And it embodied America's promise as well. 'Give us your poor, your tired, your huddled masses longing to be free...' "
A Frenchman founded a basic philosophy that America was founded under, and yet we have become the most xenophobic, selfish and materialistic nation on the planet. How far we have fallen, how far the mighty have fallen...
Posted by: CJ | Sep 17, 2008 2:54:32 PM
Obama is Over needs to get a clue.
Yes, only a minority of people have actually lost their job. But where does that put the rest of us? Even though I'm in a pretty secure industry, and have relatively little to worry about from the fallout in the financial industry, I'm still scared shitless about the potential spillover. And anybody who works closely with those in the financial sector is currently pissing their pants.
Don't look now, OiO, but your boss just sent an all-hands meeting for 5pm today...
Posted by: Dan | Sep 17, 2008 2:59:16 PM
@ Obama is Over
OK, I hate to answer the trolls, but since I'm bored right now, and happy to sic the meatheads, here it goes:
"The majority dictates the elections. And with Obama being the champion for the minority, the majority continues to laugh."
Given that your argument is taken up by this majority/minority contrast, how do you explain in those terms, then, that Obama and McCain are closely tied in the latest polls? Facing that panorama of voting trends, where are your glaring majorities and cowering minorities? I'm hearing equal laughter from both sides.
We (i.e. your YOU, by which I mean we gays—but if they include you, I'm sorry, gurl, I misunderstood your straight-man posturings—) should start a game, to imagine the type of person OBAMA IS OVER is in real life: I'm betting for a dork whose deepest sexual fantasy is to be penetrated by Ayn Rand with a strap on. Oooo Motha Russia!
Posted by: Blue Dog | Sep 17, 2008 3:03:53 PM
Obama is Over is overreacting and illogical. We can't think that this ignorant nation is going to suddenly stand up for our rights. It started in 1969 and has a long way to go.
And tax breaks for the wealthy in this country are what caused this collapse. Bush and McCain are just another Hoover policy, and we all know where that went.
Posted by: Gary | Sep 17, 2008 3:06:31 PM
I'm learning to not even read the trolls, once I realize that's what they are.
Focus on the actual video: amazing and inspiring again, plus taking the high road. Not to mention not lying, like some people....
Maybe this crisis (these crises, I should say) will actually lead to some real change? Throw ALL the bums out. Let's have a democratic sweep of both houses of congress AND the white house!
Posted by: KevinVT | Sep 17, 2008 3:20:14 PM
obamaisover = tokyo rose
Posted by: alguien | Sep 17, 2008 5:00:59 PM
Message to the paid Republican trolls - can you please move on? Only a very small, fixed percentage of gay men are suffering from the kind of brain-damage that will cause them to vote against their interests for Miss "get right with God" Caribou Barbie. Your drivel is not going to convert anybody. You ARE wasting your time.
Posted by: St. Theresa of Avila | Sep 17, 2008 6:24:02 PM
Exactly the kind of message Obama should be putting out there, delivered clearly and straightforwardly (unlike "straight talking" McCain). He needs to keep punching back whenever the Republicans try to distract from their hollow policies with more lies, but it's nice to see him on the offensive, tackling issues that really matter.
Troll City here.
Joe, you're simply uninformed, nuf said, and I imagine you know that.
Obama Is Over, sorry, Obama's appeal goes well beyond minorities and the unemployed. The majority is also not filthy rich or crazy religious, which is McCain/Palin's only logical base. I don't deny that racism could play a role in this election, but otherwise your assertions are baseless, and I imagine you know that, too.
Posted by: Ernie | Sep 17, 2008 7:49:29 PM
SHOCKER!! The majority here say Obama is God and then call Gov. Palin a SLUT? Please show some maturity. Again, as someone who is still undecided, reading comments from these Obama supporters does not make me want to vote for him. I support adult, responsible people. And it is true that Obama's economic plan is to redistribute the wealth so that the 600,000 unemployed don't have to work to make money. I'll work so they can make money.
Posted by: BC | Sep 17, 2008 8:07:31 PM
Brucie says she's still "undecided." Hysterical!
Posted by: 24play | Sep 17, 2008 8:21:05 PM
"reading comments from these Obama supporters does not make me want to vote for him"
Hey, it's a free country, but here's a thought: base your vote on the issues rather than on your perception of the maturity of Towleroad comments. Obama is a slut and Palin is God. Still undecided?
Posted by: Ernie | Sep 17, 2008 8:55:40 PM
ERNIE: um, yeah, still undecided. My point in saying that is that according to a lot on this, and other sites, and the media, Obama can do or say nothing wrong. He has not made one slip up, one faux pas, one stupid comment. He is a God. The bottom line is, whoever wins in November is going to be our president. As long as we keep the country divided, we will never fix the economy, health care, education, etc. If Obama wins, the Repubs. will not agree with anything he does over the next four years. If McCain wins, the Dems. will not agree with anything he does over the next four years. This is why our country is struggling now. No one compromises anything but their own values. These comments here are not on the issues - they are on the "issue" of anyone except someone with an R after their name. That isn't progress. And I do vote on the issues (plural) and not on one issue, as many here have suggested. My entire bottom line in all my posts is this: Why must our community take childish digs at everything? Now you can say that the comments on here don't represent the entire community. But come on. Andy has a VERY popular blog here. I very much enjoy his blog and use it to keep up on a lot of news. Some of the comments made here WILL be used by crazy right wingers who are against us to show that we are "beneath" them. Why are we giving them ammo? Why can't our conversatons be about the issues and the facts and not about emotions?
Posted by: BC | Sep 17, 2008 9:50:51 PM
Oh and I AM NOT BRUCE! And I am undecided. I am very concerned about the direction of this country and i REFUSE to make a decision based on emotions.
Posted by: BC | Sep 17, 2008 9:52:50 PM
To Matt/et al:
It could be funny but its actually sad. Compassion in this generation is completely lost and misinformation is the rule of the norm.
If everyone could step outside their boundaries and act based on what would actually help all communities we would truly be the United States of America. Right now, and possibly even more in our future, its a hodge-podge of hypocrisy and fallacy.
Our movement is still considered in it's infancy. When you look at our defining moments they fall just short (time wise) of civil rights for blacks and other minorities, yet even today we still see their acceptance being a struggle. How to this day do we still have racial prejudice? Prejudice, not only in the general public but still prevalent in the lbgt community? And lets not bring up classism.
I think one of the most profound things that Obama is asking of everyone is to step up, take some responsibility and participate. Not just within his campaign but within our country. We've heard it before from Clinton many years ago but at the time it seemed the target of that conversation wasn't 'me.' Build a house... get tuition help. A little older, I'm hearing Obama's call for all of us to get invested in our country.
So, whether you heed that message, or are a one issue voter, or worried that any erroneous tax increase will hinder your ability to buy that new armoire (Ikea has credit!), or that you can't marry your lust man next week, or finally... whew... you're a troll that wants to upset the queens here;
Barney Frank gave an interview a few weeks ago stating that those in congress can't do everything. He stated that they need our support. So, are we going to bitch or are we going to act?
Come November 5th, no matter who is elected president, as a citizen of this country -- please, be not only willing in intention but actively working towards bringing the true change that we want. No... the true change that we need.
Posted by: Carl | Sep 17, 2008 11:38:52 PM
Oh, Brucie. You're such a card.
Posted by: 24play | Sep 18, 2008 12:07:08 AM
"Some of the comments made here WILL be used by crazy right wingers who are against us to show that we are "beneath" them. Why are we giving them ammo? Why can't our conversatons be about the issues and the facts and not about emotions?"
I'm not sure what ammo you're talking about. Sure, there are catty comments here and juvenile insults and no shortage of trolls, but that is true of any blog, left or right. Try looking at the right wing blogs if you want some truly insane ranting and hate speech. It's all free speech. Bigots are always going to think we're beneath them, no matter what we say. I won't be kissing their asses for approval. If people use emotional blog comments as "ammo," or as a voting guide, then they're not looking at the issues. And there is plenty of informed issue discussion here on Towleroad, both in Andy's posts and in the commentary. If you don't see that, you're not looking hard enough.
Posted by: Ernie | Sep 18, 2008 10:39:34 AM