Gwyneth Paltrow's Newest Film: Dems Abroad Ad For Obama

On Monday, actress Gwyneth Paltrow will debut in her newest film: a two minute advertisement on behalf of Democrats Abroad, an official party organization that persuades the millions of Democratic voters living outside the country's borders to participate in domestic politics.

The spot, titled 'Where In The World Will YOU Vote?' implores expatriates to ignore the usual excuses and lethargies and cast ballots in the '08 election...preferably for Obama.

Democrats Abroad has launched a partner site, VoteFromAbroad.org, which helps U.S. citizens to register from anywhere in the world (during the primary season, one voter apparently registered via satellite internet from Antarctica).

"I heard people say that they didn't have a right to vote, from abroad," says the ad, narrated by multiple figures, including the London-based Paltrow. "A vote is a vote, regardless of where you are. For anyone who says they don't have a right to vote, you do."

"Vote Democrat. Vote Obama. Vote From Abroad," the spot concludes.

The organization is fighting something of an uphill battle. The advertisement, while harnessing Paltrow's star power, is only going on the web, as it would be all but impossible to effectively air in the 160 countries and territories where Democratic expatriates reside. Also, there are a variety of roadblocks, from the legal to the superficial, that dissuade people from registering. There were approximately 1 million requested ballots for the 2006 midterm election and more than 6 million estimated Democrats abroad.

If that gap can be closed, even slightly, it could be a boon for Obama. According to the group, four of the biggest swing states -- Florida, Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania -- receive among the highest number of requests for overseas ballots.

"This is a critical election, and we urge all Americans living abroad to request ballots now. We hope that this video along with our other efforts will help Americans, including over 200,000 American students studying abroad, vote for change this fall," said Christine Schon Marques, International Chair of Democrats Abroad.

Comments

[Ajegunle]

Vote Democrat, vote for Democracy, vote for the future of America, vote for Obama.

[tel8034]

Wouldn't it be poetic justice if Obama receives a huge majority of the 6 million votes of Americans abroad?

The "world" would have then in fact voted for Obama, even though McCain has tried to dismiss the success of Obama's world tour and has ridiculed him as the king of the world.

[iyamchazz]

I always knew there was something really special about Gwyneth Paltrow, she's a truly beautiful human being. One way to get to 160 countries is to place the ad on CNN. She voices a very moving and effective AIDS awareness ad on CNN and and it would be the right platform for this message.

[RFBorjal]

I agree. If the Obama campaign can place the ad on CNN, it will be money well spent.

[KillgoreTrout43]

She is a sweetie.

[booksnmore4you]

Awesome. I've use votefromabroad.org and it rocks.

[sowhatdemos]

Yep, you have to vote, especially this year!!
Anyone who votes rethug this year is a complete fool!

Obama = landslide if we all come together!!

yep, you have to vote

[Mitchell4A]

Another reason that Obama is going to win. He knows how to get out the vote.

"A Dozen Reasons Why Obama will be the Next President: Money-Back Guarantee”
http://msa4.wordpress.com/

[tuckgraph]

I applaud the effort! Every vote counts. And let's make sure every vote is counted. The technology that affords us the luxury of voting overseas via computer, can also be used to manipulate final results.

We need a paper trail. We need many things, but this is paramount. Every vote should be hand counted. Ain't democracy a pain in the ass?

[quixoto]

The message here is great but I'll be damned if this ad wasn't incredibly annoying.
Please, for the love of God, if you're going to release this thing internationally or whatever cut it down to a good thirty seconds. That's all you need to reassure people of the ease in which one can get an absentee ballot and vote overseas.

And seriously, isn't it getting old that whole trend in ads where a variety of people are all saying the exact same thing over and over again, as if to show that "everyone's on the same wavelength." Seriously, it's time to retire it and do something different.

Also, for those worried about this message getting to McCain voters, need I remind you that Obama beat Clinton by a 5-1 margin in the "Democrats Abroad" primary. I can't imagine that McCain would have more support than she would.

Otherwise.... kudos to Votefromabroad.org!

[manumoka]

Agree. The ad had a point to make and then a call to action. It belabored the point and then didn't really suggest how to perform the action.

[KathyNicholas]

LobbyDelegtes.comm is a great tool, I have contacted all my State Delegates for free through email, I have come accross another tool from the same company www.statedemocracy.org its also free and I can contact my lawmakers, apply for an absentee ballot & voter registration and on election day I can locate my polling places. Great tool.... use it"

[CamJam]

Great message Gwyneth! Thank you!
And I hope ALL our votes get counted here and abroad!

[MPeter]

It is brilliantly made too. Such diversity, Thanks Gwyneth. You rock.

[heal57]

This is just great! Every single vote counts. Thank God for our young people; they will change this nation from wherever they are!

[KillgoreTrout43]

Gweneth isn't exactly "our young people." I agree with her, and admire her, but a yoot, she is not.

[KOisGod]

The best actress of her generation, a great spokesperson for this.

Thank you Gwyneth!

[marthlois]

Gwyneth! As an American Mom of three lovely women, I am so very proud of you!

[Faith101]

I will pray for this effort to be successful and that everybody that wants to vote can and will. And they will be validated.

[Harvo]

Ummm, okay