Obama Infomercial (VIDEO)

Barack Obama's half-hour commercial/mini-documentary aired on Wednesday evening. Watch the full video below.

Following the produced segment, viewers caught the conclusion of a live Obama rally in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Watch:

The McCain campaign response from spokesman Tucker Bounds: "As anyone who has bought anything from an infomercial knows, the sales-job is always better than the product. Buyer beware."

Some commentary on the spot from ABC's George Stephanopoulos:

This was a very highly produced, technically incredibly competent half hour of television.

It was all designed to get voters comfortable with the idea of Barack Obama in the Oval Office, that he is embedded in the lives of average Americans, and knows exactly what they're going through.

Obama even appeared in a facsimile of the White House Oval Office during the infomercial. Every single line during that 30 minutes was something that the campaign knows works and appeals to those undecided voters.

What you saw here was a highly competent, professional, virtuoso performance. The fact that they could go 28 minutes in and hit live to a campaign rally in Florida and right down to the final Obama Biden logo even showed a rising sun. One of the things the campaign knows is that the most optimistic presidential candidate always wins.

More from former senior Hillary Clinton aide Howard Wolfson:

Let's quickly dispense with the silly spin from the McCain campaign and the notion that Senator Obama's infomercial might somehow be overkill or extravagant--there isn't a campaign anywhere that wouldn't want to be able to afford thirty minutes of network time a week before the election to make a final pitch to undecided voters.

And this ad was clearly aimed at those voters still deciding--it effectively interspersed geographically and ethnically diverse tales of middle class hardship, narrated sympathetically by Barack Obama, with specific policy details about how an Obama Administration would address the problems confronting American families. [...]

This ad won't win Senator Obama the election--he was going to win in any case. But it was a highly effective, well-produced and well-executed closing argument. And at a time when the McCain campaign is doing everything it can to knock Senator Obama off his game, it's another example of how and why that task is so difficult.

UPDATE: The New Republic's Jason Zengerle writes that this new Obama campaign web ad packs an even bigger punch:

Comments

[iwebie]

11:45 AM on 11/05/2008

The greatness of a nation is not how wealthy a few are....but in how you look after the poor and more vulnerable in society.

Great Speech by Barack Obama. Check out Barack Obama Infomercial Video here

http://www.iwebie.com/barack-obama-infomercial-video

[Irksome]

02:47 PM on 11/02/2008

That old man in the last video made me cry.

[devildidit]

02:38 AM on 11/02/2008

Well done. Highly moving and it hit home. If folks were not convinced
about Sen. Obama after that, then noting could or ever would. Time to move
on to those many, many thousands that do know and will vote for the right man.
PRESIDENT BARRACK OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!

[write2bheard]

07:58 PM on 11/01/2008

Habakkuk 2 v 2 -3 NKJ.....Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry

Everyone has a vision, sometimes they make it plain, sometimes you learn it through default. Obama has written his vision plainly. McCain and Palin have also written theirs with their hate, innuendos, division, and lies.

It has been said that without vision the people perish. It can also be said that with the wrong vision, people perish. The tens of thousands dead in Iraq are a silent testimony to the effects of the wrong vision.

[tonyj1600]

05:55 PM on 11/01/2008

MCcain Voter Fraud Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGF-HEd6XnA

[SpecialReports]

04:39 PM on 11/01/2008

The Obama ad featuring Palin's wink is priceless. http://specialreport.com/video-of-palin-winking-used-in-obama-ad/

[OutsiderSA]

04:32 AM on 11/01/2008

wordhustler See Profile I'm a Fan of wordhustler I'm a fan of this user permalink

But of course because you all have been brainwashed,

---------

It is people with a narrow mindset like you that makes us outsiders "hate" the USA. Thankfully many realize that the path they were on was disenfranchising them from the rest of humanity. Leaders like this come sadly too few times and yet when the world overwhelmingly see hope in a Obama presidency, bigoted folk like you cling to the past.

To all the re-tards (my name for GOP right wingers) - have a lonely, meaningless, unfulfilling life.

To those that share the hope the rest of the planet does, strength, peace and prosperity to you all.

Excellent and uplifting message.

Not a USA citizen

[wordhustler]

01:35 PM on 11/01/2008

First, just because I don't agree with you doesn't mean that I have a narrow mind. Second, doesn’t your own intolerance and outright rejection or dismissal of my viewpoint, opinions, thoughts, etc. in fact make you a bigot? You should reflect on the meaning of the word. As far as Obama goes, anyone who questions or criticizes him is quickly neutralized.
I think you all are making too many assumptions here. I’m not a devoted follower of McCain/Palin and I actually agree with Obama's stances on certain issues such as abortion, gay rights, increased diplomacy and participation in the global society, among others. But, I also profoundly and fundamentally disagree with his admittedly (well, not during the campaign anyway) Marxist agenda and his naiveté regarding our sworn enemies worldwide. Moreover, I believe that each nation must be sovereign, something Obama does not. No nation, or individual for that matter, should relinquish their sovereignty for the “better of the whole“. So where as I respect and consider the opinions of “outsiders” like Outsider SA, I am not ruled by them. Whether they choose to hate me because of this is their issue not mine. I believe Obama is a dangerous man who is leading this nation down a path that will lead to the destruction of individual liberties and greatly increased government… and you all are clinging to him like scared sheep.

[frstgenamerican]

03:59 PM on 11/03/2008

Quit being afraid of the old Karl. You probably don't even know what Marx meant in his manifesto. You're just scared because you were brainwashed to be fearful. How said.

[wordhustler]

01:36 PM on 11/01/2008

And as far as clinging to the past? I do not. We can’t forget the past because as the saying goes to do so would doom us to repeat it. Deplorably, I see many striking trends and disturbing similarities to those dictatorial leaders that come along thankfully so few times. Our sworn enemies like Hamas, Al Qaeda, and Chavez support the guy!! What does that tell you???
As far as authenticity? I see little in this man. If he would just come right out and embrace his true self as a socialist who supports things like wealth and income redistribution then I would be more comfortable with him. Doing so I think would open many of his devoted followers eyes. So far, he has masterfully manipulated people’s perception of him and been able to hide his true self. If he truly cared about humanity as he purports and wanted to spread the wealth around then why do members of his own family live in such squalor? Why has this member of the rich upper class you all despise so much not reached out and supported his own family? His running mate Biden, another rich upper class member, is no better, having given less than one-tenth of his earnings to charity over the last decade. As opposed to McCain who gives as much as 26% of his income and gives his Congressional salary increases to charity because he doesn’t agree with them.

[contemporarymom]

05:37 PM on 11/01/2008

I was going to comment but you hit the nail on the head. When folks like Chaves support this guy along with over zealous praise from others outside of America, one has to question it.

And since when did we Americans need the rest of the worlds approval on who to pick to lead our Country.

If he wins, we will see how things go. I find my rights are more up for questioning under a Democrat than a Repub, unfortunately folks wont realize this until its too late.

[zenandpeace]

08:13 PM on 11/01/2008

Why the Hell are you here? Are you a Repub troll? Are you f'ing for real? McCain can easily give his salary to charity when his wife is worth over a hundred mil.

And Biden is the least wealthiest person in the Senate. Please do your homework before coming on here. Many of us actually watch and read more than Fix News. Some of us read many Web sites and newspapers a day. We are not as easily manipulated or filled with as much hatred as you. So please just go away.

AND IT IS ABOUT HOPE! HOPE THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH ANOTHER FOUR YEARS OF THE SAME HELL WE HAVE BEEN PUT THROUGH UNDER BUSH!!!!

[SoD1]

12:30 AM on 11/01/2008

"Infomercial", hmm?? .
Well, it is obvious that Obama wanted to make SURE even the ones who complain
to not know him by now -as the neocons always love to quote - received authentic circuitous
"informations' abut his Persona, his ideas, ideals and what he politically archived to do for them as a whole people. The most brilliant delivery of a very personnel Introduction of - in my humble Opinion - the most capable Singe Individual in the entire American Presidency History. I suppose even the “small town” people know President Obama well now, too.
So, “Informational Ad” is I supposed very OK, hmm? I would so love the read a Book by a skilled
Linguist such as Prof. Chomsky, which exquisitely and elaborated deal with how this
election is been presented and the rhetorical and manipulative -suggestive language used by
the Republican enablers in the U.S. Media. It might be time for the Americans to realize
how they are in fact manipulated daily with false informations and discrimination, as
incendiary and truculence opinions of "Journalists" who all can not be seen as
Journalists but little neocon "Agents", hmm?
Real “ Change” 'might' ONLY be possible once the American people KNOW to 'spot; those Agents in the media and find ways to avoid them all and their brain-washing!
Indict some of them for example, hm.

[wordhustler]

11:09 PM on 10/31/2008

But of course because you all have been brainwashed, none of what I say will make any sense to you until your dear leader fails to deliver on all of those lofty promises and simply reveals himself as the self-serving, self-aggrandizing Marxist that he is. ((Of course as already stated above by Blivet, you will just blame Bush anyway, right? Obama can do no wrong, right?))

[TR12]

12:45 PM on 11/01/2008

Wait
How did bush do the last 8 years?

[barmax]

01:09 PM on 11/01/2008

McCain is NOT Bush and McCain will win.

[wordhustler]

11:09 PM on 10/31/2008

Attention members of the Obama cult: Your hero worship and deifying of this man is truly disturbing. Your belief in his infallibility is dangerous and simply shows you all as weak minded, emotionally-driven, easily-manipulated, blind and truly naive sheep. Your blatant denial of the facts and refusal to see the truth before you (as if your dear leader is incapable of any wrongdoing), your willingness to over look serious concerns about this man’s judgment and character likens you to followers of many cult leaders and leftist dictators. You use words like awesome leader, my hero, our savior, dreams for a more perfect union, I can't imagine how anyone can't be left thinking positively about him, he will be there to offer the helping hand, we will sleep well knowing that Obama is in the President's office, Obama will be a breath of fresh air for the whole world, many of the people who now support McCain will be won over, he's the people's man, and he'll be the people's president. All words heard from supporters of Chavez, Castro, Mao Tse Tung, Kim Jong Il, Mussolini, Lenin and Stalin. All leaders of states where the political leader is/was viewed as a god or messiah, and worshipped as such. You all have been indoctrinated. He is man, a mere politician. A man who lies and manipulates masterfully, using the very same techniques of those men mentioned above by the way…

[waveangel23]

12:55 AM on 11/01/2008

Obama even says, in the infomercial, that he is NOT perfect and he will NOT be a perfect president. He's a man - he will never be perfect and even us "loyal brainwashed" supporters recognize that. We aren't looking for a perfect man. We're rooting for Obama because he knows he has faults but recognizes those faults and looks for ways to improve himself and the quality of life for those around him. We don't thank God that he's running for president because we think he's miraculously turn the world pink his first day in office. We thank God because he has been through the struggles that many of us have faced. He has run his campaign honorably and stayed true to his message. He truly wants to turn this nation around. I can't even say I know what McCain's general philosophies are and that's because McCain's whole campaign has been about smears and dramadies ("I'm suspending my campaign to single-handedly fix the economic crisis!" "I'm going to fix our budget within my first year as president!".... Comments so insane they would be hilarious if they weren't coming from the mouth of a man running to be president.). I'm looking for a president above the high school politics who loves his family and genuinely wants to make this world a better place.
Why is that so hard to believe in for some people?

[wordhustler]

01:35 PM on 11/01/2008

The reason you don’t know McCain’s philosophies or who he is is because you haven’t bothered to look. Shouldn’t we get to know all of our candidates well before we make judgments? Not just what we see on the media? There are many reliable resources available about McCain and what he has and has not accomplished in his lifetime. McCain has been very transparent since he came into office many years ago and does not avoid discussion of his past like Obama. And do you really think McCain thinks he is perfect? Doesn’t recognize he has faults or doesn’t look for ways to improve himself and the quality of life for those around him? Or hasn’t been through the struggles that many of us have faced? Or doesn’t want to truly turn this nation around? Come on… It’s interesting how you caricaturize McCain just as pathetically as right wingers do to Obama. I guess it’s easier that way. And, you apparently can’t recognize false humility used to manipulate your perception of him when you see it. Isn’t that one of the classic plays in the book?

[TR12]

12:46 PM on 11/01/2008

OK
what should I do then?

[thewaltons]

07:51 PM on 10/31/2008

Ok, I can't get the gentleman who's company lost his pension out of my head. He' s pulling my heart strings with those sincere eyes and quiet 'thank you's.

[Elysiumfire]

03:35 AM on 10/31/2008

As a Englishman looking from the outside in, and after following both Obama's and Mcain's races to the Whitehouse, it is easy for me to consider an emphatic endorsement for Barack Obama. Why?
It begins with his history, a story of shared experiences that ordinary Americans can relate to, Obama 'is' one them, and somehow, by sheer sense of will and belief, with a vision in mind, one of them and their's is going to the Whitehouse to bring back to them an America they love and live for.
He will bring to the ordinary American, a government unintrusive to their family home, but always there in the background should they need it.
His vision is the same as that of the people from whose background he emerged. He understands the life experiences of the ordinary American, their struggles and pitfalls, and he will be there to offer the helping hand, should anyone decide for themselves to take it.
He's the people's man, and he'll be the people's president, and because of this, Barack Obama in the Whitehouse, will ultimately be...the 'People's Presidency'. That's gotta be worth going out and voting for!

[gisellestwocents]

12:57 AM on 10/31/2008

The infomercial was great. I think that there would have been an even larger audience if they had advertised the TIME that the spot was going to air. I could have missed it . Thankfully, while I was watching CNN, Campbell Brown mentioned that the spot was coming on at the top of the hour. I was able to turn to CBS just in time!

I've been supporting CBS since the Katie Couric/SP interview. I thought that Katie was very patient and gracious with the VP candidate. It wasn't her fault that Palin wasn't up to the task...

[ActWrite]

11:57 PM on 10/30/2008

I never, ever, ever thought I would say something so corny, and about a poilitician, no less; but after seeing this presentation, I have to confess, Barack Obama is my hero. I've never felt more inspired and excited for our country.
It breaks my heart that more people let ignorance, intollerance and laziness get in the way of having someone like him turning the tide in this country.
"Country First"? Really? If that's true, then McCain and Palin should take out a 30-minute infomercial retracting all the lies they have spread about this awesome leader and air it the night before the election. They could eBay Palin's wardrobe to raise the money. Hell, I'd even make a donation.
Regardless, they should be ashamed of themselves for promoting "Me First" instead.
Now, let's get to work!

[BluePrideSMW]

09:40 PM on 10/30/2008

the tsunami of a legacy...

The Ballad of Johnny McCain:
http://current.com/items/89469573_the_ballad_of_johnny_mccain