Hollywood Helping Obama Pick New Health Care Ad

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is enlisting Hollywood celebrities including actress Rosario Dawson and musician Will.I.Am to draw attention to his health care overhaul agenda.

The performers will act as celebrity judges for a TV commercial contest set up by Organizing for America, the Obama political organization that's part of the Democratic National Committee.

Organizing for America last month invited supporters to create and submit 30-second ads in support of remaking health care. The winning one will be aired nationally.

In addition to Dawson and Will.I.Am, the panel of judges being announced by Organizing for America Wednesday consists of actors John Cho, Dule Hill, Brandon Routh, Kate Walsh and Olivia Wilde, and "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane.

Also acting as judges will be Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine, DNC Executive Director Jen O'Malley Dillon, Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Pa., Obama campaign manager David Plouffe and some volunteers.

The video submissions are due Oct. 18 and they will be judged and the winner announced after that.

Comments

[Chicagowoman32]

Well thank god for Hollywood. I'm sure Rosario Dawson and Will I am have the experience and credibility to critique effective marketing campaigns. Especially since they've been in the industry with so many years of experience marketing to middle America.

Come on. Please stop listening to Hollywood or giving them any credit. They are not in touch with reality. They don't deal with their insurance company picking up 80% of a $200k insurance bill. Real working people do. I'd like to hear from them. The article about the woman going blind and not being able to afford payments to save her sight is making this Republican definitley support reform of insurance companies. I'm not on board with a Public Option, but something has to be done. It's must not right.

[Beth Isbell]

Here's a really cute and clever ad that they will be judging that has already received 5 stars on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qENVmDulfNQ

[PlaceboStudman]

Well I've lost all respect for Hollywood now. You'd think that a place that calls Montel Williams, Michael J Fox and Christopher and Dana Reeves and Natasha Richardson, you'd think...or at least hope...that these folks would realize that insurance reform without drastic improvements in the care we receive WITH that insurance is kind of irrelevant

This is NOT Health Care Reform, folks. This is economic recovery through insurance reform. No lives will be saved, only people's houses, cars, boats and college funds will be saved

[mmonarch]

Bad idea. It will alienate the people that the Dems are trying to win over. Bad, bad idea.

[JadedAggie]

lol You do realize they are only judging the spots, right? The whole idea is that it will hopefully increase the number and quality of submissions. Their participation really shouldn't have much impact in the greater debate.

[mmonarch]

I am telling you, any connection that can be drawn of Hollywood to Obama is bad. Whatever their participation. Get some grad students from film school to judge.

[cal5000]

Rosario Dawson can do NO wrong.

I could watch her eat a baby raw and still think she was super.

[edwarvir]

Great idea, nice to see them getting involved.

[beebletree]

I think its a good idea. Sadly entertainment is paid more attention by more people than serious programs concerning Americans.

[wadenelson1]

She's a cutie! Who is she?

[Sing Out and Slap Iron]

It looks like Rosario Dawson, but I'm not sure.

[TeeLolly]

I can see putting "celebrities" IN the ads, but using these people who no longer (if ever) have anything in common with the average American to JUDGE the ads makes no sense ...

[ilse]

It's a shame that better known actors aren't taking part in making tv ads supporting the public option. Come on George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon! Get together and do a tv ad supporting the public option.

[wrender]

Those people have enough money. I doubt these actors fully know what they are supporting? Sure, they have a general idea. But what version of "reform" are they supporting? More than anything else, it's just a gig.

[angelvsion]

What ever works at this point, of course I'm sure that some of the republicans will have a problem with this too. But that will never change.

Love and Peace

[ninthraphael]

YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE THE NEXT PRESIDENT WILL COME DO YOU?

[wadenelson1]

Hopefully it won't be in the oval office with an intern again.

[So Calif Indpdnt]

This is not news, this is common knowledge. Did this really surprise anyone? Hollywierd and the government are disconnected from main street as much as they can be.

[VotingPresent]

Ah yes. There are no bigger authority on issues of the day than Hollywood celebrities.

[glockman]

You jest, but there are millions of stupid people who look to them for answers. Sad.

[ninthraphael]

ARE THEY LESS INFROMED THAN THE REPUBLICANS?

[jde]

Has anyone read the article?

These unamerican, leftist, hollywood celebrities aren't making videos, they are judging a competition.

[lammassu]

Why do you hate America?

[jde]

/facepalm

Is the Nicole Eggert thread still going?