Damn You Obama For Being So Cool!

Oh for the halcyon Eschaton-mongering days of the Daisy girl ads.

Give me, please, the salacious insidiousness of the Swiftboat Vets for Truth.

Give me any of that over McCain's low: the Britney/Paris/Obama ad.

And I don't mean low as in: low-class, cheap shot and underhanded. I mean low as in: "I pay you guys all that money, and this is the best you can come up with?"

The best political ads have always had text and subtext; the obvious and the arcane. The obvious text of B/P/O is: "would you all stop loving this guy so much, please!" The whole ad seems like an open admission by Camp McCain that, yes, Obama is young and hip and cool, and our guy has trouble ripping songs onto his iPod unless his grandkids are around to help him.

But the subtext is where the ad doesn't even get going. Contrast it with the infamous Willie Horton ads. The subtext there was: Watch out! Mike Dukakis is gonna let dark-skinned people break into your houses and deflower your ivory wives and daughters.

But the most fear the B/P/O can monger is: Watch out! These guys are going to get all the good tables at Le Bernardin, and you know I got knocked down five spots on the list to get my new Ferrari California because of one of them.

The ad openly admits what we already know: that Obama is a superstar.

And no matter whatever other racial difficulties America may have, it's got no problem with its superstars of color. Tiger or Denzel or Will Smith or Michael Jordan, for which the phrase "I want to have his baby" was created. Like a teenage girl Camp McCain has basically scotch taped a Tiger Beat Poster of Obama to the wall of America's bedroom so that we may now all sit, stare and coo "Isn't he dreamy?"

But this lameness is not limited to McCain. To this day -- though certainly seasoned with some racism -- the only strategy that seemingly anyone can come up with to wield against Obama involves admitting he's better than them. You know; he's that lucky black man who actually appeals to the populace. He's that elitist who got himself off food stamps and into Harvard. He's the arrogant guy who would hang out at country clubs...if he wasn't so busy playing pick-up games of basketball.

He's like a wealthy heiress, and I know 'cause I got me one!

While some take offense at the ad, not me baby. Oh happy day when the enemies of ascendancy have got to confess that people of color rock.

The only thing that's going to make me happier is when Camp McCain runs the Bea Arthur/Jack Klugman ad announcing that uncool is the new cool.

Comments

[nana53nana]

MR. RIDLEY, LET'S FACE IT
THE ONLY THING THAT TEAM MCCAIN CAN COME UP
WITH IS WHAT THEY CALL "STUPID PET TRICKS". THAT'S
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE A GENERATIONAL
GAP THAT CAN'T KEEP UP WITH JUST GIVING THE PEOPLE
PURE BASIC TRUTHS THAT EFFECT THIS COUNTRY. MCCAIN
WAS SO BUSY SUCKING UP BUSH'S AIR THAT HE'S RAN OUT OF HIS
OWN SUPPLY. OBAMA JUST NEEDS TO STAY ON TRACK WITH THE
ISSUES AND DON'T GET INTO "STUPID PET TRICKS"!!!

[ThePeacemakers]

Arnold S. (Republican - movie actor), Ronald R. (Republican - movie actor), Sonny B (Republican - singer/TV actor).

Which voters are starstruck again?

[mocham]

Thank you John for pointing out what is truly ridiculous about this McCain campaign approach.
My opinion is the real fear is in the hearts of McCain staffers due to the threat that Obama poses for McCain since he REALLY does have more in common with the average American. Obama literally represents how anyone can attain the AMERICAN DREAM.
Child of a broken home of modest financial means. Reared by his grandparents. Child of mixed race who rose above the societal stigmas due to intelligence, persistence, and hard work. Getting his education in one of the most prestigious university's in the land without the aid of a rich, alumnae father. Dedicating his career to serving his fellow citizens from grass-roots level aid associations to representing them in the senate.
That is why so many people see him as the representative of change because up until now, all other presidential candidates and eventual presidents had very little in common with us average Americans. Obama has so much more in common than the military family-naval academy-married-a-rich-socialite-McCain. Not meaning any disrepect to McCain's POW status and 25 years of service in the senate, but I don't think these as the only criteria for the leader of our land either.

You're damn right....he is the ONE

[Yasmine]

JEALOUSY JEALOUSY JEALOUSY is behind the attack on OBAMA.
You are right to have written this piece'
Obama is really cool.............that is why they attack him so he loses it.

[ImagiNancy]

HuffPost's Pick

Interesting that they are trying to mock him as "the One." It never would have occurred to me to compare him to Jesus, but now that they mention it, didn't Jesus appeal to the masses? Wasn't He all about taking care of the least of His brothers? Wasn't the establishment against Him? Didn't they mock HIm? If I remember correctly from all those years of Catholic school and religious instruction, nobody knew for sure what Jesus was when he as alive. I believe that those masses just knew the Truth when they saw it. As a Catholic, I never understood the born again, speaking in tongues, swooning to the mega preacher things, but Obama I get. I know for certain that he is taking us on the right path, just as I was certain that Bush was taking us down the wrong path. This is the path that I learned about during all of those years. I'm pretty sure that those who crucified Jesus worked very hard to undermine His message, just like McCain is trying to do to Senator Obama.

Sorry for the religiousity, but the comparison was obvious to me when I saw that commercial. I think this may occur to others as well.

[GLaB]

You know it wasn't the Republicans who anointed BO as "the One."

It was OPRAH WINFREY.

"I do believe I do today we have the answer to Miss Pittman's question – it's a question that the entire nation is asking – is he the one?" Winfrey said. "South Carolina – I do believe he's THE ONE."

"""Messianic rhetoric infuses Obama rallies
By BEN SMITH & DAVID PAUL KUHN | 12/9/07 6:04 PM EST Updated: 12/11/07 8:27 AM EST """

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1207/7281.html

[maddie0001]

it's jsut the repubs that repeat it incessantly, that;s all.

I'm voting for the cranky old white guy nobody likes!

[SouthpawSass]

I find the whole Messianic reference silly. Where are all those Christians and Jews speaking out against the inappropriateness of the reference? If Jesus was actually the son of God, do you think it's at all inappropriate to compare him to a mere mortal man? If Moses did actually speak to God, do you think he'd appreciate his image being used to elect McCain?

[Rog49Thomas]

I believe Neo was the "One".

[McMullen]

Which makes McCain Agent Smith, doesn't it?

[mocham]

My opinion is that the real reason they are so threatened by his appeal is because Obama has much more in common with the average American and their lives than differences and McCain has very little in common.
Obama's life really does represent the AMERICAN DREAM. Child of a broken home of modest financial means who had to eventually live with his grandparents in order to live in the country of his birth. A mixed race child who had to deal with so many stigmas and social constraints yet with intelligence, talent, and hard work rose above it all. Even now there is little attention on his Caucasian mother. His Kenyan blood took prominence because that affected his color and therefore affected the first perception and judgements of him before anything else was known.
So having to constantly overcome those social stigmas and still rising to not only get his education in one of the most prestigious university's in the land ,but make his career path in public service instead of the the elitist path he could have chosen represents more in common to the average American than the Military family-naval academy-cushy-upbringing-married-a- rich-socialite McCain. No disrepect to McCain's military service, POW status and his 25 years in the Senate, but that is not much commonality with the average American.

Frankly if the main criteria of our leader is to be more like the average American, Obama would be the hands-down choice.

[elizaW]

You can trash this ad but the truth is it's working for McCain. Even the group on KCRW's Left, Right and Center had to (reluctantly) admit that fact.

[fredpferr]

I was about to post separately, but I'll pile on instead: Not sure if I would play it this way as McCain, but these ads have certainly generated more chatter (and indignance) than an otherwise plain-old 'desperate' ad might. Cheap, maybe. But it is working because of its timing (post Euro tour) and because of the reality it does expose, no matter how cheasily (media's blind adoration of the god). Beneath it all is the notion that this man dare not be challenged. So, it's August now ... here we go ...

[Indubio]

My intuition argues that all the silly ads and the negativism will hurt McCain in November. McCain has nothing to offer...period. If he really did have a lot to offer than the situation might be different. I don't believe I'd be going to far out on a limb to suggest Obama over McCain by 15 points or more. McCain isn't Bush and this isn't 2000. The times are unusual and the pundits don't have a clue what to make of what's happening so we see a lot of arm flailing and lip flapping and the Obama phenomenon is just one more thing the political class can't fathom. We have to go back several generations to find a politician that excites some people the way Obama does (Bryan and TR, FDR, and the Kennedys come to mind). There aren't enough Obamaniacs to win him the election but when one factors all other variables, I just don't see the election in November being close irrespective of polling today. The press and pundits may be in love with McCain but ultimately I don't think that's going to matter.

[dutchess2]

As Obama said, He's talking aobut issues voters care about while McCain is talking about
Paris Hilton and Britney spears.

......................incidently, two females who have captured a corner of a market that is highly competitive, who have made millions and millions and millions, who have huge corporate presence with endorsements and spin-off businesses of their own, and the parents of at least one of which were max supporters of McCain until his stupid stupid ad.

I understand people think they are vacant, but the facts are that despite it all, they can laugh all the way to the bank, and are not as vacant as people would like to believe.

[CaptainStormfield]

http://www.democrats.com/john-mccain-married-to-the-mob

Slinging mud works. How about hearing some truth.

[SouthpawSass]

I sat with my 15 year old son at the computer and we went to both the McCain website and the Obama web site.

He looked through McCain's, at his issues, checked out his site. Didn't think much of it. Then he went to Obama's website. He read through some important issues, but the visuals alone, the electronic computerized, I'll call them "gadgets" immediately got his attention. He said, "Wow, look at this stuff. He's even got a kids section! Obama's cool."

I know Obama is cool because my son told me he was.

[Littledog]

MCCain and his wife have what, 14 houses (mansions) and Obama, with his one moderate house is the "elitist?" MCCain, who says he "doesn't understand" the economy, can't even use the internet and hasn't a clue about how normal people live wants to keep giving billions to the oil companies who are driving up the price of oil by speculating with their billions then gouging us? Give me a break--Americans aren't that stupid--at least not having seen what "stupid" is given the last guy! All Republicans can do is "smear and spend."

[SouthpawSass]

roflmao... "smear and spend"

That's too funny.

[fredpferr]

My son thinks Batman is cool. I'm voting for Batman.

[Puzzles]

Much better choice than McCain--and comes with really COOL stuff.

[bigbenny]

I've Googled and used ASK and I can't find out when the debates are going to happen. Are they going to decide after the conventions?

[SeeDaddy]

Presidential debates, by definition, occur between the candidates officially nominated by the party national conventions. So, wait until after the R's finish their convention in Sept.

[dutchess2]

Why does Obama owe McCain a debate?

Obama can speak to more people at an event than watch a debate.

Why give McCain that many more people to talk to than he would otherwise have?

[Belinimarina]

As well as Britney Spears, I am also with Obama!

[Bitsko]

The day John McCain says that HE has a billion Bob Dylan songs on his ipod, AND that his favorite Dylan record is Blood On The Tracks, is the day I might just begin thinking he was cool.

[justobserve]

"D... You Obama For Being So Cool!"
Please, he is a future president or not, he deserves better language.

[momof3inGA]

Oh Please! I've heard far stronger language in support of Barack.

D___ you for being so uptight.

[mairs]

To "O"....

"Damn the torpedos! Full speed ahead!"

- David Farragut

[Bitsko]

"Earn this." -- Private Ryan

[SpectCon]

And this was before the Heston Moses ad.... Paris and Britney look high class next to mocking Jesus and Moses and Obama and the Presidency....

[Titonwan]

Or Red Foxx, but then again, ol' Red wouldn't take that smack. I knew him from his E.St.Louis days. Great article and shows how rusty the pugs are, but never let your guard down with these elves of the woods. I get ya completely and think that us young at heart never really get fooled- only if we WANT to. I'm not so certain I can continue, if things don't stop reversing and I can see some sort of justice for the last two terrible election cycles. Why, pray tell, are no impeachment articles on this site? I very much believe the American people have been served a grave (literally) injustice and only impeachment proceedings will alieve the pain and suffering. Actually, I prefer the course of action be much more severe (murder charges), but's that's a lot of people, not just me. Print this, if you dare!