•  Campaign Videos (December 2011) « Obama for America
  

[Music]

President Obama (clip): Today I can report that as promised the rest of our troops in Iraq will come home by the end of the year.  After nearly nine years, America's war in Iraq will be over.

[Music change tempo]

Michael Anderson: You fight for the guy on your right and your left and that is never ever ever ever ever in debate because you don't think about all the apple pie, flag-waving, bumper sticker slogans.  You think, man, I hope I don't screw it up today so everybody including myself can come home and see their families.

I am so thankful that every single soldier is going to be home from Iraq for the holidays.  I just thank God.  That's it.  I thank God they're home and it's about time.

(To camera): My name is Michael Anderson, and I was a forward observer in Iraq.  If there was a frontlines, we were on it.  We were subject to several IED attacks, mortars, RPGs, sniper fire and fire fights on an almost daily basis.

I did two tours in Iraq from 2005 to 2007.  I missed my family 100-percent every day—could not wait to talk to them, could not wait to see them.

Jennifer Anderson: My husband is probably the most generous, loving man I've ever known.

(To camera) I know that his job was dangerous.  You worry about what if he doesn't come home, how do I take care of my children?

Mikayla: For me the hardest thing having dad gone was knowing that one night he might not make it and...that was the hardest part, just knowing that one day I could wake up and...that call.

Jennifer Anderson: The day I found out he was coming home, I probably went a little crazy.

Mike: I was really excited.  I'd be like oh, man, dad's finally coming home; it's going to be really great having him back.

Mikayla: We gathered a bunch of mom's friends together and made these signs. 

Jennifer Anderson: And then everyone just sort of started piling in cars and we drove up there and it's not a long drive but it seemed like a long drive at the time.

Mike Anderson: The vibe on the bus coming back was just anticipation.  It was just like can you go any faster, please?  Don't worry about the speed limit.  Can we get a police escort, what's going on?  And everybody's just really, really anxious and happy to see their families.

Jennifer Anderson: The anticipation was electric.

Mikayla: And then the white buses pulled up, and all I could think was my dad is in one of those.

Mike Anderson: All I was [inaud.] was where are my kids, where is my wife; where are they?

Jennifer Anderson: I saw him coming out of the crowd and I just ran to him.

Mike Anderson: Yeah, she kind of found me.  You know we kind of ran, did the whole beach slow motion ah, and my kids kind of jumped on me right away, grabbing my legs, tackling me.  Yeah.  Really good feeling.  Really, really nice.

Jennifer Anderson: It was just overwhelming.  It's as if all the emotions that I had kept pent up I was able to finally release; I was finally able to really feel happy.

Mikayla: It was definitely special to have him home.

[Christmas Music]

Jennifer Anderson: I would say that because the troops are coming home, people's Christmases will be much more meaningful. 

Mike Anderson: This is the best present that President Obama could have given to this country.  He said he was going to do it.  He did it and I'm glad he did it in the time frame that he did.

President Obama is standing by and supporting those who have fought.  You have the tax benefit for veterans, which is a great piece of legislation which makes veterans that much more attractive to employers.  You have the post-9/11 GI Bill, which I'm a direct recipient of.  It pushed me to invest in myself.  Well like you're worth that education, go get it, and I have the means to do so.

2012 is going to be a huge year.  Everybody in our country is going to have to make a decision, and I just hope they base that on common sense and what's best for the country, not political party, and I hope they base that with someone like me in mind who's benefited from these programs.

Nat. sound decorating tree: Perfect.

It just means the world to me that I can celebrate all these things with the people I love

Nat. sound decorating tree: It is very beautiful.  The tree's alright too.

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Notes: This is a very personal, moving video from the Obama campaign featuring Sgt. Michael Anderson, a Marine from Galesburg, IL, and his wife Jennifer and children Mikayla and Mike.  The video nicely conveys the holiday spirit, but uses a very different approach to just having the candidate stand in front of the camera and deliver holiday greetings.  At the same time the video works in some policy accomplishments.

Copyright © 2011 Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action.