•  Campaign Ads « Obama for America

[Music] Obama: During the last weeks of this campaign, there’ll be debates, speeches, more ads. But if I could sit down with you, in your living room or around the kitchen table...here's what I'd say.

When I took office, we were losing nearly eight hundred thousand jobs a month, and were mired in Iraq. Today, I believe that as a nation we are moving forward again. But we have much more to do to get folks back to work and make the middle class secure again.

Now Governor Romney believes that with even bigger tax cuts for the wealthy, and fewer regulations on Wall Street, all of us will prosper. In other words, he'd double down on the same trickle down policies that led to the crisis in the first place.

So what's my plan?

First, we create a million new manufacturing jobs, and help businesses double their exports, give tax breaks to the companies that invest in America, not ones that ship our jobs overseas.

Second, we cut our oil imports in half and produce more American made energy--oil, clean coal, natural gas; and new resources like wind and solar; biofuels, all while doubling the fuel efficiency of cars and trucks.

Third, we ensure that we maintain the best workforce in the world by preparing a hundred thousand additional math and science teachers; training two million Americans with the job skills they need at our community colleges; cutting the growth of tuition in half and expanding student aid so more Americans can afford it.

Fourth, a balanced plan to reduce our deficit by $4 trillion over the next decade.  On top of the $1 trillion in spending we’ve already cut, I’d ask the wealthy to pay a little more. And as we end the war in Afghanistan, let’s apply half the savings to pay down our debt and use the rest for some nation-building right here at home.

It's time for a new economic patriotism rooted in the belief that growing our economy begins with a strong thriving middle class.

Read my plan.  Compare it to Governor Romney's, and decide for yourself.  Thanks for listening.

Obama (voiceover): I'm Barack Obama and I approve this message.

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Notes: This is an effective ad.  The candidate talks directly to the camera/viewers (continuous for the opening 40 seconds and then intercut with imagery) and at two minutes it stands out from the typical 30-second spot. 

Toward the close Obama introduces the notion of "a new economic patriotism."  (Politico traces the origins of the concept a speech by Gov. Ted Strickland at the 2012 Democratic National Convention).  In an article in Forbes magazine, Kyle Smith opined, "Obama's Call For Economic Patriotism Is As Convincing As New Coke."  Nonetheless, we can probably expect to hear this theme repeated many times in the closing month of the campaign.

From the press release...

With just over a month until Election Day, Obama for America today released a new, two-minute television advertisement in which the President speaks directly to the American people and lays out his plan to keep America moving forward, get folks back to work and make the middle-class secure again. Focusing on manufacturing, energy, education, national security, and a balanced plan to reduce our deficit, President Obama sets real and achievable goals that will grow our economy beginning with a strong, thriving middle-class.

Copyright © 2012 Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action.