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The Note: For a Night, No Avoiding Obama Message
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ShareOctober 29, 2008 8:54 AM
ABC News' Rick Klein reports in Wednesday's Note:
While you’re watching (or not watching) the Great Roadblocked Obama Show over on those other networks -- framed by a “World News” interview, a “Daily Show” appearance, and other entertainment known informally as Late Night with Bill and Barack -- pause to consider the plight of Team McCain six days out.
No cash to respond in kind. No loyalties to enforce kindnesses. No kind of consistent message to refocus the race.
Yet something may shift yet in this campaign -- and that still-softish middle is Sen. Barack Obama’s audience for his unique infomercial Wednesday night.
Maybe this is a silly waste of money and time (and at $3 million and 30 minutes, it a lot of both). Maybe Malia Obama isn’t the only American who wants her programming lineup intact. Maybe this is just too weird, or too boring, or too Ross Perot (one “deep voodoo” reference, and we click), for an electorate to swallow.
(And maybe this is an odd time for Obama to be attacking Gov. Sarah Palin so directly in a TV ad -- wink and all.)
Read the rest of The Note -- and get all the latest on the 2008 election, Congress, the White House and the wide world of politics every day -- from Rick Klein by bookmarking this link.
But Wednesday’s primetime buy can be Obama’s most valuable type of forum -- the kind where he gets to look like a president. It’s a fireside-chat moment, in front of that most sacred of American boxes -- Obama’s last best opportunity to appear presidential before he actually might get a chance to be president.
“At times he will speak directly into the camera about his 20-month campaign, at others he will highlight everyday voters, their everyday troubles, and his plans to address them,” writes The New York Times’ Jim Rutenberg, who got to see a one-minute trailer of the 30-minute address.
Rutenberg: “The trailer is heavy in strings, flags, presidential imagery and some Americana filmed by Davis Guggenheim, whose father was the campaign documentarian of Robert F. Kennedy. As the screen flashes scenes of suburban lawns, a freight train and Mr. Obama seated at a kitchen table with a group of white, apparently working-class voters, Mr. Obama says: ‘We’ve seen over the last eight years how decisions by a president can have a profound effect on the course of history and on American lives; much that’s wrong with our country goes back even farther than that.’ ”
Obama continues, “We’ve been talking about the same problems for decades and nothing is ever done to solve them. For the past 20 months, I’ve traveled the length of this country, and Michelle and I have met so many Americans who are looking for real and lasting change that makes a difference in their lives.”
“This is going to be more like a television show, rather than a speech, top Obama campaign officials tell ABC News,” per ABC’s George Stephanopoulos. “We're going to see a ‘lively half-hour of television,’ one Obama aide told ABC News, speaking only half tongue-in-cheek.”
Continue reading today's Note by clicking HERE.
ABC News' Hope Ditto contributed to this report.
October 29, 2008 in Ballotwatch, Biden, Joe, Clinton, Bill, McCain, John, Obama, Barack, Palin, Sarah, Romney, Mitt, Vote 2008: Democrats, Vote 2008: Republicans, Washington, White House | Permalink | User Comments (117)
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No avoiding, why don't you have cable or satellite? I have a hundred channels and I know where the off button is on the remote...easy stuff!
Posted by: samhiguchi | Oct 29, 2008 9:02:16 AM
No avoiding Obama message? Really? I've managed to avoid it for months. I just switch channels or tune it out. I figured this charlatan out a long time ago. Half hour of prime time just confirms what I already figured out - loads of money coming from God knows where. Half a billion dollars from college kids on the internet? Come on. Only the deluded Obamabots will buy that sh$T.
Posted by: ObamaThuggery | Oct 29, 2008 9:04:31 AM
I am looking forward to hearing from the next president of the United States of America.
This country is long overdue for a long term, forward thinker like Barak Obama.
Posted by: Truth Matters | Oct 29, 2008 9:07:51 AM
Update America:
PRINCETON, NJ -- A Gallup update based on more than 21,000 interviews conducted as part of Gallup Poll Daily tracking in October shows that registered voters' religious intensity continues to be a powerful predictor of their presidential vote choice. John McCain wins overwhelmingly among non-Hispanic whites who attend church weekly, while Barack Obama dominates among whites who seldom or never attend church.
Non Hispanic White that attend church weekly: Obama 28%…..McCain 65%
White Hispanic White that attend church weekly: Obama 43%…McCain 46%
Looks like Mr. Wright using the name of God in vain, Obama and Pastor Joel Hunter praying to (false) GODS lost the race to control religious people that believe in one GOD. AMEN.
Posted by: Update America | Oct 29, 2008 9:08:20 AM
Obama isn't the first to buy prime time. Ross Perot was the first. I remember his 1/2 hour speech. I watched it along with friends. Our conclusion: Perot trying to buy the election. Kind of like Obama, isn't it? Promising everything to everybody to get himself elected, with no intention of giving ANYBODY a tax cut. People are stupid. Obama knows that. He's the best shyster I've ever seen.
I kinda hope he does make it, just to see the Obama cultists get screw@#D over by their Messiah!!!
Posted by: Carole | Oct 29, 2008 9:08:22 AM
put down the kool-aid Rick. This is you rlast chance to see Obama pretend to be President. Thank goodness the Obama show will be permanently cancelled next Tuesday.
Posted by: geevill | Oct 29, 2008 9:09:23 AM
Lyndon LaRoche was the first. Another wacko like obama
Posted by: geevill | Oct 29, 2008 9:10:48 AM
I am more interested in how John McCain *avoids* answering this question:
Are you John McCain willing today to call for the end of all redistributionist government programs including:
A) Social Security
B) Medicare
C) Unemployment insurance
D) All local property taxes
E) All local sales taxes
F) All federal funds going to Alaska, the number 1 recipient, which receives THREE times as much federal 'pork' per citizen than, for example, the state of Illinois
FOLLOW UP QUESTION:
Are you, John McCain, a Socialist by your own definition???
Posted by: John McCain's conscience | Oct 29, 2008 9:13:19 AM
Is Rick Klein aware his employer is televising "Pushing Daisies" and not "The Barack Obama Razzle Dazzle BS Show"
Way to throw your bosses under the bus Rick.
Posted by: geevill | Oct 29, 2008 9:14:06 AM
I think people are finally realizing this guy is a great speaker and nothing more! His true agenda is coming out over the last couple of weeks with Joe the Plumber/1196 Speach/2001 Interview all about spreading the wealth. His relationship with Rashid Khalidi/Tony Rezko/Bill Ayers. Why are all these people keeping silent? Now we have his Birth Certificate under seal by the Govenor of Hawai, and proff that Rezko was funded by a bagman for Sadam Husain. The LA Times not releasing a tape of Obama addressing a pro Palestinians event for his good friend Khalidi? Too much Obama is covering up and the people of America are starting to ask "IF YOU HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE, WHY?"
Posted by: chuck | Oct 29, 2008 9:14:44 AM
chill with the hate,
either look at it or turn the channel what's the big deal
Posted by: watching | Oct 29, 2008 9:15:04 AM
Posted by: Update America | Oct 29, 2008 9:08:20 AM
*Last time I checked white people aren't the only people in this country.. plus they stole it from the Indians anyways.. this isn't your land! This is the Native American's land that you've sold off into non existance.. then had the nerve to claim the nation under God.. wow!
Posted by: Stolen! | Oct 29, 2008 9:17:22 AM
It has backfire written all over it. Obama trying to get a second covention bounce. Instead he will make even more people sick of seeing him. Who wants four years of that.
Posted by: geevill | Oct 29, 2008 9:17:30 AM
Is Rick Klein aware his employer is televising "Pushing Daisies" and not "The Barack Obama Razzle Dazzle BS Show"
Way to throw your bosses under the bus Rick.
Posted by: geevill | Oct 29, 2008 9:14:06 AM
** Here's the devil w/ a sarah palin costume on...
Posted by: Stolen! | Oct 29, 2008 9:18:44 AM
It has backfire written all over it. Obama trying to get a second covention bounce. Instead he will make even more people sick of seeing him. Who wants four years of that.
Posted by: geevill | Oct 29, 2008 9:17:30 AM
** What America is tired of seeing is Bush and his allies the Republican party... Right wing conservatives who stole the land.. Southern folks who just can't get over the fact they lost the war!!
Posted by: Stolen! | Oct 29, 2008 9:21:13 AM
The GOP is teed off because they didn't think of this. Obama funding is completely by the American people. The money he spends is not taxpayer dollars from the government but rather taxpayers who choose to provide financial support to BO. If McCain stayed on message and didn't choose an idoit for VP I would have voted for him. But since he didn't..... my vote went to BO.
Posted by: truth | Oct 29, 2008 9:24:01 AM
I will be watching. Should be interesting to see how he does it.
Posted by: Joseph | Oct 29, 2008 9:26:54 AM
It's funny all this time people are tired of the policies of Bush but come on people... do you want to be taxed on your insurance premium, and pay big business when they fail (bailout). Well under McCain you will... talk about paying more into the pockets of big corportations.
Obama/Biden 08'
Posted by: truth | Oct 29, 2008 9:27:05 AM
ADVOID, I will. I would probably have eaten by then and I would like to keep my dinner down. If I feel the need to be Mesmerized I will tune in a Bay Watch rerun.
Posted by: doomedbybho | Oct 29, 2008 9:34:50 AM
"Update America:
PRINCETON, NJ -- A Gallup update based on more than 21,000 interviews conducted as part of Gallup Poll Daily tracking in October shows that registered voters' religious intensity continues to be a powerful predictor of their presidential vote choice. John McCain wins overwhelmingly among non-Hispanic whites who attend church weekly, while Barack Obama dominates among whites who seldom or never attend church.
Non Hispanic White that attend church weekly: Obama 28%…..McCain 65%
White Hispanic White that attend church weekly: Obama 43%…McCain 46%
Looks like Mr. Wright using the name of God in vain, Obama and Pastor Joel Hunter praying to (false) GODS lost the race to control religious people that believe in one GOD. AMEN."
...
Here's an update for you:
The religious right has been voting Republican for decades.
Posted by: Reason | Oct 29, 2008 9:37:33 AM
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