Video Killed the Democrat Star

The job of a presidential campaign ad is to help us fall in love with a candidate.  I think somewhere along the line, that has become lost.  Most of the ads that I have seen in the past few years have been about fear-mongering and polarization.  Because I remember the presidential election ads of 2008 as being something different and about a candidate who was different, I expected this presidential election cycle to include ads from Obama's campaign that would inspire us, to uplift us, and remind us that we love this guy, again.

That ain't what's out there.  The newest videos are not helping the President's bid for re-election.  They're boring to watch and, frankly, a bit too much like every other thing out there. There's nothing that would change my mind, just because I watched it.

Here's the backstory.  In the early part of 2008, I was leaning Hillary Clinton for President.  Man, it feels like a long time ago.  I remember listening to people tell me that Barack Obama had something; he was the one to watch.  I saw Hillary as our best shot at a women in the Oval Office.

My friend made me watch this video.  I cried.  And just like that, I started to think about that other guy.  It was still the primaries.  It was still a long way away from the November election, but one video changed my mind.  I watched it again today, and I cried again.  I still want this.  I think we need to see this side of the Obama administration again, if he's going to rebound from the Romney debate bounce.  Here: have a look.

The advertising coming out as pro-Obama doesn't feel as inspiring as this anymore.  I will tell you (since we're being honest) I don't watch the election commercials.  I understand how it's all supposed to work, and I don't like it.  If the ad starts with tense music and a male voice-over, the odds are really high that you've lost me.  I will almost always watch the "straight to camera" ads where the candidate talks about something near and dear.  I like those best.  There are too few of those, for my money.

While digging for an Obama video I could get behind, I found this.  It isn't in the "big book of campaign commercials" over at the Living Room Candidate, but it is very good.  I am not tearing up, but I can feel a little better about it than some of the other stuff out there.  It's done by the Simpsons animator, and you can tell they're looking to inspire again.

It's good, but I still want will.i.am to sing again.  I may be spoiled.