How do we know President Obama believes he has the advantage on hot-button, culture-war issues? Because he's not afraid to take the offensive, running ads like these.
This spot, titled "Troubled," was launched over the weekend by the Obama campaign, and will air in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia.
A spot like this serves more than one purpose, of course. When it comes to defining Romney, ads like these dispel the notion that the former Massachusetts governor is a moderate -- voters, especially women voters, who may have heard about Romney's pro-choice past may benefit from learning the whole story.
But let's not miss the forest for the trees. This new campaign ad hammers Romney for wanting to overturn Roe, outlaw abortions, and scrap aid to Planned Parenthood -- and Obama's re-election campaign wouldn't put a spot like this together unless it knew the American mainstream agrees with the president's position.
Indeed, it's of particular interest that the spot will be airing in Virginia, a Southern state where social issues tend to cut against Democrats, but where state Republicans drew national outrage for pushing a forced-vaginal-ultrasound proposal.
Will the 2012 race be defined by the culture war? Almost certainly not. But there are still plenty of voters who care deeply about social issues, and who were outraged by the "war on women" agenda pushed by GOP officials for much of the year. Obama and his team clearly believe they have the upper hand on reproductive rights this year, and the fact that Democrats are on the offensive speaks volumes about the efficacy (or lack thereof) of the right's anti-choice, anti-contraception, anti-Planned Parenthood agenda of late.
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YES! Oooops-the right winged Stepford wives will of course air a rebuttal.
If they're not distracted first by household cleansers.
Good ad, because it targets specific actions that will hurt a female voter.
"Pro Life/Pro Choice" is vague, but Mitt removing my ability to make a choice cuts to the core.
It's pretty sad when the most vicious attack ads so far consist of just quoting what the other guy said he would do.
Yes, but it's the best kind of "attack ad."
Romney is just a puppet for the LDS and GOP! He'll say and do anything to please those that will get him into 'The White House', so 'The Church of Latter Day Saints' can take over all control as per 'The Book of Mormon'.
Have a nice day!
The destruction of Mitt Romney as the public learns who he really is has begun. Applause.
I hope people listen and understand who Mitt really is. He's the emptiest of suits just waiting to take his marching orders from the far right. He'll do and say anything to get "President" on his resume. My hope is the only time that happens is if he runs again for his local rotary club.
You're so right (as in correct). Not long ago, a right wing gazillionaire said they only needed a president with enough intelligence to sign the legislation that the Right passes and puts in front of him. Mitt continues to say to them "I'm your guy."
You're referring to Grover Norquist, who is well-off but probably not to the extent you imply.
I find this an interesting ad but think watchers of "faux News" will ignore it. That "news" machine is very good at making people believe their "facts" not real ones. I have friends who are totally taken in by this disreputable agency. It makes me so sad.
That 20% of America wouldn't change their vote if Romney's skin opened up during a debate and an alien insect emerged.
sorry double post error
Alien? I suspect the result would be far more demonic and would guarantee him the far right religious vote as they proclaim "we need the anti-Christ to clear the way for the second coming".
Unfortunately, too many still see PP as faceless, careless, Godless, drive-through abortion factories. For whatever reason, it's not seen as a nationwide healthcare provider, no different than thousands of other womens' health providers out there.
Two things still need to change. (1) Dems have got to press just a little more on the myriad services provided by this organization. (2) Part of me thinks that the best thing PP could possibly do is change its name. I can't tell you how many people I know who still call it "Unplanned Parenthood", directly implying what they think goes on there.
I'm sure that except for a few outright hysterics, the forced-birth crowd knows that isn't true about Planned Parenthood, but they also know that their lies about Planned Parenthood are useful and effective.
People see PP in that way because, when you delude yourself into thinking(sic) that you espouse the word of god, you must have devils. People passionately believed in ACA "death panels" because they needed to believe in them.
Dems do have to explain the variety os services PP provides, just as they need to explain what the ACA really offers. That may enlighten those who are merely misinformed, but it won't change the zealots.
EntropyRules: "Forced Birth Crowd" is a great term!
Saw a picture in the car next to mine in the supermarket parking lot. Showing a picture of a baby it said "I am a child not a choice." Gee, my husband and I did it wrong. I was pregnant 3 times by CHOICE although there were 4 live births I only have two living children as the middle babies died shortly after their premature birth. In the late 60's they did not save babies like they do today. But with that little picture you understand the pro life people. Having children is not a choice evidently it is an obligation and if you want to have sex you have to have the children that result period.
Conservatives view motherhood as punishment for sex. Debate a pro-lifer long enough and when the idea that a woman might want to have sex and not get pregnant and it always comes back to "well then she shouldn't have sex".
They are NOT "pro-life," because life is, among many other things, about choices. Nor are they compassionate or caring. They're venomous ideologues who want to impose their theology on everyone. That theology condemns sex without religious approval, for purposes of procreation only. The resultant baby is their scarlet letter, and the threat of a baby is their enforcement mechanism. They don't give a damn about human life other than that.
I think Mitt is like John McCain in that he wants to accomplish something greater than his father and he will do anything to attain his goal.
Well Henry when you start having children then I will give your opinion some credibility until then you really don't know anything about it.
No I cannot piss my name in the snow and I would not want to if I could. Most men I know have a little more respect for their penis then to expose it to sub freezing temps long enough to write their name. Unless your are talking about drunken 18 year olds. If that is you major accomplishment and a male you are lacking a lot.
they need to keep their laws off our bodies. go obama. im moving to ireland if romney the kendoll is elected.
Those on the right are basically incapable of actual love, no matter how many children their families crank out.
Henry. This post is about political ads.
If you want to debate Roe v Wade I suggest you dial your time machine back to 1972, get in, and push the button. Good luck.
Wrong again Henry, I am an independent who will not vote for Romney but I do love my children and I sat with them when they were sick and I sacraficed so they could have a better life and I decided how many children I could take care of and that is how many I had. Please do not lump all liberal minded people into a box. Some of us actually have a life that does not include screwing people figuratively or literally.
Seriously, Henry. Are you totally incapable of punctuating? It's hard to take seriously someone who appears illiterate.
Bob...,
Puncuation is for elitists, doncha know. (sarcasm off)
Hopping up and down about "fathers' rights" is a sure sign of a worthless troll.
I wonder if this may even more be a sign that the issue itself is changing. The biggest impact of Obama endorsing gay marriage was that it brought huge numbers of others to the same position. Is it possible that the lasting effect of the War on Women will be to increase support for women's rights? I can easily see a number of female voters who thought these issues settled become active in fighting for their defense now that they are being threatened.