On late Monday, President Obama's re-election campaign released a widely-discussed, minute-long ad, in which the president spoke directly to the camera and presented the larger themes of the 2012 race. Late yesterday, the Obama team released something of a follow-up.
For those who can't watch clips online, here's the transcript of the 30-second spot, most of which again shows the president speaking to the camera:
"Those ads taking my words about small business out of context - they're flat out wrong. Of course Americans build their own businesses. Every day, hard-working people sacrifice to meet a payroll, create jobs, and make our economy run. And what I said was that we need to stand behind them, as America always has -- by investing in education and training, roads and bridges, research and technology.
"I'm Barack Obama and I approve this message because I believe we're all in this together."
I've heard some Dems respond favorably to the ad, applauding the fact that Obama's pushing back -- in a direct, high-profile way -- against Mitt Romney's absurd new argument. There's probably something to be said for that.
But campaign observers shouldn't miss the larger significance: if Obama and his team quickly put together a new television ad responding "those ads" that took his comments out of context, it means the president and his team believe voters have probably seen "those ads" and are afraid voters believe the ridiculous lie.
In other words, Republicans, by manufacturing a controversy out of garbage, have put Obama's campaign on the defensive, after they had been on the offensive over Romney's tax returns and business dealings.
The president has a message he's eager to share at this point in the race, and "what I meant was" isn't part of it. Romney's line of attack is unambiguously stupid, and it treats Americans as if we're idiots, but it seems to make Team Obama nervous, at least a little.
This new spot is set to run in Iowa, Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia, starting today.
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There was much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth on Mourning Joe over the "negative campaigning" of Obama.
-Almost as much outrage that was voiced by Scarborough & Co when Karl Rove was doing it for Bush. . .
Romney and the gop can say near anything outrageous and just receive blank stares back from the press ... I agree with the obama team going at these things directly , cut the roots out , and then move on , I also enjoy the humor , irony and kick in the balls obama is showing
It's almost impossible to believe anybody could call THIS negative campaigning. The negative campaigning is Romney and the Republican party deciding to run on a platform of unclever editing and misrepresentation.
I actually think the Dems need to hit back much, much harder. Just call them flat-out liars. Use those words. And show exactly what words were lifted from the original. The press needs to be conditioned to expecting a much more feisty Democratic party. Get the show on the road. It's not like the 20th century is at stake or anything.
"In other words, Republicans, by manufacturing a controversy out of garbage, have put Obama's campaign on the defensive"
No "manufacturing" is necessary - Any intellectually honest person hearing/reading the Presidents own words in context would arrive at the same conclusion - he was disparaging businesses while exalting government. Its just that simple.
Yes, it is that simple. if you're stupid.
Yes , if you just delete 3/4 of what he says from your hearing /reading , you can come to the delusional conclusion that that president of the untied states hates the business community , you people make michell bachmann look 1/2 sane
Hell just blame it on the lack of a telepromter.
Say what??? You haven't seen the president's actual words in context, have you? Anyone with a normal ability to read and comprehend would be able to see that businesses do well when the country gives them educated workers, gives them transportation and communication systems, does the research that they build their business on, protects them from republican, excuse me, unscrupulous businessmen, etc.
Why is it that you can't understand that?
Voters need to understand that the coming election will set the tone for the future of America well beyond the four year term both Obama and Romney are running for. The Republican Party is setting up a distinct agenda and endorsing a distinct vision for this country, and it is not a pretty sight. Romney is a flip-flopper with a major problem connecting to the conservative base, but he has wholeheartedly embraced the radical agenda of the far-right and the modern GOP. The war on women, birtherism, more giveaways to the super-rich... Mitt backs it all. http://www.sunstateactivist.org
Gee Steve. If you've been paying attention, the teapubs always push lies and people always believe them. Kerry got hit with swiftboating lies and everyone said he should have pushed back hard on them. Now Obama does exactly that and people are having a hissy fit?
The teapubs can't campaign on their merits because they have none. Willard is refusing to talk about anything he has done and is hiding it all. The only thing the teapubs have are lies. It's always been that way.
Wow... I thought you were talking about Dems there for a second... except you apparently don't realize the lies are coming out of the Democratic party.
Troll (Internet)
Nope just tired of libs trying to spread their morning manure.
@David James:
Chapter and verse, please of those lies.
A simple list will suffice, editorial comment not needed.
Fast and Furious, WH intel leaks, Class Warfare, Obamacare, ad nauseum
- Fast and Furious: What a manufactured joke. Even after Columbine, Virginia Tech, Aurora, etc. nothing is done on gun control. And wingnuts think sending guns to Mexico is going to cause Americans to rise up in revolt for gun control. Hard to get stupider than that.
- Class warfare: only class warfare going on is the 30+ years of failed conservative ideas and policies that have resulted in inequality not seen since the Great Depression, inequality in access to government not seen since The Gilded Age, and a worldwide Great Recession. Oh, that class warfare in which high end marginal tax rates are at an 80-year low, and federal taxes at a 50-year low. There's you some class warfare, wingnut.
- Obamacare: What about it? It'll lower deficits. It at least starts the effort to make the failed private U.S. health care system (37th in the world) closer to the better health care systems in other "advanced" countries.
- WH intel leaks: Just evidence-free wingnut assertions.
- ad nauseaum: Indeed..., that is if you're talking about content-free, faith-based nonsense from the Republican party on economics, climate science, voter fraud, ...
Class Warfare
The gop and wall st declare war on unions and working people wages and you want to claim to be the victim of class war fair lol ....As a working class dem here , exactly what class are you in that I'm suppose to be attacking? And as a self made millionaire , you could not give any examples of obama attacking A CLASS of people , all you people have are fabrications
Regarding class warfare. What ever happened to the American Dream? What's wrong with making it and becoming one of the "1%"?
Exactly. What did ever happen to the American Dream? I'll tell you what happened to it. Ronald Reagan and Republicans happened. 30+ years of failed conservative ideas and policies is what happened to it. You've already been given a list of the problems those ideas and policies caused.
But the inequality -- in income, wealth, and access to government -- is the true cancer that the ideas and policies have resulted in. That's made it much harder for people, who didn't have the heroic capitalist initiative to choose the right parents, to make their lives better. I'm not going to spend much time with some incurious dumb mass like you. (Besides, it's off topic.) I'll let you educate yourself. You can start with these:
- The CBO takes on income inequality
- The Great Gatsby Curve
- Economist's View: "The Economics of the Great Gatsby Curve"
- Trends in the distribution of household income\
- The Rich, the Right, and the Facts: Deconstructing the Income Distribution Debate
- Living standards « Consider the Evidence
You see, it just isn't as easy as it was during 30 - 60 years ago when a young person didn't even have to graduate high school and could still find blue-collar work and support a family.
Nothing is wrong with making it and becoming one of the 1%, but the Republican repeatedly sell this "Trickle Down Economics" that is what is wrong. 1979 - 2009 the top 1% income is up 240% and average wage increase for the same period is less than 20%. This is what is wrong.
David James-5535467
"Regarding class warfare. What ever happened to the American Dream? What's wrong with making it and becoming one of the "1%"?"
That is what he comes up with when asked to define his own claim of CLASS WARFARE LOL , end of troll story
As the radical left wing magazine, Forbes, has stated, Fast and Furious was a disaster because the straw buyers weren't breaking any laws and when the Feds wanted to go after them, the prosecutors couldn't find anything to charge them for. Thank you, NRA and the rest of the sexually inadequate gun nuts.
You want intel leaks, check with Kyl, check with Crazy Eyes, check with Cheney, check with Bush, check with Hoekstra. Those are people who have revealed intelligence that has had negative effects on our security.
Class warfare: Just quote Warren Buffett, " there has been class warfare waged, and my class has won," Buffett told Business Wire CEO Cathy Baron Tamraz at a luncheon in honor of the company's 50th anniversary. "It's been a rout."
Are you saying Warren Buffett doesn't know what he's talking about?
Obamacare is due to save $109 billion over the next ten years according to the CBO above what it would have cost to continue the way we were. In addition, 33 million extra people, 30 million after Scalia et al got done, would have health insurance. Why do you have a problem with that?
What ever happened to the American Dream?
You tell me. Why is it that America is next to the bottom in the list of industrialized countries in social mobility? Why is it that knowing your parents' social class predicts your social class more strongly in the US than in any other industrialized country except the UK? It wouldn't have anything to do with the changes that the republicans have made to the New Deal legislation that helped poor become working class and working class become middle class, would it? It wouldn't have anything to do with the elite war on unions that were the only way that working stiffs could hope to stand against the bosses, would it?
If socialist countries like Denmark and Sweden have more social mobility than the US, what does that say about the two systems?
Folks, this is the one Republicans and their Useful Idiot wingnut fans are petrified of. The trolls will be out in force loading their man-pampers full over this message. So just laugh at them.
It's this simple. What is going on is that Republicans actually know the Warren/Obama message that nobody is a success-island all by themselves is a message that will destroy the Republican agenda and message. THAT is what is going on. They know this message DEFEATS their entire raison d'etre. And THAT is why they have resorted to the intentional distortion of the Warren/Obama message. The public needs to understand why Fox/Romney/Republicans have done this.
It is THAT simple. Dems need to continue this message and NOT give it up. Watch the wingnut trolls dooty their diapers over it. Giving this message up is what Republicans want Democrats to do because they know this is going to KILL them.
What no race card?
So, your idiotic list just got put in its place and now you want to run off to another silly little pet peeve. Have you seen this, you little DontTreadOnMe-er:
TEA PARTY RACISM: What The Media Won't Show You About Teabagger Racism
The race card is ALWAYS legitimately there if necessary.
Yeah it's always there. It makes a great distraction. After all there are no black Republicans or conservatives. As to my little list, yeah so I asked another question. Didn't realize I had to que up.
ok , where is romneys long form birth certificate? 8 /
Don't know but I'd bet he'd produce it. Hell I had to produce one to work as a contractor on a GE worksite. I had to produce one for each of my kids to register them for school as well....
Sorry for you wingnut that your list gets trashed and then your other pet peeve gets trashed, too. What else can we make you feel stupid over?
Well the snarky superior attitude is pretty much what I expect. You're not interested in a discussion. You want everyone to agree with you and if they don't...... ohhhh watch out. Tell you what lets discuss it after Obama gets his eviction notice in November........ as for trashing my comments regurgitating the liberal talking points hardly qualifies.
Bravo Disgusted. Diogenes would be proud.
Well, the snarky superior attitude directed at you is what you and your fellow Useful Idiot Fox-educated stooges deserve. Some Know Nothing, always-wrong, never-in-doubt ignoramus comes here and is going to tell everybody how the Democrats are lying, blah, blah, blah in some sort of pathetic defense of Team Romney/Republican and their campaign strategy of unclever quote editing. Sorry, pal. Not gonna work any more. We're really kind of sick of you asswholes. Wingnut days of walking around with their chests puffed out 3 yards in front of them, belching out their faith-based, ideological, fact-free alternate universe nonsense without pushback are over. Because you and your ilk have just about destroyed the country.
Now back on topic. Did you enjoy the new Obama campaign ad?
Me and my ilk.... that would be the majority of the law abiding middle class citizens...... yeah I can see how you'd be tired of us. As for destroying the coutry hardly considering we've run up more debt under 3 some years of Obama than 8 of Bush (who I wasn't a fan of btw). The fact that you'll indiscrimately paint anyone with anyone who doesn't agree with you in such a fashion is sad, but not unexpected. You aren't interested in a discussion at all.
No, the majority of people do not think like you. As for debt, -- yet another subject change -- sorry pal, you Team Republican did it. Again, educate yourself:
- The Truth About Federal Spending (this one will be difficult for you to understand but give it the good old junior high try)
- MarketWatch Column On Obama's Spending Restraint Stands Up To Attacks | Media Matters for America
- Obama Presided Over a Tax Revenue Drought, Not a Spending Binge
- Obama spending binge never happened
- How the Deficit Got This Big
- Economic Downturn and Bush Policies Continue to Drive Large Projected Deficits — Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
- Off the Charts Blog | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | What’s Driving Projected Debt?
It's common knowledge, Tea Boy, the deficits and debt is a Republican nightmare. Except for the Fox-educated. Your Team did it. The ones you vote for sight unseen. Enjoy your retraining.
As for a discussion, discussion of what? I've put down everything you've come up with. How much time do you think an ignoramus like you deserves?
David James-5535467
Me and my ilk.... that would be the majority of the law abiding middle class citizens
No , self absorbed trolls who play the victim card are a minority of americans , that only dwell in the michell bachman ding bat party thank god , you people really have a hard time focusing when you get kicked in the nuts on a subject , next you will be complaining about how red tomato's are
I'm glad the President is fighting back. John Kerry didn't.
Maddow has jumped the shark!
If anything it is evidence the campaign has a "War Room" ready to push back on every issue. And it is way past time.
The President may emote well in private situations and hopes that people respond to it when they see it in pictures. That is an intellectual approach that matches his technique of organizing the electorate to win an election. Having reached office on the national level you are now responsible for policy. Intellectually the health insurance reform legislation, aka the Affordable Care Act, resonates to policy wonks and pundits but does not move the average person. To the average person who wants to know how it effects them here an now have no stake because the insurance aspect is not available to them till 2014.
As to those who can use it now, they are to small a part of the electorate to matter. Pushing to put your children on your healthcare insurance means you have to have it and can afford it beyond yourself, a situation that does not resonate in the real world for many people. Nor does keeping it in case of preexisting conditions resonate except on a family basis and whatever word of mouth spreads in family and friends basis. Family and Friends are also poor at expressing the policy implications especially against the media's and President's poor job of explaining it. You probably don't buy this if you read this blog but if you live in the middle of Ohio and are bombarded by Rush, Fox and the other dangerous naboobs of nothingness whom frame the healthcare debate along a very narrow view that is beyond simple.
This example of policy vs campaign matters. A war room strategy needs to move into the policy area. It may come the closer we draw to the actual election. It's emergence finally is helpful not a sign of nervousness.
I hate to interrupt the bickering for something a bit more (I hope) measured, but I'm not sure I agree that the new Obama ads are defensive in nature. Yes, they respond to the Romney camp's lies, but the way in which they do it is a direct attack, not just against these particular lies, but against the Romney campaign's entire tactic. By appearing before the camera himself, he personalizes the attacks against him -- essentially forcing the Romney camp to call him a liar to his face. There's also an implicit challenge to have Romney also appear personally in front of the camera to put out his own vision. That's a debate Obama is sure to win.
Besides, the center of the discussion -- "We're all in this together," vs. "You're on your own, Bub." -- is the center of the policy difference between the two camps. Yes, Obama was hitting Romney hard on the tax returns, and there's no reason that can't continue. But this hits Romney hard at the core of his beliefs.
Nope. Can't really see a downside to these new ads.
There's a difference between defense and counter-punching. If the ad treats the other side's lies as an opportunity to plant doubt about Mitt and Karl's veracity in the minds of the gullible 10%, I'm okay with responding to the attack.
Unfortunately I won't know whether this ad does that until I get off metered 4G and onto to a wired connection at home tonight and can watch the blamed thing.
The transcript is right below the video. Something I love about Steve Benen and this blog! Sure it's always better when you can get the feel of the whole thing from the video, but it's nice to be able to read the text when you can't watch the video.
I think this does a great job of hitting back for the lying, and an even better job of delivering the message that the Obama administration supports small businesses and small business owners.
"it treats Americans as if we're idiots"
Yeah, well. So what's your point? Welcome to reality.
"What's wrong with becoming part of the 1%?" It's a lie. It will never, never happen. Just a wet dream. If regular people were able to become part of the 1%, then it would not be the 1%.
A more pertinent question remains; What's wrong with a living wage?
Steve Benen, I've admired your work for years, but I think you are wrong on this. (I even registered so I could comment and tell you!)
This is absolutely a counter punch as opposed to an unnecessary defensive move. THIS is absolutely the message that I wish Obama had delivered in the first place. Remember, when you're speaking to voters, you're trying to win the ones who are NOT already on your side. The tone of his original speech was wrong (almost condescending) and the wording was sloppy.
Small business owners who make less (sometimes a LOT less) than $250,000 a year have been among the hardest hit in this economy. The Obama campaign needs to reach out to them in every way possible. The original speech seemed to me to contain a lecture intended for those who are NOT paying their fair share, but it was heard and internalized by many small business owners who are absorbing MORE than their fair share of hardship. The message that the government has helped you and WILL CONTINUE TO HELP YOU is the message they needed to hear.
Yes, Romney's team will distort everything they can distort, even things that make perfect sense to anyone with any desire to understand. And as you've so thoroughly documented, Romney LIES. But the words in this ad are so much stronger than those of the original message. "Of course Americans built their businesses" "Everyday hard working people sacrifice" "We need to stand behind them." It will be virtually impossible to take these words out of context. And they aptly capture the message that needed to be delivered. I hope we hear a LOT more of it.