Obama may be Obama, but I am not
My friends and I am aghast at the "non-violent" resistance strategy of the Obama campaign. I completely agree with Markos for calling it the "magic "new politics" bullshit"
Obama needs to stop preaching to the choir.
Obama has been campaigning and in the news for over two years, 6 months with daily primary coverage. EVERYONE who can be converted by his message has already been converted. That's why all this - "Obama should run ads on the issues, this one is very effective" contains a fallacy.
The people who find previous ads/approaches effective are already converted. The undecideds or weak supporters aren't convinced by it and they have been exposed to it daily for the first 6 months of this year.
I was going to send a contribution to his campaign but decided instead to send it to the Defenders of Wildlife to run the wolf ad.
What I like about the wolf ad is that it creates a visceral response in animal lovers - who are spread across all geo-demographic groups. This will get a response from people who were not swayed earlier.
I am sending my $300 to finance running the ad and I got sis to kick in another $300. This will cover three viewings. In addition, I am posting it on women's forums and animal forums.
Obama may be Obama, but I am not.
Send your money where you want.
I myself am in total accord with Obama's strategy. But I'm a psychologist and I'm thinking of the greater good here. We've had way too much dividing of the electorate.
At least you're helping the wolf ad. Which gave me the latest name for Palin: Lady MacDeath.
September 13, 2008 11:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
TheraP, you may be a shrink thinking of the greater good, but I am trying to influence people unreceptive to your "greater good" approach.
September 13, 2008 11:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
This blogger thinks very little of the 'wolves' ad. He has some good points.
September 13, 2008 11:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, ptw - I am NOT trying to support Obama's message; I am trying to get people who would not otherwise be receptive to his message to dislike the other option. And many animal lovers will vote on that one issue.
September 13, 2008 11:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, that's a valid point.
September 14, 2008 1:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know what the shakeout is, but I sent it to a rabid animal rights person who was just so SMUG about McCain. I just did it to wipe the smile off her face.
September 14, 2008 12:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
"I don't know what the shakeout is, but I sent it to a rabid animal rights person who was just so SMUG about McCain"
That's the type of person that needs to be reached.
September 14, 2008 12:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Something else Jane ... the approach I am taking is -- do you want the type of people the promote this animal cruelty having a friend in the White House?
Your friends enemies, will now have a very powerful friend.
September 14, 2008 12:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
i love it when you play dirty.
September 14, 2008 12:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
I happen to agree w/Obama's campaign strategy, but I respect where you're coming from and definitely like what you're doing as an alternative, Arcadia. Always great when you can find something to do that's still constructive and makes a contribution to the cause. Rock on.
September 14, 2008 12:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
Don't really like the wolf ad, as Al Giordano rightly pointed out (http://narcosphere.narconews.com/thefield/political-poaching-when-%E2%80%9C527s%E2%80%9D-step-and-muddy-message).
I agree with Obama's strategy, though, and I don't think that "everyone that can be converted has been converted". If that was the case, those 10% of undecideds would be in McCain's column and this whole thing would be lost.
I do, however, agree with your overall point: find another way to get the message out there, get out the vote, convince those independents and undecideds. I wish you'd have put your money into something more productive, like MoveOn. Still, it's your money, so do with it what you will.
September 14, 2008 7:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Personally, I think Obama is speaking to the ever-increasing congregation, as he should.
You can either believe that "everyone" is fully engaged in the election and got all their information over last summer and through the primaries. Or you can believe that there is a part of the electorate that is tuning in now to the general election, and some that will tune just before election day.
I don't think "everyone" is converted yet. and while there are animal lovers in all "geo-demographic groups," not all are PETA-philes.
Put your money where you want. Many of us will support other groups who have endorsed Obama. But that support is not premised on dislike of what has been a damn successful campaign.
And one final thought, Kos is king over at his blog, but there are many folks who don't share his view that the world needs to rotate according to his bio-rhythms. When Markos has run a marginally successful presidential campaign -- primary or general -- maybe his advice will be worth following. Until then, he's an okay read.
September 14, 2008 10:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
"When Markos has run a marginally successful presidential campaign -- primary or general -- maybe his advice will be worth following."
Don't understand what you mean by marginally successful. What good would marginally successful advice be to Obama? He's not running for second place. How many people have run marginally successful Democratic Presidential campaigns? And of that very small number of people, how many have achieved their goal? You are limiting yourself to a very, very small number of ideas.
September 14, 2008 10:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think the wolf hunting is outrageous, but the ad seems to be the sort of thing that would persuade the choir and not the undecided voter or weak Obama supporter. Have you seen Cartwrightdale's ad?
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/14/203255/447/106/598917
There is beginning to be an effort to get this visually powerful ad on the air in OH, MI and other swing states.
September 14, 2008 10:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just an update.
Someone I forwarded the Wolf Ad to is a good friend of hunter in Missouri. This man owns land where he allows deer to be hunted. He, however, follows rules regarding the hunting and imposes them on anyone who hunts on his land.
Upon receiving the ad, he was livid. He agreed to post it on Missouri and National Hunting forums.
Evidently, some hunters disapprove of this type of hunting, due to the cruelty involved.
September 15, 2008 8:18 PM | Reply | Permalink