Culture jammin' the AP
by M. Stewart
Something very disturbing happened this morning when I was watching the Associated Press videos at The Review Web site.
I clicked on the first news video, expecting that the rest would play in sequence as usual. After three news vids played, suddenly I found myself watching a nearly four minute advertisement for Barak Obama—something about how the youth of Philadelphia are carrying out a grass roots effort to help people in Obama’s name.
At first I thought this was merely a long paid advertisement for the candidate, but it turned out that the little film is sponsored by MTV. It’s part of a series of Obama support ads cleverly disguised as journalism and produced by a group of young “journalists” called the “Choose or Lose Street Team ’08.”
What’s even weirder is that after the first video cycled through, another one came up, then another, and another. I realized that my AP videos literally had been taken over by MTV’s Obama propaganda.
I’d been “culture jammed” by Barak Obama.
As I watched these videos, I realized that they were all about getting the nation’s youth mobilized to support the candidate, who was presented as a political messiah who intends to save the world. Both the young “journalists” and the people they interviewed said pretty much the same thing: “I’m really ignorant of politics, but I want change, so here I am.”
There are so many things wrong with this that I won’t bother counting them. Let me instead focus on the simple fact that my news was hijacked by MTV and Barak Obama. Could such an august organization like AP let this happen without somehow being involved? I kind of doubt it.
Obama has become the worst kind of political propagandist. Not only have his agents taken over my news broadcast, this guy seeks to mobilize an army of politically ignorant voters merely on the hollow message of “change.” No question that Obama is the most intelligent and articulate of the three remaining presidential candidates, but I’m just old fashioned enough to prefer at least a pretense to substance.
“Change” is not an argument, and I don't need a messiah.
Something very disturbing happened this morning when I was watching the Associated Press videos at The Review Web site.
I clicked on the first news video, expecting that the rest would play in sequence as usual. After three news vids played, suddenly I found myself watching a nearly four minute advertisement for Barak Obama—something about how the youth of Philadelphia are carrying out a grass roots effort to help people in Obama’s name.
At first I thought this was merely a long paid advertisement for the candidate, but it turned out that the little film is sponsored by MTV. It’s part of a series of Obama support ads cleverly disguised as journalism and produced by a group of young “journalists” called the “Choose or Lose Street Team ’08.”
What’s even weirder is that after the first video cycled through, another one came up, then another, and another. I realized that my AP videos literally had been taken over by MTV’s Obama propaganda.
I’d been “culture jammed” by Barak Obama.
As I watched these videos, I realized that they were all about getting the nation’s youth mobilized to support the candidate, who was presented as a political messiah who intends to save the world. Both the young “journalists” and the people they interviewed said pretty much the same thing: “I’m really ignorant of politics, but I want change, so here I am.”
There are so many things wrong with this that I won’t bother counting them. Let me instead focus on the simple fact that my news was hijacked by MTV and Barak Obama. Could such an august organization like AP let this happen without somehow being involved? I kind of doubt it.
Obama has become the worst kind of political propagandist. Not only have his agents taken over my news broadcast, this guy seeks to mobilize an army of politically ignorant voters merely on the hollow message of “change.” No question that Obama is the most intelligent and articulate of the three remaining presidential candidates, but I’m just old fashioned enough to prefer at least a pretense to substance.
“Change” is not an argument, and I don't need a messiah.
posted by M. | 9:47 AM
22 Comments:
I think Baracka Obama's true colors are starting to surface.
Finally!!
AMEN! Couldn't have said it better. Thanks. By the way, I hope everyone appreciates the increase in Federal Taxs coming their way, in part thanks to Hillary and Obama. Great timing on their part what with all other costs rising.
Speaking of "culture", watch these for enlightenment...
Those who say well, this is his minister, Barack didn't say this.....these two are TIGHT folks, and Obama himself has said that Wright is his MENTOR and has attended and listened to these sermons for 20 YEARS!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQdOBtyuMN4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS_7S3hkWV0
I guess this means everyone will vote for McCain and we'll add Iran to the mix. Unending war....
"mcsame":
You've three choices:
1. Fight islamofacists over there.
2. Fight them over here on our soil.
3. Submit to Islam.
Iran is working very hard to develop a nuclear weapon (despite what the IAEA says). If they succeeed, it will most likely be loaded onto a ballistic missile capable of hitting Europe. Now, the question is, do we wait? Or do we execute an airstrike to take out those facilities where we know they are being manufactured?
McSame -- doesn't mean I will be voting for McCain, necessarily. This means I will vote for Obama, as I've now planned for the past few months, and I say good for him for figuring out a way to CONTINUE to reach out to our youth. Above all else, we want them excercising their right to vote!
Matt, you act like Obama is the first to use MTV as a tool to reach our youth. The "Rock the Vote" movement on MTV has been around for years! Obama "cleverly" took advantage of that and is using it to his benefit.
As for this concern with "change" without specifics, let me just say this (if I haven't already). Steve Jobs was a pioneer in the computer industry, and mostly no one wanted to listen to him. He couldn't make people see his vision, he just knew what it was. He truly was a visionary, someone who dared to go against the normal grain and think outside of the box, and thank GOD for that. What a revolutionary! Same with Bill Gates. I don't know why, but I'm seeing the same things in Obama. My gut tells me this is right (and not for nothin', my gut is usually right (and fat!!!hahah)).
Do you really think it makes a difference if Hillary or McCain win? NOOOOOO!. The only thing I do get sad about is knowing that Obama, if voted in, -- or any of the three, for that matter -- will face the same thing all other presidents do, and one day say, "Hey, I had great ideas and I tried, but the goddamned Congress won't let me do shit." After all, it's not the president who runs this country, and we all know it.
It's not that Obama uses MTV; it's that he hijacked my computer to deliver his "message." Not only that, the commercials were presented as news in the midst of my watching real AP news on my computer.
Additionally, these pieces offered absolutely nothing of political substance-- just a bunch of young people congratulating themselves for being politically active, which means nothing more than walking around telling people to vote for Obama. And why? Because he's about change.
I wish someone would take the time to tell me about these mysterious changes Obama plans to make.
Matt,
LOL...it's like the spot that Rush plays on his show...a bunch of youth are asked what they like about Obama...one girl says "Because change is what we need to change things." LOL! Another says "I like Obama because we need to change, because the past is so like yesterday" in her best "valley girl" imitation.
It scares me that kids that barely made it thru high school are considered intelligent enough to vote...maybe the voting age should be raised, or one has to carry at least a B average...but that's not much of an accomplishment since colleges are having to give remedial math and english to today's public "skool" graduates!
Bear Stearns going down...Is the US bankrupt?
ELOnativeInWA -- I, too, am LOL, but only at your comment! You're fooling yourself if you believe younger age lacks strength and merit in voting. If college kids are having to be taught remedial subjects, it's either because the high school teachers sucked, or the high school teachers weren't permitted to promote creativity. Afterall, to most teachers, it is all about proving their success as a teacher by hitting a certain percentage mark based on test scores. No wonder our educational system is failing.
In any case, I give credit to any 18-year-old who shows up at the polls to exercise their right to vote, wheter or not I agree with their choice. Many 50-plus-year-olds I know have given up, dont' show up to cast a vote, and then sit around for four years bitching about how horrible the country and government has been to them. I don't care how young people choose to communicate or push their point by their vote -- I only care that they at least vote.
And by the way, "valley girl" speak is so 1990s. Get with the times before you condemn the verbiage used by today's youth. (If I were to judge merely by what you've provided here as sample, I'd think our youth as idiots. However, I realize that you are categorizing and, actually, stereotyping.) Note: It is now 2008.
THE BEST IS YET TO COME...YOU VOTE OBAMA IN YOU WILL BE SO SORRY IN LATER YEARS..
THE CLINTONS HAVE ALREADY PROVED THEY CAN CHANGE THE ECONOMY. LET THEM BACK IN ...
All one needs to send Hillary packing is to remember blatant corruption that has become a trademark of the Clintons. Ravaged women, dead bodies, sales of the Lincoln bedroom to anyone who had the money, Whitewater and on and on and on and on.
These people are phony to the bone. Why would anyone, in their right mind, vote for the Clintons. Perhaps that's the problem, people aren't sane anymore.
I think that Rev. Wright tape is going to hurt Obama. He should have denounced him and his church.
Not for me,
Let's hope so, we don't need a black separatist as the leader of the free world. These people of Obama's are so far gone they are barely recognizable as Christians. If you read more on the subject you find the influences on Obama are extremist unAmerican. This is not someone we should embrace as a presidential candidate.
Of course he denounced Rev Wright, he had not choice if he wants to stay in the race. Yea, he's for change alright, but not the kind of change America wants.
Matt,
Keep reading your Emily D.
Just because you aren't savy enough to keep a virus out of your
computer, you're pouting about
Barrak. Soooo sorry. I had the
mistaken notion that the people
on your blog did some thinking.
Too many postings here are
on the irrational "venting' side.
You are not rational when it comes to politics.
I have found a candidate for
president that has qualifications
such as President of the Harvard
Law Review. That alone is a
radical change from Pres. C-
Bush.
As far as his numerous policy
agendas-you have to read them.
But, of course, your eyes must be open to do that. In contrast...
yours eyes are wide-shut.
CATinvolved in the process..not
just talking about it.
Dear Anonymous,
Sorry to disappoint, but I don't have the Obama virus on my computer.
It's good to know I'm stupid and irrational, though. I don't hear that often enough. But I am a white European male, so what can you expect?
Matt, Everyone knows you are a liberal, so don't try to fool us by saying bad things about the Obamanians. You're not fooling me.
I support Obama because I can't support Clinton or McCain, same people different party. Change is an argument. We need new blood in Washington.
The Democratic primaries have been very interesting if for no other reason than the two left standing represent groups that heretofore have been shut out of presidential politics--blacks and women. As for John McCain, he is (or was) a liberal leaning Republican, but his decision to attach himself to Bush and Iraq seals it for me. No thanks, senator; we've seen that.
One of the posters above gave Bush a grade of C-, but that's far too generous. As far as I'm concerned, Bush has been getting F's since he took office. He has been, and remains, an embarrassment to the United States. He has been the worst president in American history.
On the other hand, I have admired Sen. Clinton for many years, and I see no reason to abandon her just because there is a new guy in town. I am one of those who believes Sen. Obama may be good presidential material in the future, but not now. He simply does not have enough experience to manage the job. Yes, he is intelligent and articulate, but it takes a little more than that. George Bush wasn't ready for it either, and look what happened.
As well, I prefer secular leadership when we can get it. Obama's overt Christianity--if that's what it is--doesn't mix any better with politics than that of Mr. Bush.
Like anyone's vote actually matters in a presidential election. Come on.
I just can't get over the feeling that no matter who I vote for, I'll be choosing what I think is the lesser of the evils and that's not a good way to pick a president. Are these really the three best people we have in the whole United States to consider for our next president? Barack with his "is he or is he not a black separatist? Is he or is he not a Muslim? Does he or does he not have a message?"
Then you have Hillary with her Bill Clinton baggage that she'll always have with her.
And McCain. Yeah, he was a POW and a long-time senator. But he's got a murky past too, with the Arthur Anderson dealings and the temper problems, plus he's freaking old.
So who do you choose, anyway?
Oh, and I'm pretty sure Obama isn't taking over the Associate Press video feed. It's called paid commercials, and anyone with enough money can buy them. The Pennsylvania primary is next week, and it's a big one. I guess that using the reasoning on here, I could say that Hillary took over the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Pittsburgh Saturday because she was in it. It's an election year, and the candidates are going to be where their handlers feel they can make the biggest impact...and with all his supporters there, Obama was a fool not to be in that parade too, unless he was in another one somewhere else, maybe Philly.
However, I did enjoy the green O'Bama signs, with a shamrock where the ' was, to make his name look Irish. They were everywhere, and I brought one home because I found them to be very ironic.
If you've never been to the Pittsburgh St. Patty's Day parade, go sometime. It's a great, great time!
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