In the half-hour infomercial that Senator Barack Obama will deliver to the nation tonight at 8 PM, the sole broadcast network that will not be airing it is ABC. In checking the TV listings, the show which will be on is called, “Pushing Daisies” and the title to the episode is, “Dim Sum…Lose Sum” Read what you will of that. But, ABC lost in not airing this infomercial.
In first reading the headline to the Politico.com article, Obama infomercial: Smart or overkill?, my initial reaction was: Do I really want to read this article or not? In reading it this column, it was not a damning article. While some feel it may be risky, others did not. In fact, “Republican political strategist Alex Castellanos says that it might. But even his advice is to go for it.”
As we approach this game-changing election what is needed is for all Americans to take part. But, that would only happen in a Utopian world. Still to this day there are folks who refuse to vote or do not show up at the polls and it is their loss, but more importantly ours as a nation. We may not agree with a candidates positions in totality, but vote we must. Even in reading reports of voter fraud, we must not let that fear us away from our polling places. If we do so, we as a people have lost.
As I read this article, this really bothered me, "The biggest risk in airing the infomercials, according to the strategists, is that Obama could irritate people by interrupting their regular television viewing habits." Not to sound pious here: Is your regular television show more important than this country’s direction? I realize that life can be very depressing given our current economic crisis as well as the war in Iraq and where folks may need an outlet: But still it is only a half-hour.
President John F. Kennedy once engaged our nation by stating, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country” Those who may be angry because of Barack Obama’s speech to us all will interrupt their normal show must remember his profound words.
In listening to this snippet of John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address to the nation on January 20th, 1961, it was this part of his address that also spoke to me. It is where he said, “Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you.” Replacing any anger that one’s show will not be seen should be replaced with some form of sacrifice for the common good.
Senator Barack Obama has been chided by Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin for wishing to engage in diplomatic talks with Iran, they should be reminded of what John F. Kennedy stated in his inaugural address: “Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction.” Palin should take note of this especially when she told ABC’s Charlie Gibson she would wish to go to war with Russia.
Joe Lockhart who is a Democratic strategist had this to say and I think it relevant to those who are still undecided, "The benefit is you get to make your closing argument in a dramatic way without the filter of the media. It gives you more context and texture than a 30-second or 60-second ad,” I agree with Lockhart since it is akin to a summation brought up in any trial just before jurors go into their deliberation and deliver a verdict. It is a wrap-up of this campaign, the candidate’s message and a rally to us all to get out and vote. Those who may be irritated should look within and without at the world we are living in and tune in. It is after all our country.
You may reach the author at this email address, xmjmac@optonline.net
