# Obama's infomercial **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 29, 2008, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113 "2008-10-29T17:16:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/201 "2008-10-30T18:15:16Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > Where has the Obama campaign referred to it as an infomercial? On their website, they call it ‘a special 30 minute program’. > > It’s the media calling it (correctly) an infomercial. Obama called it an infomercial on the Daily Show. If his campaign didn’t use the term first, they’re certainly not shying from it. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/202 "2008-10-30T18:16:08Z")
> [@furt](#): > > So, the quote in the WaPo, by a Democrat internet consultant, saying that AVS can be set to check names, isn’t good enough for you? There is a difference between “can be set” and “default”. You cited the name-catching as the default setting and implied that the Obama campaign somehow went in and turned that off. What happened was that it “can be set” that way and wasn’t. Which is, on the face of it, another thing entirely. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/203 "2008-10-30T18:20:06Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > One aspect of the production that seemed almost miraculous to me was the segue from the taped portion of the presentation to the live speech. The taped part ended and we joined his speech at the exact moment that he was beginning his rousing wrap-up. Does anyone else think that this was difficult to achieve in terms of timing? I thought it was the most impressive thing about the whole show, and it is also the point where I got somewhat emotional. That’s good direction. Even though he has given his stump speech dozens, possibly hundreds of times, he uses a TelePrompTer (those pieces of glass on either side of his podium), as does McCain, Biden, Palin and any politician worth his or her salt. It’s how you make sure you convey every point you intend to make. The director probably reviewed tapes of Obama’s speeches, and has an average time for how long he takes to deliver each line. He can tell the TelePrompTer operator to slow down or speed up the speed of the text scrolling up, and can even send stage directions to the speaker. So, if there is 2 minutes of video to go, but 3 minutes of speech left (because of longer than expected audience response, for instance), they can delete a section, etc. But it was very skillfully done. These people are pros and may well be nominated for an Addy. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/204 "2008-10-30T18:21:09Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > Where has the Obama campaign referred to it as an infomercial? On their website, they call it ‘a special 30 minute program’. > > It’s the media calling it (correctly) an infomercial. Obama himself called in an infomercial in his interview with Jon Stewart last night. He did not seem to be using the term apologetically or ironically, but instead was calling an infomercial an infomercial. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/205 "2008-10-30T18:29:02Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > I’m actually kinda suprised Obama included some of the same points that have been thouroughly debunked by fact checkers. Is this an opportunity for McCain to call Obama out on misrepresentations? Normally in a debate, I think both candidates refrain from this, since it only opens the door for retribution in kind. “I won’t call you on your BS so you won’t call me on mine.” type of deal. And did I catch it right that the $250K is now only $200K? Or is it $150K like Biden said? > > Also, after all the investigating into Joe the Plumber, can we expect the same for Arthritis Lady and Epiphone Sheridan Blues Guy? Everyone under $200,000 gets a tax cut. From $200,000 to $250,000, nothing changes at all. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/206 "2008-10-30T18:56:04Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > Everyone under $200,000 gets a tax cut. From $200,000 to $250,000, nothing changes at all. Obama has been consistent on this, by the way despite some allegations that he’s changed it. Some people just aren’t listening. He’s said exactly the same thing at every debate. Biden mispoke, and then quickly corrected himself, but you don’t see Fox News showing the part where he corrected himself. ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/207 "2008-10-30T19:26:15Z")
I love a good comedy show, so I listen to Rush Limbaugh on the radio on the way to lunch once in a while. Today he was ripping on the Obama Infomercial relentlessly. My favorite line was about the “Fat family” who couldn’t decide whether to buy a whole gallon or a half gallon of milk. He said they should think about rationing the Pepsi. I kid you not. I had to get back to work so I didn’t hear the end of his comments. I can only assume he procced to also knock them for getting addicted to Oxycontin and being divorced twice. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/208 "2008-10-30T19:27:51Z")
> [@Slacker](#): > > I love a good comedy show, so I listen to Rush Limbaugh on the radio on the way to lunch once in a while. Today he was ripping on the Obama Infomercial relentlessly. My favorite line was about the “Fat family” who couldn’t decide whether to buy a whole gallon or a half gallon of milk. He said they should think about rationing the Pepsi. I kid you not. I had to get back to work so I didn’t hear the end of his comments. I can only assume he procced to also knock them for getting addicted to Oxycontin and being divorced twice. “Projection: The Republican Breathing” ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/209 "2008-10-30T20:12:18Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > There is a difference between “can be set” and “default”. You cited the name-catching as the default setting and implied that the Obama campaign somehow went in and turned that off. What happened was that it “can be set” that way and wasn’t. Which is, on the face of it, another thing entirely. And regardless of anything there, what exactly does a name on a credit card really tell you about the person’s citizenship or eligibility for donating? I know at least one foreign national with a fully valid US-issued credit card, he’s a buddy marrying his US-born wife and working on citizenship. Legally he’s not eligible to donate but I defy you to find a AVS/credit card verifier who can tell you that fact even if he uses his real name. By the by, at least one major AVS package ([Authorize.net](http://Authorize.net)) does not (or did not when I worked with it last year) verify by name by default and in fact discourages it on the basis of far too many false rejections due to minor spelling issues, periods vs. none on middle initial, etc. By default it’s processed by card number and zip code. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/210 "2008-10-30T20:18:36Z")
> [@furt](#): > > And\*\* Elendil \*\*is right; if you want to pursue this, it probably should be in its own thread; my only point here was that IMO Obama is unwise to do things that let the issue of his enormous funding advantage come to the fore. Here: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=10380875#post10380875](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=10380875#post10380875) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/211 "2008-10-30T20:19:51Z")
deleted, will post in other thread later ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/212 "2008-10-30T20:22:22Z")
> [@Zeriel](#): > > And regardless of anything there, what exactly does a name on a credit card really tell you about the person’s citizenship or eligibility for donating? I know at least one foreign national with a fully valid US-issued credit card, he’s a buddy marrying his US-born wife and working on citizenship. Legally he’s not eligible to donate but I defy you to find a AVS/credit card verifier who can tell you that fact even if he uses his real name. I was informed in another thread, cite and all, that green card-holders can legally donate. ---
**Author:** ![Furious\_Marmot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dfb087/32.png) [@Furious\_Marmot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Furious_Marmot)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/213 "2008-10-30T20:36:27Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > Everyone under $200,000 gets a tax cut. From $200,000 to $250,000, nothing changes at all. Are those numbers for individuals or households? Can anyone provide a link with a full description of the tax plan with numbers? ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/214 "2008-10-30T21:14:37Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Aren’t we the choir, though? Will it have any effect on people who were not already Obama fans? Did many independents or undecideds even watch it? Anecdote: I’ve just come home from the supermarket. The bagger, a 20-ish young woman who in our conversation identified herself as an independent, commented on my Obama sweatshirt and asked whether I’d watched the infomercial. She volunteered that it made her “kind of like him” and that now she was thinking maybe she’d vote for him. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/215 "2008-10-30T21:26:30Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Anecdote: I’ve just come home from the supermarket. The bagger, a 20-ish young woman who in our conversation identified herself as an independent, commented on my Obama sweatshirt and asked whether I’d watched the infomercial. She volunteered that it made her “kind of like him” and that now she was thinking maybe she’d vote for him. It will also help to get the people who were planning to vote for him out the door and into the voting booth. I think it probably changed a lot of people from thinking “yeah, I guess I’ll vote for him,” to “I _want_ to vote for him.” And as we know, even a few extra votes here and there could translate into big numbers of electors. I think that this ad was well-constructed to serve both ends–to close the deal with the undecideds, and to contribute to the GOTV effort. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/216 "2008-10-30T22:01:56Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Aren’t we the choir, though? Will it have any effect on people who were not already Obama fans? Did many independents or undecideds even watch it? I am reluctant to answer because this is GD and my answer is \*specifically \*an opinion. But since you asked: I am still up the air. I did start watching it, but to be frank, hated the “American Stories” part of it and turned it off immediately. It felt to me like a cheap attempt to play on my emotions, rather than convince my intellect. I already know things are bad - hell, I was laid off in August and my portfolio has dropped nearly 50% - I don’t need to see other people’s stories to convince me how bad it is. I wanted to hear his solutions. Although it probably won’t change how I vote, I was annoyed. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/217 "2008-10-30T22:17:58Z")
> [@choie](#): > > Man, screw the infommercial – which was great, I admit – my heart’s all about this Florida rally with Bill Clinton . . . . But when Clinton took the stage and with passion, articulateness, intelligence, and tons of energy made the case for electing Barack Obama, I got the glow of pride I used to feel when hearing our president speak, or seeing how respected this president was overseas . . . . Clinton sold Obama as his true successor. The man was on fire. Doper choie, Senator Obama’s not Clinton; if Senator McCain wanted to run against President Clinton he should have run 12 years ago.😃 Just kidding. I too was very impressed by Clinton’s speech – his tone, his eloquence, heck, even his veering away from eloquence in his zeal. Topnotch. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/218 "2008-10-30T22:24:51Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > I am reluctant to answer because this is GD and my answer is \*specifically \*an opinion. But since you asked: > > I am still up the air. I did start watching it, but to be frank, hated the “American Stories” part of it and turned it off immediately. It felt to me like a cheap attempt to play on my emotions, rather than convince my intellect. I already know things are bad - hell, I was laid off in August and my portfolio has dropped nearly 50% - I don’t need to see other people’s stories to convince me how bad it is. I wanted to hear his solutions. Although it probably won’t change how I vote, I was annoyed. So why didn’t you stay tuned to hear his solutions? I’m not trying to be snarky, I really want to know. I’ve got a friend who keeps saying he doesn’t like Obama because he doesn’t know what he stands for or what he’s going to do for us, and I don’t get it. I keep directing him to Obama’s website with pages and pages of information with numbers and everything, on all the issues my friend says are most important to him, and he seems stubbornly unwilling to learn anything at all, and still claims Obama’s “wishy-washy” and that he “won’t tell us anything specific!” I just don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/219 "2008-10-30T22:36:00Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > So why didn’t you stay tuned to hear his solutions? I’m not trying to be snarky, I really want to know. > > I’ve got a friend who keeps saying he doesn’t like Obama because he doesn’t know what he stands for or what he’s going to do for us, and I don’t get it. I keep directing him to Obama’s website with pages and pages of information with numbers and everything, on all the issues my friend says are most important to him, and he seems stubbornly unwilling to learn anything at all, and still claims Obama’s “wishy-washy” and that he “won’t tell us anything specific!” I just don’t get it. Does he know what McCain stands for? I don’t because all McCain does is talk about Obama. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/220 "2008-10-30T22:41:36Z")
IMO, “we don’t really know what he stands for” stuff is, in my experience, code for “I won’t vote for a black man, but I can’t find reasons I feel comfortable saying”. Obama has probably been more vocal about his plans than any other presidential candidate. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113.md?page=12)