Obama’s new Iowa ad

Posted: Wednesday, August 08, 2007 1:43 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Democrats

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Obama launched a new slick biographical ad, touting himself the candidate who can bring “unity,” who can bring both parties together. An announcer rehashes Obama’s days as a community organizer and state legislator.

The 60-second ad is a “limited buy” that will run on broadcast and cable outlets across Iowa beginning today.

Here’s the full transcript:
Title: “What If”
OBAMA: I'm Barak Obama, and I approve this message.

ANNOUNCER: What if? What if there was hope, instead of fear? Unity, instead of division? What if we had a president that believes that we are one nation?

OBAMA (from speech): There is not a liberal America and a conservative America, there is the United States of America.

ANNOUNCER: Barack Obama -- an organizer who helped communities devastated by plant closings. A state legislator who brought Republicans and Democrats together, who won healthcare for 150 thousand people. A leader with the judgment to oppose the Iraq war before it began. A senator who championed reforms to reign in the power of lobbyists. What if we could restore America's place in the world, and peoples' faith in our government?

OBAMA (speech SOT): We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.

EMAIL THIS

Comments

A good question for all Dems to ask themselves...

Which candidate would solidify this Red/Blue BS...which candidate would allow the deep rift between factions to fester? Which candidate brings out the worst in all sides of our philosophical divisions?

My answer? It ain't Obama...

G Davis (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 1:55 PM)

What if we decide it's payback time and piss all over America just to make democrats look bad? You know how the game is played. Everything in the world that goes wrong is America's fault etc etc etc. What if? Maybe we'll be so desperate to regain power politics won't stop at the waters edge. What if? Could you survive the pressure? Could any dem? What if?

Dave, Tn (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 2:05 PM)

That is exactly Obama;s problem. No matter how many slick adds he puts out, he still only has the experience as a state legistlator and a two year junior senator. This country found out the hard way what happens if you put people with so little foreign policy experience in the White House.

Opa2 (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 2:10 PM)

Next time you hear Obamba "begin" a speech or answer a question, listen carefully. is it me or does he always start out with ,,Ahhhhhhhh?

William J. Hendrix, Toledo, Ohio (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 2:12 PM)

Senator Obama, hang in there. It's going to be a rocky road for you, but there are millions of us in this country who want change. And there are many of us fighting not only WITH YOU, but FOR YOU as well.

No swift boating allowed in this campaign. Your supporters will see to it.

Maureen (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 2:14 PM)

Great AD and Great Move by Obama Camp...I like it.

Emmy (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 2:16 PM)

After watching last night's debate Obama should use a tape of that to get his message across. In case you missed it let me point out what should have been obvious. Each time either Dodd or Biden attacked Obama, Sen. Clinton's head would bob up and down as if she were a bobble head doll. After Obama would reply to the attacks and explain the misquotes concerning his statement about al-Qaeda in Pakistan by Biden and Dodd it was time for Hillary to be asked a question where she could act Presidential and be above the fray. This well orchestrated attack should earn both Dodd and Biden a place in Hillary's cabinet. Are they (Dodd and Biden) sure that there seats in the Senate will be filled with Democrats? Please look at the tape of the debate and watch Clinton's Bobble-head nodding as Biden and Dodd attack.

Robert Stelling, Chandler, AZ (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 2:21 PM)

Hope is a good message, go Obama!

Charles Kushner, Chicago (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 2:26 PM)

Obama also says the work "look" alot. I find that interesting, like he trying to give us a lesson.

Marshall R. McDouglas,M.D. Pittsburg, Pa. (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 2:26 PM)

Marshall R. McDouglas,

He falls into that Professor mode alot. He definitely uses the word. Look when he is making a point.

Lynn, Millington (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 2:32 PM)

You are right Dave, we couldn't stand the pressure. If you go over the edge and are hurting America I guess we would have to use all the extraordinary powers Bush grabbed and use them to pick you up and put you away without habeus corpus, without charge, without a lawyer, without trial, without hope. You asked for it.

nuanced (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 2:33 PM)

Cheney is the one calling the shots right now and he's extremely experienced. He's been a big name since the Ford administration. We've seen where that experience has gotten us: over 3,600 dead American soldiers, over 650,000 dead Iraqi's, Iraq's sourrounding countries at the brink of economic collapse from the influx of millions of Iraqi's, and more of a rift between us and our allies around the world than any time in recent history -- and that's just some of the Foreign issues.
We need a president that moves us in a direction of change. We need a candidate that will make government transparency and ethics top priorities. And we need a president that is pragmatic and intelligent enough to keep us out of foreign policy disasters before they start -- like Barack Obama did with the Iraq war. If he were in power then we wouldn't have entered that war and allowed Al-Qaeda to return to full strength.
What we need is Barack Obama in the Whitehouse in 2008.

Isaac, Fort Collins, Colorado (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 2:37 PM)

How many (any?) of the MSM will weigh in on this:

In the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination, New York Senator Hillary Clinton has fallen below the 40% mark for the first time in more than two weeks. The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Wednesday shows Clinton at 38% and Illinois Senator Barack Obama at 27%. Clinton’s lead over Obama has declined for four straight days, ever since she made controversial comments defending lobbyists at the Yearly Kos bloggers’ convention over the weekend (see daily history). Just 24% of voters believe that Clinton would not be influenced by lobbyists.

pservelle (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 2:37 PM)

"What if we decide it's payback time and piss all over America "
Wow! There's the kind of thinking we need.

PJ (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 2:40 PM)

YES!!!

I guarantee you that this ad will against the negativity of the Iowa caucuses come December and January.

Iowans do not like to be told who to vote for. Hillary's sense of entitlement will be her downfall.

Yiannis, Baltimore, MD (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 2:44 PM)

So nuanced that just shows your party is too corrupt and power hungry to lead. I don't see any of you people disappearing from here. Bush sucks and being Hitler, but I'm sure another Socialist like Hitler would do just that. You asked for it.

Dave, Tn (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 2:44 PM)

Cheney and Rummy seem to have a lot of foreign policy experience... perhaps some of you would like them to form a presidential ticket...

Asad (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 2:46 PM)

It's not a matter of experience - it's a matter of judgement. I don't this there is any question about what kind of judgement Bush has(beyond horrible)but I am completely confident in Obama's judgement.

And remember Bush was a Governor so experience isn't everything. And his father was president so can we equate that to Hillary having a family member as a former president?

Jessica, Monroe, WI (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 2:52 PM)

PJ that's exactly the kind of thinking that has driven the democrat party for the last 6-1/2 years. Well it's been going on longer than that just not this intense.

Dave, Tn (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 3:13 PM)

American politics needs to be brought back to the middle where most Americans live. The far right or left won't do it. Hillery Clinton and her friends like Reid, & Pelosi will drive that wedge even deeper. If you want unity look elsewhere. Not sure Obama could pull it off either.

RH Oregon (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 3:15 PM)

Sounds Great !!
Keep playing this ad !!

Opa2: If you're looking for experience, Biden, Dodd and Clinton all have 'experience'.
Yet, with all their 'experience' they blew the biggest decision in their 'careers'.
They all voted for the biggest foreign policy disaster since Viet Nam!!

This was the biggest test for Biden, Dodd and Clinto and THEY FAILED !!
They're all partially responsible for the Iraq War !!

The 'inexperienced' guy OPPOSED THE WAR !!

Opa2 what is the value of 'experience' ?
Doesn't Hillary hire mouth pieces, advisors, cronues and a Washinton entourage ?

Doesn't Hillary take her advice from Corporate lobbyists, anyway ?

Opa2 what's the difference between being 'experienced' and being a 'Washington insider' ?

Opa2 what's the difference between being 'experienced' and being a career political hack ??

Hillary '08
the Omen Part IV

Sierra, San Francisco (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 3:23 PM)

Yiannis - With all due respect, do you know any Iowans? Have you ever been to Iowa? If not, please don't tell me who and what I like. Thanks.

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 3:29 PM)

Jessica, your analysis is a little flawed. For one thing, Hillary was a first lady. She tried to jump into the game with her health care plan, got beat up, sent to her room and her husband lost the majority in 1994. She has yet to make any judgement in the US Senate that would make her a good president, the same with Obama. You are basically going back to the days of Jimmy Carter, going outside the loop and trying to bring an outsider(literally) to work inside the beltway. We tried that with Carter, failed miserablly, the only reason Clinton won two terms was because some thought he was hot(sure wasn't for his promise keeping).

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 3:30 PM)

Obama is not ready to be president. The media love him, but he is just to green and sound naive when he speaks about foreign policy.

John Henry, Houston, Texas (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 3:38 PM)

I like Obama, but the media are pushing him on us because the know he can not win the general election. He will be crushed by the republican attack dogs.

John Henry, Houston, Texas (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 3:40 PM)

I am a big Obama-fan, but I really am getting frustrated with his debate performance. He is completely letting Hillary out-shine him! I know he is a great candidate and he has great things to say. I wish he'd just say them and stop acting so robotic!

And as for experience...experience in the state legislature is far more qualifying than experience as MAYOR!! (..ahem...RUDY!)

RaeAnn Roca, Washington, D.C. (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 3:41 PM)

Thank you for posting my message, I was just wandering if you only post comments from people who support Obama, Edwards and Giuliani just like you Chris Mathews and Chuck Todd do.

John Henry, Houston, Texas (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 3:46 PM)

Oh kiss my grits..WE do not need someone to bring US together. We need a LEADER to go to work in how ever manner it takes to end the civil war in Iraq.
We need someone with the strength to put the criminals in jail and recind all the BS shrub injeceted into our DEMOCRACY.
Go Senator Clinton you know how to shake those bugs out from under the rug. You saw them crawling around.
Let's squish em!

H P Boston (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 3:50 PM)

Sierra were do you think Bark Obama is getting his advice from? "mouth pieces, advisors, cronies and a Washington entourage"(ok a chicago entourage)

You want a big change in Washington.
VOTE RON PAUL

Two party only politics have become the demise of the American political system. It's not throwing away your vote. Stand up and vote for real change.
ronpaul2008.com lp.org

2 parties ain't enough (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 3:52 PM)

Dave in tn you should take your comedy act on the road, really. It is so funny the things you post.
You and jerry regular Jackie Gleason and Alice!

HOT DAM (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 3:55 PM)

Dave corrupt and power hungry? Thats your boys bush and cheney.Give us all a break with your nonsense.

F StLouis (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 3:59 PM)

Yiannis--keep doing and saying whatever you want!!! Carrie is NOT the only person in Iowa although many times she acts as if all Iowans share her very Clintonesque opinions!!!

Robert, Columbus, Ohio (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 3:59 PM)

The more people shriek and whine about how scarey another clinton would be, the more votes shes gonna get. Its great for her campaign. Dems will come out in droves to vote for her.

bb (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:02 PM)

Jerry and Dave your party is going down ...deal with it ...

Ricardo in California (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:23 PM)

Obama shows crossover support. From politicsiowa.com

Perhaps most surprising of all, Obama actually finished third as the preferred general election candidate of registered Republicans, at 6.7 percent, behind Romney (21.8 percent), and Giuliani (10 percent), but ahead of Thompson (5.2 percent) and McCain (1.8 percent).

http://campaignsandelections.com/IA/articles/?ID=479

Jessica, Monroe, WI (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:32 PM)

What a message! This exactly we would want to hear from a candidate- hope! A hope uniting the people together and restore the respect of the United States in the world. Whether you accept it or not, we have image problem across the world. You will find this fact, it you travel to Europe or other part of the world.

John Elias (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:38 PM)

Here's a fine example
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2007/08/fisa_leak_investigationan_inte.html

Dave, Tn (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:38 PM)

Carrie, I have talked to dozens of Iowans. My sense from the 04 primaries is that they responded very well to Edwards's positive message.

Well Edwards is no longer Mr nice guy.

The primary will be decided by a blunder, electability or by the best organization on the ground.

Yiannis, Baltimore, MD (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:40 PM)

John Henry:

Did you hear Reagan, Bill Clinton or W speak on foreign policy prior to their election?

How were they experienced ?

Yiannis, Baltimore, MD (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:41 PM)

I love Barack Obama! I believe he will do great things for our country.

Teri B. Roseville, CA (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:42 PM)

Sierra -

The "inexperienced guy" wasn't in Congress so what he thought about the war, when he couldn't act on it, is irrelevant!

It's easy to say "I don't support this" when you have nothing on the line !!!

Biden, Dodd, et al. have had numerous tests over the years. No one's career should be measured on ONE vote in the Senate !!

No matter how important that vote is !!!

Obama '08 - The Jolly Green Giant

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:47 PM)

"How many (any?) of the MSM will weigh in on this:"

More edited, "truth", from the Obama-nation. Snipping the rest of the paragraph;
"However, while Clinton’s lead has gotten smaller in recent days, the decline follows several months of growing strength for Clinton. In fact, the most recent Rasmussen Reports weekly analysis of the Democratic race was titled “Clinton Rising, Obama Falling.” The reversal over the last few days merely puts the race back to where it was for most of June and July—Clinton in the mid-to-upper 30s and Obama in the mid-20s."
He's where he was 2 months ago, no movement, none.
It isn't the MSM, it's the blind zealotry of the Obama-nation, akin to the zealotry of the religious right, with a,"see-no-evil,hear-no-evil-speak-no-evil"
mentality that will likely become more strident and more irrational as the campaign moves forward.
While he was dropping like a stone, polls meant, "nothing". When he bounces back to where he was in June, polls are significant.
On a final note, from the same daily tracking poll.

"As is always the case with daily tracking polls, it will take several more days to determine whether the most recent trend reflects an actual change in the race or is merely statistical noise." Let's hope the MSM does pick up on the story.

Van

vanreuter, NY NY (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:50 PM)

Dave, TN -- I was defending my country not my party.

You said -- "Maybe we'll be so desperate to regain power politics won't stop at the waters edge. What if?"

Did I misunderstand what your statement means?

nuanced (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:53 PM)

Bill Clinton had no foriegn policy experience prior to his first term

Larry, Baltimore, MD (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 5:20 PM)

Yiannis, the only things I remember W saying about foreign policy were (1) Clinton was wrong for having troops overseas without an exit strategy (and then we turn around and do the same) and (2) we should not be "nation building"

Must be a case of "do as I say, not as I do"...

Lisa - Fort Worth TX (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 6:10 PM)

Van in NY NY

Did you catch Wolfson on MSMBC after the main event? I was wondering why he was looking like death warmed-over. This morning I realized that this Rasmussen Poll had been handed to him just before he went on air. He's thinking, What the f**k, why doesn't this jery Obama give it up...god he is really messing with my spins.
Sorry Howard & Van but you'r "all in" and you don't have the winning hand.

pservelle (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 6:18 PM)

Carrie - Obama had an election on the line when he said an invasion of Iraq was a mistake.

I'd say its easier to vote your conscience once in office (especially with a 6-year term) than to speak your conscience as a candidate trying to get there.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 6:34 PM)

Carrie:
It shows Obama's judgement and wisdom that he saw through the lies and hype to oppose the Iraq War.

What judgement did Hillary (and Biden and Dodd) show ?

In this case, wisdom trumps 'experience'.
Hillary voted for the war because a majority of Americans supported war.
She's a follower not a leader.

Obama was running for the Senate, so he had more than all the others at stake. He was an unknown who could have blown a election.

Clinton, Biden and Dodd are just hack Washington insiders. They showed no leadership, courage or wisdom on the Iraq War.

They're all partially responsibile for this War.
It's the Bush/Cheney/Clinton/Biden/Dodd War !!
Thanks a lot, you clowns. You're responsible for America's worst disaster since Vietnam.

Now Hillary is trying to dodge responsibility for her Iraq War vote.

Hillary Clinton '08
the Omen, Part IV

Sierra, San Francisco (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 7:08 PM)

Paul,

So, elected office changes the conscience then? Why?
Because its politically suicidal to oppose the war?

Thats what the bunch of wise men and women thought when they voted for the war. Not because its right thing to do. Becasue they want to get elected and re-elected.

Its time to through these bums out of Washington. Go Obama.

Subba Chu, Las Vegas, NV (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 8:12 PM)

After reading his books and other things he has written, listening to what he has said, and what others who have worked with him say, I've become a strong Obama supporter. I've yet to see any valid criticism that sensibly applied to him. I think he will make a better president than anyone else running. Is he perfect? No, he's a human being, but he seems the most suited for this job. I hope he wins the Primary. If he does, I have no doubt he'll be our next President and then his SANE decisions will make me proud to be an American again. Bush & Co have done far more to destroy our country and global reputation than any of our enemies has. If our country were run like a healthy business, Bush would have been fired long ago.

Chelle, Port Angeles, WA (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 10:03 PM)

Next >>

SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.):

Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private) Remember me?

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=309688