Obama '08 New Hope

[Jonathan]

Jonathan Hood
Eng. 1302.103
Mr. Irvin
April 8, 208

Barack Obama Campaign
http://youtube.com/watch?v=U1dc6KcGeQw
http://youtube.com/watch?v=X3rTV57YHeQ&feature=related


The two videos their selves describe how electing Obama will restructure America as well as the people, it will bring new hope to everyone’s lives and a new beginning for America. These two video’s which feature music artist “Common” came out at the time of the primaries voting started to take place in January. Obama believes that electing him will do well for the nation and the common wealth of the people. Obama has traveled around the country, consistently filling stadiums and auditoriums with people who want to hear his message. His message to us is that democracy doesn't take a break in between elections, so why should we. We must find ways to participate in our country, be it by volunteering, working for the government or, yes, maybe even running the government. Obama has emphasized ending the Iraq War, increasing energy independence, and providing universal health care as his top three priorities. These two videos are very effective towards the young people, especially the ones who listen to hip hop and “Common”. Using this strategy is to get the young people into politics more and also to get out and vote for Obama or what ever candidate. Obama shows moral strength towards the campaign and becoming the new president. Obama is welling to overcome the evil of the so called War on Terrorist and the evil of people that don’t want him in office. Some of the key words that Obama uses in his political campaign are Hope and Change. Hope is to cherish a desire with anticipation, someone or something on which hopes are centered. Change is to make different in some particular, to give a different position, course, or direction to, to make a shift from one to another. These two words are repeated through out the ad to keep us thinking about new hope and new change in America. In the second video, you keep hearing the words “The People.” The people mean human beings making up a group or assembly or linked by a common interest. The people is what Barack Obama is about, he wants to hear what us, America, have to say about politics and other events that are going on in the world and how he can help out with them.
Barack Obama is the junior United States Senator from Illinois and a leading candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 2008 U.S. presidential election. Since announcing his presidential campaign in February 2007, Obama has emphasized ending the Iraq War, increasing energy independence, and providing universal health care as his top three priorities. In the U.S. Senate, he has focused on tackling the challenges of a globalized, 21st century world with fresh thinking and politics that no longer settled for the lowest common denominator. As a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Senator Obama has fought to help Illinois veterans get the disability pay they were promised, while working to prepare the VA for the return of the thousands of veterans who will need care after Iraq and Afghanistan. Whether it's the poverty exposed by Katrina, the genocide in Darfur, or the role of faith in our politics, Barack Obama continues to speak out on the issues that will define America in the 21st century. During his eight years in the Illinois state Senate, Obama worked with both Democrats and Republicans to help working families get ahead by creating programs like the state Earned Income Tax Credit, which in three years provided over $100 million in tax cuts to families across the state. Obama also pushed through an expansion of early childhood education, and after a number of inmates on death row were found innocent, Senator Obama enlisted the support of law enforcement officials to draft legislation requiring the videotaping of interrogations and confessions in all capital cases. (www.BarackObama.com)
The metaphor of Moral Strength in George Lakoff’s Metaphor, Morality, and Politics is connected to the strength of one’s will. One must develop the will power in order to exercise to control over the body which in this case it is America. Also this is connected to Moral Authority and Morality is Obedience. Moral Authority is to have best interest at heart for what is best to your self, your children or the people in Barack Obama’s case; it means to have the best interest in the people first and to keep them on the right track. Morality is Obedience is just as the good child obeys his parents, a moral person obeys a moral authority, which can be a text (such as the Bible or the Koran), an institution, or a leader. But the main metaphor that connects Barack Obama is The Nation-as- Family. This means that the nation is seen as a family and Barack Obama wants to be the family leader. The parents are seen as the government and the children are seen as the citizens. This metaphor is seen as a moral based family turned into a political based morality which is connected my conservative family to conservative politics. The Strict Father model is also links to this metaphor.
Christopher Wills, from the Houston Chronicle writes that, “Obama's speeches have always emphasized optimism about the country, particularly the idea that many different groups with separate interests can be brought together to improve America.” (www.chron.com) Obama was quoted saying "I love this country not because it's perfect but because we've always been able to move it closer to perfection”. (www.chron.com) Other questions that come forth against Obama are “Are Americans ready for a black president?” A poll which was done by CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser showed that more then three quarters, 76% of voters are ready for an African-American President. The poll also indicates that more whites than blacks think the country is ready for a black president. The poll also suggested that more Americans think the country is ready for a black president than a female president. "Do Americans see more prejudice against a woman than an African-American? More likely, they see more negative feelings about this woman than about this African-American. Because it's true, more people have an unfavorable opinion of Hillary Clinton than of Barack Obama," Schneider said.
In conclusion electing Obama will restructure American as well as the people, it will bring new hope to everyone lives and a new beginning for America. Obama believes that electing him will do well for the nation and the common wealth of the people. Obama has traveled around the country, consistently filling stadiums and auditoriums with people who want to hear his message. Vote Hope, Vote Change, Vote Obama ’08.

[Jennyfer Marchand]

I really liked the videos you chose. They were both unique and different from any other videos I have seen. You are totally right when you say that those videos were aimed at the teenagers. I dont listen to hip hop, but I was still able to relate to the video. I also like the way it used the words "hope" and "change" over and over again. in a way that helps the message sink in. I also like the way you defined what "hope" and "change" mean. it helped me understand his point of view. I do believe that Obama stands for Hope and Change and you did a great job in describing it. Your paper stood on topic throughout. You also used Lakoff's quotes. I also like the statistics you had in the end about people and voting for a woman or an African American. I do think that there are still some people who automatically get "negative feelings" when it comes to a woman or an African American but I also have faith for "change" and "hope" that people can finally overcome this prejudice. Great job =D

[Hilary Franceschini]

I agree with Jennyfer- using "hope" and "change" intermittently created unity in the video, and left no mistake about what Common hopes that Obama will bring about. It was also grounding to define what they meant. I also thought it was cool that you decided to do two videos that work together, music videos nonetheless, that already express messages in a unique way. I thought the statistics were very interesting- something I had never heard before, but thought was very critical information.

[Zaira]

I completely agree with you when you speak about the video; it defintely appeals to teenagers - today's voters. I love hip-hop and I though it was amazing that people would take the time to put together some lyrics to campaign for Obama. What better than to get the votes off those that will be living through Obama's presidental office, if elected. If the government can keep the newcomers happy there will be no trouble doing anything else. I like the way you emphazise on the two key words the US is in desperate need of: hope and faith. Only with those two will we ever get anywhere, we have to have hope in our nation's ability to make wise decisions in order to lead us through a more succesful way of life styles. Obama really bring out in a voter what a candidate should - the desire to be more aware of the true facts. The will to try a little harder to acknowledge when we have made mistakes and knowing when it is time to fix those mistakes. Obama believes the time is now - it's time for change.

[Maggie]

I do agree that music has a huge impact and influence on people and choosing this video was a good idea. Young teens today are swayed by the type of music heard especially the icons used to push the message. You definitely are right about the audience this video targets and its wonderful to try to get more young people involved. Many people who wrote about Obama saw him more as a liberal, so i really liked how you showed us how he can also be interpreted in the conservative side. That is what grabbed my attention the most. The fact that you can show us that through evidence in your video is great. Good job!

[Charles A. Fimple]

I really enjoyed watching this political advertisement because it related to the common person. In addition, I found really interesting that Obama lead the program for state earned income tax credit which provide $100 million dollars in tax cuts. I thought the federal government provided this program. Also, I liked how you related the Lakoff moral authority concept to these advertisements. Yes, I would have to agree it is our responsibility to provide the best for ourselves and for our children and community so therefore we should get involved in our local government and help makes changes in our community which in turn help and improve our communities. Another concept you related to this advertisement is the family as a nation. I agree that this metaphor was used to muster up emotions and feelings of patriotisms and pride that we will in a great nation and we need a great person like Obama to lead this nation. In closing, I would vote for a person will a great agenda that Obama has, which is creating a nation with universal healthcare, increasing energy independence, and ending the Iraq War.