Ask Obama? Yes, you can.
posted at 10:34 am on May 9, 2008 by Michelle
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The RNC has a new site for you to submit text or video questions for Barack Obama.
It’s called “Can We Ask?”
Yes, you can:
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Bigger question is…
Will he answer?
Romeo13 on May 9, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Is it time to send a donation to the Republican National Committee?
YES IT IS.
RushBaby on May 9, 2008 at 10:42 AM
Outstanding.
And - So help me God if John McCain denounces this ad …..
wise_man on May 9, 2008 at 10:43 AM
Can we ask how associations with a known domestic terrorist will influence his judgment?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on May 9, 2008 at 10:43 AM
+1
Tru dat, playa.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on May 9, 2008 at 10:43 AM
Wow. That would be an excellent ad. Package it up, play it on the networks.
amerpundit on May 9, 2008 at 10:43 AM
Wait. Wait. Is the RNC actually growing a set of b@lls???!!!
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on May 9, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Fantastic.
rockmom on May 9, 2008 at 10:45 AM
can we ask republicans to stop spending and being non conservative morons?
YES WE CAN!
blatantblue on May 9, 2008 at 10:45 AM
If you were to become POTUS, how soon before you would require everyone to get ‘The Mark’ tattooed on their head?
Bishop on May 9, 2008 at 10:46 AM
What? You have a problem with biometric identification for actual citizens?
/sarc
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on May 9, 2008 at 10:48 AM
How long before McCain denounces this ad?
srhoades on May 9, 2008 at 10:49 AM
Hey Barry… is it posible for a legaly Arabic American man to remake himself into a Black American???
“Yes, we did…”
Romeo13 on May 9, 2008 at 10:51 AM
What? You have a problem with biometric identification for actual citizens?
Its biometric? Ohhhhh…I thought it was simply a visual indicator for the secret police to readily identify me either as a good liberal or a worthless conservative. In that case, sign me up.
Bishop on May 9, 2008 at 10:52 AM
Can this *cracker* get a table dance?
redrock on May 9, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Senator, do you agree or disagree that someone stating your middle name is a racist tactic? If yes, why, if no then can we start using it all the time?
Bishop on May 9, 2008 at 10:53 AM
After we all get universal health care, can we ask when we’ll get our universal car care? If I don’t have a functioning vehicle, I won’t be able to work. If I don’t work, I won’t be able to pay the taxes to support the universal health care. If I can’t work because my vehicle doesn’t work, then I’ll be on welfare.
So…….can we ask when will Barack Obama be over to my house to change the oil and put new brakes on my car?
Forget it. With his energy policy, fuel will be cost prohibitive to drive to work. I guess we’ll all be expected to walk to work. I guess that universal health care thingy will be necessary.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on May 9, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Can we ask:
“Does Wayne Brady have ta smack a bi*ch?”
Can we ask:
“Who the hell is Barry Obama?”
benrand on May 9, 2008 at 10:54 AM
Just made a quick review of the questions that have been asked on that site. Not one question about Wright or Ayers, mostly about experience, judgment and economics. Pretty good questions too.
Oldnuke on May 9, 2008 at 10:55 AM
Implantable chip. Can’t be tampered with. It’ll be like we do now for our pets.
Get with the times, man…………Visual marking is sooooooo 20th century.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on May 9, 2008 at 10:55 AM
I’m hoping more people will hit him on the “present” voting on hard issues. I throw that stab in whenever I make fun of him, but I’m just a wittle blog. It’s important that is little experience in voting yes and no on stuff is marked by cowardice.
frankj on May 9, 2008 at 10:55 AM
Fixed
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on May 9, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Dude, this is so going to backfire. *Groan*
ninjapirate on May 9, 2008 at 10:57 AM
Nutroots will be claiming conspiracy that zooming in on the first image makes it look like Obama is flicking America off.
He flicks off America with his policies enough that he doesn’t need to use is fingers.
Grafted on May 9, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Can we hope that the RNC doesn’t back down when the drive-bys start labelling this an “attack ad”? YES WE CAN - uh, hope.
RMR on May 9, 2008 at 11:00 AM
This is a great idea. What the RNC should then do is take the best of the video questions and run them as TV ads in Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Colorado. McCain wouldn’t even have to denounce any negative ads, because they’re coming from ordinary voters, not the McCain campaign.
Steve Z on May 9, 2008 at 11:02 AM
So this ad is pretty good - that did an outstanding job asking the right questions about subsantance, and the lack of i twith Obama. Especially the whole voting “present” 130 times. This really does go to Obama’s lack of credentials and his ability to make decision and answer hard questions. It’s much more valid than mentioning the Rev. Wright. (which I personally think is just as valid, but the democrats always win with the ‘it’s not substance’ retort.)
They also placed the appropriate photos of Obama in the senate with his -little babe lost in the woods expression on his face. It’s no question that Obama lacks any manner of serious substance, and that if it weren’t for Jerri Ryan, Obama would still be a Illinois state senator because he is definitely an empty suit, campaigning only on his charisma. (Among other things.)
I did notice some areas where they could use better production vales. It’s a small detail but you can hear from 11 to 12 seconds, the voice-over talent takes a breath, and they edit in a slight pause, and she continues to talk. Good Lord at least edit out the breaths if you are going to do that. But anyway - just a pet peeve of mine.
While factual, this video lacks the entertainment value such as David Zucker’s video regarding the Iraq Study Group. And I hope that he is able to make a video or two with the better production values, comedy and lasting and memorable impact that is much more satisfying than the RNC video linked above.
wise_man on May 9, 2008 at 11:04 AM
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on May 9, 2008 at 10:55 AM
So will the DNC Big Tent Police randomly wand people to make sure of their proper liberalness or will they use some sort of remote scanning system mounted on poles or what?
Help me out here, I want to make sure I properly worship President Carpath..er..Obama if the man wins the WH.
Bishop on May 9, 2008 at 11:05 AM
Finally!
I sheesh.. Where has the RNC been for the past few years?
Its about time that they have started to fight back..
Chakra Hammer on May 9, 2008 at 11:07 AM
Senator: how can you claim to know what its like to be a blue-collar grunt when you have never turned a wrench in your life?
Bishop on May 9, 2008 at 11:07 AM
Hmm, yeah. And it is 7 months or so before the vote in November. I wouldn’t fault them too much.
wise_man on May 9, 2008 at 11:08 AM
Mr. Obama, would it be easier to pay for your daughter’s piano lessons if you weren’t carrying a mortgage on a two million dollar house?
Bishop on May 9, 2008 at 11:09 AM
Can I ask:
“Why am I a white person and not the offspring of a slaveowner? Other white people get to be offspring of a slaveowner?”
May I ask a second question Mr. Hussein?
“What must a white person do to live without bitterness? I have noticed that Rev. Ike Wright and Mrs. Hussein are bitter-free people. What is their secret?”
saved on May 9, 2008 at 11:10 AM
How can the MOST Liberal Senator and who can not even unite his own party, unite ALL of America especially from a Senator that has never tried to be bipartisan?
Chakra Hammer on May 9, 2008 at 11:11 AM
His top two answers will be:
1) This is a distraction from the issues.
2) You know, this conversation doesn’t help my kids.
moonsbreath on May 9, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Can we ask…..Senator Obama, in an ideal world, how much should arugula cost?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on May 9, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Awesome add.
4shoes on May 9, 2008 at 11:14 AM
We’ll all be in such great shape, we’ll NEVER DIE!
I’m just so tingly everywhere! I can’t wait for Barry to bring peace, love and happiness into the world again! Imagine. No racist preachers! Imagine. No illegal aliens, because we are one with the world! No more Borders! Drugs will be legal too!
Ahhh, UTOPIA!
kirkill on May 9, 2008 at 11:14 AM
“Senator, I have several unmatched socks. Where are the others?”
mikeyboss on May 9, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Add
Here’s something awesomer….1 B. Obama + 1 M. Obama = 1 BM Obama = 1 F’ed country!
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on May 9, 2008 at 11:16 AM
What is arugula, Senator?
moonsbreath on May 9, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Barry: “It’s what you will be picking in the fields, peon.”
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on May 9, 2008 at 11:19 AM
Good commercial but they’re going to need to do more than just attack Obama for his loooooooooooong list of deficiencies. They need to start selling McCain and his health care, tax, and cutting back on spending plans.
Queasy on May 9, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Too funny!
Peon: Do you like cherry tomatoes or grape?
moonsbreath on May 9, 2008 at 11:22 AM
To bad they don’t have a website where we can ask questions of McCain.
BigD on May 9, 2008 at 11:26 AM
Good start, but this needs to be made into a series of hard-hitting spots. 1:23 is not the right length; need to be :30 or :60. And, as wise_man said above, the production values are a little primitive. Needs a more professional touch.
MrLynn on May 9, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Mr. Obama:
I am a middle aged white male who makes his house and car payments on time, receive no government assistance, and pays a large percentage of MY income to the federal government. What can you do for me?
trs on May 9, 2008 at 11:30 AM
Can we ask………..Senator, how often do you read The Rainbow Fish to your daughters?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on May 9, 2008 at 11:30 AM
+1
It’s more like, “What are you going to do TO me?”
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on May 9, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Can we ask……Senator is foie gras passé?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on May 9, 2008 at 11:39 AM
Senator, when dining with Senators Kennedy and Kerry, do you the conversation to be enhanced by a 1945 Mouton or a 1978 Montrachet? Why or why not?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on May 9, 2008 at 11:43 AM
yeaaaargh! I swear, if I didn’t get a crew cut, I’d be pulling out my hair.
JetBoy on May 9, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Here’s a question I’d like to ask Obama: In 2006 when you were making your run for the U.S. Senate, you repeatedly promised Illinois voters that you would not be running for President in 2008. You said that you would not run in 2008 because after serving just a couple of years in the Senate, you would not be qualified to be President. My question is: what specific accomplishments can you point to in the last two years that have now made you qualified to be President?
AZCoyote on May 9, 2008 at 11:52 AM
That was a pretty clever concept for an advert.
AbaddonsReign on May 9, 2008 at 11:52 AM
LEAVE OBAMA ALONE!!!!!
Seixon on May 9, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Here’s the question I just submitted:
Was it a good thing that Neville Chamberlain talked with Adolph Hitler? Or is it true that sometimes talk does more harm than good?
I would love to hear his answer.
redshirt on May 9, 2008 at 12:05 PM
This ad doesn’t posit anything. It doesn’t say anything. The questions it asks are easily answerable with a puff of rhetorical smoke; they’re only thorny questions to people predisposed to support McCain. In the end, it’s a net positive for Obama in the minds of uncommitted voters.
Eloquent and capable of soaring rhetoric. I guarantee you that’s exactly what most Americans want from the next President, given that they’ve had to live with 8 years of Bush’s malapropisms and stumbling rhetoric. So, in effect, this is a campaign add for Obama.
Attack him on his strengths. Show video of his stammering sans teleprompter. String together video of his “ums” and “ahs” when asked questions. Show how he can never answer a question without plodding along. Hit him.
Meh, McCain will likely denounce this ad, so I shouldn’t hope for anything more harsh.
spmat on May 9, 2008 at 12:08 PM
I like this question:
(David - washington, DC)
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NcYFCgrW9Q
It’s what I have been saying about his universal care plan. Employers will want to save money. Why would an employer want to offer health care coverage when there would be a government run system that they know the employee could use?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on May 9, 2008 at 12:13 PM
If I am a bitter rural type but I don’t own a gun, will I be required to buy one so that I have something to cling to?
Bishop on May 9, 2008 at 12:13 PM
Dictatorship! Oh, sorry, I mean harmony.
OldEnglish on May 9, 2008 at 12:14 PM
This was a distraction.
Chuck Schick on May 9, 2008 at 12:14 PM
I should say, that’s what most uncommitted American voters want from the next President.
spmat on May 9, 2008 at 12:14 PM
Conversely, if I am a faithful Christian and armed to the teeth yet I’m not bitter, what would that make me?
Bishop on May 9, 2008 at 12:15 PM
Considering that ‘Whole Foods’ has almost 300 stores, would they fit your mold of the big evil corporation? Why or why not?
Bishop on May 9, 2008 at 12:21 PM
I’d say content and blessed.
alilianstrom on May 9, 2008 at 12:21 PM
Pretty ironic that in a video on Youtube about “Asking Questions”, they block user comments.
Typhonsentra on May 9, 2008 at 12:30 PM
I’d say content and blessed.
So why am I clinging to guns and religion if I’m not bitter? Senator Obie, please explain.
Bishop on May 9, 2008 at 12:31 PM
Senator: You claim to have superior judgement. How do you explain taking your daughters to a church to hear a racist, anti-american pastor every Sunday?
You say that you will change Washington. How is submitting billions in earmarks not “business as usual”?
Your wife’s salary doubled after you submitted an earmark for the hospital she works for. Is that the kind of change you plan to bring to Washington?
What have you ever done that qualifies to run the greatest nation on earth? Do you think the US is the greatest nation on earth?
ctmom on May 9, 2008 at 12:31 PM
No, it is not. In fact, for me, never again.
Zorro on May 9, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Glad I’m not the only one to notice the finger.
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on May 9, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Great!
But where is Bill Ayers and Wright?
Where is the question about relationships/judgement?
moxie_neanderthal on May 9, 2008 at 1:09 PM
Awesome. They can keep this running for months, just change the questions.
Buy Danish on May 9, 2008 at 1:35 PM
Can we ask McCain to “show me the judges”?
Red Pill on May 9, 2008 at 1:41 PM
The RNC has sucked for so long, but this is a pretty good ad. I’ll send money to individuals, not committees. I’m saving some cash for McCain when he actually starts RUNNING.
spacekicker on May 9, 2008 at 1:46 PM
My question would be “If a corporation is stuck with higher taxes, where will that extra money come from if it is not taken from consumers (i.e., higher prices for their goods or services) or taken from investors (i.e., lower dividends and/or lower stock values)?”
Stegall Tx on May 9, 2008 at 1:57 PM
That’s a pretty good ad. If the GOP can do a halfway decent job of keeping the discussion on track this fall I think McCain has a good shot. As soon as you get past all the rhetoric Obama is a pretty weak candidate.
Cool Blackhawk in the ad, too.
BadgerHawk on May 9, 2008 at 2:13 PM
It would be nice if to have an ad that didn’t dillute its own effectiveness with the cartoonishly over-the-top music in the background.
DaveS on May 9, 2008 at 2:16 PM
Heh:
Beo on May 9, 2008 at 2:19 PM
1. John McCain will release his medical records in 2 weeks. Will you?
2. Will you release to the media your birth certificate?
3. Will you release to the media all your travel records? All of them?
4. Will you push for the Passportgate to be divulged ahead of the election? All of it, including the contents of the dossier/s?
5. Why did you sign the “McCain is a rightful citizen” nonsense bill, when he already was one before?
6. Are you proud of your middle name, and if so, do you finally own it with pride?
7. Are you as proud of your mother’s family, as you are of your father’s? How come you never talk about your other half? How about your wonderful white grandparents?
8. How come you threw your white VP of a bank grandma under the bus? How come you claim to have had such a poor upbringing, if in fact your grandma was one of the first female VP’s of a bank in Hawaii?
9. Why did you have the urge/need to be more black than you are? It’s what drove you to Rev. Wright’s church in the first place. Why?
10. If you want to be president of all the American people, why didn’t you run on that ticket in the first place?
11. Clarify NAFTA, where you really stand on it.
12. Clarify Healthcare - private or government”
13. What are you going to do about Social Security?
14. Detail your Iraq and WoT policy, in great detail.
15. What exactly does your “Change and Hope” mean, in great detail?
16. Tell us about your experiences in the Senate. Have you served your constituents well, having been away most of the time, and voted ‘present’ on many items.
17. Where exactly do you stand on amnesty? In detail.
18. the 45 million uninsured include the illegal aliens - why should they be covered by hard working Americans taxes for all sorts of expenses, including your healthcare plan?
19 - and on, and on, and on…
Entelechy on May 9, 2008 at 2:22 PM
That’s the first time I’ve seen that. Thanks for the link.
BadgerHawk on May 9, 2008 at 2:24 PM
What is your rationale for stating that the Supreme Court justices you most admire are Ginsburg,Breyer and Souter?
whitetop on May 9, 2008 at 2:39 PM
Darn good list, Entelechy.
RushBaby on May 9, 2008 at 2:52 PM
Bishop on May 9, 2008 at 10:46 AM
No need to ask that. The tattoo would be sometime after June 20 2009, the 3 1/2 year point.
Shay on May 9, 2008 at 2:55 PM
They had me until the point where the voiceover lady asked “can we ask ourselves if three years in the U.S. Senate prepares Barack Obama to be our next Commander in Chief?”
That untruth really irks me. The President is not “our Commander in Chief”. I thought we left that crap behind in 1776. The President is Commander in Chief of the US Armed Forces. I’m not in the US Armed Forces. Citizens of the United States have no commander. They are answerable to themselves and to the laws that protect an individual’s human rights.
That might seem a small distinction, but it’s important. We owe no allegiance nor obedience to the President. He deserves respect when he performs his duties admirably, and rebuke when he performs them poorly, or when he takes on duties which are not his to take. That holds true whether it’s Bush, Obama or anyone else in office.
Mark Jaquith on May 9, 2008 at 3:23 PM
“Mr. Obama, if you were spiritually mentored by a man who has preached in the Pulpit “God damn America” and once closely associated with another man who stated in 2001 that his terrorist actions of bombing the Pentagon, Police Precints and personal home of a Judge said, “were not enough.”, who would you put into positions of power in the Executive branch, nominate for judicial positions and associate with as President of the United States?”
shick on May 9, 2008 at 3:33 PM
I suspect there are more shoes to fall for Mr Obama over the coming months given the target rich environment in which he has operated over the years.
I happened to listen to a clip of Christopher Hitchens on Hugh Hewitt . He directed listeners to a piece featured in The Progressive Magazine by Adolf Reed, entitled Obama No. Reed is from Chicago and contends he has known Obama since the beginning of his political career. He in turn pointed to the group that Obama lead, Developing Communities Project . After googling the group I came across this:
Why Organize? Problems and Promise in the Inner City
For three years Barack Obama was the director of Developing Communities Project, an institutionally based community organization on Chicago’s far south side. He has also been a consultant and instructor for the Gamaliel Foundation, an organizing institute working throughout the Midwest. Currently he is studying law at Harvard University. “Why Organize? Problems and Promise in the Inner City” was first published in the August/ September 1988 Illinois Issues [published by then-Sangamon State University, which is now the University of Illinois at Springfield].
By Barack Obama
(c) 1990 Illinois Issues, Springfield, Illinois
Barack Obama was trained in “community organizing” by the Industrial Areas Foundation
and I also wondered about who/what the Gamaliel Foundation was.
Let’s just say there are many threads which can begin to be pulled and there are an interesting collection of characters that begin to emerge.
Obviously the connection to Saul Alinsky is but one of the nuts that falls from the tree. By I suspect that most Americans probably can;t connect to this sort of socio-religious agi-prop stuff.
This is a target rich environment and worthy of further exploration. In 10 minutes anyone can start to get the lay of the land and start plumbing the depths of this stuff.
moxie_neanderthal on May 9, 2008 at 4:06 PM
Obama’s silence will be even more effective than any deflective answer he could think up.
Lockstein13 on May 9, 2008 at 4:09 PM
Senator, in your brief career in the US Senate, what bills have you written or co-sponsored that show how you will positively affect America?
On what bills have you shown that you have the leadership to unite the country and work with partisans across the aisle?
Would you share with the American people what your plans are for securing our nation from hostile forces? Can you explain how your gutting of our defemses already in place will protect our national interests?
While you make the claim that you would engage in “aggressive diplomacy” with no pre-conditions, how do you intend to show that aggressiveness? What do you foresee as a factor in getting an armed opponent to concede to your talk-talk?
Both large corporations and small businesses employ productive Americans, generating income for them and for those who have invested in them. How do your tax plans ensure continued prosperity and growth in our economy?
onlineanalyst on May 9, 2008 at 4:24 PM
YouTube keeps deleting my comments, even though I’m not using vile language.
So much for their fair and balanced outlook on politics.
madmonkphotog on May 9, 2008 at 8:18 PM
Why did you vote in the Illinois Senate to allow doctors to kill a live baby that survives a late-term abortion? Do you favor infanticide?
Steve Z on May 9, 2008 at 10:13 PM
I have a Q for O:
Did you steal this idea from Zawahiri? And what else do you have in common with him?
Tony737 on May 10, 2008 at 12:44 AM
Not surprising…Google owns YouTube. In my opinion, it appears that Google is evil. Their farcical motto “Don’t be evil” is 180 degrees opposite of their actions. Search on “Tiananmen square” in the US and you can see pictures of the Tiananmen square protests that were ended with a massacre. Do the same search on “Tiananmen square” in China, and all you see are the state-approved images of Tiananmen square.
Google can mine any data you give them. Anything you post on the web, any search you do in a web browser, files on your PC (if you download their desktop search tool), your email (if you use gmail). Now they want your medical records.
I don’t trust Google. I don’t know if Yahoo is any better or not, but I choose Yahoo over Google. Google seems too Orwellian to me.
Red Pill on May 10, 2008 at 10:20 AM
My question is why the CHANGE…some of you that can make a video need to put these side by side. Anyone?
1st clip skip to around 3:30 and his answer about Iran.
http://www.publicaffairstv.com/PublicAffairs/Podcasts/Entries/2006/4/17_Public_Affairs_-_Obama-Bean_Press_Conf._2.html
also does anyone else hear him say that Israel bombed Iraq in the early 90’s?
2nd clip skip to near the end when he stumbles on the interview about Iraq making a bom…gulp
http://www.publicaffairstv.com/PublicAffairs/Podcasts/Entries/2006/7/22_Public_Affairs_-_McCain%2C_McSweeney%2C_Obama_2.html
in case I linked it wrong here is home page. there may be more here about who he is supporting and if the banks did nothing wrong.
www.publicaffairstv.com
yakwill83 on May 10, 2008 at 11:43 AM