Is this the most damaging political viral video every made?
Watch this well-produced video (obviously) designed to cut down John McCain. The video combines pseudo Sesame Street effects with clips of McCain stammering and foozling.
I think its crazy how YouTube videos can be so powerful. Anybody who watches this video will walk away with a slightly more negative impression of John McCain.
That got me thinking, is this the most politically damagin YouTube video ever made? If you disagree, please post the video that you think is the best.
Yes
Side Score: 20
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No
Side Score: 20
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4
points
I'm afraid that while it's definitely the most damaging one I've ever seen (it seems to go on and on, getting worse by the moment), it was most effective because there was no announcer, no foreboding voice explaining the problem with McCain. The man buried himself here. It was clever, it sticks in the mind, and the contrast with Obama is startling. Side: Ouch That Hurts
What a succinct and funny statement on McCain. Actually, it's not simply a reflection on him, but also a reflection on the "good ole boy" network that has ridden this country into the state we are in now: high oil prices (that WILL go higher), decaying infrastructure, an impoverished and increasingly impotent middle class, a lumpen proletariat that equals Czarist Russia in its population and class stratification, and no real hope but some vague promise of "stick with me and things will get better." That "good ole boy" network isn't confined to McCain's party, but to all those privileged who actually believe the illusion that everything's working perfectly. "Look ma, the tornado's gone and the barn's still standing. Lost the house though." Side: New clothes or no clothes
This video basically makes McCain look foolish in 10 different ways. It also does so at a level so basic that I think the majority of Americans will understand it. I really wonder how many undecided voters will decide to vote for Obama because of this video. Side: Ouch That Hurts
Loudacris, I hope that people will be better than that and vote based on educational resources. I do find some of the political satire humorous, but I could not base my vote on smear ads, political cartoons, etc. The video from JibJab is hilarious and jabs at both candidates--could this help independent candidates running this year? Independent/undecided voters, I hope that you do more research. As a writer and editor of http://www.bellaonline.com/site/ Time for Some Campaigning
Side: smear campaign
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5
points
Quite frankly I don't see what the hubbub is about on either of these videos. The McCain video was extraordinarily well put together but it's simply a well done spoof meant to make us laugh. We could do the same with any candidate who has ever run for high office and make them look as foolish as we'd like. I truly do not believe anyone takes this stuff seriously. Side: A hilarious look at John McCain
5
points
As a counter-point, I'll offer up this ad, created by the Swift Boat Veterans (527 group), that sunk John Kerry in 2004. I don't think this video is as damaging as the McCain video that this debate is about but you can't deny its effectiveness when view in terms of the American mindset in 2004. John Kerry Being Swift Boated
Side: Swift Boat Vets
Is it true that the impact of viral videos is decreasing? Is YouTube on the wane, declining in use or impact? And just what is the impact of a viral video? Or maybe the question should be - what is the potential impact of a viral video? Well, the potential impact would certainly depend on the video - its subject, how well it is done, how it presents its premise, its use of facts (or lies purported to be facts), its audience and their reaction and how they help spread the message, ... and many other contingent aspects. This particular video was featured this morning at the Huffington Post, and some of the comments suggested that some viewers would indeed "spread the message" by sharing the video. So, this video will most likely be very viral. Of course, that doesn't address the issue of how damaging this video's message will be to the campaign of John McCain. I suspect that, when it comes to political messages, most of us tend to view any particular message through a biased lens - a lens that distorts the message to conform to some preset ideas. People that are against McCain will declare, "this video sure proves that McCain is ______." (fill in the blank with some sort of derogatory). And people that are for McCain will declare that this proves that Obama and his supporters are nothing but a bunch of low-lifes (or something along those lines). So, no this is NOT "the most damaging" viral video (but it is cute, and proves that those Obama low lifes have a point about McCain being an almost senile old fool). Side: McCain senile fool
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