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When Crappy Campaign Videos Attack!

By Kevin Tillman, AlterNet. Posted February 13, 2008.

Oh. My. God.

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22 COMMENTS

Hillary4U&Me

Hillary4U&Me

The internet. It's hard to overstate the new opportunities it's created for citizens to participate in the electoral process.

When a home-grown contribution to a campaign takes off -- think of the "Obama girl" video -- it's a heap of free media and everyone smiles.

Of course, the flip side is that things can go terribly, terribly wrong. Lives can be ruined, reputations destroyed, lunches hurled ....

Take a moment to look at the video to your right, as I believe it illustrates this point quite well.

To be clear: this abomination is an entry for a contest to come up with Hillary's thematic music video -- an answer to the fairly awesome "Yes We Can" YouTube phenom -- and wasn't produced by the campaign itself.

I saw this over at AmericaBlog. Here's a sample of reactions from some of the snarkier commenters:

"Aesthetic terrorism."

"Wow! Blacks and goobers like Hillary!"

"Remember the look on Beavis and Buttheads' faces as they were watching a Bjork video? I have that look right now."

See more stories tagged with: clinton

Joshua Holland is an editor and senior writer at AlterNet.

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Who's this meant to appeal to... [Report this comment] Posted by: parochial on Feb 13, 2008 5:40 PM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] The middle school voter or the McCain-leaning boomer who doesn't know that the sound and the steps went out even before Ronald Reagan did? [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » Hanson meets the Choir Posted by: Artkansas Oh, you S.O.B. [Report this comment] Posted by: Longdream on Feb 13, 2008 6:56 PM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] That was perfectly good tea that just shot out my nose. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] As A Musician... [+ A Challenge] [Report this comment] Posted by: grumble-bum on Feb 13, 2008 7:04 PM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] ... I must say that, "personal taste" aside, this is truly awful in nearly every way. The damn video is out of sync, the dance moves are simultaneously well executed (for what they are) yet utterly pointless, & that stupid kid...!!! Y'know, Kucinich's campaign song wasn't super-hip, either, but at least it seemed sincere. Not cooked up in some horrible failed-jingle-writer's fever dream. Perhaps the vacuous lyrics (bizarrely stretching one syllable words over five), & their brazen lack of any basis in reality (something something war, but who knows what we're fighting for, etc.) were the ultimate offense. We know a hell of a lot more about the fucking war, & who voted for it, when not acting all thuggish towards Iran, than the idiots behind this little tune seem to realize. This is insulting on so many levels. I trust, Mr. Holland, that you will diligently search out an equally appalling Obama contender? ...& what's with the piped-in crowd noise? Aaargg! [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: As A Musician... [+ A Challenge] Posted by: eskit » RE: As A Musician... [+ A Challenge] Posted by: Joshua Holland » RE: My personal favorite... Posted by: Longdream On Second Thought... [Report this comment] Posted by: grumble-bum on Feb 13, 2008 7:14 PM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] I have now watched the video three more times. Yesss... Everyone... For... Hillareeee... [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: You watched it three more times? Posted by: Longdream » Hey, You Know Me, Longdream Posted by: grumble-bum » RE: Hey, You Know Me, Longdream Posted by: Longdream Up with Elevator Music [Report this comment] Posted by: Declan on Feb 14, 2008 5:56 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Music like this is why I take the stairs and stay out of malls. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] I...ca...can't...seee.... [Report this comment] Posted by: Astroboy on Feb 14, 2008 7:54 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] ...my hearing is ga..gone...my head's about to...to.... KAAABOOOOMB!!!!!!! [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] What?! They couldn't get Bill to play sax? [Report this comment] Posted by: kww355 on Feb 14, 2008 7:58 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] "Laydeees an Gennelmen! Howza bout a big round of applause for 'The Stepford Steppers' !!!" Anyone here old enough to remember "Up With People" ? This bunch reminds me of them, only worse. I'm a Boomer ( 56 ) and even I know this stuff is antediluvian. And the song itself with it's falsetto lead singer a'la Michael Jackson? Could we be making a veiled pitch for the pedophile vote? [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Curiosity got the best of me, [Report this comment] Posted by: alternetrose on Feb 14, 2008 8:40 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] but thankfully, in this instance, technology failed. The video would not play! [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: Curiosity got the best of me, Posted by: alternetrose Hillary Haters having a field day [Report this comment] Posted by: Jumpcity on Feb 14, 2008 10:28 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] I guess I just must be stupid or something. I really don't see the point of those complaining about this video. Looks like someone was trying to support his or her candidate. Why is that seen as lame? [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: Hillary Haters having a field day Posted by: hagwind » RE: Hillary Haters having a field day Posted by: Longdream Scratch Your Buttocks For Hil! [Report this comment] Posted by: wagadog on Feb 14, 2008 12:52 PM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] That's what it looks like the two subjects in the foreground are doing, in the still....scratching their buttocks. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] I Get It...I Think [Report this comment] Posted by: VictoriaCross on Feb 16, 2008 3:29 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] All those people were paid to make nice for Hillary,weren't they ? They couldn't actually believe in her so much that they could think that singing a direct lift from The Jackson 5's ABC in homage to La Clinton would drive more people to her corner,could they? Actually, I think I get it now. It was a joke video...wasn't it? [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Check out . . . [Report this comment] Posted by: covalentbonded on Feb 16, 2008 6:31 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Fired Up and Ready to Go It's on YouTube and it makes plain why we (geezers) are stuck in the tar pits of yesterday. I do not support Obama (he's just the more talented of the two at disguising the fact that they are simply the other wing of the National WarParty) but his videos are soooo much better. For a more nuanced view of the situation go to YouTube and watch the Who at Isle of Wight do Young Man Blues (written by Mose Allison). We are not going to give up the power until they pry it from our cold, dead hands. Fired Up and Ready to Go/ Young Man Blues [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]