In reading the comments coming from Phil de Vellis, aka ParkRidge47 who produced and uploaded the Orwellian ad attacking Senator Clinton in which he said her, "conversation" is disingenuous. And the underlying point was that the old political machine no longer holds all the power.” I would suspect that many would agree with his statement that her conversation is disingenuous. In fact, I have read many coming into my email box. I may not agree with every message coming from the senator or what is said of her, but I do feel that there is a disconnect between those running for office, holding their present offices and the electorate at large.
I once wrote a piece called Pundits No, Everyday Citizens Yes which was picked up by the Consortium News. I gave it another title and posted it on my blog. I wrote that column in reaction to Bill Kristol who writes for the Weekly Standard and was a student of Leo Strauss the father of the neo-conservative movement. It expressed an opinion that perhaps Americans are tired of hearing from the pundits who go from show to show expressing the same old message and left out of their debates is ours. If I have to hear Kristol one more time, my head will explode. Note to self; do not turn on the ‘Fox Noise’ channel.
While some may chide de Vellis for even making this video, I do see some merit in what he did. I know that there will be those who support Senator Clinton’s campaign that will scream at me for even saying that. But, like it or not, we have this tool called the Internet in which many can get out their own message to the masses instead of acquiescing to the power of the main stream media and the campaigns as well.
Just look at the explosion of the alternative media to know this to be true. In fact more people relied upon information coming from the alternative press in order to make an informed choice when voting in the 2006 mid-term elections.
One only has to look at how the main stream print medium sales and circulation are falling to see the impact of the Internet. One no longer has to buy a paper, but simply log on.
Perhaps Americans on both sides of the aisle are tired of being controlled and have a controlling message sent out to them. I know that I am. I am tired of the sound bites and thirst for in-depth information. Then again, I am a political junkie and maybe there are some across America that do not have the time to read in-depth messages coming from any campaign. Instead, they will rely on the sound bite. I think that these campaigns and special interest groups depend upon that.
It is a known fact that it takes astronomical amounts of money to run for these offices and one of the reasons is to air these controlled messages through the main stream media. Maybe by ordinary citizens producing their own messages and uploading them to sites such as YouTube.com, they will feel empowered. But, I do feel it important for these online producers to get the message right and I do feel that it is important for those that view them to fact check these online commercials. The same goes for the controlled messages coming from any candidate. But, that is living in a Polly Anna state of mind.
In making this video while working for Blue State Digital which provided technology not only for the Barack Obama campaign but others, de Vellis should have resigned before making that video. It may have an affect on Obama’s campaign and create more friction between both candidates. Through that friction both campaigns are not able to have any conversation with the American people. Good going, de Vellis.
As reported by the HuffingtonPost.com, de Vellis stated, “Let me be clear: I am a proud Democrat, and I always have been. I support Senator Obama. I hope he wins the primary. (I recognize that this ad is not his style of politics.) I also believe that Senator Clinton is a great public servant, and if she should win the nomination, I would support her and wish her all the best.”
I feel that his making of that commercial was stupid beyond belief especially when you have those on the opposite side of the political aisle able to make their own negative and controlled commercials targeting Democratic candidates. One only has to remember when Senator Saxby Chambliss compared former Senator Max Cleland to Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. He did so to try and prove that Cleland was soft on national security. We all know the real deal when Max Cleland lost three limbs while serving his country in the Viet Nam War. It drew criticism, but still it was seen.
We only have to look at the Swift Boat ads that targeted Senator John F. Kerry during the 2004 presidential cycle and it begs this question directed at de Vellis; just what were you thinking? Talk about the ultimate circular firing squad.
In the recent race between Senator Bob Corker and former Congressman Harold Ford Jr. a controlled and highly negative and racist ad was aired targeting Ford.
In all of those cases these were highly controlled messages coming from campaigns and special interest groups and I think that citizens across this country are getting tired of being handled. We are tired of being controlled by media outlets hired by all campaigns and the media itself in forcing any message down our throats. What all are failing to see is how life is being lived by ordinary citizens. At times I suspect many feel that these candidates, special interest groups and whoever just do not care about ‘we the people’. Could that be the reason why only half of registered voters even show up to the polls in presidential races? When it comes to mid-term elections that percentage drops and when it comes to local races, that percentage is dismal at best.
What I do think we have to look forward to are more of these incendiary videos being uploaded to these sites as well as ones that are filled with great and useful information. It is up to the viewer of these uncontrolled messages to do their own homework. That is of course if they have the time with working longer hours or more than one job in order to make ends meet. The same can be said of those controlled message sent out by campaigns and PACs.
Author’s note: Please feel free to email me at xmjmac@optonline.net in response to this editorial and others.
