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Why must Obama keep doing, or saying things that make me write about him. I don’t want to write about politics. I’ve gotten a migraine from debating with people, listening to commercials, listening to debates, occasionally laughing at a pundit. It’s enough to make me want to curl up in bed and wait for November 4th to just pass, so it can all be over with. Obama’s latest ad is what has spurred yet another post on WiiBlog about the candidate.
Before I give my two cents on the ad, I’ll let you take a view of this ad if you haven’t seen it.
I won’t even get into the ludicrousness of the ad (apparently we need to take off an entire day to go vote). My big question is, why do you need to put a Wii Remote in your video to prove your point? Does Obama really not give the American people enough credit, that he thinks they’ll be playing video games all day and not exercise their right to vote? Are we led to believe that people have really gotten that addicted to electronic media?
What’s worse, why even use a brand name device and not something generic? The point could have been made with some non-branded looking video game controller. Why single out a company like that, considering some if its employees have donated significant funds to the Obama campaign. What’s funny is that using video games in ads like this go even further to contradict his spending of advertising space in video games. So, I guess the message we should take from Obama is that we should be playing less games, and “making history”. But when we do play games we should be seeing his face, and message on virtual billboards.
I’m JohnnyV, and I approve this message, for all you gamers out there (a bit cheesy?).
*EDIT* - The link to the funds donated by Nintendo employees is broken. The amount is $2,650. If you want to research it yourself, go to FEC.gov.
October 29th, 2008 at 9:15 am
we are a lazy country, we need to be told not to do things. and yes lines will be long, people will need to be driven to voting booths. Voting is important and years ago, people who cared about it did alot on that day other than pull a lever and watch tv.
October 29th, 2008 at 9:29 am
OK, first of all, it’s an ad to get out the vote… how is that a bad thing? Voting IS important, and this ad is just part of what both candidates are doing to get their supporters to the voting booths. The point is, a lot of people mean to vote and just don’t bother… or they use having to work as an excuse.
This ad is great in my opinion; it’s clean, polished and goes right to the point. And although it’s an Obama ad, it’s about going to vote, not why you should vote for him.
I like the use of the Wii Remote in the ad…. what do people do all day? They sit on the couch, they work, they play with their Wii. I know I do.
I don’t understand why you think that this ad has anything to do with his spending of advertising space in video games (which, in my opinion, is a very clever and progressive idea considering America’s youth are far more likely to vote for Obama). I also don’t see what it has to do with Nintendo employees donating “significant funds” to the Obama campaign (your link to that story, whatever it is, is broken or down).
The message from Obama is simple: just take a small part of your day and go vote. Our voting system is archaic; we have to go on a random Tuesday, perhaps in lousy weather, and have only a small window to vote? Most states don’t have early voting.
The ad isn’t telling us to play less games (or do less work, or not sit on a couch). It’s just saying that voting is simple…. you just need to get off your ass and do it…
October 29th, 2008 at 9:34 am
It’s a pretty sad day when a politician or anyone else needs to tell me through a paid political ad to go exercise my right to vote. You might be right though, maybe we do “need to be told” things.
Lines will be long, but ‘take an entire day off’ long? And yes I agree, the voting process has changed much from what it was. I think alot of that stems from the “lesser of two evils” dichotomy. Where no one really supports anyone, but we choose who we think is going to do the least amount of harm.
October 29th, 2008 at 9:41 am
@Teddy - I’m not arguing his message about getting out to vote. I hope everyone goes out and voices their opinion on who should run the country.
I think you’re missing my point. He’s singling out ‘video games’ as some kind of great blocker in this country. Like people are really going to wake up on November 4th, and think “hmm I could go vote, or play Super Mario Galaxy”…I wonder which is more important. I don’t need anyone to tell me which is. Nor should anyone else for that fact.
That ad spoke to me in a way like I can’t think for myself. And it singles out the industry in a way that he makes it seem like video games have a brainwashing effect. I’m not arguing the over lying message, just the way it’s presented.
October 29th, 2008 at 10:44 am
[...] Obama says put down your wii remote and vote. I’d rather Wii. Obama: Put Down The Wii Remote And Go Vote | Wii Blog: Nintendo Wii News and Views He features the remote in his ad. Quite resourceful, and an annoyance to this particular blogger. [...]
October 29th, 2008 at 10:48 am
“I think alot of that stems from the “lesser of two evils” dichotomy. Where no one really supports anyone, but we choose who we think is going to do the least amount of harm.”
This is unfounded. I know a fair number of people like that, but if it were a matter of the lesser of two evils, how would Obama have hundreds of thousands of people at his rallies? Believe it or not, there are a LOT of people that actually believe in a candidate, not just the “anyone-but” mentality. We’re expected to have the highest voter turnout in many years this election.
“Like people are really going to wake up on November 4th, and think “hmm I could go vote, or play Super Mario Galaxy””
And you don’t know anyone who might put off voting because they’re too busy? How is that not a valid point? It’s sad, to be sure, but true.
October 29th, 2008 at 10:52 am
REALLY??
Do we need to be told to vote at all? Are we so lazy and apathetic that we have to be persuaded to exercise one of our great rights as Americans? If so then I could care less if you vote, if you can’t make it to the voting booth because your playing video games then your probably high and would vote for Nader anyway. Now if this was the fist Obama add/sound bite that I had experienced than i would probably see it as more innocent, but I it does seem that Obama while not as anti video games as his frigid counter part ‘Hilary M-Rated Clinton’, he has had a pretty consistent ‘consoles are detrimental’ view but at the same time had an open two way fiscal relationship with the gaming industry. Sadly I won’t be voting this year as I was unexpectedly called away on last minuet business but even if myself or any of the rest of us abstain from voting for what ever reason whether that be a day off playing video games or a disinterest in the candidates, parties or the current political/media process, so what. It is just as much our right as Americans to not vote, so if you would rather stay home and play GTA4 than go out and wait in line for an hour to vote for a puppet for big oil/pharm/credit then by all means exorcise your right. DON’T VOTE
October 29th, 2008 at 10:54 am
P.S.
Johnny if you delete this post like you did my hooker with scoliosis rant then I’m keeping the big green chair.
October 29th, 2008 at 10:56 am
@Amuse - no, your comments are always welcome. But I hold personal feelings towards hookers and scoliosis……you should know that better than anyone
October 29th, 2008 at 11:01 am
@ Jim - my lesser of two evils generalization might not have numbers backing it, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true in some cases.
With your second comment, again you’re missing my point. I’m not saying that people shouldn’t put off what they’re doing and exercise their right to vote. But why single out games as some kind means for keeping people home?
It just offends me as a gamer, and as someone who likes to keep up with political matters as well.
October 29th, 2008 at 11:20 am
“But why single out games as some kind means for keeping people home?”
I think you are reading a little to much into that. It was just an example. I doubt you would have taken as much offense to it if the ad had used any thing else other then a WiiMote. The fact that it was used is because it was universally recognized as either a remote for not gamers and a game control to the rest of us.
I think you a paranoid that all politicians want to ban video games. Take a breathe and realize it was marketing and not an attack on gaming.
October 29th, 2008 at 11:27 am
@Blues - I wouldn’t read as much into it, but many politicians have given me reasons to.
Obama has mentioned video games many times in his speeches. This latest addition in his ad is yet another example.
I’m not being completely paranoid. I’m not going to go home and lose sleep over it. It certainly isn’t going to affect my voting decision. But this is a video game site, specifically about the Nintendo Wii. So, if I see an ad involving it, I’m going to write about it.
I guess my candor, and colorful words do make me out to seem like some kind of conspiracy theorist. But it’s just all in good debate, and trying to make a good argument.
October 30th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Wow. Most commented post ever on Wiiblog.net is about …. Politics? Where are all you commenters the rest of the time?!
October 30th, 2008 at 9:26 am
@ Step - lol, I was thinking the same thing last night when I was reading back on the comments. But I must admit that alot of them are my own.
It’s an unfortunate truth though, that when politics come up, people come out.
October 30th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
[...] http://www.wiiblog.net/obama-put-down-the-wii-remote-and-go-vote-1270/#more-1270 [...]
October 31st, 2008 at 9:12 am
I don’t think this ad is really that big of a deal. I think you’re reading way too much into the ad. It’s not even about taking the whole day off to vote — it’s about taking the day off to volunteer to help get people out to vote.
I suspect the WiiMote was chosen because it’s white — notice how the couch and the desk were also white? — and because it’s long and narrow and looked better on the screen than some of the other game controllers. It looks to me like they needed something they could put on the side of the text and the WiiMote was perfect for that.
October 31st, 2008 at 8:04 pm
I agree with Sunny. You’re reading way too much into the ad. It’s no big deal.
November 3rd, 2008 at 6:27 am
It’s not just an ad to go vote yourself but to help get out the vote, as well, which is the point of asking for the day off–”make calls, knock on doors, get out the vote.”
So, it’s not insulting as some are making it out to be.