Whassup???
This is all over the ‘net, and deservedly so… not just the best and funniest campaign commercial of the year, but maybe the best and funniest viral video of the year, period. Remember the “Whassup” guys who were selling Budweiser back when George Bush first took office? For those who don’t, here’s the original commercial that made ‘em famous and had everyone screaming “whassup!” for about 12 months:
Well, the original cast got back together to amp up the vote for Barack Obama. Even if you’re pro-McCain, I think it’s possible to see the cleverness and hilarity of this bit. Dig on it:
Apologies for doin’ the political thang again, but this was too funny to resist.
(discovered by way of Buzzfeed and Huffington)
October 25th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Wow, that’s a pretty stark social commentary.
I like everything except the weather part. I feel like we should harp on Louisiana a little more in the Katrina f’up.
Still pretty bad on the Feds, but we should ask the state exactly what the hell their plan was in the first place. Here in Georgia we have an excellent evacuation plan for our coastal cities. The last thing that really caught GA by surprise was a flood in the middle of the state that I don’t remember anyone seeing coming. It put a city of 100,000 under water.
But Louisiana doesn’t get enough crap for Katrina. Bush gets it all. We should share some of that with the former Louisiana Administration.
October 25th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Can I laugh because it’s true? Or do I cry because it’s true?
October 25th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Is it ok if I say I just laughed my ass off regardless of the political commentary?
Thanks, Joe. That was funny…………..true.
October 25th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
And why should I vote for Obama????
October 26th, 2008 at 1:28 am
That was hilarious. And seeing I am in Canada, I could watch it at arms length and still see the humor. If only the Canadian election had some of that then we might not have the Reform party (Before the name change to capitalize on something less ultra-right wing) in power. Still very funny and with meaning.
October 26th, 2008 at 2:04 am
damn, they nailed it….
October 26th, 2008 at 9:21 am
There is noting funny about Obama. This country will be worse then we are now if he gets in.
October 26th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Mary is right. There is nothing funny about Obama. There’s nothing funny about a man who is intelligent and unflappable.
October 26th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Your kidding me right? Everyone is behind the “whitest” Black man I’ve ever seen. Do the poor actually believe a Harvard educated man is behind them because he is 1/2 black? What a bunch of mindless easily persuaded group of people. Get a brain!!
October 26th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Patty, what difference does the proportion of black ancestry he has make?
Get a brain, indeed.
October 26th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Patty,
Let me see if I follow you here. Barack Obama went to Harvard, so obviously he’s not a real black person? Unfortunately, this says more much more about your attitudes toward African-Americans than it does about Obama. Also – and maybe I’m misreading you here – but you seem to rather closely associate “the poor” with African-Americans. Think about that one for a minute. Then consider that the vast majority of Americans below the poverty line are rural white. Or, as they would say in the Wassup commercials: true.
Ignoring some of the racial notions suggested by your post… are you telling me that because he went to Harvard, he’s incapable of being concerned with poverty? A guy who came from a single-parent family and whose mother hunted down food stamps so they could eat? A guy who went through school on scholarships?
I do hope you’ll rethink your attitudes about what’s black. Trust me, he’s “black enough” so that if he were living in the south during the time of segregation he would’ve been barred from sitting in the white’s only part of the movie theater; he’s black enough so he wouldn’t have had the right to vote, prior to about 1870. Lots of black people go to ivy league schools, Patty, and guess what – they’re still African-American.
October 26th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
*Clap Clap*
October 27th, 2008 at 4:23 am
Exactly. If you want to diss Obama there are lots of ways to do it without asserting that he doesn’t have the proper credentials to be black.
You could go after the redistribution of wealth comments or things like that. Those are legitimate avenues of discussion.
His race is not. His education is not.
October 27th, 2008 at 7:19 am
Woohoo! I cam in late on this conversation – you go Joe
I can’t wait until next Tuesday!!!!
October 27th, 2008 at 7:32 am
Oh that was priceless!! I’m gonna send that one to everyone I know! Thanks for sharing Joe! And thanks for your post in response to Patty and others like her…as far as we have come in this country regarding race I’m still afraid that people will be voting on that issue alone.
BTW, I’m gonna vote early. If your state offers the opportunity get out and do it as soon as possible, just in case. Normally I love the excitement of voting on election day, but I want to make sure nothing gets in the way of my vote being counted! This election is too important to take any chances.
October 27th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Joe, that was good, thanks.
October 27th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
If I only had a brain..then why wouldnt I vote for Obama.
October 27th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Damn that bit was perfect…
I’m an Indiana resident and voted
early last Thursday. I’m hoping to
help turn this swing state from red
to blue.
October 27th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
And if I didnt have a brain..then i would still vote for Obama..see I need affordable insurance to take care of that brain thingy.
October 27th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Actually, I think education IS a legitimate avenue of discussion.
Educational Background:
*Barack Obama: Columbia University – B.A. Political Science with a Specialization in International Relations; Harvard – Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude
*Joseph Biden: University of Delaware – B.A. in History and B.A. in Political Science; Syracuse University College of Law – Juris Doctor (J.D.)
vs.
*John McCain: United States Naval Academy – Class rank: 894 of 899
*Sarah Palin: Hawaii Pacific University – 1 semester; North Idaho College – 2 semesters; University of Idaho – 2 semesters; Matanuska-Susitna College – 1 semester; University of Idaho – 3 semesters – B.A. in Journalism.
Education isn’t everything, but right now I’m sick to death of supposed credentials like being folksy, scrappy, or a “maverick.” I’ll take the guy with the good education and the sustainable plan for our economy and nation’s well-being, thanks. (Yes we can.)
October 27th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
This is great…
A letter from the Blue States to the Red States
Dear Red States:
We’ve decided we’re leaving. We intend to form our own country, and we’re taking the other Blue States with us. In case you aren’t aware, that includes California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and all the Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and especially to the people of the new country of New California.
To sum up briefly: You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the slave states. We get stem cell research and the best beaches. We get the Statue of Liberty. You get Dollywood. We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom. We get Harvard. You get Ole’ Miss. We get 85 percent of America’s venture capital and entrepreneurs. You get Alabama. We get two-thirds of the tax revenue, you get to make the red states pay their fair share.
Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent lower than the Christian Coalition’s, we get a bunch of happy families. You get a bunch of single moms. Please be aware that New California will be pro-choice and anti-war, and we’re going to want all our citizens back from Iraq at once. If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals. They have kids they’re apparently willing to send to their deaths for no purpose, and they don’t care if you don’t show pictures of their children’s caskets coming home. We do wish you success in Iraq , and hope that the WMDs turn up, but we’re not willing to spend our resources in Bush’s Quagmire.
With the Blue States in hand, we will have firm control of 80 percent of the country’s fresh water, 92 percent of the nation’s fresh fruit, 95 percent of America’s quality wines, 90 percent of all cheese, 90 percent of the high tech industry, most of the U.S. low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools plus Stanford, Cal Tech and MIT. With the Red States, on the other hand, you will have to cope with 88 percent of all obese Americans (and their projected health care costs), 92 percent of all U.S. mosquitoes, nearly 100 percent of the tornadoes, 90 percent of the hurricanes, 99 percent of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100 percent of all televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the University of Georgia. We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you.
Additionally, 38 percent of those in the Red states believe Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale, 62 percent believe life is sacred unless we’re discussing the war, or the death penalty, 44 percent say that evolution is only a theory, 53 percent that Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61 percent of you crazy bastards believe you are people with higher morals then we lefties.
Finally, we’re taking the good pot, too. You can have that dirt weed they grow in Mexico.
Peace out,
Blue States
October 27th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Please tell me the BCS is based in a red state! (for you college football fans!)
October 27th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
The video was funny until the end.
October 27th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Dear Blue Stat..Cities:
http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/jokes/bljokedearbluestates.htm
October 27th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
James,
Part of the reason Obama appeals to me is because he seems intent on kind of getting past the red state vs. blue state nonsense… if he wins, I won’t look at it as a victory of blue over red, but as a good thing generally for the entire country. And maybe the most interesting thing about his candidacy is that he’s run from a base of progressive ideas that a huge majority of people, north, west, east, and south, seem to agree on. I’d add that one of the reasons McCain has had such a devil of a time bringing him down is because Obama seems so intent on moving past the culture war rhetoric that’s done so much to shove people into their own angry little political corners. The more post-partisan Obama acts, the harder it is to tag him with the easy old labels: tax-and-spend liberal, etc.
Also, your riff about the red states, while it has some funny bits, ignores that those states gave us Twain, Faulkner, Cormac McCarthy, R.E.M. and Steve Earle. And American cinema is nothing without red state westerns.
Oh and hey, I’m no expert, but my understanding is the best pot to be found nationally is grown out in the blue ridge of Tennessee. Just sayin’.
Apologies if this note is a little wandery. Long day, I’m bushed.
October 27th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Great statement about the blue ridge of Tennessee. lol
One of my co-workers sent me that and I had to laugh
my butt off. Of-course, meant for humor only.
Three things I was thinking before I submitted it.
1) Why can’t we be red, white & blue states?
2) Single moms are some of the hardest working people.
3) How accurate are the figures?
But still, had to post it…
Now, I’m back to reading Riptide by Preston / Child.
…good book…just 50 pages left
October 27th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
I do not have any dialog to add to the conversation but wanted to share another video. Ron Howard brings back Opie for Obama:
http://www.popeater.com/movies/article/ron-howard-brings-opie-back-for-obama/224146
October 28th, 2008 at 12:48 am
I said his education wasn’t an issue to attack him on. That doesn’t mean someone’s else isn’t an issue in their campaign.
And as for the Red State/Blue State deal…
Wow, that just comes across as an extremely snotty joke to me. I don’t judge someone’s intelligence by their political leaning. So much in politics comes from our deepest values. Being pro-life instead of pro-choice isn’t an intelligence issue, it is a cultural and moral one.
I’m tired of the strife. I’m tired of folks being angry because General Powell endorsed Obama. I’m tired of people assuming that all things bad in this country are somehow a republican’s fault.
All of it is tiring to be honest. I can’t wait for next Tuesday. I’m worried we’re going to have a damn civil war before then.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:23 am
James – yeah, that letter was funny! Of course, I didn’t take a bit of it seriously, just a good laugh! Betsy, I just was watching the news this morning and they had a whole segment on the early voting and just how many people are doing it. I’ll be standing in line on election day, mainly because I take the kids to vote with me and schools are closed that day and it’s kind of tradition – again, I can’t WAIT until Tuesday!
October 28th, 2008 at 8:36 am
I totally understand Melissa…I did the same thing when my kids were young because I thought it was an important and valuable lesson for them to see democracy in action. As I said before I normally prefer to vote on election day because I find it so exciting being a political junkie. This year I’m voting early because my daughter will be in class all day 11/4 and it is her first time to vote in a presidential election and she wants me to go with her. My suggestion for others to vote early is mainly so they can make sure they are on the rolls and are not disenfranchised or intimidated like some have been in past elections.
And thanks for the support, Joe, for those of us who hail from Red States. I realize James’ post was just supposed to be humorous but I guess I also dislike being pigeon-holed. (I wasn’t offended James…I’ve read that one before and I really do see the humor in it). One issue I’m really tired of is that people in the south are racists. I’ve seen plenty of incidents of racism through-out the country and yet we still get the bad rap most of the time. On the upside, it looks like NC might just be turning “blue” this year! Also…sorry you’re so worn out. Make sure you get plenty of rest! You don’t want to get sick again.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
I loved that video. It was so hilarious. As for political opinions, I don’t really have one. All I know is that there are blue and red states. I personally think it would be more awesome if the Democrats were lime green and the Republicans were something like…idk….silver ??? And maybe instead of the elephant and the donkey, we could have a chimpanzee and a leopard. No real reason why. I just think it would make the elections interesting. After all, both candidates intrigue me about as much a blade of grass intrigues the phantom of the opera.
I hope I didn’t write too much nonsense. I really have a short attention span, and I only read like… the first sentence of what everybody has posted previously.
Okay, now my head hurts. I think I just busted a thought muscle-thingy. Politics always makes my head hurt…
Have a nice day!
October 28th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Hey Joe, have you heard/read anything by Joyce Carol Oates…just wondering…my professor was roommates with her.
October 29th, 2008 at 7:40 am
Jacob – too funny!!!
October 29th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
That video was hilarious. I forgot about those guys. I miss those guys. I think it would be cool to see as much funny campaigning as possible here at the end. We need to laugh, man, everybody is boiling and seems about to crack. Joe the Plumber is getting everybody fired up here in Ohio. I read he’s got an agent and he’s writing a book, which is unbelievalbe to me. (Probably NOT a good choice for the book club… just sayin’). I’m ready for the day to come and go too. Hasn’t everybody made up their mind? Who is still on the fence? Can’t be too many. Lets get this thing over!! Whaassssuuup!!?
October 29th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
I’d like to first commend everyone who posted, this was probably the first time I read a whole post and %98 of the post were intelligent regardless of the opinion(s) and no one went blatant racial! VOTEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE (say like wasssssup fellas would)!
1
October 29th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Hey Rake…I love you man! We have to be able to laugh about all this or all we’ll do is cry. That’s why I watch Stewart, Colbert and Maher.
I voted today and I’m ready for it to be over. I gotta say, though, that I was a little upset when I got to the library and saw they had the ATM voting machines. I don’t trust them any further than I could throw them. I got the evil eye from the guy checking us in when I peppered him with questions about whether there will be a corresponding paper ballot because if there wasn’t I was NOT going to take a chance. Luckily, there was, but still…I was put off by it. My daughter got mad at me for “embarassing” her, but this election is just too important to take any chances. Anyway, I can’t figure out if I like voting early. Now I have to wait soooooooooo long to get the results and as everyone knows about me, I am not the most patient person! Right Joe?
October 29th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
James,
I know that letter was ment to be “a joke”, but I really hate it when people make generalizations. You know stuff like that makes it really hard to try and get the next generation interested in politics for the right reasons. Everybody is talking about wanting change in this country. How do we do that when southern states are still referred to as “slave states”, and just what is wrong is with Ole Miss, Clemson and the University of Ga? How do you know that Jonah wasn’t swallowed by a whale?
Anyways, everyone put there 2 cents in…so there’s mine.
October 29th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Pile on and beat me down.
The letter was funny and I stand by that.
If you’re offended…get over it,
and learn to laugh at yourself
and everyone else.
October 29th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
By the way, I do care about the next generation
getting interested in politics. My daughter just
turned four and she went to the polls with me
when I voted early last Thursday.
Being four she really wan’t too aware at what
was going on, she was more intested in going
to the kids section to read some books. I
voted at the library.
Anytime I receive a funny email I’ll read it.
Antime I read a funny post I’ll laugh about
it. I won’t sit back and btch and moan about
what someones intentions were for posting it.
By the way I live in a red state, went to a red
school and most of my immediate and exteded
family are republican. And you know what, as
a democrat I love where I live…Indiana.
Boy, high and mighty.
Okay, I feel better now.
October 30th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Hey thanks Betsy. Nice to get that vote out there and counted, right? But you are right, I don’t trust those ATMs either. In my humble opinion, computers are the scariest inanimate object around. I also love Stewart and Colbert. Those guys are great. Rob Cordry too, you know him? He’s cracks me up. Bill Maher is my least favorite though. Unlike some others, his smarmy anti-religion and patronizing rubs me the wrong way sometimes, although sometimes I think certain intolerant pricks need to hear it. My Bible taught me compassion, tolerance, kindness and mercy, and for that I’ve got gratitude and respect, although sometimes I think the ‘coalition’ is reading a different copy. They must have the cliff notes. Sometimes Maher can be pretty funny though, I guess.
James, here’s to Hoosier Nation. I grew up there and still love that little red bastard. Funny thing though, I saw that Indy is a toss up state now, not even leaning. Any way you can get things swingin toward the good guys?
October 30th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
[...] 30, 2008 in Current Events, News | Tags: Blogs, general, politics As Joe Hill states in his blog, this Obama video has been everywhere. But, as usual, I’m a little slow on the uptake and [...]
October 30th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Great video! I have been so nervous about Obama, such a hopeful figure coming at such a miserable time. I have been worried that he would be scapegoated for the mess he’s walking into. It was inspiring to see him address that on the Daily Show, not being dissuaded by the circumstances, but saying that he wants to make a difference in these difficult times.
I don’t know how much Obama can bring us together, as Joe hopes though. A lot of people are just too happy being miserable. The other Joe, Joe the plumber, in addition to not being a plumber, never engaged in any prospect to buy his boss’ business that wasn’t for sale, doesn’t profit above 250K, and he only makes about 40K (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/off-the-bus-reporter/joe-the-plumber-not-votin_b_135201.html), but he wants to lament Obama’s tax proposal that would actually benefit him. A tax plan that just essentially rolls back redistribution of the tax systems that leaves the bulk of the burden on the poor and middle class.
So many others seem to vote based purely on what they deem others moral and religious stance should be, as though it’s something that can or should be legislated.
How do people get beyond such passionate mind sets that are so divorced from logic?
Obama is progressive, he is a figure that represents so many regions of this country, and he may be postpartisan–but so many in this country are resilient to be against any candidate because a right wing radio host, shock jock, or fox pundit that shouts people down told them to be and gave them a couple of talking points and a bunch of buzz words, like “tax hiking liberal”, instead of reasoned discourse.
How can this nation come together, when such a huge segment celebrates idiocy to such an extent that if you don’t throw in with them based on facts and reasoned discourse, it’s left at you’re an “elitist”.
Maybe lefties need to start a schoolyard name calling campaign.
Only kidding.
October 31st, 2008 at 8:11 am
Rake…I agree with you about Maher…his intolerance toward religion bugs me too. I find his attitude that people of faith are morons pretty offensive. And I really hate being lumped in with the right-wing fundamentalists. It’s like you said…they must be reading a different Bible. But when he’s skewering politics it makes me laugh. Plus I enjoy the guests he has on his show. Haven’t heard of Rob Cordry but I’ll look him up. Thanks!
October 31st, 2008 at 9:44 pm
I agree about Maher. I mean there is nothing particularly witty about pointing out the absurdities in people’s religious beliefs, when, by default, most religions have specific absurdity clauses, such as “Faith” in Christianity. It’s not that we don’t know what we believe is absurd when taken outside of the religious doctrine, so pointing it out is just not that breath taking. Or funny. Really. Maher’s movie had funny parts, but I find his ego overbearing.
November 20th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Ah, wow. When you watch it side by side with the original, it’s hilarious. Not too mention so gosh darn current-event-wise accurate. And I love the end where they show Pres. and First Lady Obama (*dances*) on TV and the guy is slowly smiling into the phone.
And there are worse things you could do than going political on our a**es. For example, you could support McCain. Or Palin.