Grading Obama's Offshore Vacation Ad

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Connor Simpson 12,760 Views Jul 14, 2012

The Obama campaign's latest ad takes you on an offshore vacation to hot button destinations like Mexico, China, Switzerland, India, Bermuda, and the Cayman Islands while being serenaded by the man with the smoothest voice in America, Mitt Romney. 

"O beautiful for spacious skies," Mitt croons on stage, footage taken from our first stop, a January event in Florida. It cuts to a shot of the inside of a factory. "In Business, Mitt Romney's firms shipped jobs to Mexico," the L.A. Times headline reads. Cut to the outside of a red brick factory. "And China," the headline adds. The inside of a boardroom. "As Governor, Romney outsourced jobs to India," says the Boston Globe. A lake with a Swiss flag. "He had millions in a Swiss account," the ABC News headline reads. A beautiful shot of palm trees and the ocean. "Tax havens like Bermuda...," says Vanity Fair. Waves splash on the beach. "And the Cayman Islands," the ABC News headline reads. "America! America! God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood..." Mitt sings proudly in the background. Black screen. "Mitt Romney's not the solution," it says. "He's the problem." Mic drop.

"Obama's best ad of the year," says CNN's Paul Begala. "Don't really get why everyone is saying this obama ad is so great, the guy whos singing america the beautiful does not have a great voice," says Gawker's Max Read. "An instant classic," says Rolling Stone's Tim Dickison. "For those who have long said Obama is weak, appeasing, useless politician, watch this brutal ad," advised Andrew Sullivan. "U watch this new, brilliant ad for Obama & u go, 'Wow, the Dems are acting like they want 2 win. Is that possible?'" says Michael Moore.

“Every day, President Obama hits a new low. It is sad and shameful that President Obama would mock America the Beautiful,” read the statement responding to the ad from Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul. “But sadly, it’s not surprising for the man who launched his presidency with an apology tour. The ‘Uncle Jims’ of our country – as he condescendingly calls middle-class Americans – don’t believe in mocking America the Beautiful and don’t believe in apologizing for America.” The ad is slated to air in swing states like Colorado, Florida, Iowa, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. 

This is art. This is playing for keeps. This the Obama campaign's "Ether," or their "Hit 'Em Up." This is the political equivalent of a classic diss record. Romney is not a good singer. When we watched it, other people in the room thought it was Jeff Goldblum singing. There's something about seagulls squawking that's the audio equivalent of twisting a knife. While the Romney campaign is complaining about attacks, acting like the victim, the Obama campaign keeps punching them in the stomach. But this is the culmination of over a decade worth of stories. The oldest story quoted in the ad is from 2000. A

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