Hmm... I have to disagree with Ezra Klein; I think this ad is quite effective. But then again, I'm already supporting Obama... Klein writes:
Obama is still bad at talking about policy. The empathy portion of the spot -- the bit where Obama details the problem -- is fine. But the substance of the ad, the solutions, are a string of disconnected, and fairly unconvincing, sentences. "Reform our tax system to give a $1,000 tax break to the middle class, instead of showering more on oil companies and corporations that outsource our jobs." This woukld be fine if McCain were publicly advocating the "Oil Companies and Outsourcers Tax Cut of 2008," but as he won't admit to favoring these things, it just sounds like Obama is another politician promising Good Stuff, and no one really believes in Good Stuff.
Interesting take, but I think the power in the ad is that this makes you want to believe him. Obama's the ad, and he comes off as very earnest and believable.
In other news (via Eric Martin at Obsidian Wings:
Five former U.S. secretaries of state said on Monday the next American administration should talk to Iran, a foe President George W. Bush has generally shunned as part of an "axis of evil."
Engaging Iran is important because Washington's military options against Tehran are unsatisfactory, said the diplomats, who worked for Republican and Democratic administrations.
The five -- Colin Powell, Madeleine Albright, Warren Christopher, James Baker and Henry Kissinger -- all said they favored talking to Iran as part of a strategy to stop Tehran's development of a nuclear weapons program.
I agree with Martin that Kissinger's inclusion in this list is telling about to whom McCain actually listens. (Kissinger is supposedly an adviser to McCain). Martin has a very interesting take on McCain's foriegn policy and I suggest you read it.
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