For me, one of the most interesting, and even amusing, aspects of this election is the fervent use of campaign ads. It seems that in this election, with the ever-growing popularity of the internet and websites like youtube, the number of videos from each side has exploded. Each candidate has chosen a certain image of their opponent that they attempt to portray through their campaign ads. McCain is portrayed as President Bush’s older best bud—voting with him 90% of the time. According to Obama and his campaign team, he is set in his ways, out of touch with the middle class and backwards thinking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psUC7Frv9j0

Then there’s Obama, who through McCain’s ads is portrayed as the inexperienced young dreamer who is out of touch with reality and too forward thinking for his, and the nation’s, own good. We’ve all seen or heard the story of the ad in which McCain calls Obama a celebrity, comparing his fame to that of Britney Spears and other pop icons.

McCain makes a strange attempt in the following video to portray the inexperienced side of Obama—an attempt that for me, is rather unsuccessful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id1IKJGVkvg

This video seems to me to be almost pro-Obama. Comparing Obama to Moses seems to be a strange way to get people to vote for McCain.

What I would like to see would be more videos from each candidate discussing his plans for various issues. Rather than trying to knock down the other candidate with comparisons and one-liners, I think we would all be relieved if politicians got to the point and said what they think and what their goals are in short, straight-forward campaign ads.