Yes We Can...or can we?

In the 2008 Mccain vs. Obama ad titled "Yes We Can," Barack Obama gives a speech that is put to music and echoed by a chorus of celebrities. As I watched this video the repeated "yes we can!" began to burrow into my mind. I began to think that we could, whatever we were trying to do. As I listened to the speech I realized that Obama was talking about change. Yes we can have change. He presented this idea very effectively.

This video is aimed at a more youthful audience, with lively, vibrant music and an overwhelming number of teenage idols. The video contains individuals such as: Will.I.Am, Kareem Abdul-Jabar, Common, John Legend, Tatiana Ali, Scarlett Johannsen, and a host of others. Obama is establishing credibility by synchronizing his views with the views of icons in our media-centered world. As Obama speaks, his words are echoed in a catchy song sung by teenage heroes.

Obama appeals to the audience's emotions by talking about struggles of slaves, immigrants, pioneers, and women. These kinds of controversial issues are the one's that people feel most strongly about. Therefore, Obama, by saying he wants to leave these behind and change, appeals to people upset by the past. As the video fades, "Vote Hope" flashes across the scene, giving the audience one more reminder that Mccain promises nothing but despair.