Team Obama 2012 was no doubt attempting to shore up its constituency of single young women when it released its ad late last week featuring actress writer and director Lena Dunham likening voting for Obama in 2008 to losing her virginity to a great boyfriend.
Yet when one considers the speed with which this ad has been mocked and parodied one could make the case that the Obama campaign unwittingly summed up the legacy of his presidency which in a weeks time may well be consigned to the ash heap of history.
Four years ago much of America felt a tingle up its leg as it was seduced by the soaring yet smooth talk of President Obama. But in the four years since much of America is asking Is that all there is? For not much had changed at least not for the better. The tingle soon became a pain that soon became infected. Your health insurance should have been able to cover it but as it turns out just because you like your health insurance doesnt mean you can keep it.
As a result of that Tuesday night four Novembers ago Obama sired the largest increase in the national deficit in this countrys history. Given Obamas insatiable appetite for spending no amount of federal coverage of contraception could have prevented the deficit from gestating. And its not like America could turn to Planned Parenthood to fix the problem. Where spending our money is concerned Obama is no-choice not pro-choice.
What makes the Obama boyfriend ad so peculiar is that he is perceived in some quarters as the boyfriend who talked a good game but couldnt follow through on his commitment. Back in June Independent Womens Voices (IWV) a conservative womens group released a video on this very theme. The ad features two women Mary and Melissa a mother and daughter talking about the Melissas frustration with her boyfriend with Obamas iconic Hope picture hanging over them like the Sword of Damocles. This 30-second spot sums up the past four years under Obama concisely:
Melissa: I was so excited at first.
Mary: I know.
Melissa: He seemed so perfect.
Mary: They always do.
Melissa: And I could listen to him talk for hours.
Mary: Did he ever do more than talk?
Melissa: I wanted to believe him. I trusted him
Mary: Melissa we all did.
Melissa: Im tired of waiting for him to get his act together. Its been almost four years.
Mary: You cant change him.
Melissa: He always has an excuse for everything. Theres always somebody else to blame.
Mary: You cant live on excuses.
Melissa: Why do I always fall for guys like this?
Mary: You know you deserve better.
Given the response to the Obama boyfriend ad IWF is quite fittingly re-exploring this fertile ground by putting out two new ads reinforcing Obama as the unreliable boyfriend. The two ads are titled Feeling Guilty and Mr. Dependable the latter of which contrasts Obama (Mr. Cool) with Mitt Romney (Mr. Dependable).
The question that remains is whether America will fall for Mr. Cool once again or if it is prepared to take a chance with Mr. Dependable. Will America once again be seduced by the same promises Mr. Cool made four years ago knowing they are promises he cannot and/or will not keep? Or will America see through Mr. Cools words and conclude that talk is cheap but deficits are expensive? Is America tired of Mr. Cool blaming others when things go wrong? Will America take a chance on Mr. Dependable even if he is a bit boring? America clearly doesnt believe what Mr. Cool has had to say about Mr. Dependable being a felon and a murderer of women with cancer. But it remains to be seen if Mr. Dependable has sealed the deal with America.
When we vote with our hearts we Americans can be a rather fickle bunch. As with politics a week in matters of the heart can be a lifetime. So while it may appear that America is prepared to make a commitment to Mr. Dependable there is no guarantee we wont be fooled by Mr. Cool again. If so America will suffer four more years of another bad one night stand.