politics
feb 4
2008

Yes We Can

I'm really not so sure about the Obama/will.i.am "Yes We Can" thing. It's either "We Are The World" or "I Have a Dream."

7 comments

I like it much more than I thought I'd ever like something like this.

I'm voting for him. Previously I'd tried to figure out who'd be best against whatever and all that. Mostly this time on total gut.

Plus, as a gamer, I can't really in good conscience vote for someone who believes that video games are a "threat to our moral health".

posted by Gavin at 1:01 AM on February 4, 2008

It's definitely "We Are the World."

The thing is, every time I think I might just vote for him (I was an Edwards supporter), someone does something stupid like send me that video with the message, "If you haven't made up your mind yet, watch this and you'll know."

Puh-leez.

posted by Alison Byrne Fields at 6:47 AM on February 4, 2008

Mock we are the world all you want, but:

"Including revenues from the single, the album, the video and related merchandise, "We Are the World" raised over $63 million for famine relief."

That's sourced on the Wikipedia page.

I wouldn't expect anyone to vote solely on this video, but 1) at least the video is based on content, poetic or no; and 2) it may influence people to actually give Obama a look, check out his issues, etc.

The problem is that there are a lot of low information voters out there who only know Obama based on world news tonight coverage, and from that it's easy to think he's all style, no substance. In fact, he has mind-numbing amounts of substance, but you have to look for it, as the broadcast networks don't report in-depth substance.

Videos like this are a funny thing. When you support its cause (like I do), it's easy to see its potential for doing good. When you don't support it's cause (like Russion propaganda films), they're very scary. But there will always be low information voters, and most elections are probably decided by them.

posted by crazymonk at 1:15 PM on February 4, 2008

What the hell's wrong with "We Are the World"?

posted by chuckt at 1:31 PM on February 4, 2008

You're right, "We Are The World" and "Yes We Can" are great moments in cultural and political history in our time.

posted by Rex at 1:35 PM on February 4, 2008

"You're right, "We Are The World" and "Yes We Can" are great moments in cultural and political history in our time."

So was Orson Wells' live radio broadcast... Inciting mass panic is so much more fun.

posted by taulpaul at 2:37 PM on February 4, 2008

lame, sorgatz. this video is a cool phenomenon. you're just jealous your band didn't come up with it.

posted by echuckles at 4:11 PM on February 4, 2008




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