I thought Obama said he would mention specific spending cuts to pay "over and above" his spending plans, but I didn't hear said cuts. Will have to listen to it again. Update: the only specific cut appears to be ending the War in Iraq. While I'd have liked to see more, I understand some people might find specific domestic cuts unpalatable. Anyway, I am not such a deficit hawk - I think both candidates will be deficit-spending. I would rather the money be spent regenerating the American economy (particularly through non-conventional energy sources), than on wars against Iraq, Iran and Russia.
I initially thought the ad would use stories from only battleground states when it started with Missouri and New Mexico, but Kentucky also made an appearance. [So did Ohio, as I watch a delayed broadcast on the local Fox station, post-World Series.] I also liked the appearances by Governors Strickland, Sibelius, Kaine, Deval Patrick and Richardson, and Senators Durbin, McCaskill, and Biden. I was pleasantly surprised at the (personal!) endorsement by Google CEO Eric Schmidt. I do wish a Republican - like Senator Hagel or even General Powell - had made an appearance. If Hagel does not want to endorse McCain, and he's not running for re-election, what's keeping him from coming out for Obama?
Obama on his mother's fight against the big-C and the insurance companies was incredibly touching. Michelle speaking about Obama doing a good job as father was excellent as well.
Overall, the infomercial was well-produced, and I was glad to see lots of diversity. But more importantly, with the quick turn - within the first few minutes - to regular American families (a Caucasian family trying to make ends meet, an elderly African-American couple with the husband taking a new job at Wal-Mart to pay for his wife's medical expenses, a retired Caucasian whose pension was dramatically reduced due to corporate fiscal mismanagement, a Hispanic single mother with two jobs), Obama demonstrated that this election is not about him.
It is about all of us.
Update: The video!
Coda: McCain says the ad was paid for with broken promises. In short: "Waaaah! Obama didn't let me gain a vast financial advantage via the RNC-DNC fundraising gap!"
