Why You Should Vote for Obama, Even If You Don't Agree on the Issues
I'd like to start out by saying that I hope this doesn't affect my readership. I think the world of my readers, and I understand that we are all entitled to our own personal political beliefs. This is simply my opinion. Feel free to agree and disagree, but please do not resort to angry name-calling. Keep it civil and intelligent.
This post may be too late for some, and I actually considered not posting it. I’m not very eloquent about my political beliefs – my expertise is in marketing. Then my mom told me she was still undecided. So this one is for you, Mom.
I’ve been in marketing for about a year and a half now. I’m no Guy Kawasaki, but I’ve really taken to the field. I’m fascinated by what motivates people to make a purchase, choose a certain product or brand, and how pyschographics plays into that. So, when Ad Age named Barack Obama Marketer of the Year, I wasn’t surprised. The man is a marketing genius. I actually think this is why people compare him to JFK. It’s not so much the youth thing – it’s the agent of change thing.
Whether or not you agree with the issues, I think you should vote for Obama.
Obama is the candidate that has been able to inspire large chunks of the population to believe that things can change for the better. Whenever I’ve had conversations with my acquaintances and friends about why I am voting for Obama, I cite consumer confidence.
Either way, I think the markets will see an upswing after Nov. 2. Any change in leadership is a positive one, in my opinion. But I think we will see a greater upswing in national confidence if Obama is elected. For one thing, other great nations would like to see Obama as president. If he were elected, I think you would see faith restored in the international markets.
If McCain is elected, a large portion of the population will be left dejected and with a total loss of faith in their nation. This election is more to us than any other election. For someone my age, the belief that I can, along with my fellow Americans, create lasting and vital change hinges on the outcome of this election. Obama has been able to inspire a historically apathetic voting demographic to become involved in politics, to show up at the polls (I’ll be voting for the first time since 2000), and to take an earnest interest in the future of their nation.
McCain simply doesn’t connect with people on that level. If McCain is elected, my belief in America as a great nation that can lead the world into an era of positive change will be shattered. I will know that my nation has failed the vision test, that I live in a country blinded by fear-mongering, hatred and impotence. Change will be slow, not swift. We will have elected a corporation where we needed a start-up. It will be titanic effort instead of nimble agility, which is what we see with brands that “act small” versus the colossus of slow-to-change industries.
It takes more than wielding power to get a law passed. Like Joe Marchese said earlier this month in an article on MediaPost, the American brand has taken a beating recently. Which message would we like to send our nation and to other nations – one where we’re too blinded by fear of change and backward-looking issues to make the leap of faith, or one that stands for change, belief and hope?
I for one, regardless of the issues, because let’s face it – it’s less about abortion, the economy, and oil than it is about the kind of nation we’d like to have, would like to put our nation’s best face forward. I don’t think that’s what McCain will be about. I want a strong person in power who is ready to lead this nation into the 21st century. It’s not about the issues – it’s about the message.
What message do you want to send?
If people are the greatest resource a nation has, then a primary goal of government is to inspire those people to do what is necessary to make that nation great. This is simply an exercise in the marketing of ideas on the grandest scale. While McCain might be a maverick who can help to clean up Washington, Obama is the candidate who has nailed the ability to communicate and inspire people to do more. Inspiring confidence and communicating with people may mean more than any bill either candidate can get signed into law.- From "Marketing and the Economy; Why America Needs Obama and Coca-Cola" by Joe Marchese, MediaPost
This post may be too late for some, and I actually considered not posting it. I’m not very eloquent about my political beliefs – my expertise is in marketing. Then my mom told me she was still undecided. So this one is for you, Mom.
I’ve been in marketing for about a year and a half now. I’m no Guy Kawasaki, but I’ve really taken to the field. I’m fascinated by what motivates people to make a purchase, choose a certain product or brand, and how pyschographics plays into that. So, when Ad Age named Barack Obama Marketer of the Year, I wasn’t surprised. The man is a marketing genius. I actually think this is why people compare him to JFK. It’s not so much the youth thing – it’s the agent of change thing.
Whether or not you agree with the issues, I think you should vote for Obama.
Obama is the candidate that has been able to inspire large chunks of the population to believe that things can change for the better. Whenever I’ve had conversations with my acquaintances and friends about why I am voting for Obama, I cite consumer confidence.
Either way, I think the markets will see an upswing after Nov. 2. Any change in leadership is a positive one, in my opinion. But I think we will see a greater upswing in national confidence if Obama is elected. For one thing, other great nations would like to see Obama as president. If he were elected, I think you would see faith restored in the international markets.
If McCain is elected, a large portion of the population will be left dejected and with a total loss of faith in their nation. This election is more to us than any other election. For someone my age, the belief that I can, along with my fellow Americans, create lasting and vital change hinges on the outcome of this election. Obama has been able to inspire a historically apathetic voting demographic to become involved in politics, to show up at the polls (I’ll be voting for the first time since 2000), and to take an earnest interest in the future of their nation.
McCain simply doesn’t connect with people on that level. If McCain is elected, my belief in America as a great nation that can lead the world into an era of positive change will be shattered. I will know that my nation has failed the vision test, that I live in a country blinded by fear-mongering, hatred and impotence. Change will be slow, not swift. We will have elected a corporation where we needed a start-up. It will be titanic effort instead of nimble agility, which is what we see with brands that “act small” versus the colossus of slow-to-change industries.
It takes more than wielding power to get a law passed. Like Joe Marchese said earlier this month in an article on MediaPost, the American brand has taken a beating recently. Which message would we like to send our nation and to other nations – one where we’re too blinded by fear of change and backward-looking issues to make the leap of faith, or one that stands for change, belief and hope?
I for one, regardless of the issues, because let’s face it – it’s less about abortion, the economy, and oil than it is about the kind of nation we’d like to have, would like to put our nation’s best face forward. I don’t think that’s what McCain will be about. I want a strong person in power who is ready to lead this nation into the 21st century. It’s not about the issues – it’s about the message.
What message do you want to send?
Labels: branding, election 2008, Gen Y, life, marketing, Obama, personal branding, political
posted by Holly Hoffman at
4:31 PM
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11 Comments:
You wrote: McCain simply doesn’t connect with people on that level. If McCain is elected, my belief in America as a great nation that can lead the world into an era of positive change will be shattered. I will know that my nation has failed the vision test, that I live in a country blinded by fear-mongering, hatred and impotence. Change will be slow, not swift.
You've summed up very nicely how I feel about the election, as well, with this paragraph. Great first political post! :)
I agree with Mike -- those words were strong and nailed how I've slowly begun to feel about this election.
My thoughts on this election have changed consistently -- back in the primaries, I was rooting for Hilary. I'll admit that I didn't like Obama at first -- truth be told, he seemed a little smarmy, for lack of a better word, and I thought his speeches were just good rhetoric. But then when he was elected as the Democratic nominee, I had to take a closer look at the two candidates. I'm registered Democrat, but there were some points that McCain made that I could see myself agreeing with.
How quickly all of that changed. Honestly, most of it changed with the RNC when Palin spoke. She had good rhetoric, too, I remember thinking. But I would never want her in such a seat of power.
So an Obama supporter I became, and the more I look at this decision, the more I look at the issues and how he will address them, I can understand what people have been saying all along. This man can bring about change that this country has desperately needed for the past eight years. And seeing how he handled himself at the debates just cemented that for me.
I think the word "communicate" in your quote by Joe Marchese says everything, because that's exactly what we need -- someone who will speak for us while not silencing us. Someone who can understand us and represent us. And it makes you wonder -- have we forgotten that this is what a President is, after all? The voice of the people?
All I really meant to say was great job on this post, but I got a little carried away...But, really, you did a great job at portraying your own message!
I remember McCain in 2000 and I still think he's the same guy. He isn't progressive enough for me to vote for him. It seems as if he's out of touch with this nations growing middle class. To me.. her represents things from 25 years ago.. not the future.
Nice Post.
I so wish I agreed with you. It would make my life much more bearable, and the death threats slow to a trickle. ; ) It would certainly mean I'd vote for Obama in a heartbeat -I don't deny he is charismatic, and he is collecting voters with grand, positive messages promising change. We crave change, and we need it.
But the issues are what ultimately decide the quality and effectiveness of change. Not a baritone voice and a charming smile. Not soundbytes that make you cry. Not Presidential poetry that belongs in the history books. Unfortunately, the audacity of hope alone doesn't create economic freedom, or sew back the torn shreds of political discord internationally. I don’t want a President and Congress who are good at passing laws. I want the laws they pass to be good for this country.
So, I couldn't disagree more that the issues don't matter. There is a 100% correlation between the issues and the kind of change they will effect. Issues = change. Unless one has studied the issues and determined what kind of change will be affected by them, they will be at a loss to determine if the promised change is likely to happen, in particular in the long-term. I think most of Obama’s platforms are absolutely designed to work in the short-term, but if you do the math, he cannot possibly create the programs and change he desires without severely compromising the long-term fiscal viability of this country.
That's what I see after thoughtfully and painstakingly studying many of Obama and McCain's policies. I don’t make my decision out of fear, ignorance, or irrational thinking. (As I’ve often been accused of.) I’m not a dyed-in-the-wool Republican who is thoughtlessly, and fearfully voting against Obama. I simply, and strongly, believe his proposals will not work.
In the world of marketing, image is everything.
The next President needs to restore our standing in the world and the value of our Constitution. In a globalized economy we need other countries working with us, not beside us because they can't opt out of a relationship with us. We need to be the guy you want to invite to the party; Obama makes that possible.
Wow - really great post! I have to say that I was with Susan in that I started out rooting for Hilary and was not a fan of Obama, and I used to really like McCain. But McCain is a completely different from the man he once was and the more I have listened to Obama, the more I have felt that hope and inspiration which you capture so well here, to the point that I donated money to a political campaign for the first time in my life. I also agree with Milena that the issues DO matter but I couldn't disagree more that Obama is the one with the policies that will "compromise the long-term fiscal viability of this country." I wasn't at all surprised that the vast majority of my fellow economists (even the Republicans) believe that Obama has a better grasp of economics and has the better economic plan (you can check out either Scott Adams' survey or the survey done by the Economist).
To my daughter-
Thank you for your opinion and insight on the presidential nominees and your effort into helping me with a "still undecided” vote. Many can not believe I am still undecided and wonder what my problem is. (Especially my very extremely liberal husband who worked in Washington for many years and has been scarred with anger against Republicans.) As you know I am for what the parties individually are going to do for us neither a “Party Person” Republican nor Democrat. My vote means so much to me and I want what is best for the future, as I am sure all do. I am of the nature that I do not want to make a mistake and wish I had researched or listened more to what both parties/individuals are attempting to say. ALL I hear is so much hostility! I really have had trouble getting past all the mud slinging from both sides.
SO….I have thought it through after your article, this is what I have decided: I have raised two very smart young women whom both are very much aware and active in the American economy. Their future has not stopped being a major concern of mine just because the have become the women they are today. As a matter of fact it is now much more of a concern that ever before…what in the world is going to become of the American dream as we the baby boomers know it and the dreams for our children to become adults in this economy. Even more, what is to become of our grandchildren (if I ever get any)? This is now your time and I support your generation fully and whole heartily. In my final analysis of all this the only thing I regret to say is… no mater who become president it will not be easy undertaking and no quick answers or fixes. So I have decided my vote “for Obama” the Democratic Party. I pray the passion I have witnessed in this election becomes positive and not lost once is all done and elected!
If McCain is elected... We will have elected a corporation where we needed a start-up.
politics is not my thing
mass persuasion, hidden sting
voters blind
with hope in mind
a leader with one eye is king
your elections will have a profound impact on south africa's future; i'm holding thumbs for your start-up
I want to ditto Mike and just publicly say that I love your anonymous poet.
While I too was a Hilary supporter, it didn't take me long to realize that Obama was worth a second look simply because he inspired so many apathic voters to get invovled.
As someone who has spend so many cold days trying to convince people to vote in the past,this warms my cold soul. This year in NC more people have early voted as of this weekend than voted TOTALLY 4 years ago.
I have to believe that this is because Obama has tapped into a pool of people who heretofore haven't believed in the process, the candidates, the Country, themselves. And this makes me happy.
I do not think that any of us can fathom the damage that McCain and Palin would do to this country if elected. No president lives up to his campaign promises (so the person commenting here who feels his promises are bad shouldn't be too afraid); it is the promise of hope that we need at this time.
"Shattered" is EXACTLY the word to describe how I would feel if McCain were elected. I would have to take my boyfriend up on his offer to make our own "exit strategy" and move to another country.
I wish I could send a message. This is the deal - I live in upstate NY and plan to vote for McCain even though my state will most likely swing to Obama due to the Democratic party vote of NYC and vicinity. The big city folk have done it in the past and continue to do so. The hics of upstate NY have been written off again - Democrat and Republican. We rarely see Hilary even though she is our U.S. senator and was a candidate. It's as though we don't exist or are invisible or don't matter - take your pick. However we're still good Americans and we trod off to our respective polling areas to cast our ballot. My candidate was bumped rather early in the primaries so I'm already dejected. I also believe that when I cast my ballot for a certain person for President of the U.S. that it's more a vote for a particular party rather than the person. I think that probably explains why many people vote by their party and it's platform of issues rather than the candidate. The candidate doesn't make decisions in a vacuum. I think the party and the campaign contributors have more clout than we, the American people, could ever imagine or want to believe. This diatribe of mine is not really about McCain or Obama so it does stray from your post but, hey, those are the two candidates up for the job this time around. I'm glad you decided to write this post and share it with us. I'm also glad I decided to come to your blog (I originally read this post on Brazen Careerist) and get to read your mom's comment. I loved it.
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