Will the 'Obama girl' defect to Clinton?
WASHINGTON (CNN) - It's an ongoing political saga: Who will YouTube's wildly popular "Obama Girl" support for president in real life?
Amber Lee Ettinger, the star of the online video that has been viewed well over three million times, has previously given mixed signals as to whether her enthusiastic support for the Illinois Democrat extends into real life.
According to the New York Daily News, however, "Obama Girl" may be leaning towards his chief rival, Hillary Clinton.
"I watched the recent debates and I liked a lot of her answers," the paper quotes Ettinger saying.
Reached by CNN Thursday, Ettinger added, "I’m excited that a woman is running for president… I think she’s doing a really good job."
Turns out Obama himself might not be too keen on Ettinger either. He told the Associated Press earlier this week that his own daughters became upset with the risqué video, saying, "You do wish people would think about what impact their actions have on kids and families."
But Ettinger told the paper she didn't take Obama's criticisms negatively.
"I think he's more concerned over his child's reaction to it. That's good parenting," said Ettinger. She added that, in her opinion, the video "shows him in a positive light."
The 'Obama girl' video and others like it are obviously parodies intended to inject humor into the political process. But they are also a sign of how YouTube users are clearly changing the political landscape– to the chagrin of candidates trying to control their message.
From CNN Politics
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WHO CARES?
Why does the uninformed opinion of a bikini girl make CNN's headlines every time she opens her mouth? Why can't we talk about Iraq, or healthcare, or the rising cost of living?
If I take off my shorts and shake MY butt in front of a camera, can I make CNN's headlines every other day, too?
I'm going to take an entire bottle of asprin and drink a bottle of voldka. This story was pointless and makes me want to not live anymore. What relavance does this have to anything remotely important and newsworthy?
Who really cares about this, now?
Who cares?
Pleeeeease.., is there any doubt as to why CNN has been playing this up?
Please raise your hand if you care who "Obama Girl" supports.
The CNN political ticker is a blog – and the late time I understood the defination of a blog, it did not necessarily equate good journalism. If you don't like blogs – don't visit them.
Ohhh, is the bloom off the rose? Obama girl will now probably vote for Hillary? LOL!
Please, what a non story! Enough of lame items like reporting on Edward's haircut, Hillary's cleavage, Obama's girl, Giuliani's girl, etc.
Geez!!! What's our collective age, perhaps 13???
I agree with Obama girl. If Barack is going to put himself in the limelight as a contender for and possible winner of the 2008 election. He is going to have to continue to exercise good parenting skills and monitor what his kids watch. I have just a few words: SNL, The Daily Show, Jay Leno, etc. He is going to be the butt of a lot of jokes and parody.
I am not American. I cannot vote. I also was unaware of the existence of an "Obama Girl".
The other candidates's main assets are their spouses: visible, capable, mature jewels.
Why would Mr Obama engage the services of a cyberstarlet instead?
I seems to me that it all has to do with delayng what sooner or later ought to be uncovered: the possibilty of a very black first lady? So, America is ready for it, and the rest of the world too!!!!!!!! Diplomacy has limits, like or not.
Of course she does not care that Senator Obama's daughters were upset over her actions. All she cares about is getting her face in the spotlight. It's no surprise that she does not truly support Senator Obama, in fact, I would not be surprised if she was NOT registered to vote and probably has no intention of doing so!!
I'm all for letting the internet influence the political screen...however I am not for letting idiotic, ill informed, sex driven people shape the tone of this election. This girl should realize she could do more to help the political field by shutting her mouth.
For the poster who says they are not in the US, etc.:
Obama-girl, much like Hillary-girl, et al. are not paid by that campaign. Rather, if you READ the article, it's from a website that is trying to inject humor into the political process. So before you bash a candidate that you can't even vote for, do some research and please read the article fully. Clearly Obama wouldn't have enlisted this girl's help if she doesn't even support him.
CNN you are so much better than this article suggest. Try this: why don't you people at CNN just come right out and endorse Hillary clinton? instead what you are doing is treating your viewers and readers like idiots by thinking we don't recognize your cotinued digs at sen. Barack Obama and always glowing coverage of sen. Hillary Clinton. Yes. it's very clear to see.
"I agree with Obama girl. If Barack is going to put himself in the limelight as a contender for and possible winner of the 2008 election. He is going to have to continue to exercise good parenting skills and monitor what his kids watch. I have just a few words: SNL, The Daily Show, Jay Leno, etc. He is going to be the butt of a lot of jokes and parody."
JMcLeod
Obama's daughter saw Obama girl on the news. Get your facts straight. If the news reported on a porn story without warning and your child happens to see it, I guess that make you a bad parent. Are you kidding me? We are becoming a soundbite country. Where are the adults?
OK – scientists MUST study this phenomenom. WHY do individuals that experience popularity (hollywood stars, Ms Ettinger, etc) somehow think their opinions become more important?
Freud called it narcissism, I believe?
Hey IV from Dallas. Sure you can make headlines taking off your shorts if you look like her!
How sad that CNN or any other news agency would put this in the news. CNN cant find more important news than this.
Does the phrase lighten up mean anything to anyone? Everyone is always so serious. No wonder everyone walks around stressed out wanting to pop pills and shoot each other.
Has America forgot how to smile?
Obama girl has every right to support any candidate she wants and state her opinion whether it is through a very eccentric way or not. We are not the ones who are to judge someone like that. She's just giving her own feedback into this election which has no reason to be discouraged.
Why the news media thinks the general public cares who Obama girl or Britney Spears or Brat Pitt or Paris Hilton or Oprah or any other self- important "celebrity" thinks about anything let alone who should be president is beyond me.
Does that mean she's switching to a lesbian too? This progressive sh@t just confuses the h@ll at of me..
Are we in the middle of a PRESIDENTIAL election or a HIGH SCHOOL election???
What a joke both some of these headlines and "stories" are. CNN's reporting is becoming more like an entertainment/gossip rag. Surely you think more of the electorate than this drivel.
Lighten up and smile people!
Please people. Why is everyone so angry at this girl? This is her 15 minutes of fame, so she is using it. Can't blame her for that can you? And, if you think she is influencing the election with her little video you need a reality check. She's not influencing anything except the wandering minds of adolescent boys.
Who cares? Why does CNN think this is newsworthy? It's completely meaningless. C'mon CNN. Enough of these frivolous, ridiculous items. Stick to reporting on relevant issues that actually matter. It's not as if there is a shortage of compelling issues to discuss.
@IV, Dallas, TX:
What indicates she's uninformed? She's apparently watching the debates, which is more than I can say for many people. There was certainly some research involved in creating the original "Obama Girl" video. She must have either participated in that research or at least read some of it to create the video. How many people do you know that have done anything similar? Or are you trying to imply all women that wear bikini's are "uninformed"?
Also, what "talk" do you want to see about Iraq, healthcare, or the rising cost of living? I've monitored this blog, and any story even remotely related to Iraq or healthcare devolves into a Republican-hate-fest by the end of the first comment.
As for the cost of living, it will always increase. If you have a solution to stop inflation, let's hear it. No solution has been found since the beginning of our nation's capitalist economy over 200 years ago despite academic and philosophical debate. And until inflation is arrested, you can't begin to discuss controls on the cost of living.
@pl, at the UN:
"Why would Mr Obama engage the services of a cyberstarlet instead?"
Obama DID NOT engage the "services of a cyberstarlet". The "Obama Girl" video was created independently of the Obama campaign. In fact, the very comments he makes in this blog entry seem to indicate he was unaware of it–otherwise he would not have said he wished "people" to consider what effect their actions have on families/children.
As far as I know, Mr. Obama has never hidden the fact that he has an African-American wife. In fact, Mrs. Obama was featured in a blog posting on CNN only a few short days ago for her comments about family.
Obama said, "You do wish people would think about what impact their actions have on kids and families."
Yeah, and I do wish parents would think about what impact their actions (like watching their kids watch this video) would have on them.....
Duh.
CNN- PLEASE! None of us, regardless of our political views, want to see these stupid sub-par stories on the Ticker!
This whole "_____ – Girl" mentality makes our current state of politics in this country a greater joke than it already is!
Please, NO MORE!
Nevermind Obama is attempting to change the landscape of American politics by restoring American values, morals, and decency to a country and world in dire need of change, good judgment, and new direction. He should just stop, give up and stop campaigning, because 'Obama girl may become Clinton's girl.'
Wow. Is this what our news has come to? CNN-please print real/unbiased/relevant news!
Would you uptight people please get a sense of humor? If you are all so depressed by this girl, I'm sure there are some great Goth blogs out there for you to check out. Jeez.
I think stories like these highlight the disconnect between the priorities of Americans versus the rest of the world. Yes I find it shameful that CNN would post such inconsequental garbage with all thats going on in the world. Even the stories about the candidates and their personal attacks and potentially offensive talk. Get over it!! Lets start talking about the real issues and how we're going to fix this country – and let me tell you there are many. If this is the sort of issue with great significance among a majority of Americans, then I'm sad to say our country is doomed.
People need to pipe down a bit with the criticism of CNN posting certain things on a blog (need I remind you) that they consider non-news items and unimportant. Sometimes lighter stuff is a welcome change. Also, if it is so easy to generate important, original journalistic content, please go into business for yourself and start reporting. Best of luck.
nothing but corporate propaganda to distract from the fact that the only 2 real americans and non-cfr candidates are paul and kucinich.
hahaha.... CNN,if I remember correctly the other day you also had a headline about someone fishing a wedding ring from the toilet... it must be a slooooow week, because this is pretty much on the same level... seriously, can anyone tell me how this process works, who is selecting what should make news? In past there used to be a name of the actual person who wrote the article (and the name of the editor)...why not take pride for job well done?
Slow 'NEWS' day, huh?
There is already a Clinton Girl–she did a Hot4Hill Video.
Enough! Get her off of here!
YOU... Stupid uptight nerds need to get a life. Its just a video, and I found it very entertaining. It was funny to watch it didn't change my opinion one way or the other. And you must remember she is just the girl in the video, someone had to produce it so dont get mad at her. For her shooting the video was probably just another job. This is America she has the right to state her opinion just like you do. So give it a much needed REST.... And if Obama is worried about a girl in a video saying that she is in love with him, I sure do hate to see if he become president, he will be the butt of many jokes as all the presidents that came before him.... I wonder how will he respond to Jay Leno and friends...... Give me a break.....
Children get upset by everything. Why should the world be held hostage by a child's whim?
Dear CNN – "the best political news team on television,"
Is this your best " political news?" Have you exhaustively covered political/policy issues of: current food & environmental safety, especially imported foods & vitamins from China, climate change, jobs/income distribution, education, health care, housing, aging & crumbling infrastructure, declining value of the American dollar, national debt, health care for veterans of the war in Iraq & Afganistan, and so on.
Thank you.
OBAMA will always be the best !
you can write what you want !!!
Obama girl, who is she that she even deserve an article of CNN, has CNN turn to Salad?
Bush like Bush lite same lies as Bush...Obama is attempting to change the landscape of American politics by restoring American values, morals, and decency to a country and world...what a joke sounds just like the vast Right Wing Conspiracy. I am a uniter not a divider.
You idiots, those of you who are posting this "Political Ticker" content on the CNN main page, are sickening me. Stop feeding political pornography and dismiss this bull with the complete lack of attention it deserves. What, is CNN trying to outfox FOX? Gimme a break.
Good parenting would have not allowed a 6 year old access to YouTube. Are you kidding me? We want this guy to run our country? He can't even keep his six year old from surfing the net and watching adult themed videos. Nice.
Hahahaha Silly Liberals
no, he couldn't stop her from seeing cable and network news, which was running that inane, unfunny and barely musical video for weeks as if it were comic gold. That's where his six year old saw the clip. Go back and read the original story. Get your facts straight before you post your opinion.
This is not news people! Who cares who this lady will vote for. It's not like the person who the American people want to be in office will actually win this so called free election. Let try to stay focused on the real issues. You know the issues that effect the American people: Health care, the American people being represented by their so called leader, and the use of renewable energy. Doesn't anyone care about anything but these so called celebrities?
@James, San Antonio, TX
Where did you get your information that Obama's six-year-old girl watched the video on YouTube? Personally, the first time I saw the video, it was being played on television–on a news station (whether it was CNN's Jeanne Moos, FoxNews, Headline News, or any of the others).
If you have reliable information that she saw it on YouTube, please share it, because all this blog says is that the video is on YouTube. It does not say access to the video is only through YouTube.
I certainly can't fault Obama's parenting skills if his daughter saw it like I did: watching a news channel. In fact I would applaud him for allowing his child to become aware of the world around her.
I think much of the problem here is that CNN sees the Ticker as a traditional top-down news/entertainment source rather than a modern interactive blogspace. We’re allowed to comment, but I’m not convinced that anyone at CNN reads those comments. Certainly they remain unresponsive to accusations of bias, and their readers near-uniform condemnation of fluff pieces like this one. However, on the off-chance that anyone in a position of power at CNN is reading this, I’ll add my voice to those above: Please CNN, get this crap off the Ticker. You’re better than this... or at the very least, you should be.
It's great to see that she is very unique and practical about the situation. I wonder if her decision on the candidates will be at all based on some of their ideas on poverty and other issues of foreign policy.
If you analyze the comments and their voice, it seems as if most of them come from people who are either supporters of or are on Obama's campaign. What happened to change in American politics Sen. Obama?
she sounds almost as stupid as the people who keep insisting Obama let his 6-year-old trawl youtube for racy videos. she saw this crapola on the news, which is obsessed with stupid starlets. it's easier than reporting the news, i guess.
I think the whole thing with the Obama and Clinton girls is just silly. And it's sad to think that they think that is what it take to get the 18-25 group interested in politics and voteing. I am 24 and those girls don't make me anymore interested in the 08 elections then I already was.
wake up everybody...this women is doing this just draw attention to herself...she doesn't really care about politics...her video and others like it are not intended to "inject humor" into the political process...they are intended to "inject" attention unto themselves so they can possibly make a break into television (commercials, talk shows, you name it).
FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! WHY IS THIS A NEW ITEM FOR SUCH AN ESTEEMED NEWS ORGANIZATION AS CNN!
Does anybody care about this? It's pathetic...
Political Buzz Radio live tomorrow.
http://political-buzz.com/2007/08/23/political-buzz-radio-tomorrow-at-5-pm-eastern/
"The CNN Political Ticker is the hottest destination for the latest political news with dispatches, behind-the-scenes reports, and expert commentary, 24-7."
This really made me think about becoming a member.
The Obama-/Clinton-Girl story made me think about deleting the CNN-Bookmark.
This is beyond interest even for a very-low-level blog. Nohing against the girl, she has an "opinion", a webcam and the body to express her exibitionistic tendencies, so what.
Her 15 minutes are up.
At least Obama thinks it's nonsense, too.
Why is something like this being reported? Because it has to.
I've been a journalist for nearly 15 years now. One of the earliest things I learned about why a story gets reported can be fitted into any one of these three categories:
People want to know, people need to know, and people have the right to know.
So any story that you see fits in one or more of these categories. Just because one person doesn't think it should fit in any of them doesn't mean the next guy feels the same.
Personally, I think having some hot girl making a lusty video for a candidate will make a new (low) standard of how voters will show support for their candidates.
Politics is already dirty enough with the candidates but let's not make it any dirtier by doing videos like this.
As one of Amber's photographers, I can tell you that I DO CARE what she thinks. But whether or not that influences my vote is a personal matter. The whole point of this article is that You Tube is changing the way American people view their political hopefulls. You can still vote for whomever you want. It's just a more entertaining and more modern way that political candidates can reach the American people.
umm, whocares?
oh and she's just an actress. She didn't sing, write, or have anything to do with the making of the script. She just danced and lip sang the entire movie, so really... whocares?
one last thing... what if she was always a "Clinton girl," but now may become "Obama's girl?" I doubt you would see this headline the other way around.
again... whocares whocares whocares whocares whocares whocares whocares whocares whocares whocares whocares whocares whocares whocares whocares whocares whocares whocares.
To IV from Dallas, trust me I'm a political scientist. Please send me an unclothed photo of yourself, and I will give you an in-depth assessment of its impact on the 2008 election. Obviously, the more photos you send, the more comprehensive the analysis.
Obama Girl rules. 15 million people are watching her videos... Thats more than all the candidates youtube videos combined. and there's enough somber news out there already... thank god there's someone funny and gorgeous to look at once in a while. also – check her video out at youtube debates. She's not Walter Concrite, but she seems to be making an effort.
David, Salinas,
"but I’m not convinced that anyone at CNN reads those comments."
They do indeed take some posts off or not let them get on. I've had a couple where I was taking a couple of folks to task for what they've posted. I've seen the post get uploaded when I refresh the page, but go back a bit later and it isn't there.
The posts I've added weren't profane or nasty. Simply asking for justification. I will admit that they were pointed and possibly a bit personal, but I've seen far worse. I think maybe because I was making a logical argument that may be in conflict with the CNN perceived agenda.
Have a good day,
Chip
As a fellow Temple University alumni, I am ashamed that this chick is getting as much attention as she is. No substance! Just another example of the moral decline of our main stream media and society. It just reinforces the need to have someone like Obama in office.
The video is stupid , and the list goes on.....lol but funny
I think Obama Rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
he knows wat he's talking about.........