WASHINGTON (CNN) - Supporters of health care reform have entered almost 1,000 videos - from shocking images of people in peril to cartoon shorts - in a Democratic Party contest in which a panel of celebrity judges, party officials and grassroots activists will pick a submission that will be turned into a new television ad.
The list has now been whittled down to 20 ads. A handful of President Obama's Hollywood allies including Will.I.Am, Rosario Dawson and Seth MacFarlane are some of the judges helping to choose the 30-second TV spot that will be paid for by Organizing for America, Obama's political arm at the Democratic National Committee.
Several of the ads promote the inclusion of a public option in the final health care reform bill, while other entries feature children speaking directly to the camera about the issue. The most graphic video, which promotes the public option, shows a highway car crash, a woman drowning and another sitting on a window ledge surrounded by fire.
Organizing for America will send an e-mail out this afternoon naming the 20 videos still in the competition.
Follow Mark Preston on Twitter: @prestoncnn
From CNN Politics
© 2011 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Contact us | Work for us | Help
The Hollyweirds are at it again. I think each and every Hollyweird star should adopt a family and support them for their entire life. That way maybe we would start taking these Hollyweird people seriously.
Obama and Hollywood.............both are void of reality. Why do Democrats always pick their candidates based on celebrity and not substance? You got what you voted for, an empty suit that golfs, plays basketball and jets all over the country campaigning.............nothing else.
Shouldn't this be on "E!" or Entertainment Tonight?
Since CNN is still considered a 'real' new organization by the White House, maybe you could continue earning that title.
Ah, Hollywood to the rescue, again! This President would be still organizing communities if it wasn't for Hollywood to get him to the White House! What a joke of a President and what a joke of a Presidency! Certainly wouldn't be surprised to see other nations laugh at us!!!
If you've got to go to Hollywood to make your point, then obviously we don't want what Obama is pushing. Quit trying to shove this crappy healthcare plan down our throats........we don't want it and Hollywood celebrities pushing it, make us want it even less. Actions from a desperate administration.
If the Republican Party wants to counter with an ad campaign showing how after spending $900 billion of borrowed money our health care costs increase even faster with ObamaCare, I will be happy to donate for that effort.
And how are these ads any different from the supposed "republican" attack ads? All these libs are trying to do is take advantage of people in terrible situations to further advance their agenda. This sickens me.
Setting aside how inane this whole "hollywood friends" line is that the media keeps feeding us to get the GOPers all uppity, which would you prefer:
Obama's "Hollywood friends" help him pick a commercial; OR
Bush's "Oil & Defense Industry friends" help him start a war?
Stuff it GOPers.
Much ado about NOTHING. What a difference 9 months make.
It's a bouncing baby boy named Barak Obama, too bad.
That's just sick. You people are preying on americans and distorting the truth.
This socialist agenda has absolutely got to stop before we ruin this country and cause a civil war.
Quit lying and stop.I thought the republicans were bad but this democratic "socialist" agenda has taken the prize. Where are leaders for us? The american people.
And why is this news? All people are going to do is try to find a way to spin this around into Obama being elitist or petty or something similar. So he knows some people from Hollywood who are going to help him with what they do best? So what? People shouldn't base their opinion on an ad they saw. That includes anti- and pro- healthcare bill. I'm beginning to wonder just how many uneducated Americans there are versus educated ones. It seems that the former is more prevalent. When reality is much different. They may not have more voices, but they sure are louder.
So far we have seen change that includes Hollywood and hollow wood, we have a PR-esident or a preseident?
Wow, just another example of how Hollywood is in the pocket of the great and mighty Obamanation.
"Hollywood Helps Obama"
"ACORN Helps Obama"
"Moveon.org Helps Obama"
"MSNBC Helps Obama"
"DailyKos Helps Obama"
It's true... in America, we help those who cannot help themselves.
What they need is an iconic character like Smokey the Bear or that crying Native American from the 70's (who, by the way, was not a Native American at all). My suggestion? A cute lil' cartoon syringe named Needley. He could be standing by Gramma's bedside while the evil insurance executive (Snidely Whiplash, in a career resurrecting cameo) denies her treatment because her hangnail is a preexisting condition.
Either that or a naughty nurse. Naughty nurses are cool. Have a nice day!
Oh boy.......... I can imagine how the far-right will have fun criticizing this!
On a completely different note. I saw that 6 in 10 back cap and trade which is relatively good news. I think that cap-and-trade is kind of the soft approach (a carbon tax would more preferable), but it's better than nothing. People who say it will "destroy" capitalism are being drama queens. Some people are crazy. I suggest you actually do the research on what cap-and-trade actually is before making radical statements. I wouldn't be surprised if most people don't know what it means... Just regurgitate everything the media says.
What? He can't choose his own ad? He can't make a decision on Afghanistan, can't do anything about the economy or unemployment. What can this man do besides campaign? Oh yeah, he can vote "present" and call it a day.
Obama hooks up with anybody that doesn't resemble the American people.
We are starting to figure out that Obama is not a great worker, he delegates everything for everyone else to do. Now he can't even make his own decision on what ad to run! Guess that's to be expected from a community organizer turned Junior senator who only votes present, instead of taking a stand on an issue. We shouldn't be surprised by Obamas lack of substance.
Just like this lying fraud of a cowards whole political career, ALL staged, ALL phony and ALL an act.
The directors (The media) selected him to be the star, got him "the part" and now protect their "leading man".
The Obamabots, the ill informed and gushing audience ate it up, the rest of us stayed in work and tried to work more hours to pay for the star and his entourage.
I wish it was just a bad movie, but it is not.........
No sequel though, he will be a one hit "blunder".
Ahh yes, Hollywood. The enlightened population largely supporting rapist Roman Polanski. The land of alternate reality and out-of-touch understanding of everyday Americans lending their inexperienced voices and baseless opinions to a complex issue they have likely never (and will never) been faced with. I'm certainly glad the government I voted for is finally turning to a voice of reason to help push this measure through. Stick with making people laugh, please.
That is why this party is not taken seriously by normal people.
Please make it a cartoon,we really need some humor. Perhaps
Dumbo the flying elephant telling us all to follow him to the tar pits
with the healthcare bill scam.
Oh, great. Just what we need–more bubble-headed celebrities telling us what they think about political issues. What's next, we ask Lindsay Lohan how to solve the economic crisis?
This just formalizes what we'd already figured out – Hollywood and the Democratic Party are in bed with each other. Anyone who openly disagrees – Jon Voight, Charlton Heston, Angie Harmon for example – is villified, loses out for roles they are perfect for, and basically sidelined.
Yes, I realize Heston is dead and hasn't worked in years. After he died, all anyone talked about was his NRA speech. Few people talked about his Civil Rights efforts.
Ah, tolerance is wonderful when it's all one way!
he needs all the help...go and help
Ok, isn't this CREEPY!! It's like right out of a movie!! Hollywood propagandizing for government? You obamabots need to wake up and see this creep that you are worshipping.
It's time to boycott these people! Hollywood shouldn't be an arm of the government. Is this Iran?
No more family guy for me! It stinks this year anyway.
How can they be FOR the legislation unless they know what will be in it? Obviously whatever they say in their adds will not be based on fact. I believe that they call such things propaganda?
Oh I can't WAIT to hear the Republican't screaming bloody heck about this! I think this might be the last straw for Limbaugh & Beck . . . .I can't wait to see their teeny little heads explode while they get all worked up about this one!
will.I.am has no right to mingle in politics when he's a corporate shill for DirecTV. He has nothing to say ever and is a tool.
Geez...... all we need is another campaign ad from these liberals.
Pathetic attempts at Propaganda from Chairman Obama.
Of course Obama is going to have the hollywood elites pick an ad for him. God forbid he make a decision and stand on what he believes. More of the same garbage, at least we won't have to hear him make another one of his boring and idiotic speeches.
Grant you that the Hollywood members are citizens like all of us...but geez...doesn't it just turn your stomach to see how they try to influence the thinking of American's. Sad.
Somebody needs to give him the support he needs....we all know he's not getting support from the idiot democrats or the nazi republicans.
I am glad that Obama's organization–Organizing for America is at the forfront of this campaign for healthcare reform. We need all the support and power that we can muster to do healthcare reform. Senator Harry Reid is on the healthcare reform train to victory 2010. He now has to get the conservative Democrats to wake up and do likewise before it is too late. This train is rolling on to victory with or without the critics and the Republicans!!
More elitist libtards from Hollywood to help LEAD our Nation? Just when I was watching Celebrity rehab and who wants a dose of VD from Rock of Love, I thought I'd seen it all from Hollywood. But now we have a kook like Sean Penn as a political activist promoting Hugo Chavez and Danny Glover slobbering all about while Obama enlists the artsy-fartsies of Hollyweird in a competitions to promote his healthcare agenda. Wonder how much of our tax dollars is going as set ups and prizes?
Oh you rock Barry, you go Obamakazi!
Draft Obama, Pelosi, Dodd, Kerry and Reid!
Right, getting the idiots in Hollyweird is a great move...Lord this man loves his publicity....you have ZERO credibility right now Obama...you have earned my pet name for you the trophy wife of the democratic party...
Ha Ha Ha Ha
OBOZO can't sell his policies on MERIT, so he's got to use marketing.
What a JOKE!
You Hollywood Idiots ! Just like the Obama administration, "Its all Acting"
If this is so great, why do they need to drum up support through ads? I would prefer to see the Messiah give a one hour description on television. I always get the feeling I am having the wool pulled over my eyes with this guy!!!
It is high time the Democrats learned how to do Political Theatre! (This is a common theme for Thom Hartmann-# 1 progressive talker in America-heard of him CNN?) The Republicans have been doing it for a long time now. Just harp away with lies ad nauseum and the gullible will believe it, start parroting it, and the media will just run with any lie their masters require for the News Day! Voila! Then we get the swift-boating of a REAL American veteran! who had the time to serve! Finally, comes the Massive, Well documented (Greg Palast, Brad Freeman) Complet ELECTION FRAUD of both 2000 and 2004 with all the media SPIN and cheerleading. The Result: What WE have now! Naomi Klein detailed it all in her seminal book, "The Shock Doctrine: The Rise Of Disaster Capitalism". Anyone doubt it has been a disaster? Just look around you for the verification worldwide! We The People have to pass background checks, take drug tests for simple jobs with low pay while the REAL CRIMINALS RUN THE PLACE, Take all the perks they can legislate, AND HAVE VERY LITTLE ACCOUNTABILITY! Lip-Service is US! So by all means take out these deceived ones with some good PR. Try just telling the Truth! Think anyone can do this in American Political Power circles? Doubt it!
This is great. Hollywood and Obama = very good match. They all live in a lala land...
That's great! We need more acting coming from Washington. They aren't doing it very well now.
It figures! Let's get someone to help with the economy instead!
He needs all the Hollywood help he can get!
All the slick marketing and glitzie TV ads won't change the fact that as the American people understand more and more about the Dem leadership and the President's plan tha more they dislike it.
As President Obama said during the campaign, "You can put lipstick on a pig, but its still a pig".
I really wish Hollywood would mind its collective business. Why do special interests – Hollywood for the Democrats & giantic corporate interests for the Republicans have to their says at the American people's expense.
Maybe instead of all the hollywood idiots out there that want the tax payers to foot the bill for all these social programs could start putting their money where their mouth is and start donating their own money to charities. Just a thought.
Hollywood is the last place that one should turn to for opinions. They have no foot in reality and much of their wealth comes on the backs of pornography, violence, hate, and a core value centered on the adoration of themselves and on the acquisition of stuff as what's important in life.
Too bad the President didn't wash his hands of them instead of embracing them. The fact that Hollywood itself is involved is enough to doubt the wisdom of this healthcare reform effort.
Enough with the Hollywood nonsense! How about paying attention to our kids dying in Afghanistan you MORONS!
"The most graphic video, which promotes the public option, shows a highway car crash, a woman drowning and another sitting on a window ledge surrounded by fire."
Ummm... that is very scary and everything but which is more appropriate to say, "he was killed because he had no insurance" or "he was killed in a car crash"? It's confusing. Like the crazy guy who said thousands die due to lack of insurance. Umm, did heart disease or cancer have anything to do with their death?
Hugowood is for HUGO CHAVEZ
Hollywood is for OBAMA
By the way, the Chinese are calling OBAMA "obaMAO".
It tells something ...
Wake up and act swiftly, you guys! We don't know who will be the next victim if we lost FREEDOM OF SPEECH.