Big Bird stars in new Obama TV ad

Updated 9:00 a.m. ET

It was bound to happen: Big Bird's appearance in an anti-Mitt Romney TV ad.

The Obama campaign released a new ad today that slams Romney's call to end government funding of PBS and tries to turn his joke about loving Big Bird against him.

The ad begins by describing convicted "gluttons of greed" such as Bernie Madoff and Kenneth Lay and cheekily says only "One man has the guts" to speak the name of "evil genius who towered over" them: Big Bird. The ad continues with clips of Romney saying "Big Bird", followed by a clip of Big Bird saying, "It's me, Big Bird."

Related stories:

• Romney: "I love Big Bird," but I'd cut PBS funding
• Obama: "We didn't know Big Bird was driving the federal deficit"
• Big Bird sets off avalanche of response post debate

"Big, yellow, a menace to our economy," the ad jokingly continues. "Mitt Romney knows it's not Wall Street you have to worry about, it's Sesame Street."

"Mitt Romney, taking on our enemies no matter where they nest."
 

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Romney: "I love Big Bird," but I'd cut PBS funding

The ad follows the criticism unveiled by President Obama the day after last Wednesday's debate, during which Romney said that while "I love Big Bird", he would cut funding to PBS.

On Thursday, Mr. Obama told a crowd in Denver, "Thank God someone is getting tough on Big Bird. ... We didn't know Big Bird was driving the deficit."

Romney spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg responded to the ad, telling CBS News in an email: "Four years ago, President Obama said that if you don't have a record to run on, 'you make a big election about small things.' With 23 million people struggling for work, incomes falling, and gas prices soaring, Americans deserve more from their president."

The Obama campaign tells CBS News that the ad will run on national cable - not specifically in any battleground states - and would not indicate how much they're spending on the ad buy.

Caroline Horn contributed to this report.

[iberealcool]

I gave money to this bozo's campaign. This is how he spends it? NEVER AGAIN.

[clb2012now]

I want a President that can stand up for himself, his record, his policies and AMERICA.? Obama did not.? I was not surprised by Obama during the debate but many were. So to those that were, which President is going to show up for work tomorrow? Obama does not attend meeting with his job council, doesn't have department meeting, hadn't been having his security briefings.

What I did NOT hear in the debate was what Obama is going to do with his next term and his "flexibility" He already goes around Congress so that is no deterrent. He refused to help other Democrats with their elections so that is no deterrent. What is he going to do? What plans? How does he expect to accomplish them?

Big Bird, the one example that Mitt used and he is getting excoriated for it. Media expect him to propose other examples of loophole and program cuts. Those loopholes and program cuts need to be negotiated with congress and that is what plans to do. Should Mitt show his hand like Obama did by releasing his timeline for leaving Afghanistan?

Big Bird is worth over 400M and certainly could share his wealth with the other programs. Remember 1/100 = a penny that adds up to a dollar. I believe that government has a place in starting programs like PBS but eventually they should become self reliant. Just as with green energy, we should support research but not the merchandizing of the product.

Did Mitt really lie?? 3 to 1 Economics say Romney's plan over Obama's current is better for the economy.? At least 5 plans have said that Romney's plan will work to the 1 plan that the President mentioned.? The same plan that has since rescinded it.


Since the debate, Obama, his surrogates and supporters have been using demagoguery of Mitt the person not the policies and framework that he is proposing. The attack on Mitt personally just don't stand up to his life. If Obama attacked Mitts policy and framework, he can't use his own record as proof.

[Here_I_Stand]

What a lack of class! Obama and the dems liberal agenda have ruined the future of this country.

[Youlysees]

I watched the debate. This TV ad is spot on! Here I stand, I bet you must have worshipped bullies when you were a kid, huh?

[kevcl6750]

Big Bird is all the Obama campaign has left ! Hey Axelrod I got a bird for you, aka the middle finger !

[RepealObamacare]

Great, I see CBS has honored the Children's workshop request and continues to post this slanderous video. We have resorted name calling and mockery. Smame on you Mr. Obama.

[mikeonthebay]

16 members of the Special Forces security team at our Embassy in Libya - a high-risk location - were cut just weeks before the attack at Benghazi that killed Ambassador Chris Stevens and 3 others. According to the unit's commander, the diplomatic staff were told "they just had to make do with less" despite expressing their legitimate concerns for their safety. Glad Obama put big bird in line for government money first

[Swiss422]

I'd pay Big Bird first, absolutely. If you don't have an educated public, you've got nothing to fight for. You're no better than warring tribal factions. We're better than that.

[chevyhotrod]

First President Obama got a smack down by Gov. Romney, then by the Economist that President Obama uses as his propaganda tax attack against Gov. Romney, then a smack down by AARP, then the most precious of all, a smack down by "Big Bird".

Not looking good Mr. President when "Big Bird" is coming after you.....lol

So, so funny.....lol

Princeton Economist: Obama Campaign Is Misrepresenting My Study on Romney's Tax Plan

"In fact, Harvard economist Martin Feldstein and Princeton economist Harvey Rosen both concede that paying for Romney's tax cuts would require large tax increases on families making between $100,000 and $200,000."
But that's not true. Princeton professor Harvey Rosen tells THE WEEKLY STANDARD in an email that the Obama campaign is misrepresenting his paper on Romney's tax plan:

I can't tell exactly how the Obama campaign reached that characterization of my work. It might be that they assume that Governor Romney wants to keep the taxes from the Affordable Care Act in place, despite the fact that the Governor has called for its complete repeal. The main conclusion of my study is that under plausible assumptions, a proposal along the lines suggested by Governor Romney can both be revenue neutral and keep the net tax burden on taxpayers with incomes above $200,000 about the same. That is, an increase in the tax burden on lower and middle income individuals is not required in order to make the overall plan revenue neutral.

You can check the math that shows Romney's plan is mathematically possible here.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/princeton-economist-obama-campaign-misrepresenting-my-study-romneys-tax-plan_653917.html

AARP to Obama: Stop citing us
AARP has a message for President Obama: Stop using us to score political points.

Obama cited the nonpartisan senior lobby twice in Wednesday's debate when arguing against Mitt Romney's Medicare proposals.

The remarks prompted a polite statement from AARP Senior Vice President John Hishta asking candidates to refrain from mentioning the group.

http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/politics-elections/260369-aarp-to-obama-stop-citing-us-

Sesame Workshop to Obama: Take Big Bird ad down

"Sesame Workshop is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization and we do not endorse candidates or participate in political campaigns," the group said. "We have approved no campaign ads, and as is our general practice, have requested that the ad be taken down."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57528812/sesame-workshop-to-obama-take-big-bird-ad-down/?tag=AverageMixRelated#postComments

Ouch....that must hurt....lol

[marksamuelson]

Steve, do you want to update your story? PBS has asked that Big Bird be taken down, that they won't allow the image to be used in partisan advertising. Fox has had this up for an hour... Where are you?

[walkthetalk]

PBS SHOULD BE DEFUDED TODAY! This is not about education, This about a taxpayer funded CNN Clone. PBS just can't seem to control themselves, with their political Bias for our current regime, and their left leaning Idoloiges. Social and political issues are always on the table at PBS and that table has significant tilt left. Over the years i have watched PBS list more and more left. The younger generation doesn't realize it because they grew up, with that list, as being status quo. When a public funded entity receives taxpayer funds, how can anyone justify them, for spewing their leftest agenda, without repercusshions. All of this weeping and wailing could have simply been avoided, if PBS would have remained completely neutral in their commentaires. Their social idologies do not fit the path that i want my childern to follow, once again, their left leaning petticoats show far too much. If this Taxpayer Funded program, exsisted in the recprocal, the earth would trimble from the people jumping up and down. Clean up your act PBS and i will consider my future support.

[willow11st]

My Eight-Year-old daughter and I love to watch "Nature"on PBS,but I hope next year I don't have to tell her"Sorry,Honey,but President Romney Cut federal funding for PBS,because he and his Fat-Cat Friends didn't want to stick a Crow-bar In Their collective wallet to pony up the money for it!!"Kinda Gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling all over,Doesn't it,Mitt??

[takacrat]

Fat Cat Hell, The Big Yellow Bird is getting 444 Million per year and pays no Taxes. I think that the Big Yellow Bird is really Obama in a Yellow Suit because the Big Yellow Bird doesn't have a Birth Certificate!!