New Obama Ad: Defining Moment

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Advertising

The Obama campaign has released a new, two-minute television ad, "Defining Moment," in which the Democratic nominee summarizes his proposals and makes his case for the presidency. The spot, which features Obama speaking directly to the camera, will air in "key states," according to the campaign.

"At this defining moment in our history, the question is not, 'are you better off than you were four years ago?'" Obama says as the ad opens. "We all know the answer to that. The real question is will our country be better off four years from now? How will we lift our economy and restore America's place in the world?"

"Here's what I'll do as President," Obama continues. "To deal with our current emergency, I'll launch a rescue plan for the middle class that begins with a tax cut for ninety-five percent of working Americans. If you have a job, pay taxes and make less than two hundred thousand dollars-a-year, you'll get a tax cut.
I'll end the tax breaks for companies that ship our jobs overseas, and give them to companies that create jobs here in America. And I'll make low-cost loans available to small businesses."

"To build our economy for the future, I'll focus on our urgent national priorities: reducing the cost of health care, breaking our dependence on foreign oil, and making sure that every child gets the education they need to compete," he says. "How will I pay for these priorities? First, we've got to stop spending ten billion dollars a month in Iraq – while they run up a surplus. I'll end this war responsibly, so we can invest here at home. We'll monitor the Wall Street rescue plan carefully, making sure taxpayers are protected and CEOs don't game the system. I'll let the temporary Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest 2% expire and close the corporate tax loopholes the lobbyists put in. I'll order a top-to-bottom audit of government spending and eliminate programs that don't work."

Concludes the Democratic nominee: "We face real challenges, and they won't be easy to solve. But we can do it if we end the mindless partisanship, the divisiveness, curb special interest power and restore our sense of common purpose."

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
Follow on Twitter »

25 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment

See all 25 Comments


by skip2171 October 27, 2008 7:06 PM EDT: gotravel1: Obama has already started changing his promises by changing the atx rate from $250,000 to $200,000.
----------------------------------
You apparently don''t listen or read. Obama has repeatedly explained that his tax cuts are for indivuals making less that $200,000 or for families making less than $250,000. Perhaps you should "find out the truth" before you make any more stupid comments!; Reply to this comment


by seah5 October 26, 2008 11:57 PM EDT: If you want everyone in America (just the regular people) to live exactly the same as each other, never being able to move forward or gain or do what you want. just going to work and going home every night. Have no rights or freedoms. No chance to be all you can be. Just the same as the guy next store. Living in a very controlled environment.

That is what is coming, That is the Change your believing in, That is your Government being Changed.

Yes He Can!; Reply to this comment


by seah5 October 26, 2008 11:42 PM EDT: They Do want to Make a New Government, for them, not for you. Sure they will give you crumbs, but they will prevent you from getting more. you will be expected to be just like everyone else, One People, One Nation, for the elite though it will be much different.

They will have their Power and Control over the Government and you. You will live and do as they say, and you will or be imprisoned or die. You will not have any rights, you will be given privileges.

You can''t change it once it happens. Only they can change things. Your rights will be taken away to insure that.

Sure they have enough minds brainwashed to follow them blindly, but Once Obama gets his Civilian Military force going, you lose your 2nd amendment rights, America is History. Your responsible for that.

Look around the world, it has happened so many places. This will be the most devastating in the world though. The largest free''st nation Gone. For what?; Reply to this comment


by seah5 October 26, 2008 11:40 PM EDT: Soros is a professional market player, He has called the "War Criminal of Finance" for good reason.

He Has the money, the know how, and the experience doing this in many nations of the World.
He can regulate the stock markets, and has in the past, Thus the reason for his nickname.
Add that to the other wealthy people Behind the DNC, Together they can make of break the world financially.
He does not care about the money, or the Countries he destroys. He has a personal Motive, and the DNC is reaping in on that. They know it and are all in on the plan.

So if you think the DNC is going to give you anything besides throw crumbs at you, you are kidding yourself.
They are going to take you so low, they will tell you the only way up is to change the Government, Your stupidly going to say do it. Because they have you where they want you, desperate and if they have to take it further they will. You notice the DNC is not extremely concerned about the economic and the world Crisis? because they know how to stop it, they know what is causing it, but they do not want you to know.

Stupid Americas are willing to give up the most precious thing they have FREEDOM and put blind faith in those who are actually controlling your pain now.

The Democratic Party is so Power hungry they will do anything, They will stop at nothing. even if it means hurting the people more than they have. They are driven by a power hunger and greed that has engulfed them.; Reply to this comment


by liberty4evrr October 25, 2008 5:52 PM EDT: Obviously you didn''t watch the debates closely. He did say that if you or your small business makes under 250,000 a year, you will not see one icrease, in fact if you make 200,000 a year or less, you will get a tax cut. Those were his exact words. Pay attention and quit trying to twist his words.

My Friends, this republican is NOT voting for McSame.; Reply to this comment


by gotravel1 October 25, 2008 5:38 PM EDT: Obama has already started changing his promises by changing the atx rate from $250,000 to $200,000.Read the article on this website entitled Obama:The New Jimmy Carter.The similarities are obvious,except Jimmy Carter wasn''t friends with people who had an anti-American doctrine.Please undecided voters and Obama supporters,google about Obama/Odinga,Obama/Khalid al-mansour.These are all well documented and disturbing relationships.This is not prejudice to find out the truth.; Reply to this comment


by islay3 October 25, 2008 5:11 PM EDT: Barak Obama may God keep you safe, and give our country the wisdom to choose a new direction. To change the way we are seen in the eyes of the world, and to bring our country together with fresh ideas,for a better tomorrow.; Reply to this comment


by sickofpalin October 25, 2008 4:02 PM EDT: the more palin opens her month, the more voters like obama

you might think she is obama''s secret mole in the mccain operation; Reply to this comment


by sickofpalin October 25, 2008 3:57 PM EDT: check out the reporting out of alaska about palin- she has a contempt for any educated person who makes a reasoned argument for public policy

but her political style is simple-she''s a kneebreaker - her views are anti-intellectual and her world is all black and white

she can''t handle a complicated subject and makes no attempt to try

and this women thinks she is prepared

she said the other day that she would be shaking up the Senate

she''s a fruitcake; Reply to this comment