NPR: Where's Topanga?

Where's Topanga?

Moveon.org is spending $150,000 to air this ad on MTV and Comedy Central. It's the winner of the "funniest" category from Moveon's "Obama in 30 Seconds" contest. Featured performers: Amber Benson, whom you may remember as Tara from Buffy, along with Boy Meets World's Shawn, aka Rider Strong (amazingly, that is his real birth name).

While we here at Vox Politics love a mock-PSA as much as the next blog, we are inclined to question the wisdom of an implied parallel between Barack Obama and, oh say, herpes. But we did enjoy the 80s anti-drug ad reference and the cute, fluffy chick at the end.

Just wondering, though...who is this ad supposed to attract? Will it really appeal to anyone who's not already demographically inclined to be on-board with Obama? And/or will it be distasteful to the broader audience of (somewhat older, maybe less irony-drenched) swing voters that will have to be wooed to secure an Obama victory?

-- Evie Stone

1:50 PM ET | 07-28-2008 | permalink

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Although this ad may not attract new Obama supporters - it does strike a cord with some of us. As a woman of color, who voted for Bush once, it is indeed hope for someone to actually do something with the power that they have been entrusted with that has made me decide to Obama. If this is considered distasteful by anyone they clearly haven't been watching the ads throughout the primary and general election season - filled with a call to hate, stereotype, use race and religion as a wedge issue, etc. Further, its a generation that has given up hope that scares me most of all.

Sent by Aimee Laramore | 10:49 PM ET | 07-28-2008

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