The Mac Observer

Skip navigational links

Choose text size: Select small text. Select medium text. Select large text.

You're viewing an article in TMO's historic archive vault. Here, we've preserved the comments and how the site looked along with the article. Use this link to view the article on our current site:
Apple 1984 Ad Spoofed in Political Campaign

Apple 1984 Ad Spoofed in Political Campaign

by , 9:20 AM EDT, March 19th, 2007

Apple's original 1984 commercial that introduced the world to the Macintosh has now ushered in another new era: High impact home-brew political ads. The iconic Mac commercial was used as the foundation for a pro- Barack Obama video mash-up that slams Hillary Rodham Clinton, according to The San Francisco Chronicle.

Illinois Senator Barack Obama and New York Senator Hillary Clinton are both hoping to make a run for the White House in the next U.S. presidential election.


The "Hillary 1984" video on YouTube.

The Internet-based ad replaces the "big brother" face from Apple's ad with Hillary Clinton, replaces Apple's voice over at the end of the commercial with "On Jan. 14, the Democratic primary will begin. And you'll see why 2008 won't be like 1984," and ends with an Apple-stylized Obama logo.

Although the ad features a clever remix of Apple's original commercial and footage of Hillary Clinton, its most striking feature is that it did not come from and is not endorsed by presidential hopeful Barack Obama's campaign. Instead, it was created anonymously and then posted on YouTube.


The original "1984" ad.

Peter Leyden, director of the New Politics Institute political and new media think tank, said that YouTube video represents "a new era, a new wave of politics ... because it's not about Obama. It's about the end of the broadcast era."

The video also shows that total campaign control is slipping away from political candidates, and now rests partially with voters and political activists. That shift in control means that candidates have no way of managing a message - positive or negative - and now stand to gain or suffer from other people's efforts without any input.

Political campaign ad expert Bob Gardner commented the success the "Hillary 1984" video is seeing means that "every candidate will have to worry about some guy with a video camera and a Mac being able to do whatever he or she wants."

Digg!

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Close Name:Guest
Mon Mar 19, 2007 12:37 pm Subject:

You forgot to mention just how lame it is.

If I were Obama's camp, I'd disavow it too. Because it's a boring ripoff without any basis, cleverness, sense, or humor. My bet is it's from someone from Fox News.


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:Guest
Mon Mar 19, 2007 12:54 pm Subject: Lame?

Google "Hillary 1984" and you get a bazillion hits. For something so "lame", it certainly has garnered an incredible amount of buzz and comments in the blogosphere and elsewhere.

I admit, it really isn't that clever, it simply happened to be "first". You could substitute any talking head of choice, and no doubt it will start a new web phenom as copycats go wild. All your 1984 ads are belong to us.


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:Guest
Mon Mar 19, 2007 8:13 pm Subject: trash politics

republicans have nothing to offer, except trash.


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:Guest
Mon Mar 19, 2007 8:55 pm Subject: Run {Candidate} RUN ~ Bumper sticker

Insert your opposing party candidate's name on the bumper sticker and put it on the FRONT of your car.

Insert your favored party's candidate name on the bumper sticker and put it on the BACk of your car.


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:Guest
Mon Mar 19, 2007 11:25 pm Subject: OBAMA AD

Obama is a scumbag; Nice UTube ad trashing Hillary after he stated no personal attacks against other candidates he’s also being financed by Bushs' ex financier...shows what he's really about. He’s a lying hypocrite.


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:gslusher Posts: 2088 Joined: 13 Nov 2002
Tue Mar 20, 2007 12:03 am Subject: Re: OBAMA AD

Quote
Anonymous wrote:
Obama is a scumbag; Nice UTube ad trashing Hillary after he stated no personal attacks against other candidates he’s also being financed by Bushs' ex financier...shows what he's really about. He’s a lying hypocrite.


The Obama campaign had nothing to do with the YouTube (not UTube--check out www.utube.com) video.


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:Guest
Tue Mar 20, 2007 10:16 am Subject:

You're a retard


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:coma Posts: 213 Joined: 26 Jan 2007
Tue Mar 20, 2007 10:24 am Subject:

Quote
Anonymous wrote:
You're a retard

. . . . and your less then a retard, your Anonymous . . . . . lol


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:Guest
Tue Mar 20, 2007 10:36 am Subject:

Quote
coma wrote:
Quote
Anonymous wrote:
You're a retard

. . . . and your less then a retard, your Anonymous . . . . . lol


ironic


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:Guest
Tue Mar 20, 2007 10:43 am Subject:

LOL! Pathetic Hillary lover can't take the heat.


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:Guest
Tue Mar 20, 2007 11:49 am Subject: Who's a retard?

Quote
coma wrote:
Quote
Anonymous wrote:
You're a retard

. . . . and your less then a retard, your Anonymous . . . . . lol


At least Anonymous used proper grammar.


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:macinnerd Posts: 1748 Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Tue Mar 20, 2007 12:58 pm Subject:

Go lay an egg. You guys (or gals) really make a bad impression.

Seriously, try to keep the flames down.


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:Guest
Tue Mar 20, 2007 5:20 pm Subject: Hillary's also a retard

I'm not necessarily a fan of Obama but this remake of the Apple ad rocks! This is exactly what we would get if Hillary was to be elected...


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:Guest
Wed Mar 21, 2007 5:36 am Subject: Hillrey Video

This Video was Independantly bought and paid payed for, this is not by The Obama Camp. And 2ndly You really need to get your facts before you profess to know them..when you can do this then I will listen.

We can hear but are we listening to what is really being said.


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:permafrost Posts: 1 Joined: 21 Mar 2007
Wed Mar 21, 2007 10:57 pm Subject: Hillary's video

Nothing like dirty politics to stir the blood.

As I see it any change in the present state of Government in the USA would be a good change. You guys have been ruled and ripped off by one family for too long.
To quote Paul Keatting (Ex Australian Prime-minister) "These guys get glue on there pants and think that they can't be moved from there seat of power and thats when its time to put them to the sword."

I say bring on the change, it's time for the public to have a say. The video is nothing, in-fact its great, makes people get interested, pulls them out of the trance.


 Reply | Quote
Comment on this Article


Guest Posts Visible. Hide Them.
Back to top  Page 1 of 1    

You cannot edit your comments.   You cannot delete your comments.

Comments are currently closed. Please email the author instead.


Recent Headlines - Updated July 3rd

Fri, 10:29 AM
News - Apple Warns of Learning Interchange Security Breach
7:30 AM
News - Happy Fourth of July!
Thu, 6:07 PM
TMO Scoop - Psystar Moves to Drop Bankruptcy Ahead of Apple Legal Battle
5:37 PM
News - Uncomfirmed Reports Say Apple & Nvidia On The Outs
4:57 PM
News - Microsoft Sick Over Barf Ad
4:09 PM
Product News - KRK Ships R6 Passive Studio Monitor for Recording
3:45 PM
John Martellaro's Blog - Particle Debris (week ending 7/2)  Juiced, Joost and Goosed
3:12 PM
Product News - ExactScan 2 Pro Released
1:56 PM
Deal Brothers - Apple TV with 160GB Hard Drive:  $324.00 Delivered
12:46 PM
TMO Appearances - TMO Appearances Jeff Gamet Shares iPhone Apps on MacJury
10:41 AM
Product News - Art Text 2.2 Adds New Templates, Layer Options
10:04 AM
Hot Forum Topic - Deciphering Mac Sales

The Mac Observer Reader Specials
  • __________
  • Buy Stuff, Support TMO!
  • Podcast: Mac Geek Gab
  • Podcast: Apple Weekly Report
  • TMO on Twitter!