I don't think the man is an "idiot" but I pretty much agree with the rest of this post.
He can say that the spot is about Obama representing "a new kind of politics" all he wants. But 1984 references actually MEAN SOMETHING. I remember watching this ad back in college (the original apple ad), and thinking it was amazing. As an apple user it made me proud. "We'll show that big bad IBM!"
However, since then the Bush administration has taken power and now we have warrentless wire-tapping, Guantanamo,the suspension of the Writ of Habeas Corpus, and a media outlet (Fox) that spreads the DIRECT mesage of a corrupt administration.
I'm sorry, but things have changed, and 1984 is much closer to fact than fiction than when apple used it in its commercial. I find it ironic and sad that the use of this reference to attack Hillary Clinton got such play on the Fox "News" channel.
We are getting ready for the fight of our lives in '08, and frankly I am in no mood to see Hillary Clinton's face smashed with a hammer when the face should be that of Bill O'reily (or whatever right-winger you choose).
The funny thing about this ad is it gave me reason to reconsider my stance on Hillary Clinton. I had all but decided to back either Edwards or possibly Obama. But seeing how much joy the right has gotten out of seeing Hillary bashed makes me realize what a shit-sandwich her presidency would represent to the right. Perhaps even though she isn't as progressive as I'd like, her election would be an important step in this country's abandonment of radical right-wing politics.
I remember that ad too and cheered on Apple in the 80s. But I never for once thought IBM was run by evil execs. I did think IBM and other PC makers were these entrenched interests the same way some of us think about Hillary. If someone has a sense of that original ad, you would be thinking of Hillary's place among the old boys network and how she represents the old way of doing things, and how her references to "let's have a conversation" are kind of Orwellian. Her conversation is one way.
I highly doubt the admaker felt Hillary was as bad as Bush and Co.
