Karl Rove Super PAC Ad Attacks 'Cool' Obama
Conservative super PAC American Crossroads released a new ad Thursday that aims to make President Obama's "coolness" an issue, asking young voters how America's "biggest celebrity" has helped recent college graduates find jobs.
The ad echoes language used back in 2008, when Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., dubbed Democratic nominee Obama "the biggest celebrity in the world," comparing him to the likes of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. The campaign ad went viral and, thanks to a bikini-clad Hilton who quickly retorted with her own campaign video, became one of the most memorable ads of the election.
The new ad from the Karl Rove-backed super PAC features footage of President Obama dancing with Ellen DeGeneres, "slow jamming" the news with Jimmy Fallon and singing an Al Green song during a fundraiser. The Obama 2012 campaign has since turned the president's rendition of "Let's Stay Together" into a ringtone.
"Four years ago, America elected the biggest celebrity in the world, and America got one cool president," the text of the ad reads alongside a clip of Obama drinking beer. But then continues: "After four years of a celebrity president, is your life any better?"
The ad then lists grim statistics about unemployed college graduates and the skyrocketing amount student loan debt nationwide.
American Crossroads has raised nearly $100 million together with its sister group, Crossroads GPS. The super PAC also announced this week that it has $24 million cash on hand, demonstrating the potential power of the super PACs in the upcoming election.
Watch the ad here: