Bernie Sanders, Simon and Garfunkel, Put Focus on Voters, commercial video, America/Bernie Sanders

[cal04]

With the help of the Simon and Garfunkel song “America,” Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont has released a powerful 60-second commercial in Iowa that seeks to remind his supporters how far he, and they, have come — and to inspire them anew to caucus for him on Feb. 1.

(snip)
Hope and inclusiveness. In effect, the ad takes the microphone out of the candidate’s hand and turns it around: His campaign, it signals, is about the people who are supporting him.

Children and young adults are the main focus, all of them with much to look forward to; the ad’s tagline promises them “a future to believe in.” (Still, older women — possibly the strongest demographic of his chief rival, Hillary Clinton — might well be moved by the music of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, both 74, the same age as Mr. Sanders.)

Minorities are given prominence, presumably to address Mr. Sanders’s difficulties in attracting support among blacks and Hispanics.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/22/us/politics/bernie-sanders-and-simon-and-garfunkel-put-focus-on-voters.html?_r=0

The spot is set to hit airwaves Friday in both Iowa and New Hampshire, states where Bernie Sanders has seen increased support.

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/bernie-ad-218056

[Proserpina]

1. My God, it's perfect! I am in tears.

America without the jingoism. Just people. Just US.

[wendylaroux]

2. Oh man!!! this is perfect!!

hit me right in the feelings. Excellent job!!!!

[Wilms]

3. "Right in the feelings."

Excellent job!!!!

[wendylaroux]

9. ty! it really did. nt

[smokey nj]

8. Brought tears to my eyes.

[wendylaroux]

10. mine too! that music! nt

[RoccoR5955]

4. Best. Campaign Ad. Ever! n/t

[roguevalley]

20. this is why she will lose. he let's us dream

[yellerpup]

5. Breathtaking.

And so damned smart. I'm misty. K&R!

[CharlotteVale]

6. Loved it! Have always loved that song.

[Donkees]

7. Me too. :) Neil Diamond's "America" next please!

[FailureToCommunicate]

17. Yes!

[thesquanderer]

11. Notice the gay couple right on the line "we'll marry," nice touch (n/t)

[Fawke Em]

12. Was coming over here to post this!

This is quite possibly the best presidential ad I've ever seen in my life.

Talk about hope!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

13. There, ya see? It's all about hate for Hillary!

[RoccoR5955]

21. Yeah.

These damn Sanders supporters sure do have an awful lot of hate!

[pangaia]

14. How many of us remember the first time we ever heard this great song?

I sure do!! It was 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. BOOKENDS. I was visiting a painter friend for dinner.

WOW !!!!!
The most moving political ad I have ever seen/heard.

[Fawke Em]

18. It made me think of my parents.

I was born in 1970, but really got into Simon & Garfunkel when I was about 8 or so after hearing Art sing on the soundtrack of "Watership Down."

[RoccoR5955]

22. I was 13.

It was a long time ago, and though I don't remember when I first heard it, it brings back sweet memories.

[pangaia]

29. It has two of the simplest and greatest drum fills of all time.

At :45 and 2:10.

[gordyfl]

15. Different. I liked it

a lot. Very positive. Uplifting. I think I'll pass it along.

[FailureToCommunicate]

16. Friends of mine are the couple dancing at the beginning...

(dancing to the Mango Jam, a Zydeco Band at Bernie's Presidential Announcement Kick Off Event, Burlington VT.)

Love the ad!

Go team Bernie!

[Fawke Em]

23. Very cool!

Do you know if they've seen the ad, yet?

[FailureToCommunicate]

36. They HAVE, and they are also mentioned in the NYTimes piece about the ad.

[CarrieLynne]

19. I just felt the Bern!

[peacebird]

24. Pitch Perfect!

[Fawke Em]

25. A question and a statement...

Does anyone know if Simon and Garfunkel "approve this message?" (How do they feel about the ad?)

And, I'm tired of seeing this: "presumably to address Mr. Sanders’s difficulties in attracting support among blacks and Hispanics..." because, from where I sit, that's simply not true anymore.

Yes, I know what the polling says, but I also know that many first time, disenfranchised and young voters aren't very well represented in M$M polls. They're going to be the difference this year.

[pangaia]

31. The Sanders campaign had to receive permission from the copywrite owner.

Probably Paul Simon through his management.

If he/they did NOT support Bernie, no way would he have gotten permission.

[Fawke Em]

33. Well, if you pay for it, the copyright owner may not care what you do with it.

But, in this case, I'm thinking either one or both probably "Feel the Bern."



And I wonder if they just allowed him to use the song, like Neil Young did.

[smokey nj]

43. They did!

Just found this:

Art Garfunkel Explains Why He Approved Bernie Sanders’ Use of ‘America’
http://variety.com/2016/biz/news/bernie-sanders-simon-and-garfunkel-america-art-garfunkel-1201686260/

[karynnj]

26. Absolutely wonderful - especially as the campaign gets nasty

I LOVE this song and they use it well -- and yes, I am one of those older women that should be in Hillary's base.

[mountain grammy]

27. YES, YES, YES!

Our last best hope. BERNIE!

[tex-wyo-dem]

28. Wow, just wow! I have never seen a political ad like this...

Positive, hope, love, we're all in this together...the antithesis of the typical crappy negative ads bashing the opponent.

Love love love it!!!

[liberalla]

30. Wow, that brought tears to my eyes... just perfect

Go Bernie!

[pangaia]

32. For people out there in AMERICA who do not know this song,

Last edited Thu Jan 21, 2016, 09:22 PM - Edit history (1)

I hope they listen to the whole thing for the lyrics.

[seafan]

35. Lyrics to Simon and Garfunkel's "America"

This one takes me back to another time.

[LiberalElite]

39. Yah me too. nt

[LiberalElite]

41. I think they will. nt

[pa28]

34. Bernie's own "morning in America" ad. It's a great contrast to Hillary.

She's out telling us what we can't do and what we can't have.

[LiberalElite]

42. Heh. I love that "No We Can't" meme nt

[leftcoastmountains]

37. Love this ad!

[LiberalElite]

38. OMG! THIS IS PERFECT! I hope they run it EVERYWHERE!

And I always loved that song.

[smokey nj]

40. I've been listening to it all day!!

[Highway61]

44. Awesome

Brought tears to my eyes. The next FDR!