Barry’s Bootcamp? Barack Obama Airs a TV Infomercial
Wednesday, October 29th, 2008Recently, I saw an infomercial for a video exercise workout program called Barry’s Bootcamp. I thought that “Barry’s Bootcamp” would be a great title if Barack Obama ever wanted to create his own infomercial and get across to the American public what his presidency would mean to the country.
I then saw this video online:
So, there really is a Barry’s Bootcamp!
Although it will not be called “Barry’s Bootcamp,” a 30-minute ad featuring Obama will air tonight on several TV networks. The press is calling this program an “infomercial,” presumably because it is a half-hour block of paid programming—as opposed to the half hour of unpaid programming Obama receives from the networks’ nightly newscasts. So in addition to “Community Organizer” and “Junior Senator from Illinois” Obama can add “Infomercial Host” to his résumé—a distinction he shares with the likes of Ron Jeremy, Klee Irwin, and Kevin Trudeau.
What will Barry’s infomercial feature? Will viewers be offered free bonuses if they cast their vote in the next 10 minutes? Will Obama give us a free trial or a 100% money-back guarantee if not completely satisfied? Will there be a cooking demo with Ron Popeil, Chef Tony, or Cathy Mitchell? After promising the public yet another government handout will Barack shout, “But wait, there’s more!”? Will he let people pay his higher taxes in “3 easy payments”?
Obama is not the first presidential candidate to air a half-hour infomercial on network TV. In 1992 Ross Perot did the same thing. I also remember that in 1988 political oddball Lyndon LaRouche—who had no chance of winning anything—managed to scrape up enough money from his deluded followers to buy thirty minutes of airtime on CBS.
In 1988 Michael Dukakis bought a 15 minute block of time that aired immediately after a Geraldo Rivera special about Satanic cults! The Massachusetts governor discussed foreign and domestic policy issues but never addressed the matter foremost on his viewers minds: What, exactly, was he going to do about the scourge of Satanism sweeping the nation? What a missed opportunity!
Update: Found this very funny image of Barack as Vince from ShamWow at JammieWearingFool:
