Contemporary Great Gatsby

The book The Wolf of Wall Street (2008) is a story about greed and excess in American capitalism. It is the true story of a man called Jordan Belfort who was bankrupt at the age of 24, but by the age of 26 was making nearly a million dollars a week selling penny stocks on Wall Street through his company Stratton Oakmont. This company functioned as a boiler room marketing the stocks and defrauding investors with fraudulent stock sales. He was indicted by the FBI in 1998 for securities fraud and money laundering, receiving a four year sentence. Belfort was ordered to pay $110 million in restitution. The story was the inspiration for the 2000 movie Boiler Room and the 2014 movie called The Wolf of Wall Street (ironically with Leonardo Di Caprio playing the lead role.) Similarities between Belfort’s story and The Great Gatsby include, both Belfort and Gatsby acquired their wealth through illegal means, both got caught in their lies, both were born into poor families, both lived lavish lifestyles and both ended up being punished, although in much different ways. Belfort was sent to jail, whilst Gatsby was killed.

                This story speaks about the nature of success and how we measure it, much like The Great Gatsby. Belfort’s story can be seen to symbolise all that is wrong with the idea of success in America, he had to lie, cheat and manipulate people so he could gain wealth and success and a glamorous lifestyle. For all this he was celebrated by many as one of the great investors of his time, breaking company records and throwing lavish parties. Though he struggled much like Gatsby and was found out much like Gatsby, I believe his story can be seen as a contemporary Great Gatsby.  

The two links below are for the trailers of the films Boiler Room and The Wolf of Wall Street.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VoXMvNrQro

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iszwuX1AK6A

 

A Contemporary Great Gatsby

Kacey Musgraves is a country singer based in Nashville, but born in Golden, Texas and writes mainly about the small town Southern life that limits life possibilities and chances. Her song 'Merry Go Round' is from her album 'Same Trailer Different Park' and is one of many songs to criticise this lifestyle.

She describes the working class lifestyle (although it is lower than working class as none of them have jobs and all have children by the age of 21) and the way in which they all follow the tradition of going to Church every Sunday and having children, and it's not really what they want but are obliged to meet these traditional expectations. This song can be likened to 'The Great Gatsby' in that it is a social commentary that criticises the working class lifestyle, in a similar way that Nick criticises the upper class lifestyle of Gatsby, Daisy and Tom. Nick states in the first chapter, 'Gatsby, who represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn', suggesting that he initially doesn't approve of Gatsby's extravagant lifestyle although he soon becomes accustomed to it. Nick does not come from a great deal of money but education instead, and at first, only sees Gatsby as a negative representation of the upper class and the effect that this lifestyle has on the characters soon becomes evident. By arriving at the conclusion in Chapter 9 that 'Tom and Gatsby, Daisy and Jordan and I, were all Westerners, and perhaps we possessed some deficiency in common which made us subtly unadaptable to Eastern life' shows how the wealth, glamour and fast paced lifestyle of New York in the East only creates tension and pressure for the characters when compared to the more traditional and moral West, as it would have been less developed than the East at that time.

This reference to the importance of geography and the expectation that comes with a geographical location is reflected in Kacey Musgraves song. For example, 'If you ain't got two kids by 21 you're probably going to die alone', '...it don't matter if you don't believe come Sunday morning, you best be there in the front row like you're supposed to' and 'tiny little boxes in a row ain't what you want it's what you know' all describe the traditional and oppressive lifestyle of the South and how similarly to New York in 'The Great Gatsby', the location plays a key part in what behaviour is expected. Musgraves calls the Southern way of life a 'broken merry go round' because it will not stop but will keep repeating itself with each generation and this could be linked to the Eastern way of life that was present during the 1920's (in Gatsby's lifetime) because when money, glamour and a pressurised lifestyle is concerned, tension and stress will always be put onto the people experiencing it.

Gatorade advert

This commercial for Gatorade is from March of this year. It tells the story of Gatorade from its creation in 1965, to help the Florida Gators when playing in hot weather. It shows some of the most iconic sports men and women in American history such as Michael Jordan, Dwayne Wade, Serena Williams and Peyton Manning. Gatorade can be seen as a symbol of success, with the iconic Gatorade shower created in the mid 1980’s. The process involves throwing a tub full of the drink over the coach or star player of the winning team. The advert shows how the drink has helped each of these players and teams become successful with the final shots show an unknown athlete training with the taglines “continue the legend” and “win from within”. These two taglines represent how the company wants to be seen by the American public, as an ingredient to success. Although originally started as a sports drink, today it is consumed by non-athletes as a stimulant drink. This shows how America consumes things differently from what they were originally intended for. In this way Gatorade can be compared to jeans.           

Sorry its late.

Will, Marija, Lucy - please make a post

The Chevy

 

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/autos/story/2011-10-28/chevy-100-years/51007820/1

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20111023011104AApv9Fg

 

 

 

The Chevrolet car brand was created in 1911 by a Swiss-born racing car driver and the reasons for its popularity stems from "Having a popularly priced, made-in-America vehicle is important for the country. Some element of national pride is involved," says Jack Nerad, an executive editorial director and market analyst for kbb.com (Kelley Blue Book's - a car sales website). As Americans value their national pride extremely, it only seems fitting that a truck made in their own country  should become a part of their pride and a reason for their pride. America is a country known for its consumerism and it can only be seen as a good thing that the Chevy has been the fuel for their car culture and that they are supporting their own car industry by doing so.

The Chevy has become such an American symbol and it even has a strong presence in songs when demonstrating the freedom that it represents. It has a particular tendency to appear in Country songs (which are the epitome of Americana), with such examples ranging from Shania Twain: 'He can have a '55 Chevy or a fancy little pick-up truck' to Taylor Swift: 'Just a boy in a Chevy truck' to Alan Jackson: 'Well we fogged up the windows in my old Chevy'. Not only does it symbolise freedom and is a classic road trip car, but (particularly in Taylor Swift's case) the idea of innocence and the idea of romance always seem to go hand in hand with the introduction of a Chevrolet.
Their designs have been called 'beautiful' (particularly the Camaro) and are so well designed and built that they have a longevity that seems to out do other brands. The normality of getting a Chevy as a first car and keeping it for years and years is so common in America, and its ability to not only trascend through generations, but also for its popularity to last, proves how the Chevy is a symbol of American values.

Nike Advertisement

 Nike, inc. is an American multinational corporation. Nike promotes the idea that if you are determined to succeed you will excel and therefore you should 'Just do it'. I chose this commercial advertising their 'Become Legendary' product line.  This advert features Michael Jordan, who is considered to be the greatest basketball player of all time as well as perfect icon of media culture, therefore being such an influential figure to young aspiring athletes, it is likely that the message being portrayed will inspire young people to work hard and become successful. He is also considered to be a promoter of racial equality, used to illustrate that the 'American dream' can be obtained by anyone in America, regardless of your race. The video represents the notion of the 'American dream' as throughout the advert he states that he had to work extremely hard to get to where he is today. He says 'Maybe I led you to believe that basketball was a God given gift, and not something I work for every single day of my life.' This ad inspires people to not give up on their dreams as Jordan states himself 'Maybe I made you think that every shot I took was a game winner, that my game was built on flash and not fire.' Overall, I think the advert illustrates that it is not the shoes, it's what you do in them. 

The American Dream in Ragged Dick.

"The basic American promise that if you work hard, you could do well enough to raise a family, own a home, send your kids to college." - Barack Obama

This contemporary statement uses the idea of the American Dream in regards to the notion that hard work will pay off. As long as you work hard, you will be rewarded.

In Ragged Dick it could be argued that Dick himself embodies this, in that although he is a boy on the streets, it is his hard work and determination that enable him to slowly move up in life. However, there is also the fact that some people manage to see promise in Dick, and it could be argued that if it wasn't for them, then Dick would not have managed to achieve as much as he has.

This statement is also in keeping with the idea of individual success, in this case having a job that you can aspire to be successful in. This idea matches that of the notion of success in Ragged Dick, for example, thanks to his wit and street-smarts Dick is able to overcome many of his problems, and save money that he has gathered from his hard work and wit. Although, many argue that it Dick's luck alone which allows him to succeed. However, if Dick had not had to survive by working, then he wouldn't know how to act in order to help himself get further, and it is his experiences which have helped him be able to use his determination and hard work to help him succeed. 

In order for Dick to have a successful life, he needed to work hard, and this statement highlights the message, by telling American's that hard work will lead to an enjoyable and full life. And that even if you come from poverty, or are not well-off you can become comfortable in the future if you only work hard.

American Dream & Ragged Dick

The notion of the 'American dream' is shown by those today, who although had lived a poor and troubled past have become highly successful through their pure determination and hard work, such as Dick's perserverance to become 'spectable' in 'Ragged Dick'. An example of someone who had developed from 'rag to riches' was John D. Rockefeller who started off in poverty yet through his hard work he became the first 'business superstar' by creating the standard oil company which dominated the oil industry.

Rockefeller was raised single handedly by his mother who had taught him the value of hard work, such as Fosdick teaches Dick. In 'Ragged Dick' Dick was street smart which allowed him to flourish and Rockefeller's analytical skills led to his success. In addition, such as 'Ragged Dick' Rockefeller's story can also be considered as 'rags to respectability' and not 'rags to riches' as the wealth which Rockefeller had created was largely given out to charities. He said 'Having been endowed with the gift I possess, I believe it is my duty to make money and still more and to use the money I make for the good of my fellow man according to the dictates of my conscience.' This shows that in both cases, the idea of the 'American Dream' was not merely to increase their wealth, rather the hard work which they endured  was to achieve a better life for themselves.

Rockefeller also had the luck of others to guide him. He states that without his wife 'I would be a poor man.' Such as Dick would have been if he had no one willing to educate him.  

Pro or Anti Gun Control?

Pro-Gun Control - http://theprogressivecynic.com/debunking-right-wing-talking-points/refuting-gun-enthusiasts-anti-gun-control-arguments/

This article reveals that according to FBI statistics from the beginning of 2012, approximately 25 people are murdered every day in shootings in the USA. This number is aggressively high, with around 9125 deaths per year and a sharp rise in massacres such as the one that happened at Sandy Hook many people are advocating higher regulations on gun control. But there are still people who lobby for more relaxed weapon regulations. Many people blame popular culture for the rise in gun crime but if you look at the statistics they show little to no correlation between violent scenes in video games and gun crime. It may also be poignant to mention that the united states has the most lenient weapons regulations out of the countries on this table.

Anti-Gun Control - http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/12/movies/assaulted-civil-rights-under-fire-is-a-paean-to-the-second-amendment.html?ref=guncontrol&_r=0

In this review of the documentary, ‘Assaulted: Civil Rights under Fire’, by Kris Koenig, the New York Times is showing a side of the argument that is rarely popularised. Something that is often heard is the argument that if a burglar came into somebody's house, that somebody should be allowed to open fire. But the documentary takes on a much more complex question as it asks if women, homosexuals and those with disabilities should be able to carry weapons as self-defence from hate crimes, it argues that these people are vulnerable and guns are reasonable protection. But surely if these so called "vulnerable" people are allowed to be carrying weapons, then their assailants are more likely to be as well. The documentary even goes as far as to state that Pro-Gun Control laws are akin to the tyranny of dictators such as Hitler or Stalin. This shows how passionate and serious American citizens are about their second amendment rights and this could be seen as a reason that they should not be armed.

Pro and Anti Gun Control in America

Pro Gun Control
http://handguncontrol.org/

This Web page is in favour of controlling the use of guns in America. It has many articles featuring news of recent shootings, as well as containing presidential and legislation updates. For example the site advertises Brady’s Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, as well as featuring facts and statistics about Gun Violence. The website is as of recently, promoting background checks on anyone who wishes to own a gun.

There are many articles featuring Obama, and they are of varying opinion. President Obama has been a driving force behind stricter laws, especially after the shooting in Newtown. He announced plans for stricter gun laws in early 2013, such as proposing to pass a new ban on assault weapons and limiting the amount of magazines. However, he is a controversial point on both sides of the argument, because he was expected to renew the Firearms act that had recently expired, but never did.

Anti-Gun Control
http://www.nraila.org/
The NRA-ILA webpage is a website which is very clearly pro-guns in America. It was established in 1975, and the Institute for Legislative Action is is known as the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association. The website promotes gun ownership and is against the idea of stricter gun control being enforced. The NRA is well known for their Anti-Gun Control views, and teamed together with the ILA, are able to make a clearer argument as the ILA is involved in any issue that directly or indirectly affects firearms ownership and use. The site features news and opinions, all to related to gun ownership and use, and Obama is often referenced to as meeting with officials about gun control laws. An article from this year, explains how gun related accidents have dramatically fallen, arguing their case that guns are not harmful, and "the odds are more than a million to one, against a child in the U.S. dying in a firearm accident."

I myself, happen to be pro gun control, especially when it comes to children and all the horrifying statistics. It is incomprehensible to me how easy it can be for anyone to buy, carry or own a gun. Although, it is obviously because of my environment, and how rare this kind of thing is in Britain.To counter the American view, I'm sure the majority of British people have never even touched a real gun. However, I do understand this view, as it is far more a part of their culture and seen as "American" in practice. Hunting is obviously a very popular activity and if it has been enjoyed for their entire lives, one can see why they might perhaps want to continue.

Pro and Anti Gun Control

Pro Gun Control: http://www.americanprogress.org/

The website above is for a think tank called Centre for American Progress (CAP), which whilst describing themselves as non partisan is regarded by most to be a liberal think tank which promotes all liberal ideals, which includes strict gun control laws. They provide a section of their website to articles about guns and gun laws and all are looking at the issue from a negative perspective. Many articles show the negative impact of guns on America and look at how the government can get rid of the second Amendment. Some include promotion for anti gun activists while others talk about the weak gun law states, such as Florida, which has the 'stand your ground' law.

Anti Gun control: https://www.tsra.com/

The Texas State Rifle Association (TSRA) is an organisation that was set up in 1919 which promotes gun ownership in Texas. They support and sponsor shooting matches and teams from Texas, as well as supporting anti gun control measures. Its slogan 'Protecting Texas Gun Rights Since 1919' is a clear statement of support for gun ownership. It also proudly states it is a friend of the National Rifle Association on its homepage. Its mission statement contains three simple missions; to champion and support the rights of Texans to own and enjoy firearms; to protect and defend the inalienable rights of the individual Texan to acquire, possess, transport, carry, transfer ownership and enjoy firearms; to support junior education and rifle teams in Texas.

Both websites promote their beliefs either obviously like the TSRA website does or more subtly like CAP's does. Whilst CAP doesn't endorse political figures the TSRA has its own Political Action Committee which promotes candidates that support gun rights. However the websites wouldn't usually be viewed by people who are of opposing views to the websites, so you could argue the beliefs they promote are not likely to change minds.        

Pro and Anti Gun Control

Anti-gun control:
http://www.gunsandammo.com/caption-contests/
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/guns-ammo-editor-apologizes-to-outraged-readers-for-publishing-pro-gun-control-editorial

As 'Guns and Ammo' is the most popular shooting magazine in the United States, it is obvious that they don't support gun control. Their magazine and online magazine focus on the idea of shooting as a hobby and of collecting guns as a hobby. There are sections such as the 'Guns and Ammo Holiday Gift Guide' and the promotion of buying guns like they are normal gifts is a shocking concept to British audiences, particularly as we hold the Firearms Act which bans the free ownership of guns but requires them to be registered; a law that 'Guns and Ammo' readers would find shocking. They were coincidentally outraged when Jim Bequette ('Guns and Ammo' editor) wrote an article vying for gun control saying that it wouldn't impede on the Second Amendment, only to be met with magazine boycott threats and his firing from the magazine. This demonstrates how much Americans value guns in their everyday lives, especially considering that the magazine tends to promote gun use like an innocent sport.
There is also a 'Caption Contest' section which is perhaps the most difficult to articulate as it makes gun handling seem humorous and joke worthy. For example, the fact that there are pictures of foxes and cats yielding guns along side a man holding probably an eight foot long gun show just how carelessly and inappropriate some Americans can be towards gun ownership, and how their agreement with gun control is still very absent.

I support gun control because I believe that the free ownership of guns causes more problems than it does protection. For example, in America more than half of all murders begin from arguments with friends, family or lovers and more Americans are killed by guns each week than each year in all of Western Europe. However, I can see how the freedom to carry guns provides the feeling of protection and therefore power and that shooting can be an innocent sport to give a sense of camaraderie amongst friends, but the evidence seems to show that the idea of gun control should be taken more seriously than it is.

Pro-gun control:
http://www.bradycampaign.org/

The 'Brady Campaign for Gun Control' was founded in 1974 (under a different name) in the attempt to control handguns after Dr. Mark Borinsky was robbed and nearly killed at gunpoint. All of the people involved in the organisation have had an experience with gun violence, whether it be being shot themselves or knowing somebody, and this helps the organisation's appeal to support due to the reality of gun violence.
The 'Brady Campaign' fights for sensible gun laws that address gun violence at the federal and state level. Supporters of the 'Brady Campaign' are the American public and electing officials and they show their support for gun control through various demonstrations, the education of people about gun violence and gun safety, the honouring of gun violence victims and the receiving of donations towards their campaign for gun control.
The 'Brady Campaign' is a very relatable approach to the reality of gun violence and its reputation in America. It is a worthy cause and is a movement in the right direction towards the making of gun control normality.

Pro and anti gun control

Pro Gun control:

http://csgv.org/

The 'Coalition to stop gun violence' believes that all Americans have a right to live in a community free from gun violence and thus seeks to secure freedom from gun violence through many strategies to keep guns away from violent individuals.
The CSGV consists of 48 organizations and the website appears to be very convincing as it includes news articles, facts and figures to back up its arguments. For example, the website states that 40% of gun sales are made without any background checks which therefore gives convicted felons, the  mentally ill etc, unchecked access to firearms and therefore a background check is deemed necessary. For example, they aim to prohibit individuals who are on the government watch list from purchasing guns. However a problem with this is that it although an individual may have a clean background, they still may purchase a firearm with bad intentions in the future.  Or despite their violent past, some may wish to purchase a gun in self defence yet would not be able to do so.

Anti gun control:

http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/baldwin/130921

This website states that 'Guns don't kill people, gun control laws kill people'
It states that gun control laws are not necessarily putting an end to gun violence in the U.S, stating that "Gun-free" zones are actually "Free killing" zones as gun control laws prohibit the people from protecting themselves. I think the websites arguments are convincing as for example, it states that the perpetrator is aware that he is entering a gun free zone and therefore acknowledges that the victims have no way to protect themselves. Thus, the constitution believes it is in each man and woman's right  to serve as self defenders and to be adequately armed in order to protect themselves.

American Progress by John Gast (circa 1872)

This painting, ‘American Progress’ by John Gast is a representation of the so called 'new west'. It represents the modernised east taking over the more archaic west, bringing technology and education (represented by the book).

The woman in the Centre is known as Colombia, she is a common personification of the United States in poetry and fiction in the early. She is seen to be leading the 'new' America into the west. This is shown with her being followed by trains and also by the fact that she is hanging telephone cables as she goes. Manifest Destiny is shown by both Columbia's leading on the modernised America into the dark west and also the fact that she is chasing Native American Indians away. To a 19th century audience this could be read as an allegory for "out with the old, in with the new". But to modern eyes and interpretations, this could be perceived as an example of America being unwelcoming of things that will not conform, the Native Americans wanted to retain their culture and traditions so they were cast out. The east has large undulating hills and bright sunlight whereas the west has treacherous mountains and storm clouds but Colombia seems to be leading the light into the west, pushing out the darkness as she pushes out the Native people.

Great Salt Lake, Utah

This print from Currier & Ives of Great Salt Lake in Utah shows the extent of which modernisation occurred. Although the print does not have a date on it, it is clear that Utah is a prime example of the type of towns that were created through this process. As it is on the West Coast, Utah would have been one of the last states to be modernised, although the forest and mountainous surroundings demonstrate how some remnants of the simplistic past were there as reminders as to where they have come from; both literally (due to their movement West) and mentally (from how it was before the modernisation).

The sheer number of houses in the town compared to the small scattering that would have been there previously, demonstrates the reason for modernisation that took place across America. The reason for modernisation was to create a powerful country full of opportunity and many Americans flocked across the country following the modernisation, in order to give themselves more opportunities and a new lifestyle that provided work and wealth. This new America was the foundation of the power that it would contribute to the world.

Oregon City on the Willamette River by John Mix Stanley

This picture of Oregon City by John Mix Stanley was painted around 1850 when the town was fairly established having been founded in 1845. It had around 300 inhabitants and 100 houses, two churches and its own newspaper. It was one of the more prominent and successful frontier towns with a thriving fishing and lumber industry. However it had displaced the Native American tribes and also severely changed the landscape of the area.

                The image itself depicts an idyllic town bathed in sunshine it shows the houses, churches, and mills all set out along the main street adjacent to the Willamette River surrounded by hills and trees. It is an image that would appeal to an American from the east who believed the west to be the land of plenty. In the foreground we have two Indians with their backs turned toward the village one leaning against his gun with an almost resigned posture. The other is sitting down like she has given up trying to fight it. They are sat high above the town near some felled trees which shows that their landscape is being changed for the worse. Also they seem to be in the shadows or darkness, whereas the village itself is in the light showing that they are being pushed out. Without the presence of the two Indians the image would have a total different feel and meaning to it.

                The presence of the Willamette Indians means that this image depicts the ‘Manifest Destiny’ because it shows them resigned to their fate. Like they can do nothing to stop the habitation of their land, like it is already written. The fact that they are in the foreground may suggest that the artist, who was well known for painting Willamette Indians, shouldn’t be forgotten in the image of the West that the East of America so often sees.      

http://www.cartermuseum.org/Inspiring_Visions/Stanley/stanley_art.html

edit AS bigger image http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/John_Mix_Stanley_Oregon_City_on_the_Willamette_River_Amon_Carter_Museum.jpg

'Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way' by Emanuel Leutze

This was painted by Emanuel Leutze in 1861, and it portrays the idea of Manifest Destiny. The border includes portraits of William Clark who opened the way for the Western settlement; and Daniel Boone, who explored Kentucky. This could represent how successful the pilgrims have been so far. The pilgrimage in the picture depicts the pioneer men and women and workers who have conquered the Natives land. The bleak valleys in the distance represents the difficulties in which the pioneers had to face in the past. For example, there is a burial in the painting with indicates that they have been grieving and have suffered terrible losses throughout their conquest.

 On the right of the valley a Native American is illustrated with a hopeless facial expression as there is nothing he can do to stop the Pilgrims from invading their territory. He is further back in the painting and has no importance as the pilgrims do not pay him any attention.

One of the men is pointing towards the distance at the valley, which implies that they are envisioning a future in which the rest of the valley becomes US territory, known as the 'promised land', as now they are struggling in the dark valley. It is their destiny to pursue the land as it represents the peace which the pilgrims can reach once they have worked hard.

Furthermore, the border includes a bald eagle, which is Americas national symbol. It is situated at the top of the border to suggest that liberty is under its wings.
There is a woman kissing her baby in the picture. She appears to be shedding tears of joy because of the hope of a better life that Manifest Destiny brings them.
In the margin below there is the Golden Gate, entrance to San Francisco bay which is what the pioneers are gazing at, offering them a sense of hope due its serene and peacefulness.

http://people.virginia.edu/~hhk6s/leutze.html

http://arthistory327.wordpress.com/2012/10/28/1197/#more-1197

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Obama Campaign Ad 2012 - Bill Clinton

 This campaign advertisement from the 2012 elections, is from the viewpoint of Bill Clinton, and how he thinks Obama's "got it right". The ad goes on to emphasize all the positive changes Obama will make during his next 4 years if he is re-elected president.

Additionally Clinton goes on to comment that all of Obama's ideas are essential if changes are to be made. Clinton states "Sound familiar?", because he had originally proposed some of these same ideas. Clinton endorsing Obama for president, would mean that any previous voters for Clinton could be more likely to vote for Obama. In opposition to this, Clinton was the second President to be impeached, and the controversy surrounding this could turn voters away from Obama.

However, the ideas Obama has about supporting the middle classes, and making the wealthy pay more succeeds to draw in many people who believe this to be a serious issue, although it may alienate the wealthy, upper class voter. In addition to this, no mention is given to those of lower classes, which could also be a problem. This however does help in explaining how the problem would be solved, rather than just stating the problem. Romney, in the same election campaign, proposed cutting the taxes of the wealthy, in the same way, alienating everyone else.

The ad starts with the idea of Obama being criticized and how Clinton himself was criticized by the same people, who believed his ideas were going to destroy jobs, he goes on to say how they were proved wrong when they created millions of new jobs. This implies that "they" are also wrong about Obama, effectively asking Americans to ignore any negative messages on Obama. 

Many Presidential campaign ads follow the same line, in that they are always promoting change, and tackling huge problems, yet when they fail to follow through, they're criticized for it. Topics such as education and healthcare are reoccurring issues, which Obama also claims to want to change for the better, and other ads for Obama in 2012 highlight all the changes that have occurred in the previous 4 years that Obama was president, such as his reform on the student loans system, making college more affordable.

Mitt Romney campaign ad 2012

Mitt Romney's ad for 'Too many Americans' seems to be designed in order to restore confidence  to Americans that he cares about America. As previously he had claimed that 47% of Americans fail to take their own responsibility of their lives and are dependent government aid, thus, he tries to reconnect with low income and middle class voters. He claims that only his policies will lead to economic growth.
Yet he removes himself from association with Americans as he refers to the middle class Americans as 'them'. He states 'President Obama and I both care about poor and middle-class families. The differences is my policies will make things better for them.' However, the way he stares straight into the camera appeals to voters in a more personal way over their economic concerns.

His states that he plans to create 12 million new jobs in order help 'lift families out of poverty and strengthening the middle class.  However, could this really have been accomplished? as he doesn't state a single policy which will strengthen the middle class.  He visions for a better America yet this has been a recurring theme throughout  presidential  elections.