28 Years Later, New Ad Echoes Reagan in Asking if Americans Are "Better
Off"
Go to the Progressive
Future Better Off O8 page.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Oct. 29, 2008
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Brad Martin: 406.750.3457; (c) 202.543.3332 (w)
Adam Lioz: 202.251.8519; (c); 303.893.0458 (w)
Washington, DC – Following the 28th anniversary of the historic debate
performance that many believe won Ronald Reagan the 1980 election, a
new advertisement evokes Reagan’s famous words:
“Are you better off than you were four years ago? Is it easier
for you to go and buy things in the stores than it was four years
ago? Is America as respected throughout the world as it
was? If you don’t think that this course that we’ve been on for
the last four years is what you would like to see us follow for the
next four, then I could suggest another choice that you have.”
In addition to being featured in an online outreach program to swing
voters in battleground states, the advertisement, sponsored by
Progressive Future, will run this week in Ohio and Florida.
Viewers can also access the ad at www.BetterOff08.com.
“Ronald Reagan asked the American people a simple question, and we’re
asking it again,” said Jeff Goodby, who produced the ad through his
firm Goodby, Silverstein & Partners. Mr. Goodby learned his
craft from Hal Riney, who produced “Morning in America,” a one-minute
spot for President Reagan’s 1984 re-election campaign that many
consider one of the most effective political ads in American history.
“With our economy in crisis and our soldiers still at war, Ronald
Reagan’s question is as relevant today as it was in 1980,” said Brad
Martin, Progressive Future Political Director.
Martin noted that current public opinion polling and a new report by
Third Way, a non-partisan think tank, underscore his point. A
recent Gallup poll found that a record 91% of Americans are
“dissatisfied with the way things are going in the United States at
this time.”
The Third Way report put the public’s frustration in concrete
terms. The authors of “Are You Better Off” compared Americans’
financial well-being over the past eight years (2001-2008) with the
previous eight (1993-2000). The researchers found that between
large drops in wages and investment income, and higher prices for
health care, energy, food, and more, the typical working household was
an estimated $94,929 worse off over the past eight years than over the
previous eight.
The authors also broke down the comparison by state. Only two
states experienced gains, while the residents of 15 states were at
least $100,000 worse off during the Bush years. Ohio residents
took a $121,409 step back, according to the report addendum.
Florida residents fared better but still lost an estimated $16,040
worth of ground. Michigan residents took the biggest hit from the
Bush years, falling behind by $181,735.
Taking a broader view, the authors reported that the country as a whole
is worse off across a range of metrics including unemployment, health
care coverage, job creation, debt, and more.
The report is available at www.ProgressiveFuture.org/better-off-report, and
state-by-state breakdowns are available at www.ProgressiveFuture.org/better-off-state-report.
“If you’re tired of George Bush’s failed policies, tired of paying more
for groceries and gas, and sick of worrying about whether your
retirement savings will disappear overnight, then Barack Obama is, in
Reagan’s words, ‘another choice that you have,’” Martin added.
Although independently conceived, several similar video concepts can be
found on the internet, demonstrating the strength of the message.
Through its media buy and additional online organizing program,
Progressive Future will bring the concept to a wider audience.
Progressive Future wishes to acknowledge and celebrate other versions
of this concept and the many creative efforts of online videographers
in support of Barack Obama.
In addition to sponsoring the “Better Off 08” ad, Progressive Future is
conducting field programs to elect Barack Obama. Just as the ad
is aimed at connecting with independent-minded voters, many of whom
voted for Reagan, the organization is currently focused on persuading
undecided voters through face-to-face contacts at the door in critical
battleground states. In the final 96 hours of the election, the
group will shift its focus to mobilizing its members and activists to
conduct a volunteer-based get-out-the-vote drive.