I liked the fourth one. It had the least historical stuff, which I think is good. I think we need to look forward rather than tie ourselves to the past. The old victories, I think, mean the most to those of us who are bought in. If this is meant to expand the tent, then I don't think images of old marches work. People take women's suffrage as a fact-of-life, not a progressive idea.

As a bit of trivia, another thing I liked about these [[[GEEK OUT WARNING]]] is that the 3rd and 4th videos look to me like they were inspired in part by the awesome Internet sensations, "I'm A Marvel / I'm A D.C." videos, where toys of Superman and Spiderman argued about who had the better movie deals. God. Love it.

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The Russellian Incorporated Innovations Corporation
Lefty Homilies

I spose I might be missing the sarcasm, but, you know that the videos (and your Spidey Superman videos) are based of off Mac advertisements?

What is missing is pro-labor. This gives credence to the view that the so-called 'progressive' movement is both based on middle class problems and cares more about animals than jobs.

A Democrat cannot win without us (labor).

P.S. I believe the Ackelsburg's owe me an invitation to Thanksgiving dinner.

I like #2. I think its sort of retarded to merely rip-off the Apple ads though clearly #4 is better than #3.

I actually think its important to talk about the history of how we got to this point. Americans have a warped sense of history generally and for better or worse too many seem to begin their political awareness with the Reagan Revolution, with the whole mischaracterization of whats good about "liberal values". I know many here prefer to stay inside the world of like-minded bloggers but I have heard conservative bloggers repeat again and again about Southern Democrats complicity with maintaining segregation. Its one of their dearest truisms and they will repeat it till they are blue in the face. In their mind "liberals" and "progressives" are insincere and only "talk the talk" of equality and opportunity for all. We need to claim our rightful mantle of making America a safer, fairer, more democratic place to live.

In terms of labor - lots and lots of us have never worked in union jobs, will unfortunately likely never work in union jobs, and have many first hand experiences where at least some union supporters have behaved in ways that made us cringe. Don't get me wrong but in my own life the only times that unions have had an impact on me personally pursuing a middle class existence, those particular unions have been a serious impediment that put up barriers to me being employed based on my skills and experience and not a help. I doubt I am alone in that experience.

The percentage of Americans working union jobs mostly for the worst is at an all time low. Those that do may support their unions on issues that directly impact their paychecks but as individuals sometimes also support foreign policy or social or environmental policies that are not very "progressive". If you have benefited from labor in your own life you tend to strongly support organized labor as a principle, if not your impressions are probably more mixed. Its not something that necessarily invites in more people. The point is this ad is an attempt to invite in more people, regardless of whether they work in a unionized field or not.

On the other hand the role the historic labor movement has played in building a middle class, on building safe work standards, on building an expectation of a reasonable middle class life for those who work hard and play by the rules can not be emphasized enough. Again too many Americans don't know or appreciate that history. I just think organized labor possibly has wider issues with American public perception to work on these days than a few more seconds in this TV ad will effect one way or the other.

If the Democrats are not for protecting working people and giving people a chance to enter the middle class there is really no reason for its existence. You will then have two of the same party one pro choice and one anti choice.

Your comments and perceptions about unions evidence a certain class bias, but more importantly they show just how much big business and the Republican right has molded public opinion. What social policies has labor opposed? A raise in the minimum wage? Universal health care? Sudan? Iraq? Exploitive labor both here and abroad? If not for labor there would never be social security, pensions and weekends, among other benefits that many enjoy. Is it any surprise that as the percentage of union members goes down wages go down and the disparity in income goes up. Is it possible that big business and their friends in the Republican Party have done this on purpose. In September alone the Republican NLRB issued 61 anti union rulings, overturning 50 years of worker protection.

If progressive politics only stands for pro choice, gay marriage and the environment, ignoring economic issues count me out. If your concern is for the parts of the body between the knees and the waist, worry some more about your wallet.

I agree. Economic issues are huge. Historically organized labor has been at the forefront of every major movement to build the middle class, provide better health care, make our society financially more fair. I'm not sure where you got the idea that I was disagreeing with you.

The class angle is interesting one, however. A lot of us have maybe grown up with a little less financial stability than those in whats left of a steady unionized industrial workforce typically enjoy. I wish I made what a lot of unionized workers do. Its just not the reality of a lot of today's workforce life experience, unfortunately.

BTW- maybe it is a class difference. I grew up on at least in parts on welfare.

I think they all have a good message, but the last two lose something by going with the PC v. Mac theme.

I'll try to be nice in the spirit of Thanksgiving. As part of the Mac cult, I'll offer that if you'd rather be using a PC running Windows you may not be conservative, but you are certainly not using a well designed computer.