I just found the video amusing. There's definitely gratuitous booty shots in there, but I couldn't quite work up any anger over it. It spoofs current crappy pop, and the high-school election-like atmospheres that American presidential races often devolve into. Definitely not particularly feminist, but there are much worse portrayals of women on the Internet to get worked up over.

I know it is meant to be "funny" but it doesn't do anything for the female image in politics or on any other level for that matter. This is the female response to the political campaigns? Come on now. And if this meant to be funny , where are the naked, booty shaking boys for Hillary? ;-)

I kind of enjoyed the one for Hillary.

Kinda country, but whatever.

"Yup. Thought-provoking. I assume next month we'll get a 5-woman mud wrestling match. CNN will provide live coverage of the video shoot. "

Any why isn't iraq or reagan fetishism relevant? Ohh, the bikinis. It's nice that we let Ann Althouse post here under pseudonyms, isn't it? How about we literally remove our humorless feminist hats instead of sarcastically

Super thought-provoking, yep. Pop culture is a trip. I don't come down firmly on "good" or "bad" with these videos.

Since the negative aspects are glaring and abundant, how about:
• The focus on the sexual attractiveness of the male candidates — novel, at least.
• Equal-opportunity adoration from squirming, lordotic lasses (albeit rife with a fake-lesbianism display).
• Acknowledging women's political interest, as something they're passionate about, even.
• Raunch-culture sexuality used to gain interest for something useful, for a change — political issues.

Mind you, I don't find the videos particularly amusing, but they're probably not targeted to me.

I agree, it's funny.

We can debate the pros and cons of how women are portrayed in popular culture, but popular culture is what it is, and satirists will work with the material they are given.

It's parody of pussycatdolls-esque pop videos is what makes it relevant and entertaining.

I agree, it's funny.

We can debate the pros and cons of how women are portrayed in popular culture, but popular culture is what it is, and satirists will work with the material they are given.

It's parody of pussycatdolls-esque pop videos is what makes it relevant and entertaining.

I agree it "doesn't do anything for the female image in politics," however, I didn't perceive it as suggesting that this was the "female response to politics." Rather, I thought this whole video series is more of a comment on Obama's attractiveness and pop culture appeal.

The ladies in this video didn't seem as interested in either candidates policies as they did in their looks and tabloid stories. Thumbs down.

" CNN will provide live coverage of the video shoot."

HAHAHA! Thank you Jen. CNN is turning into the Us weekly of news television.

When my boyfriend asked me if I had seen the "Obama girl video" I was pretty excited. I thought it would be a cute love song to his politics and political record. (Has anyone heard the Harry Potter Emo Love Song by slam poet Big Poppa E? I was expecting something along those lines).

I really wasn't expecting a scantily clad woman in the typical music video poses.

How do I feel about it? I don't know.

Young people involved in political discussion - yes!
Young women involved in political discussion - yes!

I haven't read/seen anything else about "Obama girl". If she's serious about politics and uses her newfound fame to spread thoughtful messages about a presidential candidate, then, okay. But if she's not then...what was the point? A novel way to wear a bikini?

If you blank out all of booty shaking and grinding in the video (eww), it's a really catchy tune.

Yes, when I sit around reading Obama's book, I read it in my underpants with other girls in their underpants in the room too and when we disagree, we start fighting....in our panties.

Come on.

(There are multiple other things I don't exactly like about this video, but I don't exactly have time to name them all...)

So people who are trying to promote politics don't have the capacity to find a way to appeal to the masses without exploiting women? Come on! I find it slightly disgusting and disheartening that this is what the democratic side came out with (for Obama AND the one for Hillary)...realizing that a LOT of their voting members are women?? And actual gays (re: Hott for Hill video)?
Democrats usually support the interests that concern women (pro choice, etc) and gays. And then for feminists to support it just because it is trying to appeal politics to the masses when it is a low-blow to us? The people who thought these up were just lazy and didn't want to try to think of a unique and non-sexually exploitive way to get the message across. That's my feelings on it.

I tried looking at it in a humorous light and it left me cold. Not really my cup of tea.

As for its political merits... it has none. Just a pair of rhyming smear campaigns featuring booty.

I'm almost embarrassed.

Our formothers who fought so hard for women to have the right to vote would be so proud.

Light, fluffy, vacuous, just like the rest of the "pop" world.

I find the videos somewhat irrelevant. It's frustrating that the women were willing to participate in it, but if they want to look ridiculous, it's their choice. I do like their attempt to rationalize and pretend the videos are "thought provoking"-- very creative stretch-- but we all know the people who enjoy these videos aren't likely to use them as an "intellectual tool" to make better voting choices.

um, i think they're just trying to keep young women politically informed, right?...total sarcasm, btw.
I was looking for the humor, and I don't know if I'm just having a bad day or something, but we (as in the Obama/Giuliani girls and me) do not agree on the definition of "funny". I know it's a joke, but it really just looks like these "serious" girls don't care too much about politics, at least not more than shaking their asses on the web for 2 seconds of mediocre fame.

Yes, when I sit around reading Obama's book, I read it in my underpants with other girls in their underpants in the room too and when we disagree, we start fighting....in our panties.

I read Feministing in my underpants.

/sets off to go make a video/

the fact that it comes from a site called "barelypolitical.com" should be a big sign that they're probably not going to be dealing with any "real" issues.

maybe i just don't get it. it's supposed to be funny? really? i thought it was pretty boring.

the fact that it comes from a site called "barelypolitical.com" should be a big sign that they're probably not going to be dealing with any "serious" issues.

maybe i just don't get it. it's supposed to be funny? really? i thought it was pretty boring.

Uh.

The video really isn't even all that good. VERY obviously lip-synced; it's obvious the women in the video didn't vocalize while lip-syncing; they're just moving their lips, which is decidedly less than convincing.

The lyrics are asinine. I think there actually is a way to make a video like this funny, even with hot girls shaking their butts and all. Make it ironic, make it funny. Make fun of people who use hot women for everything from yogurt ads to used car commercials to furniture ads. Be smart and clever. And for the love of God, know something about what the candidates actually STAND for. Knowing that Giuliani wore drag and has been married three times, and knowing that Obama went to Harvard, is boring to the point of hinting that this video was created by less-than-astute wannabes.

A total creative failure AND sexist to boot.

I like how if I am offended by the sexism and superficiality of this video, I'm automatically labeled as a humorless feminist.

I'm glad younger people are beginning to get more involved in politics. But I'm just sad that their political vehicle of choice is scantily-clad female viral pop stars. It's totally insulting to be lumped in with this generation sometimes. What happened to actual political discourse and debate versus goofy soundbites? (But then again, what should one expect in the age of 24 hour news channels?)

It will be very interesting to look back on our culture in 50 years.

It's satire. They can't base this on a fictional pop culture where women aren't sexualized. I don't think it's funny, but it's because the jokes kinda suck.

Sorry, I hate macho humor as much as the next guy/girl, but I don't see that as being the case here.

And I don't think this video is trying to show women "their place in politics" in any way.

I tend to hate all those "booty" filled music videos on MTV these days, but I took this to be a satire of the genre and thus found it pretty funny. I seem to be in the minority....

I think it's funny, but only because it's so completely stupid. Yes it's satire, yes it's meant to be funny...

But it's sad really. Sad and disappointing.

You really need to get a life.

The question is, who is the best candidate for the humor-impaired?

What bothers me about these videos is that the real bubbleheads with crushes on the candidates are male pundits who pant in reaction to Rudy Giuliani's tough talk and Fred Thompson's faux-folksiness and Mitt Romney's "shoulders you could land a 737 on." The #1 Giuliani Girl is Chris Matthews, and he's got a lot of competition, nearly all of it male.

Watching this video my face had the exact expression of the woman moderating the 'debate' at 1:12!

I think that all presidential contenders should debate in their underwear and sing their responses to questions sung by newscasters.
Americans love musicals and underwear,so give us what we want.

I haven't actually watched the video yet because I'm at work, but I was annoyed reading the WaPo article about the video. The video might be funny, but in the article, the creators were all "we get into some serious issues ... with girls pillow fighting!" which just seems ... condescending. Girls couldn't care about politics without it devolving into a catfight!

I don't get it. I don't get how this is satire at all. It wasn't funny. I guess I could see men laughing at the stupid women engaging in all the silly female behavior and sexual poses and male fantasies as possible.

I remember how when Clinton was elected the right wing talk shows went crazy about how women voted for him because he was better looking than George the 1st, and only vote for who the "hottest" guy is (and him playing the Sax apparently made him way hotter.) The commentary of the hosts and the majority of the men around me at that time, in the office and social circles of mine at that time, also included alot about the inability for women to fully comprehend the political process and policy issues in a serious and well thought out manner and base their decisions on who they'd want to be their "Daddy". This video would be funny to them I am sure, but not so much to me.

Women apparently sit at home in their underwear and swoooooon over their hottest pick for the next Prez. Then giggle giggle, debate their girlfriends about politics with pillows. giggle giggle--- Good stuff. Is this satire because by making a video of Women debating their favorite candidates with all the sexiness MTV would be proud of, is a common world view of how men view Women making political decisions? Compare that with Atlantis making fun of pop culture by re-doing "my humps" and tell me where is the satire? Precisely because that is how a lot of people view women relating to politics is why I don't see the humour in favor of feminism, but once again a joke on women involved in politics. I seriously don't get it.
I proudly proclaim myself a humorless feminist!

This isn't a video referring to "Women and what they do", this is satirizing groups like the Pussycat Dolls and (name a similar group because I don't remember their names), and the pop industry in general.. The fact that they're women, in the context of the satire, is mere coincidence (not in the context of pop culture).

There has been satires of boy bands when they were popular, too.

Ok- I am old, I get it. I haven't seen the PussyCat dolls doing a similar Political song and dance for any candidates, so I didn't realize it was a video making fun of them. Where is it -so I can laugh too at the satire?

Great post, Jen. I totally agree - this is so tiresome. When will "pop culture" realize that the constant sexualized images of women everywhere has a direct effect on the lives and treatment of women in real life?

Great post, Jen. I totally agree - this is so tiresome. When will "pop culture" realize that the constant sexualized images of women everywhere has a direct effect on the lives and treatment of women in real life?

Great post, Jen. I totally agree - this is so tiresome. When will "pop culture" realize that the constant sexualized images of women everywhere has a direct effect on the lives and treatment of women in real life?

"The fact that they're women, in the context of the satire, is mere coincidence (not in the context of pop culture)."

It's never mere coincidence that there are women in their underwear. It's not satire. Satire is supposed to be smart. It's a vehicle for a few women to get noticed and launch some sort of career. But what kind of career will that be? Behind the camera, making smart, witty films or in front of the camera in bikinis and underwear?

Sorry so bitter. This whole thing makes me gag. We don't listen to women on politics unless they're dancing, singing, grinding for us.

"The fact that they're women, in the context of the satire, is mere coincidence (not in the context of pop culture)."

It's never mere coincidence that there are women in their underwear. It's not satire. Satire is supposed to be smart. It's a vehicle for a few women to get noticed and launch some sort of career. But what kind of career will that be? Behind the camera, making smart, witty films or in front of the camera in bikinis and underwear?

Sorry so bitter. This whole thing makes me gag. We don't listen to women on politics unless they're dancing, singing, grinding for us.

I know it's been said, but this is satire. Just like the cast of SNL isn't seriously trying to encourage the audience to be like its characters, neither is this.

It's making fun of the vapidness of girl pop groups by having one sing about important issues (national politics), while calling out the pettiness of political campaigns for playing out like a cat fight. The humor is in the contrast of the message and the medium.

It's certainly ripe for criticism but if you're letting it upset you I think you're misconstruing it. If you go to the site you may find other videos (the Ann Coulter song, for example), that you do approve of.