Friday, March 16, 2012

'Road We've Traveled' Puts First Term in Perspective

The public's memory is short. In the days of the 24-hour news cycle, Facebook, and Twitter, news stories come and go in hours.

Faced with that fact, President Obama's re-election campaign isn't banking on his supporters and the general public remembering his accomplishments. "The Road We've Traveled," the new 17-minute video by Academy Award-winning director Davis Guggenheim
is a not-so-subtle reminder of how deep the recession was when Obama took office in January 2009 and how far we've come since then.

"When we look at today's headlines, do we remember what we as a country have been through?" asks Tom Hanks, who provides the voice-over for the film.

The film reminds viewers that the economy Obama inherited was in free-fall until his economic stimulus package revived it and turned it in a positive direction. Then it proceeds to an "Obama's Greatest Hits" run-down of key moments in his administration -- the auto industry rescue, , passage of health care reform, winding down of the war in Iraq, the successful hunting down of Osama bin Laden,repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and reform of the college loan process that has saved students millions of dolllars.

That, and much more, is all packed in to the 17-minute film. Michigan comes in for its share of attention, with the "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt" headline. That opinion piece, written by Republican Mitt Romney, is the only reference to one of Obama's potential 2012 opponents.

Share the video with your friends and undecided voters. Ask them if they can imagine Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, or Mitt Romney doing half of what Obama accomplished.

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