Obama finally talks about the economy in his latest ad (below), which I generally think is a good idea. The substance is fine, but the framing is for shit, IMO. He still can't say the D-word or even the R-word. The problem is not Washington. It is not the "outworn ideas of the Left and the Right." It is Republicans. That is the problem. And Democrats are the solution. At least I thought that would be the Democratic message. Instead, the message is that Obama is the solution and Washington is the problem. Then I guess we should all vote against our incumbent Democratic Congressmen since they are equally to blame as the Republicans? They are Washington, no?

And, btw, what outworn ideas of the left are you talking about, Barack? Economic justice, regulation, jobs, fair pay, antitrust enforcement, equal access to opportunity? Which one of those fucking wornout ideas of the left don't you support? I'd like to know before I go in and vote. Was Reagan right and Carter wrong? Or is it that you've just been watching Meet The Press for 20 years and so you've internalized all the loathing of Democrats and the mythical "left"? Don't want to sit at the uncool kids' table.

Just when I think I can get drunk, hold my nose and vote for the jackass, he has to go and make me angry all over again.

Although I will say this, next to the current crew of Republicans, nobody deserves to have the angry mob come after them for this mess more than Obama and the Unity Democrats. If they won't put the blame on the GOP, then I have absolutely no sympathy when they get blamed and they will. There's no way the GOP is going to be this generous if Obama is President and the Congress is controlled by Democrats. Who is Washington, then? So if Obama can't fix all of this next year (and he can't, nobody can), then I guess he and the Democratic Congress are to blame. They will be Washington. If that's what they want (and they seem to), then that's going to be fine with me.

For some reason when I embed the video, it skews the site. You can view the ad here.

Transcript:

In the past few weeks, Wall Street's been rocked as banks closed and markets tumbled. But for many of you -- the people I've met in town halls, backyards and diners across America -- our troubled economy isn't news. 600,000 Americans have lost their jobs since January. Paychecks are flat and home values are falling. It's hard to pay for gas and groceries and if you put it on a credit card they've probably raised your rates. You're paying more than ever for health insurance that covers less and less.

This isn't just a string of bad luck. The truth is that while you've been living up to your responsibilities Washington has not. That's why we need change. Real change.

This is no ordinary time and it shouldn't be an ordinary election. But much of this campaign has been consumed by petty attacks and distractions that have nothing to do with you or how we get America back on track.

Here's what I believe we need to do. Reform our tax system to give a $1,000 tax break to the middle class instead of showering more on oil companies and corporations that outsource our jobs. End the "anything goes" culture on Wall Street with real regulation that protects your investments and pensions. Fast track a plan for energy 'made-in-America' that will free us from our dependence on mid-east oil in 10 years and put millions of Americans to work. Crack down on lobbyists -- once and for all -- so their back-room deal-making no longer drowns out the voices of the middle class and undermines our common interests as Americans. And yes, bring a responsible end to the war in Iraq so we stop spending billions each month rebuilding their country when we should be rebuilding ours.

Doing these things won't be easy. But we're Americans. We've met tough challenges before. And we can again.

I'm Barack Obama. I hope you'll read my economic plan. I approved this message because bitter, partisan fights and outworn ideas of the Left and the Right won't solve the problems we face today. But a new spirit of unity and shared responsibility will.

Ad and t-script via Shakesville.