by Frank James
As I watched the Washington Redskins-Philadelphia Eagles game yesterday, a Microsoft ad came on, part of the software giant's new campaign in which a number of real people announce "I'm a PC" or just "PC." Kind of like the "I'm Spartacus," scene from the movie of the same name except instead of crucifixion what comes next is the blue screen of death.
Anyway, I noticed one guy in the ad wearing a blue campaign button that looked very familiar. Where have I seen that before? Then it hit me -- It looks like he was wearing one of those anti-McCain buttons, distributed in Denver during the Democratic National Convention, with the message: "Ask me how many houses I own." A lot of people wanted one of those buttons. They thought it was very clever.
(Screenshot from one of Microsoft's "I'm a PC" ad.)
I got one from a woman with a bucket full of them who was handing them out like Halloween candy at the Big Tent, the site in Denver many bloggers used as their headquarters. The guy looks to be wearing a couple of lanyards of the sort that held media credentials so it looks like his video may have been taken in Denver.
True, the guy with the campaign button goes by pretty quickly. But that's what Tivo's freeze feature is for.
Was this meant to be a subliminal show of support for Sen. Barack Obama from Microsoft and Bill Gates who appears in the ad? Was it the work of some Obama supporter in Microsoft's ad ad shop?
Or was it merely an oversight with the advertising agency people who created the ad not noticing the McCain-mocking button?
Whichever it was, it's certainly a little different to see in a company's major image-advertising campaign a message that jabs a presidential candidate.
At least this ad is more understandable then the Gates-Jerry Seinfeld ones which left a lot of people scratching their heads.
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Comments
Microsoft has been loosing market share for a good reason. They are no longer the innovator in the market place. They are losing to the competition. It is no wonder they would support Obama. They may need bailout of there own. By the way Mr. Gates. Why don't you show some patriotism and donate half your fouhndations money to the Federal Government. I sure they have better ideas on how to spend it than you do. http://www.bop-o-rama.com
By the way, how many housed do you own.
Posted by: Don't buy Microsoft! | October 6, 2008 7:58 AM
And what's your point? Seriously, they pay you to find trivial stuff like this?
Posted by: K-Los | October 6, 2008 8:18 AM
every thing that appears in an ad is not scripted. some elements, including the back ground, are not there intentionally.
i am no microfsoft fan but do not believe that an antimccain button was put into the ad intentionally.
get a life, every one is not out "to get" your candidate
Posted by: localdairyfarmer | October 6, 2008 8:31 AM
K-Los:
Most ads are scrubbed fairly closely as to not offend many customers. So it was interesting, to me at least, that an anti-McCain message would make it into an ad for a company as marketing savvy as Microsoft. That's the point.
FJ
Posted by: Frank James | October 6, 2008 8:38 AM
PEOPLE: The longer version of the ad has the Obama guy followed by a McCain guy. So relax people, RELAX.
Posted by: Joe | October 6, 2008 9:22 AM
The ad shows a person who says 'I blog for Obama', then another guy who says 'and I campaign for McCain'.
Some conspiracy!
Posted by: scott mcdaniel | October 6, 2008 12:28 PM