2010 will be remembered as the year that political campaigns got down and dirty on the web, 21st century style. This year, especially in the United States, YouTube became a hub for politicians trying to go viral, to get their names out there and bring in the votes. Videos of local politicians in local elections that would have remained unknown if not for YouTube amassed hundreds of thousands, and even millions of online views. But was this year’s political YouTube attention good attention? Or did it make a mockery of the political process? Check out our top 25 political YouTube videos of 2010 and you be the judge.
Obama Kicks Door Open
Lets start off our 2010 YouTube politics review with one of my personal favorite YouTube videos, sharing one of the world’s most famous politicians, the one and only Barack Obama, kicking down a door. Nice one Barry O’Bam!
Basil Marceaux
My personal favorite story in YouTube politics 2010 is that of Basil Marceaux, the Tennessean that lost the gubernatorial race over the summer but won the YouTube popularity contest. Marceaux “went viral” when a video of his NBC4 speech about his interesting platforms hit YouTube. You can read more about Basil Marceaux in our post right here.
The Rent Is Too Damn High Party
In another slightly off-kilter viral political hit, Jimmy McMillan spoke out about his platform when he introduced the Rent Is Too Damn High Party at the NY Governor Debate.
Jimmy McMillan and the Rent Is Too Damn High Party received even more attention when Auto-Tune the News songified his speech to make the hit song ‘Rent: Too Damn High!’
Congressman Assaults Student on Washington Sidewalk
Back in June, North Carolina Congressman Bob Etheridge shocked constituents when he assaulted a young videographer trying to make a student video on the streets of Washington and the video went viral. Though he apologized for the incident, it’s hard to believe that a video like this getting nearly 3 million views on YouTube hasn’t tainted his reputation for good. Sufficed to say, Etheridge did not win in this November’s election. Think it had anything to do with this video?
Senate Candidate Freilich on a Cow
More politicians turned to YouTube than ever on the campaign trail this year. Some candidates uploaded professional, serious content, while others tried to go the viral route, piggy backing off of popular campaigns like the Old Spice ‘Man Your Man Could Smell Like’. One of these candidates was Daniel Freilich of Vermont. As you can guess, Freilich didn’t win the election. Whether or not it had something to do with this video, we can only speculate. But I’m pretty convinced he wasn’t taking the whole election thing very seriously in the first place.
Jerry Labriola Old Spice Ad Politician
Daniel Freilich wasn’t the only politician to pay homage to Old Spice this year. Jerry Labriola from Connecticut did an Old Spice spoof of his own as part of his campaign for congress. The campaign was much better executed than that of Freilich. However, it still wasn’t enough for Labriola to beat incumbent Rosa DeLauro.
Christine O’Donnell “I’m Not A Witch. I’m You.”
Then there’s the story of Christine O’Donnell. First she was a witch. Then she was not a witch. Then she was me, or rather…you or…all of us, I guess.
O’Donnell’s ‘I’m You’ campaign was the most-parodied campaign video of the 2010 elections. The most popular parody has been the songified version from the Gregory Brothers aka schmoyoho.
Chris Coons The Tax Man
O’Donnell also received some press for the attack video her campaign released against her opponent, Chris Coons, who the campaign dubbed as the Taxman. The video is pretty ridiculous, cut like a movie trailer. My favorite part is when they allude to Antoine Dodson’s ‘Bed Intruder Song’ saying, “Hide your will; Hide your lights; ‘Cause he’s taxin’ everything out here.”
Best of Phil Davison
And who could forget PHIL DAVISON?! This year he was seeking his party’s nomination for the position of STARK COUNTY TREASURER!!! Luckily, he has a master’s degree in COMMUNCATION!!! My only problem with Davison is that he doesn’t seem quite enthusiastic enough about the position.
President Obama & Jay Leno at White House Correspondents Dinner
Okay, that video was scary, right? Why not let Obama provide you with a little comic relief? Here is a video of Obama giving a speech at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in May, which turned out to be more of a stand up routine. Enjoy!
Paladino threatens New York Post Editor
New York republican gubernatorial contender Carl Paladino got some not-so-great press when he threatened New York Post State Editor Fred Dicker. Paladino accused Dicker of sending reporters after his daughter, which he had through an extramarital affair. He tells Dicker, “I’m gonna take you out, buddy.”
Hi, I’m a Tea-Partier
The Tea Party Movement also took off in 2010, resulting in a barrage of videos being uploaded to YouTube trying to understand this new party. One Tea Party parody video stood out from the crowd, getting over 1.3 million views. The video started something of a debate on YouTube, with Tea Party members uploading their own response videos as well.
Marine Stuns A Tea Party
And speaking of the Tea Party, this video of a marine singing the fourth verse of the Star Spangled Banner at a Tea Party event was huge on YouTube over the summer, with over 4.6 million views!
Carly Fiorina’s “Demon Sheep Ad”
Former Hewlitt Packard CEO ran for US Senate in California against Tom Campbell and released this totally bizarre attack ad. It features a Tom Campbell sheet rising above the flock on a pedestal. However, as the ad lists all the negative things that Campbell has done he transforms in to an evil sheep. Who came up with this? And, more importantly, who did they get to dress up in the evil sheep costume at the end?
Dr. Dwight McKenna For Orleans Coroner
Thought the demon sheep ad was weird? Check out this campaign ad for Dr. Dwight McKenna, who was running for Coroner of New Orleans. The ad shows McKenna’s opponent, Dr. Minyard, with an evil sidekick named Igor, preparing to sell organs out of the coroner’s office. Yuck.
Sue Lowden’s plan to pay for health care? “Bring a chicken to the doctor”
We’ve seen some crazy campaign ads and attack ads so far, but you haven’t seen anything yet! What was Nevada Senatorial candidate Sue Lowden’s plan to pay for health care? Bring a chicken to the doctor!
Rodney Glassman: Opera For Obama!
A John McCain attack ad against his opponent for Arizona Senator, Rodney Glassman, compares Glassman to Obama and makes fun of his love for singing. Of all the politicians out there I certainly wouldn’t expect John McCain to stoop this low.
Ken Buck: Vote for Me Because I Am Not A Woman
Ken Buck, senatorial candidate in Colorado, told a female voter that she should vote for him because he does not wear high heels and rumors started to fly that he was sexist and that he thought people should vote for him because he isn’t a woman. Do you think that’s what cost him the election?
We are Better than That!!!!!
Dale Peterson’s bid for the Republican nomination for Alabama Agriculture Commissioner might just be the best campaign ad of all time. It’s full of great quotes like, “They don’t give a rip about Alabama!” and, “Who on earth would support such a dummy?”
Grassley Works for Us – Twitter
Have you heard that Chuck Grassley has a twitter? Uh oh, I hope it’s curable! Ironically, Grassley hasn’t tweeted even once since the election.
Sarah Palin’s Alaska – Palin shoots a caribou
We know what you’re all wondering – what has Sarah Palin been up to in 2010? Well, she’s been hunting and shooting her new series, ‘Sarah Palin’s Alaska’.
Christine O’Donnell on the Constitution
It looks like Christine O’Donnell, who’s not a witch, was the new Sarah Palin on the block this year. Just as so many Palin videos circulated the web during the Presidential election, showcasing Palin’s lack of knowledge on certain issues, a video in which Christine O’Donnell asks where in the constitution it says that there’s a separation of church and state. In the video check out 2:37, 3:35 and 7:03.
“You Know Who I Am” Obama Seal Falls
When the presidential seal fell off the lectern while Obama was giving a speech back in October, the President made a joke saying, “That’s alright. All of you know who I am.”
Michelle Bachmann “Who Seems To Be In A Trance”
This interview with Congressman Michele Bachmann of Minnesota on Election Day 2010 is hilarious. It shows just how good many politicians are at sidestepping questions and avoiding talking about certain issues. This cracks me up.
Auto-Tune The News #13: driving. stripping. swinging.
When New York Congressman Charlie Rangel spoke before the House earlier this year to tell the ethics committee that he was not resigning, despite charges of wrongdoing, and asked them not to leave him swinging in the rain until November, his speech became an instant hit. The Gregory Brother’s, along with Weezer, auto-tuned the speech and set it to music. The song is super catchy and, I think, a great way to end out list of the top 25 moments in YouTube politics of 2010.
