With both the Obama and McCain campaigns now in their “end-game” phase we will be seeing lots of kitchen-sink campaigning in the coming weeks by both sides (anyone watch the news today?). The vast majority of YouTube ads you see released on the campaign websites, on various internet blogs, or especially reported on in the news, are never really even aired as paid advertisements on television. The campaigns rely on the free publicity provided by blogs and the media to circulate those ads. In short, more pundits and bloggers talk about or report on the ads then actually see them spontaneously. This is because television advertising is damn expensive, even for these historically wealthy campaigns. A huge chunk of advertising is actually being done “sub-rosa” via the radio and direct mailers. Here, for example, is a direct mailer being sent out by the Obama campaign [via Politico]:
“American jobs to India” reads the bottom box. Clearly the Obama campaign isn’t afraid to play the outsourcing/xenophobia card as long as it flies well under the radar in a battleground state (probably Missouri in this case). I wonder if South Asians for Obama will be in touch with the campaign about this mailer now that the desi community has shown it can bring “resources” (the buzz word I kept hearing at the Democratic National Convention) to the table and therefore has a voice at said table.
Clearly the Obama campaign wants to publicize that Steve Jobs, who is American, is sending Apple products in cartons to China, India and Mexico as a goodwill gesture to celebrate his surviving his imaginary heart attack.
How is this xenophobic? Nationalistic maybe… but factually speaking, those are three of the primary countries that the US outsources to. How is this under the radar? If any Indians are so terribly opposed to Obama’s already-superclear stance against outsourcing (incl to India) as to be disturbed by this messaging, then they shouldn’t be voting for him.
Abhi, this isn’t a “xenophobic” appeal at all. Reasonable people, including reasonable people of South Asian descent, disagree on the merits about outsourcing and its effect on American jobs as a policy issue. That’s unremarkable and isn’t the problem. The problem is when people frame those policy disagreements in xenophobic or racist terms. But by that measure, this is about as non-xenophobic as such an ad could possibly get. If you disagree with that, then I’d be interested to know what a non-xenophobic anti-outsourcing ad would look like to you. Or is it your position that articulating opposition to or concerns about outsourcing is necessarily and automatically xenophobic, by its nature?
I don’t see it as xenophobic per se. Obama is opposed to unfettered outsourcing. One should read the book “Obamanomics” for an analysis of his position. In the past, like three weeks ago, the talk was but rhetoric, as there was a strong global consensus that “free” global trade benefited the world. But I suspect we are on the threshold of different times now – the Hegelian Weitgeist (World Spirit) is shifting its direction. The certitudes of the American system (aka the Washington Consensus, Reaganomics) seem to have been demolished in the past few weeks. The American system is the subject of scorn throughout the world, and in America itself. So who knows what the future holds?
xenophobic is too strong of a word for it. i don’t know what you find surprising about this, the dems are OK with “tactically” (as some would say around here) use these tools to win elections. the dem party has shifted much further in a protectionist direction than where it was when clinton dragged them toward NAFTA. additionally, though i support free trade, there are many economists who now agree that the gains to trade tend to accrue to the top half of the wealth spectrum, and most especially to the top 10%. in contrast, the losses weigh heavily on the lower half of the population. since the dems are still the party of the poor and working classes (despite ignorant commentary to the contrary, see red state, blue state, rich state, poor state) why wouldn’t and shouldn’t they use these sorts of populist appeals? granted, the outsourcing to india works up the status ladder all the way to programmers, so th analogy to blue collar protectionism isn’t totally appropriate, but many of the “creative class” are worried about wage pressure and outsourcing too, and they are often social liberals who vote dem.
the problem with xenophobia as a term of aspersion here is that the fear that americans have about outsourcing and trade isn’t due to a fear that aliens will come into their communities and wreck them. they’re just terrified about job security and wage stagnation, worries which have mounted for a generation while those with college educations and capital have flourished. those without college educations are just not well positioned to compete at the higher ends of the value added skills food chain in a global economy.
now, personally i think rather than curtailing trade and shifting toward autkarky of some sort we should just increase the government spending to cushion the shock to citizens who find themselves being outgunned on the global marketplace (and choke off a lot of unskilled immigration too). but if you want to convince people about the gains of trade (which i agree exist), calling them “xenophobic” probably isn’t the way to go.
what’s wrong with the message. In the words of Adam, “The property which every man has is his own labour, as it is the original foundation of all other property, so it is the most sacred and inviolable”.
No argument here. “Outsourcing” on its own is not xenophobic. This image is. Look at the half dozen other mailers regarding the same subject on the link that I pasted in the post for comparison. I will grant that xenophobia may be a tad too strong but I still don’t like the connotation. There are better ways to argue against outsourcing then making Americans fear certain countries and not others. Don’t we outsource a lot to Ireland? Why not an Irish flag?
Personally, I’m still livid about the outsourcing of goat-herding to New Zealand and the Middle East.
4, Wow. there is a book called ‘Obamanomics’????
giggle Do they sell it in Obamarnes & Noble? Or in Oborders? Obamazone.com…..
I think this has to do with a) the kinds of industries they’re identifying in this ad, and b) the kinds of voters they hope to attract by this message. We outsource a lot of finance/commercial work to Ireland (which I would argue impacts college-educated voters), whereas the stereotype of the work exported to Mexico or India invokes manufacturing and customer service (impacting blue-collar or high school educated workers).
The ad is certainly nativist, and it IS interesting that it only identifies developing countries (and only those that are seen as an economic or immigration threat) as recipients of outsourcing.
For the record, my vote for the “this is not xenophobia” camp.
Obama’s pandering to the white people who are xenophobic and against outsourcing.
In my opinion this video in which Steven Landsburg schools John Gibson illustrates lucidly why the fear over outsourcing is just thinly veiled racism (and obviously xenophobic). It is sad to see progressives supporting Obama in hateful campaign ads like the ones highlighted in this post.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hd8eUzwmqY
At first glance I didn’t have a problem with this; outsourcing is an economic issue that is relevant to all Americans (including Indian Americans); – But then what Camille wrote made me think twice:
and it IS interesting that it only identifies developing countries (and only those that are seen as an economic or immigration threat) as recipients of outsourcing.
Maybe the amount of outsourcing to IReland is minimal compared to India/Mx/China? Then again maybe it’s just picking on the guys that don’t look mainstream American (whatever that means).
12 · Roo said
Hmmm. What a well thought argument. Precluded, of course, upon the belief Obama thinks xenophobic white people won’t notice he’s half BLACK and is named Barack Obama?!
I can understand why you are upset but sadly, Obama needs to regurgitate some basic Democratic talking points to win. It’s the way elections go in our country. In a discussion with Jon Stewart recently, Bill Maher made the same argument (although this time, it was about another talking point-faith).
If I’m “xenophobic” for opposing outsourcing, am I also a “racist” for opposing mass immigration? I oppose Obama on 90% of issues (taxation, social issues, etc), but one of the few reasons to support him is his opposition to outsourcing of American jobs and why he has such strong labor support. Republicans tacitly support out-sourcing – this is one of the reasons why Obama has formerly dyed-in-the-wool red states (Indiana, Michigan, etc) in play this election.
To CMF at #17
Yes.
18:
Hitler was not a community organizer. Nice try.
Hi Salil (#19),
Are you suggesting that Hitler did not organize a community of Nazis?
I have to agree with HWACO on this one. This kind of protectionist ad is at the very least nativist, hypocritical (given American subsidies, as well as forcing other countries to remove trade barriers), and hypernationalistic. There are good reasons to be considered about the structural economic effects of outsourcing, I would respect Obama if his ads made the point about training, education, and investing in infrastructure to make Americans more capable of competing in the global market.
The means justify the ends. I’m an Obama supporter and I really really don’t want McCain to win office. If this is what it takes, so be it. Same goes for Muslims who complain about the Obama campaign turning them away–deal with it, and you won’t have to deal with the ensuing shitstorm if McCain is elected.
obama says vote for mcain so our friends back in india can have more jobs…….
whoohoooo
You cant compete in the global market, no matter how hard you train. That guy in India knows the programming language just as good as you and will do it for 5 bucks an hour.
It is not fair. You would be taking a giant chance taking a career in any computer field and from what I understand law isnt even that safe from ousourcing these days. What is going to be safe in America from outsourcing if government doesnt try to discourage it? College is going to become useless.
And besides the moment an Indian in hte US changes status from H1-B to green card, their perspective flips! Like my US born Indian-American nephews who have decided not to waste their time on Comp.Sc. what’s the point it’s going to be outsourced! Ignore for a moment that they are 8 and 11 respectively! Perception!
24:
I totally I agree with you. I feel so sorry for all the candle makers, electric bulb manufacturers and all those connected with the lighting industry, who cannot achieve the full potential of their business because the sun provides abundant light during the day. If only Obama was our benign ruler :(. He surely would impose a hefty tax to discourage people from using the sun’s light and thus let people in the lighting industry have safe and profitable jobs.
24 · ShallowThinker said
people who come up with comments like this should be made to write “i will first understand the concept of comparative advantage” a 1000 times. And then read this.
Worst analogy ever.
That is all.
25. jyotsana said
Aren’t cheap shoes and dirt-cheap computers a direct result of outsourcing ? Virtually everything walmart sells, at the prices they sell it, is direct result of outsourcing, No ?
28:
Way to live up to your name. Any substantial criticism of the analogy?
To echo what many have already said, how is it at all inappropriate for an American presidential candidate to oppose American jobs being shipped overseas?
I think it’s a lot more important that Indian companies start developing more, better domestically created jobs for young professionals so they don’t have to rely on foreign companies paying their salary, and in turn the state of foreign economies. This campaign isn’t xenophobic at all, and if McCain’s campaign cared about American workers at all they would be sending a similar message.
Next person to use “Hitler” in their handle gets banned. Have some freaking common sense.
29 · Sh. Arpasand said
If this argument held – and it is a real argument, then real wages wouldn’t have stagnated or dropped for the working class and the middle class. So you would have to look at that question – whether prices for consumer goods in the U.S. compesnated for stagnating or declining wages. I would guess no – that it simply prolonged the sustainability of the startegy.
On the other hand, you can look at it from the perspective of who gets most of the gains and who gets the least and who gets losses- and on that, there’s really no contest. The rich have by far outpaced the poor and middle class in the U.S., let alone globally. The neoliberal regime, where it’s actually been adopted in practice rather than simply as lip service, has also contributed to poor industrial policies in developing countries – like INdia not fighting the TRIPPS agreement and consequently destroying its own burgeoning pharmaceutcial research and development. So if you think that industrialization has benefits, then this model of growth – even if it generates income – is poor for poor countries.
20 · HitlerWasACommunityOrganizer said
I think he was suggesting that you’re an idiot.
33 · Dr Amonymous said
huh ?
The $1K I earned in pre-outsourcing and pre-globalization era was NOT ENOUGH (or barely enough) for me to buy a computer for my kids education or warm winter clothing for them to be able to live and get educated comfortably. BECAUSE, in those days computers and warm clothing were not affordable by the lower and middle classes. There were no WalMarts around to make it possible for me to provide for all these necessary luxuries of life for my family.
Today I still earn the measly $1K (according to your logic). BUT, today I go to walmart and buy a $199 computer (made in china), $11 fleece jacket (made in china) and I can today also host my blog for free (thanks to super cheap hosting services) and whine as much as I want about the horrors of outsourcing and globalization. After all this I come home with still plenty of disposable income in my pocket. Sometimes I buy GOOG and YHOO and MSFT stocks with this leftover income, or I may save it to move into a bigger house. Credit has been really easy to get and mortgages were quite affordable.
Would you rather that I earn $2.5K today BUT computers prices remain at $2K+ and warm fleece jackets remain a $100+ item (available only at Nordstrom) and home mortgage only available to those who have spotless credit and overflowing savings accounts ?
34, Vijaykanth:
To echo what many have already said, how is it at all inappropriate for a white American presidential candidate to oppose white American jobs being given to blacks?
Vijay, please watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hd8eUzwmqY
35 · Sh. Arpasand said
<
blockquote>33 ·
Cute.
Here are some other takes on how much money different groups of people were taking home changed relative to prices in the U.S. (1,2,3,4). Like I said, I don’t know the answer – it’s an argument. The sources I provided mostly make the argument that real wages have fallen over the last 40 years for most Americans. They might be wrong. But hypothetical anecdotes don’t really help all that much.
As for making credit widely available in large amounts with no cosigner (like the government) without adequate increases in income to pay back the money + usurious interest – well, that seems a little dumb right now, doesn’t it? Certainly it’s how I got broke…
“Obama’s pandering to the white people who are xenophobic and against outsourcing”
So trooo. People of other colors don’t care if their jobs go overseas.
“Aren’t cheap shoes and dirt-cheap computers a direct result of outsourcing ? Virtually everything walmart sells, at the prices they sell it, is direct result of outsourcing, No ?”
Works as long as enough people have the dirt to buy the stuff with. Once they aren’t even earning dirt, well…there must be one among this erudite crowd who knows famous economist gave a name to it.
38, xena the phobia princess:
You are totally right. Just like whites didn’t care if their jobs went to other races.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asiatic_Exclusion_League http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIyewCdXMzk
I just want to say that sub rosa is a favorite word/phrase of mine and I love the usage here.