Title: Obama on ‘Daily Show’: How’d He Do?
Date: 28 October 2010
Grade: 12
Subject: US Government
URL: http://www.newsy.com/videos/obama-on-daily-show-how-d-he-do/
Teacher Information:
This video is a great piece to discuss with
students during the midterm elections. This
video provides the perspectives of several
different sides in the media, both Republicans
and Democrats. It is a great way to begin a
lesson on campaign strategy leading up to
elections.
Phase
Preparation
Watch
Re-watch
and answer
Group Work
Discussion
Task(s)
Time
Upon entering the room, give students a handout that asks them to predict different
ways candidates can campaign in order to gain votes. Additionally, provide students
with a few copies of ads from select politicians from our district. Ask students to
explain whether or not these are good strategies of winning votes.
As a class, watch the video clip, “Obama on ‘Daily Show’: How’d He Do?”
http://www.newsy.com/videos/obama-on-daily-show-how-d-he-do/
After we watch the video the first time, we will briefly discuss why Obama went onto
‘The Daily Show’. Once we have received some good insight from the class, we will rewatch the video. This time, I will ask the class to watch the clip and try to answer the
question, “How do the parties disagree on the effect and overall impact of President
Obama’s appearance on this show?”
As a class, we will break up into four groups of 5. Each group will be handed a scenario
of when a President made a public appearance on a TV show with at least partial intent
of raising awareness about an upcoming election. Each group will also be handed a
scenario of a time when a President made a public endorsement of a candidate in the
weeks leading up to an election. The groups will be asked to decide which campaign
strategy worked best. After the ten-minute deliberation period for each group, one
person from the group will need to summarize the group’s scenarios and opinions in
front of the class.
This will lead us directly into the class discussion. Our discussion will be looking at
campaign strategies used by various politicians, with the intent of showing students
how it can have wide-reaching effects, both positive and negative. Questions will be
posed to students as to whether they would rather see politicians on TV shows or just in
the news, and what effect it would have on them if they were undecided prior to seeing
it. The possible consequences for each of these scenarios will be discussed, as well as
focusing on the actual findings of each specific account that was given to each group.
10
1:53
5
20 Total
10 –
group
10 –
presentations
15
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Title: Obama on ‘Daily Show’: How’d He Do?
Extended Learning Activities – Optional
Parent Involvement
Have the students ask their parents if they can
remember a politician that campaigned for other
politicians within his/her party. Ask them if they
remember what the result was? Grandparents,
aunts/uncles, etc can be used as a source as well.
varies
Research
Students will research other campaign strategy
tactics employed by various politicians throughout
modern politics.
What are the financial limits on campaigns for
politicians?
Choose one of the scenarios given to the groups in
class, or use the websites given to find out a
politician period where campaigning negatively
affected a politician.
varies
Research
Report
varies
varies
Looking for related resources? Check out…
The Living Room Candidate
Watch videos and see campaign ads from presidential hopefuls from 1952 until present day elections.
Pay attention for attack ads and ones that resulted in negative publicity for the politician.
www.livingroomcandidate.org/
4President.org
How have the past Presidential nominees campaigned for the upcoming election in their respective
years? Check out the examples through the years.
http://www.4president.org/
Newsweek
Note how candidates are campaigning and taking to the streets just a few days before the midterm
elections. Check out the different states and races.
http://www.newsweek.com/tag/politics.html
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Fresno Bee/Los Angeles Times
This newspaper article and blog reflects how the President was in California campaigning for
other politicians from that state. It includes a link to the Los Angeles Times article as well.
http://fresnobeehive.com/opinion/2010/10/president_campaigning_in_calif.html
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/10/obamajerry-brown-rally-moved-tobigger-venue-for-fridays-usc-appearance.html
Los Angeles Times
This newspaper article refers to a visit from President Obama to campaign for Senate incumbent
Barbara Boxer from California.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/10/crowds-line-up-for-obama-at-usc-after-the-rallypresident-to-tape-interview-in-glendale.html
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