Vote for Obama if you want Government to take care of you from birth to death, they can dictate everything you do along the way. You don't need personal responsibility when the "Government is here to help". "Julia" is right out of Hillary's book, It takes a Village. This is the problem in america, people vote for the candidate that "serves them economically", no one seems to care about the 16 trillion deficit. JFK must be turning in his grave. Ask not what you can do for your country, Ask what your country can do for you. People will finally wake up when it hits the fan.

What you call "predictable results" happens to be actual facts. These are government policies that have eased or erased women's obstacles to succeed. If it is thought that this information is readily apparent it is an unfair judgement on a large part of the population. It defines what kinds of programs will be supported or have been put in place. Maybe a bit tacky but if women as well as men were interviewed many would not be aware or understand how these advances in our society came about. As for gender pandering it exists both for the male side also and there are examples meant to increase the ire of males or gain their favor. Further for many men, especially those that have mothers or daughters also need to be made aware of how public policy and laws have benefited them. This is called politics. The only problem comes when the purveyors of these ads lie or deceive or distract on issues. Women's suffrage was accomplished with advocacy both socially and by government. Democracy is a messy system but to survive transparent information on all issues of interest to the public must be on display. Not everyone is a political junkie but will take notice if information is presented properly. It is a bit self righteous to select out a slice of this political theatre without really shedding light on the whole and criticizing who stretches the truth or not.

It is amazing that the team Obama really believed that this "Julia" story would be flattering to them. It truly supports the narrative that left wing politics is about buying votes with cradle to grave government benefits. It works as well as a parody, from the Romney campaign. It proves that the Obama agenda is based on European style government handouts for all, and we all know how that has played out. Romney should lift the Julia story, and do pieces on how Europeans are taxed so much, and produce so little, that they are now on the brink of financial disaster. That is place Obama wants to lead us.

Nice piece, Joanna.

"the strength of one man is so unequal to his wants, and his mind so unfitted for perpetual solitude, that he is soon obliged to seek assistance and relief of another, who in his turn requires the same." Thomas Paine February 14, 1776, "Common Sense"

I disagree. People don't always understand the impact of government policies in their lives. The tea partier who held the sign saying "get your government hands off my medicare" is a case in point. Maybe we really need an info graphic in which "Buddy" survives his premature birth by being placed in an incubator, learns to read in a public school, drives his pickup on an interstate, becomes an electrician and doesn't die because of federal safety regulations and doesn't get cheated by his employer because of federal wage and hour laws, and then retires on social security.

A vote for Republicans is a vote to constrict the growth of the middle class and push more into poverty so that government intervention, the very thing they abhor, becomes the last resort option for many. Has the private sector stepped up to the plate during Bush's recession to turn it around. No siree bob. These "sunshine patriots" and bastions of trickle down capitalism have been missing in action to the tune of 2 trillion dollars. Oh I forgot they're waiting for the proper incentives, their concern for their fellow American is not one of them.

Richmond12:"It proves that the Obama agenda is based on European style government handouts for all, and we all know how that has played out" Germany did much better than the US in coming out of the recession. And the 'government handouts' and regulations are to be credited for that. Germany did not lose as many jobs as the US did; and it has put back many more people back to work. Getting too selective with your examples are you?

The Romney/Friess/Nugent wing of the Republican Party's war against women continues - never subtle, never funny, always wa-a-ay too much.

teach a man to fish.....

Political ads are USUALLY stupid, irritating, and insulting to an informed person's intelligence. Both parties are guilty, although the Republicans normally do more of them because they have more money. It's no big deal. Most advertising is aimed at the lowest common denominator, so why do you care? Are you saying you decide your vote on the basis on Internet videos or TV ads? I surely hope not.

Joanna's column is better than usual, UNTIL she blames both political parties. NO, the political party that deliberately STARTED this fight and phony discussion is the one to be blamed. That began with George Stephanopolus's uncalled for and irrelevant questions at the NH GOP debates. That followed by the comments by Sandra Fluke, who was obviously coached by Democratic Party operatives. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Now there really IS a War On Women that is being practiced hour by hour, day by day, in religious Muslim countries. Women are raped and killed, just for being women. Does the Obama Administration say or do anything about this? Do feminist women's groups speak out? Does the regular news media report this? NO, NO, and NO. -------------------------------- That makes them all HYPOCRITES.