A new challenge for Obama fans
File this under the category of do-it-yourself politics. In this YouTube.com era, it was only a matter of time before it happened. MoveOn.org has joined forces with Oscar-winners Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Oliver Stone, multiple Grammy-winner John Legend and author Naomi Wolf to a TV ad contest for Barack Obama. The contest is called "Obama in 30 Seconds," in which Barack supporters are being asked -- challenged -- to come up with half-minute videos that focus on what it is about the Senator from Illinois that inspires them. The winning entry will be shown on national television.If you're interested -- or know someone who is -- the ads must be submitted to the Obama in 30 Seconds website. The videos have to be submitted between March 27th and April 1st. Beginning April 4th, 3.2 million MoveOn members and the public will have a chance to vote on which ads advance to the finals.
On April 10th, the finalists will be announced. A slew of celebrity judges have been formed to chose the winner. The panel of "experts" include Affleck, Damon, Legend, Stone, actor/director Steve Buscemi, Entourage star Adrian Grenier, civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson, entrepreneur Russell Simmons, musician Eddie Vedder, and a few other biggies.
On April 17th, the winning ad, and ad-maker, will be announced. MoveOn Political Action will purchase air time on national TV to air the ad, and the winning ad-maker will receive $20,000 in video equipment -- presumably to make more videos.

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