Sarah Silverman Obama Video

Sarah Silverman has released a video for the Great Schlep campaign, which urges "Jewish grandchildren"--as well as non-Jews--to visit Florida and convince their grandparents to vote for Barack Obama.¹ Florida, which is considered a "swing state," has a large population of retirees, particularly Jewish retirees.²

Fast Facts

Silverman's Jewish background is a major source of her comedy material³

Silverman's mother worked for 1972 presidential campaign of Democrat George McGovern ⁴

"Schlep" is Yiddish for "to drag" or "to move slowly"⁵

The Great Schlep to take place Columbus Day weekend, October 11-13, 2008⁶

Official site includes option for "mini-schlep" (a phone call)⁶

Site features "talking points" with info on Obama⁷

Quotes

The following are excerpts from Silverman's monologue in the video.

"If Barack Obama doesn't become the next president of the United States, I'm gonna blame the Jews... I'm making this video to convince you, all of you, to schlep over to Florida and convince your grandparents to vote Obama."⁸

"These are the people who vote in Florida, and the Florida vote can make or break an election. If you don't think that's true, then why don't you think back to two elections ago when a little man named Al Gore got f_____d by Florida."⁸

"You know why your grandparents don't like Barack Obama? Because his name sounds scary, it sounds Muslim... Barack is a Hebrew word; it means 'lightning.' And I would much rather have a president whose name means 'lightning' than a president named John whose name means 'toilet.'"⁸

"You don't have to use facts. Use threats. There's nobody more important or influential over their grandparents than their grandkids."⁸

Brightcove: Sarah Silverman Obama Video (Time: 4:20)