Mitt Romney has released an incredibly powerful ad hitting President Obama for high unemployment and what the ad frames as a dismissive attitude towards the human effects of the weak economy. Here’s the video transcript:

Video Text: “Millions Have Lost Their Jobs Under President Obama” Video Text: “Long Term Unemployment Is Now Worse Than The Great Depression” Video Text: “June 3, 2011 Unemployment Hit 9.1%” Video Text: “President Obama Called It A Bump In The Road” President Obama (audio): “There are always going to be bumps on the road to recovery.” Mark: “I’m an American, not a bump in the road.” Derrick: “I’m an American, not a bump in the road.” Melissa: “I’m an American, not a bump in the road.” Jessica: “I’m an American, not a bump in the road.” Jerry: “I’m an American, not a bump in the road.” Kevin: “I’m an American, not a bump in the road.” American Family: “We are Americans, not bumps in the road.” Matt: “I’m an American, not a bump in the road.” Dustin: “I’m an American, not a bump in the road.” Shirley: “I am an American, not a bump in the road.” Ryan: “I’m an American, not a bump in the road.” Jason: “I’m an American, not a bump in the road.” Group: “I’m an American, not a bump in the road.” Video Text: “BELIEVE IN AMERICA November 6, 2012.”

The text doesn’t do this video justice. The real heart strings are tugged as this surprisingly diverse group of people for a Republican campaign video hold up signs telling you who they are and what their situation is.

This would be a devastating ad coming from a challenger to the left of President Obama. Coming from Mitt Romney, well, I’m not sure if the power of the ad translates to the medium of the person who commissioned it. Romney is a pro-big business, pro-big banks corporate mercenary whose work at Bain cost thousands of Americans their jobs. But that doesn’t change that on its own, this line of attack isn’t going to be effective against President Obama. Romney doesn’t appear anywhere in the ad and this same video could be recut by any candidate and be just as effective.

Originally posted at AMERICAblog Elections: The Right’s Field