San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro
New Obama Ad Features Harold and Kumar
We are right in the middle of the political convention season as the Republicans concluded their event last week in Tampa and the Democrats just got underway last night in Charlotte. Last night many speakers gave moving speeches including First Lady Michelle Obama, San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, and war hero Tammy Duckworth. We will also be hearing from former President Bill Clinton and of course President Obama as the week continues.
We at marijuana.net recently learned of one surprising twist coming out of the Democratic National Convention. The president has not taken as much of friendly stance on marijuana reform as analysts previously predicted. While President Obama has stayed silent on the issue of dispensary raids, many have been left to think he has become anti-marijuana. A new campaign ad seems to indicate otherwise. President Obama has turned to a close cabinet member, Kalpen Suresh Modi, to help with re-election efforts.
Of course Kalpen Suresh Modi, is better known to movie and marijuana fans as Kal Penn, co-star of the “Harold and Kumar” movies. Kal Penn, or Kalpen has served as Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and is currently the co-chair for President Obama’s re-election campaign. He will also be hosting the DNC’s online coverage of President Obama’s speech to the DNC on Thursday. In a recent and humorous ad that is circulating on the internet, President Obama is shown making a call to someone requesting help. The camera then cuts to John Cho (Harold) and Kal Penn (Kumar), who appear hazy and lethargic with junk food littered all over. The two do not seemed phased by a call from the president with John Cho simply saying “sweet” when learning the Commander In Chief has phoned them.
The ad makes certain to substitute marijuana with junk food. However, tapping “Harold and Kumar” makes a direct case for comedy and of course cannabis. Pizza is surely not the reason for why the duo is lounging and watching television. The ad may simply be aimed at being comedic, and reminding viewers that Obama has a celebrity actor actively working for his administration. Certainly, this celebrity will offer a much less controversial moment than Clint Eastwood did for Mitt Romney. The ad also will make marijuana activists wonder exactly where the president stands. Is this a subtle reminder that he will protect medical marijuana more than Mitt Romney, who recently stated that he would fight medical marijuana “tooth and nail”? It does seem odd the Obama campaign would utilize marijuana stereotypes as they have come under fire from the community. Only a re-election and the future will tell if this is merely comedy or also a play at a base that previously supported the president passionately.