During the long campaign, I had an odd sense of déjà vu when I would hear the slogan "Yes we can!" delivered as a refrain in countless Obama speeches. Where had I heard that slogan used as a refrain before?
Of course! It’s from the children's show
Bob the Builder!
The Bob the Builder song:
Bob the Builder – can we fix it?
Bob the Builder – Yes We Can!
Now, the child-like simplicity of "Yes we can!" makes perfect sense; the best sloganeering and propaganda operates on the primordial childlike unconscious in people.
No wonder these three words have become the touchstone for Obama. Adults really aren’t that much different than children, as any good speechwriter or propagandist knows.
I just wonder if Obama’s team owes some royalties to the Bob The Builder creators.