OBAMARAMA

Long story short: A well-made internet ad based on Apple’s original commercial introducing the Macintosh computer was customized into an anti-Hillary Clinton, pro-Barack Obama spot using digital technology. It was then posted anonymously on YouTube. The ad’s creativity, as well as its author’s anonymity, fueled intense media coverage this week.

Now it’s come to light that the creator worked for a company that consults for presidential campaigns and is currently under contract with the Obama campaign. He made it on his own time, with his own equipment, and without the knowledge of his bosses. He never worked on his company’s Obama account, and he has since been fired.

Given the buzz the ad generated, there’s no doubt the media will be discussing the “political ramifications” of the creator’s vicinity to the Obama campaign today. Howard Fineman was just on the Today show talking about how there are “too many dots too close together” here. That’s undoubtedly just the beginning of coverage that will inevitably question whether this undermines Sen. Obama’s attempt to rise above petty political games.

Of course it doesn’t. While the way this situation has shaken out is unfortunate — some might even say “boneheaded” on the creator’s part — it’s still just an internet ad made independent of the campaign. (UPDATE: The ad’s creator even says, “I recognize that this ad is not [Sen. Obama’s] style of politics.”)  Sen. Obama can’t reasonably be held accountable for it. And given Sen. Clinton’s previous dismissal of the ad’s significance, I can’t imagine she could have much to say about it. Right?

More to come on this today, I’m sure. If you happen to be one of the few people left on the planet who hasn’t seen the ad, it’s after the jump.