The game has changed

You have probably seen the Vote Different video, with Hillary Clinton cut into the Apple 1984 commercial. It’s been kind of hard to miss. The big question has been who created the mashup. The Clinton campaign certainly had nothing to do with it. The Obama campaign claimed to have no knowledge or other ties to the video. Who made it?

Over at The Huffington Post, Arianna Huffington decided to use he network to try and solve the mystery: and solve it she did. The man behind the nick ParkRidge47 appeared to be Phil de Vellis (until recently) of Blue State Digital. He explains to have made the video on a Sunday afternoon using his Apple and some software. But here is the real kicker: Blue State Digital is the company that created the Obama campaign website and have ties to several previous campaigns.

Obviously Blue State Digital claims no knowledge or involvement in the creation of the ad piece: the same claim echoed by Phil de Vellis. But no matter how much they deny it, the questions will still linger and cast a dark shadow over Barak Obamas election campaign. Did they really not know? What would have happened had it not gotten as big as it got?Is Phil de Vellis a scapegoat?

In his explanation de Vellis writes:

The company had no idea that I'd created the ad, and neither did any of our clients. But I've decided to resign anyway so as not to harm them, even by implication.

This ad was not the first citizen ad, and it will not be the last. The game has changed.

Even by implication. It’s a bit late for that now: the questions will still be out there. But one thing is certain: this will not be the last citizen ad. Phil de Vellis just set the bar