American Video finalists

President Barack Obama's Organizing For America is airing the final episodes of its Health Reform Video Challenge. Here's how New Media Director Natalie Foster put it to me on Sept. 26:

This is your chance -- you ingenious, insightful, funny people out there -- to make a 30-second ad telling the story about why the status quo has got to go, or explaining how the Obama plan will ensure we get the secure, quality care we need without breaking the budget.

The top submissions will be voted on by the public and a panel of experts, with the winning ad aired on national television. This is your opportunity to add your voice and creativity to the debate, get some great exposure for your work, and make a huge difference.

How clever, I thought at the time. Reaching out, 'getting input' and scamming a whole bunch of free brainstorming at the same time. I've been waiting anxiously, and Director Foster says we've got the finalists:

Out of nearly a thousand excellent videos submitted, we're down to the top 20. Now it's your turn to watch the finalists and vote for your favorites -- and then we'll air the winner on national television.

The top 20 ads will also be voted on by our panel of experts and artists, including Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am, animator and director Seth MacFarlane, actress Kate Walsh, Obama for America campaign manager David Plouffe, and Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine.

Okay, so I might not get around to waiting while 20 videos download, but I might. It's always fun to see what's happening behind the curtain, and when one of these ads starts popping up everywhere, you can say you saw it here first. You could even vote, though I don't know how much weight you have versus the judges. The deadline is Nov. 6. Here's a somewhat random sample:

Bestest protest ever?

Mickey Mouse in chains? Try telling the kids why Snow White, Tinkerbell and Peter Pan are being hauled in by the police. (OK, plastic handcuffs, but you get the point)

Somebody thought of dressing protestors as Disney characters in a labor protest against three of that company's hotels.

That ranks right up there with the legendary Saul Alinsky feeding his troops beans and sending them to a concert in the chocolate-colored company town of Hershey, Pennsylvania. Have we got your attention yet?

"Publicity stunts are not productive and are extremely disruptive to the resort district," said Disney spokeswoman Lisa Haines.

"It's changing my opinion of Disneyland," said tourist Amanda Kosato, who was visiting from north of Melbourne, Australia. "Taking away entitlements stinks."

Hotel workers claim they agreed to wages two-to-three dollars less than in other area hotels in exchange for health benefits that Disney now wants to modify.

Granted, it's an urban area, and in California to boot, but the wages they're talking about show how far we've got to go on Saipan: "Co-worker Diane Dominguez, 50, said she was worried about losing health care because of the heavy labor involved in lifting mattresses, moving furniture and making dozens of beds a day. She also said rising prices and the cost of gas were eating into her salary of $11.11 an hour."