McCain Ad: Cue the Ugly "American" Campaign
| Fri Mar. 28, 2008 7:10 AM PDT
The American president Americans have been waiting for!
That's the tag line on John McCain's new ad, which features a film clip of McCain as a captured POW and a baritone-voice narrator asking, "What must a president believe about us, about America?" He kindly provides the answer: "That she is worth protecting." Could the implication be that Barack Obama is not quite American and that he is not interested in protecting our country, which the ad describes with the feminine pronoun. In other words, the half-black dude with a funny name--who might be a secret Muslim--can't protect her. Has Lee Atwater been resurrected? This smacks of the George H.W. Bush smear-tossing campaign against Michael Dukakis in 1988--but also of Hillary Clinton's claims that Obama is not yet ready to be commander in chief.
By the way, when has America not had an "American president"?
If the Republican campaign is this vulgar and creepy seven months ahead of the election, expect much worse in the fall.
Continues Below
Continued From Above
Comments
Frankly, the query should be ? where are the Democrat Party's men and women of style, manners, breeding, and intellect; those derivatively influenced, experienced, to be thinkers, rather than ambitious politicians.
Both 'Democrat' rivals have arrived at this place through accelerated, artificial circumstance; heaps of good- fortune, other's misfortune shaping their way, rather than their own inimitable credential.
Both are men and women of so much undeserved fame and notoriety.
Both are, in this observer's opinion, driven unmistakably, by an unhealthy ambition for influence, recognition, and for unmerited residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Their paths:
Hillary's clearly, simply, that of a pilot fish riding the wake of No. 42.
'BO'- bama's catapult to "fame and notoriety", born of a senate vacancy due to tragedy, so many inept Illinois Democrat political party practices, and a high animas vengeful domestic scandal. His only 'vetting' process, an Illinois contest against the 'republican' Alan Lee Keyes. Obama's "?astounding?" 70 percent victory against Keyes, a fallacy. Illinois Republicans stayed home that November day; their primary candidate defrocked by personal animas and perfidy. Obama simply followed the yellow-brick Allen Lee Keyes road, a greased path, to the '04 Democratic Convention, his place in the light with JFK II; his attendance predicated on false credential; the prize: so much undeserved fame and notoriety.
'?Where are the Democrat Party's men and women of style?'
Perhaps the more appropriate query ? Where is such; i.e., the honorable Samuel Augustus Nunn, Jr.?
My guess, spit- balling only here, the good Senator from Georgia spent an hour circa '06 with the new 'Dean' of the Democrat Party, and became seriously ill. What a national shame, an immeasurable American and Democrat Party loss. Who has ruined the Democrat Party? Only the 'doctor' knows; then, perhaps 'BO' knows as well.*
OUT
PS: One percent of Americans viewed John McCain's brilliant CNN treatise on Foreign Affairs this past week. What a national shame, then, no surprise.
* My sincerest apology to history's nonpareil athlete.
Frankly, the query should be ? where are the Democrat Party's men and women of style, manners, breeding, and intellect; those derivatively influenced, experienced, to be thinkers, rather than ambitious politicians.
Both 'Democrat' rivals have arrived at this place through accelerated, artificial circumstance; heaps of good- fortune, other's misfortune shaping their way, rather than their own inimitable credential.
Both are men and women of so much undeserved fame and notoriety.
Both are, in this observer's opinion, driven unmistakably, by an unhealthy ambition for influence, recognition, and for unmerited residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Their paths:
Hillary's clearly, simply, that of a pilot fish riding the wake of No. 42.
'BO'- bama's catapult to "fame and notoriety", born of a senate vacancy due to tragedy, so many inept Illinois Democrat political party practices, and a high animas vengeful domestic scandal. His only 'vetting' process, an Illinois contest against the 'republican' Alan Lee Keyes. Obama's "?astounding?" 70 percent victory against Keyes, a fallacy. Illinois Republicans stayed home that November day; their primary candidate defrocked by personal animas and perfidy. Obama simply followed the yellow-brick Allen Lee Keyes road, a greased path, to the '04 Democratic Convention, his place in the light with JFK II; his attendance predicated on false credential; the prize: so much undeserved fame and notoriety.
'?Where are the Democrat Party's men and women of style?'
Perhaps the more appropriate query ? Where is such; i.e., the honorable Samuel Augustus Nunn, Jr.?
My guess, spit- balling only here, the good Senator from Georgia spent an hour circa '06 with the new 'Dean' of the Democrat Party, and became seriously ill. What a national shame, an immeasurable American and Democrat Party loss. Who has ruined the Democrat Party? Only the 'doctor' knows; then, perhaps 'BO' knows as well.*
OUT
PS: One percent of Americans viewed John McCain's brilliant CNN treatise on Foreign Affairs this past week. What a national shame, then, no surprise.
* My sincerest apology to history's nonpareil athlete.
Submitted by Drew (not verified) on Fri Mar. 28, 2008 7:52 AM PDT.
Smarmy. I think some of my breakfast just came up.
It is to bad that some people can't handle a few well chosen words of truth. Some people think that free speech only applies to the Liberal point of view, and they HATE when a real american says what the rest of us are thinking.
Thank GOD for John.!!!
BIll.
David, it says the video's no longer available, FYI. Know of anywhere else we can view it?
"The American president Americans have been waiting for." As opposed to the French president Americans have been waiting for? But yeah, pretty obvious attempt to imply that someone in the race *isn't* American...
I love this ad and I am a strong Hillary supporter. This ad touched my heart I will have no remorse in giving McCain my vote if Hillary does not get the nomination.
For me America is worth fighting for in every way and I cannot support anyone that says America has faults, its a evil place, she deserves what she got...no way Obama move over John McCain is coming to town!!!!
McCain: Brave POW who just happens to think torture is OK if the US does it.
I used to like McCain, but he has become a Bush-like lackey for the GOP we have had in power for 7 years. I just couldn't stand 4 more years of the Bush foreign policy.
Welcome to reality, Obamanauts.
All your uber-liberal, Obama is the ONE, will be smashed to smithereens up against John McCain.
We tried to tell you so, but your angst and your excusing of the racist, hate-filled Wright will take the very party we all love straight to defeat.
THIS is the kind of ad the "typical white person," the Independents, the Reagan Democrats, the Catholics, the Hispanics, and whole lotta the African American voters will love.
Idiots.
Submitted by disdaniel (not verified) on Fri Mar. 28, 2008 9:58 AM PDT.
I wonder if McCain is trying front run the whole natural born citizen issue with this one?
Notice he talks of American President, not President of the USA. Panama is in the Americas...
Wake up Obamabots! Obama would be CRUSHED in a general election. Name ONE state he would carry. There aren't any.
HIllary Clinton has already proven she can win big in the big states that are the must wins for the Dems in November.
Obama is unelectable. No amount of 24/7 media promotion on TV, left wingnut radio or print like this David Corn will EVER make him electable. Obama is destroying the Democratic Party.
Ever wonder why the corporate owned media is promoting Obama 24/7? It's because they know he's unelectable. All the GOP would have to do is play the "pastor" Wright clips over and over and over.
WE support Hillary Rodham Clinton because she's qualified and electable.
Dems like William Jefferson Clinton are the electable ones, remember? Oh, the 90's were splendid. What part of peace and prosperity do the Obamabots not like?
It's takes a lot of Obama audacity to attempt to denigrate a former President of his OWN party. Appalling.
If the Dems fail to nominate Hillary we will vote for McCain in November. At least we respect John McCain.
We simply do not like or trust Barack Hussein Obama.
For us, it's country first, party second. No question.
**VOTE SMART! VOTE HILLARY!**
This is politics, folks! You can compare this game to football. Don't try to play football if you don't want to wear pads, tackle, or be tackled. To want to play politics but then complain about the rules of the established game is naive (that's the nice word for it).
This video just reinforces my position that if I can't vote for Hillary Clinton in November, I am very happy to vote for John McCain.
I am a 60 year old "typical white person" who has never cast a vote for a Republican in my life. I live in Missouri and although Obama will win St. Louis County where I live, he will not win in outstate Missouri.
Obama should be talking to his mentor Claire McCaskill who almost lost to Jim Talent - expcet for the strong support of women (especially women lawyers like myself who worked, donated and supported her) about that vast swath of land between St. Louis and Kansas City where pro life billboards litter the landscape along with progun advertisements. Obama will never win over these people.
So without my wonderful red state of Mo - which Carter and Clinton won - he ain't got a chance. GO McCAIN!!!
I can't figure out which is more ridiculous; the ad or the fact that some Americans feel that America is flawless. Refusing to vote for a candidate who points these flaws out just compounds the problem. Every country has problems, and if the citizens and politicians choose to ignore them how will they get remedied? Apparently only certain candidates have the honor of addressing these flaws as Hillary's main platform is based on fixing America's faulty health care system. This view is even more disheartening if solely based on Obama's connection to Reverend Wright as McCain has his own skeletons in the closet regarding controversial preachers.
James & Kate: you're fools. That's why it's so ironic that you make a plea to "vote smart." Yes! "Vote smart" because a moron told you to!
I mean, where to even start tearing apart your flimsy analysis of BHO?
"Obama is destroying the Democratic Party."
Not really. He actually seems to be UNITING the democratic party. If one of the democratic nominees is tearing the party apart, it's probably Hillary--whose only chance of winning would be by swaying enough super delegates to OVERTURN THE POPULAR VOTE. Talk about destroying the Democratic Party, how do you think dem voters are going to feel when HRC bitch slaps any notion of representational democracy with her plutocratic behind the scenes dealings?
"It's takes a lot of Obama audacity to attempt to denigrate a former President of his OWN party. Appalling."
Unabashed partisanship is actually more appalling than criticism within the party. What's that called when there's no criticism within the party? Oh, yeah, FASCISM. And BHO's been pretty constructive with his criticism of Bill; can't really say he inverse is true.
"Name ONE state he would carry. There aren't any."
You're morons. Just imbeciles. Ever hear of Massachusetts? Or New York?
Damn, you're dumb.
Typical Republican crap, nothing new:
1. America is faultless in every way.
2. I'll cut taxes [but not really].
3. My wife is blond.
4. I've served in the military.
Number four is very true of McCain, not so much true of the most recent Republican presidents.
Nonetheless, unlike trolls like Mary, Kate & James, this ad doesn't disturb me. Only dumbass Dems who would rather vote in a white war monger than a black man with vision can really hurt us this election. Republican turn out has been extremely low; Democrat turnout very high. Don't vote for Bush's mini-me.
Dear Obamaniacs, This is only the beginning and a tame beginning at that. The Senator from Illinois will be put through the same shredder that every other liberal Democratic presidential candidate gets put through and that's a simple reality. The memes already established on which they will attack Senator Obama are lack of experience and lack of patriotism, the former of which will be done in an official, upfront manner while the latter will done on via the whisper campaign. So, by GOP standards, it will be business as usual. No one should be surprised.
Mary: What is your deal? In one post you are accusing Obama supporters (Tag line: "Powered by hope and supporters like you") of "angst" while simultaneously attacking their idealistic "uber-liberalism"? Not only does this not make sense logically, it ignores the fact that the two candidates' platforms are virtually identical except for minor differences in their plans to implement universal health care. Candidates pledging universal healthcare while calling other candidates "uber-liberal" are, well . . .
Secondly, your "electability" argument is ridiculous. The logic in claiming that Hillary, one of the most disliked people in American politics, is more electable than the candidate who is not only beating her in popular votes, pledged delegates AND national head to head polls against McCain (see below) is absurd!
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/general_electi...
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/general_electi...
James and Kate: When one candidate degenerates into mudslinging the more charismatic and effective, front-running candidate (in the above categories), then it is the mudslinging candidate who is destroying the party! Come on!
I wonder if all three of you are just McCain staffers trying to stir up ire and perpetuate this mess than HRC created!
Hey Dem's,
I have to tell you, this is the MOST entertaining thing, to watch as the Dem's tear eachother apart. The only reason Husien Obama did so well, was the ability to get so many young voters to turn out, and the blacks of course.
But you real leftwingnuts should understand something, When America found out that BHO had his kids sitting the black KKK church all those years and did NOTHING, he lost MILLIONS of white voters,.. oh well, Mccain in '08 & '12 YES.>!!!
BIll
But of course.
The "only" reason Obama will lose is because everybody ELSE is racist.
What fools you are, offending the very voters Obama might need to win in November.
Your posts are why Obama is unacceptable.
And your ignorance and condoning of Wright's racism is ANATHEMA to what real Democrats stand for.
Democrats CONDEMN racism, from either side.
Obama is unelectable in November.
No questions asked.
Idiots.
Wow! Mary and James, talk about ugly Americans? What about McShame's Rod Parsley's endorsement? What about the endorsement Kenneth Copeland gave McLame? They're not racists? Oh that's right, they're only racist againt people of color so that makes it all ok. Just as long as there is no disparity against them white devils.
I think it all comes down to the numbers this year. We have all witnessed a phenominal, unpresedented Obama campaign machine this year, not only of most money generated from grass roots supporters, but number of voters registered on the Democratic side this year. Look at PA. 4 mil regestered...so what have you young Rebubs got to top that!!!
You are an idiot to pledge your vote to MCCain if your beloved candidate does not prevail. What is it about these Clinton supporters who are so sure they are right they are bound and determined to either elect Hillary or McCain. If McCain is elected it will be because of you and other traitors to the progressive cause. God help us after the neocons pick 3 new supreme court justices for McCain.
The United Church of Christ as a denomination is primarily white in membership. It is the church in which I was christened and attended for over 20 years. To attack one segment is just wrong. I would recommend that everyone cool down and watch the complete video of one of Rev. Wright's sermons not just a few snippents being run ad nauseum on You Tube and the cable news networks. The election of John McCain will merely serve as another opportunity for the Republicans to continue their disastrous policies of the past 8 years. Enough already! Let's give the so called liberals a chance.
Submitted by Buffy (not verified) on Fri Mar. 28, 2008 12:56 PM PDT.
How many times could they cram "American" into that ad? I'm sick to death of faux patriotism. Rah rah rah, let's go kill some (brown) foreign people! Only the Republicans can protect us from the Big Bad because only they're Real Americans.
I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.
Bill Nigh, as far as truth goes, we liberals have been waiting to hear one word -- ONE WORD -- of it from a Republican president -- we've been waiting patiently since 1968, but every Repub president after Eisenhower has been a liar and a crook, starting with Nixon, who was a liar and a crook; continuing with Reagan, another liar and crook, followed by Bush I, who was in on all the lying and crime of the Reagan administration, and culminating in the biggest liar, the biggest crook, and the most destructive president in American history, Bush II. So, no one has a monopoly on truth, but it is plain that Republicans are hopeless liars. They are in denial, they are careless of the Constitution and therefore careless of our collective liberty. No, liberals do not have a monopoly on truth, but conservatives, these days, seem to have entirely lost the concept altogether. As for McCain, he's an honorable man, I suppose, but, after being smeared and cheated by the Bush Liar, he has responded by becoming a liar-denier, himself. You think we need 100 more years of Iraq? Sorry to say this, Bill, but [deleted] YOU AND [deleted] MCCAIN.
Submitted by Red State Pinko (not verified) on Fri Mar. 28, 2008 1:00 PM PDT.
Wow, I can't decide who's nuttier in these comments, the straight-ahead right-wingers or the crypto-racist Hillary supporters who will eagerly switch to McCain if (I mean WHEN) Obama becomes the nominee. And "Black KKK Church" makes about as much sense as "Israeli Nazi Army." Oh wait, that's your attempt at IRONY, right?
God help us.
Great campaign speech by Senator McCain. It is nice not seeing or hearing hillary ripping Obama apart or Hillary fabricating stories, lastest Bosnia snipers lie. Then it is also a break from the Obama campaign of him ripping apart the Clintons with snide remarks, then having to cover his back for the sermons and remarks of Rev Wright for the 20yr of ranting bigoted, racist, and america, anti Italians, anti jews etc etc that Obama was part of. The Democrats have complained about past elections about Republicans dirty politics, well I'm seeing dirty politics on the professional level, the champions of slime, the Democrats. And race is a big issue that Dem's cliamed Republicans used, ha ha.The the Primary vote screw up. Remember, every vote counts. Well what happened to 2 whole states where all the Democrats votes will not count for those voters picking who they want to run for President from the Democrat Party. Democrats did that all to themselves. Cannot push the blame on the Republicans. It was the Democrats who controlled election boards in the areas where the Florida Democrats said there were the big screw up that cost Gore the election. Duh, it was Nader and Michael Moore who stole almost 800000 votes from under noses of the Democrats.
Nader and the Democrat controlled election districts lost Florida for Gore, not the Supreme Court.
Robert Okane -- I don't have the patience or the time to respond to all of your nonsense, but let me say one thing: The adjective is "Democratic," not "Democrat." As you probably fully realize, this usage, "Democrat President," is a deliberate rhetorical stunt and an insult to Democrats. Cut the crap. If you have to use Orwellian word-tricks to make your point, you don't have a point.
David, thanks for fixing the link.
I don't have TV so I don't see too many political ads. Anyway, this felt like a movie preview to me. Were they going for a purposeful reference to Full Metal Jacket? When the narrator said "does he walk the walk" it sounded pretty similar to how Animal Mother says that exact same line (not tho mention that it's followed by some footage of McCain in Vietnam).
Submitted by Jeanne (not verified) on Fri Mar. 28, 2008 1:24 PM PDT.
I believe that Mr. McCain should focus on the 21st century & stop living in the VN era. A lot of Americans are starting to believe that if Mr. McCain is elected as our next President, then this war will continue on for his entire stay in the White House. And he will run this country the way things were back in the VN era.
I think it's time for Mr. McCain to stop talking about himself as a POW & start living in the reality of today's world & our Troops who are fighting in the war that is going on now.
God Bless "ALL" Americans & U.S. Troops, if he becomes the next President.
J.
Submitted by Tcd004 (not verified) on Fri Mar. 28, 2008 1:27 PM PDT.
The frequency that McCain employs the female pronoun to refer to the U.S. has picked up since January.
See a previous discussion of this over on FP Passport:
There are a few rules that Republicans and Conservative Democrats play by.
1. The United States has no faults.
2. The United States has never committed any war crimes.
3. The United States has never invaded any soverign country except for it's own good.
4. Torture is not a war crime when done by the United States.
We will never recognize any faults of the United States but on the other hand never make any improvements, since there are none to be made and the corporations that are making the big profits at the expense of American taxpayers and servicemen that are losing their lives are good corporate citizens.
Good luck America in the next four years (or longer)
Hey Red State Pinko,
I don't think that anyone has a Monopoly on nuttiness these days..hahaha But I do know that you correctly identified the irony in Black KKK church..:-) It works both ways with this stuff. If a white guy stood up there and said the things that Wright did, only reversed it twords the Black community, he would be crucified. And for some reason, the Lib's keep making excuse after excuse for BHO sitting there for so long, having his children indoctrinated by this Black Panther throw back. Are you telling me, this is the Best Chicago black church and how they REALLY feel about white people..?
All i know is, most people i know (White ones) who heard that BHO just sat there while this man condemed everything we hold dear, these people are now NOT voteing for him... And from what i read BHO truely lost MILLIONS of whites...
Very Sad...:-(
Bill
Dems and rational adults should look to McCain's record as a prisoner. He lied, he gave secrets, he gave up fellow POWs, he was an active foe of the US for Hanoi, for his own benefit. The Dems must make this point, clearly, loudly. He's a fraud, a terrible human being.
The very incendiary nature of all these comments point me to draw one rather stark conclusion: God has already damned America. No preacher of any ethnicity had to ask for it. We bring it upon ourselves by our very lack of civility to each other.
Submitted by Michael Blankenship (not verified) on Fri Mar. 28, 2008 2:19 PM PDT.
What do ads like this one say about the American people? Is their opinion so of us so low that these ads are created because they believe they work? If they do impact elections, then we deserve the level of leadership exhibited by Bush.
McCain playing to his strengths: war hero who suffered torture on its behalf. And that's ALL he's got!
Unfortunately for him, the continued Occupation of Iraq is going to require many more troops than are willing to sign up and we've reached the limit on deployments (I mean, what's next? Two years in theater, one "off" -- maybe? Or do we finally bite the bullet and reinstate the DRAFT?) And Mr. "Don't know much about the Economy" is about to tell us that "Prosperity is just around the corner," right?
I think we just witnessed the high water mark of the McCain campaign. Yawn.
America "will never surrender" says a POW?
"Liberty is priceless" says a multi-millionaire?
"Our people honorable" says a though on crime politician?
"Our future prosperous" said in the face of peak oil, climate change and war?
"Free" from a member of a party that condones torture and wiretapping
"The American President," a blatant lie to preceded another 4 years of them.
Vote for Obama, MAKE America's future free and prosperous.
