WASHINGTON - Barack Obama is using a scathing new attack ad to challenge the fundamental perception that John McCain – former Navy aviator and prisoner of war — is honorable.
It was bound to happen. The McCain camp has been doing the same thing to Obama for weeks, trying to turn public perceptions about his strengths into weaknesses using attack ads and ridicule.
McCain went after Obama’s popularity and his strength as an orator. His campaign even tried to defuse the race issue by accusing Obama — who would be the first black U.S. president if elected — of racism.
So it was inevitable the Obama camp would eventually strike back — and it did after McCain was roundly criticized in the press for an ad that falsely accused the Illinois Democrat of favoring sex education for kindergarten children.
“What’s happened to John McCain? He’s running the sleaziest ads ever. Truly vile,” the narrator of the ad entitled “Honor” says as quotes pulled from newspaper columns scroll over an ever-shrinking photo of the Arizona senator.
“Dishonest smears that he repeats even after its been exposed as a lie. Truth be damned. Disgraceful, dishonorable campaign. After voting with Bush 90 percent of the time proposing the same disastrous economic policies, it seems that deception is all he has left,” it says.
McCain often speaks of duty, honor, country, sacrifice and has cultivated the image of being a man of honor.
The ad takes aim at that perception, asking if McCain is honorable, why is he running this kind of campaign.
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
Photo credit: Reuters/Neal Hamberg (Obama speaks in New Hampshire Sept. 13)
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McCain has ALREADY LOST - he has sold his SOUL and CHARACTER to the right wing. He has changed his stance on energy, immigration, taxes, economy and every thing else. In fact he is now hiding behind the skirts and sexy glamour of Palin. I feel sorry for a man that I once used to respect.
- Posted by Chris SmithThere is a glimmer of hope.
In college, my friends called me cynical. They said that people were more decent than I gave them credit for. I claimed back then that I was not cynical, I was a realist. That I did not doubt fundamental decency, I just doubted education, objectivity, and rationality.
Over the years, I’ve not been proven wrong. This campaign, McCain’s fall from Honor, Hillary Supporters for McCain (or worse, for Palin) only reinforce the views I’ve had since college.
But for the first time since, well, ever, I sense a slight glimmer of hope. I’m noticing more and more folks recognizing the cynicism and calling it out for what it is. And not just from the Bill Maher’s, John Steward’s, and Al Franken’s of the world, but the Karl Rove’s, Scott McClellens’s, Lou Dobbs’s, even the Bill O’Reilly’s. More and more people are starting to say, enough of the lies and and spin; this is going too far.
I wrote more about this idea here:
McCain: Victory with Honor (or Not… Whatever Works)
- Posted by F. Andy Seidlhttp://seidlweb.com/public/item/213113
I think it is utter nonsense to say that Obama is all talk and no substance. Really, are the candidates supposed to take charge of the country before they are voted for? Funny, I didn’t realize that…. Obama does in fact talk a lot. Its actually a really good thing, because he clearly lays out the details of what he plans to do. Of course he throws in some riotous comments here and there. It’s a shame that the media chooses to focus solely on that. Luckily, the debates are coming. Johnny Mac had better show there is something going on upstairs or the polling trends might be turned upside down. He surely won’t be allowed to have Palin standing next to him in order to distract from reality…. Unless he negotiates that into the debate appearance…. after all, if McCain isn’t ready to speak to America, he just might choose not to show up lest he be unfairly criticized for his ill-preparedness.
-mkell
- Posted by mkellSen. McCain has done a sad about-face on nearly all the great issues of the day. He’s not only bought into the radical right/neocons’ line, but he’s signed off on Sarah Palin being tutored politically by the same folks who engineered the Iraq debacle. Bill Cristol was her biggest booster, and now this “blank slate” (their words) is being prepped by the crowd who gave us mushroom clouds and fantasy WMDs, pre-emptive war, Abu Ghraib, rendition, and on and on. Bush, in other words.
Palin is an eager, ambitous novice, and they’re filling her head with neocon rot, using her to further their familiar failed philosophy, one that has caused such misery in the world. John McCain is clearly okay with that. Says volumes about how much the man has changed and what kind of leader he would be. I’m guessing he avoids mirrors as much as possible these days.
- Posted by dmwfrom the beginning when Obama run for president and vice president McCain run for president, I already chose to vote Obama.
the Lord bless Obama…go Obama. God speed.
- Posted by thought2has anybody noticed that “obabble” and “Obiden” talk talk 90% of the time about JOHN MCCAIN ..wow all they do is talk about him..I ask DO YOU REALLY THINK THIS MAN HAS “GOOD JUDGEMENT”ON THE WAR,IRAN,RUSSIA,PAKISTAN, AFGANISTAN,OSAMA BIN LADEN, JOBS,GUN TOTEN RELIGIOUS PPL,PORK BARREL SPENDERS,DRILLING, ECONOMY,SCHOOLS,DISASTERS,ETC…HE SOUNDS LIKE HE ROLLS WITH THE FLOW…..THERE IS NO WAY THAT THESE TWO GOSSIPERS AND BACK STABBERS CAN MAKE A GOOD JUDGEMENT.AND “HE LOOKS LIKE A MONKEY SEE MONKEY DO” IF YOUVE DONE IT HES DONE IT BETTER.AND JOHN MCCAIN HAS DONE IT LIKE BUSH??AND HE ASKED IF WE(THE AMERICAN PPL) ARE STUPID??NO WE ARE NOT!!!!HE CAN ONLY, NOT BABBLE, IF HE READS A TELEPROMPTER..LOL..THATS BECAUSE ALL HE CAN DO IS TO GOSSIP AND BACK STAB MCCAIN. TRYING TO DISCREDIT THIS MAN WOULD BE LIKE THROWING THE POPE HEADLONG INTO A CROSS. OBAMA DOESNT HAVE AN OUNCE OF HONOR IN HIS WHOLE BODY….HES A “”SLICK TALKIN COPYCAT” MAKE NO DOUBT HE IS IN IT FOR HIMSELF…..AND THE “ONLY” WAY HE CAN WIN (AND I THINK THERE IS NO SUBSTANCE FOR HIM TO WIN)IS IF HE CAN CONVINCE PPL JOHN MCCAIN IS JUST LIKE BUSH…THE ONLY WAY… IF YOU CANT SEE THAT. THAT SIMPLE IS NOT TRUE. MAYBE OBAMA CAN SEND REV WRIGHT, BILL AYERS, AND HIS HIS SLUMLORD HOUSE REP. TO IRAN,RUSSIA,PAKISTAN AND TALK TO THEM FOR HIM ON THE FRONT LINE. LOL …CHANGE IS RIGHT SLOGAN FOR HIM.. I CHANGE MY MIND IF YOU DO…I CHANGE MY RETORICK IF YOU PICK SARAH PALIN (AND TALK ABOUT HER FOR 2 WEEKS0….IM SORRY, OBAMA A WEAK PERSON. AND HIS PICK OF OBIDEN IS ALL THE PROOF ANYONE SHOULD NEED. HE THOUGHT HE WAS FILLING IN THE GAP FOR HIS VERY STRONG WEAKNESS . WHICH AGAIN PROOVES WEAKNESS IN HIS JUDGEMENT. AND WHAT ABOUT THE TERRORISTS ATTACKS ..AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY OF OUR SPECTACULAR MILITARY TROOPS REALLY WANTS OBAMA AS THEIR COMMANDER AND CHIEF..I KNOW I WOULDNT AND IM NOT MILITARY I JUST KNOW THAT HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR OUR MILITARY TROOPS AND ALL THE ONES BEFORE THEM “WE WOULD NOT HAVE FREEDOM OURSELVES!!!!AND IT IS STILL BEING THREATENED TODAY SO IT IS VITAL THAT THE COMMANDER IN CHEIF IS IN THE TANK FOR OUR MILITARY..THEIR AND OUR LIVES DEPEND ON IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!MY GOD DOES HE NOT HAVE A BACK UP PLAN BESIDES “4 MORE YEARS “WHEN HE FAILS TO MENTION THAT THE DEMS HAD CONTROL FOR THE PAST 2 YRS…WOW IMAGINE THAT DISTORTING THE TRUTH IS THE SAME THING AS LYING AND DISHONESTY WHICH IS NEVER MENTIONED…. AMAZING..I CANT STAND 4 MIN OF HIS MOUTH!!!ITS PATHETIC…HES ALL TALK AND NO ACTION!!!!!ID RATHER HAVE PALINS HUSBAND FOR PRESIDENT HE SEEMS LIKE A FAIR AND BALANCED GUY…ONE THE “FEMS HATE” IMAGINE THAT….AMERICA IS OFF TRACK ALL THE WAY AROUND…”GOD ‘HELP’ AMERICA!!
- Posted by jenniferI’m not voting for Obama because he’s black. Period.
- Posted by changedmanWhat upsets me the most is how the McCain ads worked. I can’t believe how stupid the people of this country are. The Anti-Intelectual, Anti-Science, Anti-Choice, Pro Ignorance, Pro-Fetus side of this country has won. They have made being of independent thought into being a vile minority. This was the greatest generation greatest attribute. Independent Thought. Now most of americans are weak minded sheep.pathetic.
- Posted by Mike B.Whatever McCain used to be he has obviously sold his soul to the devils who are ruining the U. S. economy. Do you obtuse people truly believe that it is a coincidence that, at the desperate edge of this illegal regime, we are paying insane gas prices under the “Oil President?” Despite having stolen the oil from the world’s 2nd oil producing nation for the last 6 years?
It must be a further coincidence that those 2% who hold 50% of the wealth and hide behind corporations, neither paying near their share of taxes, have deregulated the protections placed to protect the general public (read hoi polloi) to the point where they could scam billions, run away with the money and leave the tax paying middle/working class to pay for the aftermath of their scam.
If you have allowed your children and fellow citizens to be dumbed down (and drugged by the all powerful Pharm Corps) to the point where you can no longer reason, and your attention spans are the length of lightening bolts, at least ask 2 questions
(1) Why am I paying more for oil under the oil president?
(2) Where’s Bin Laden?
Even the much maligned Jimmy Carter would have held Bin Laden’s head aloft years ago.
- Posted by RichardIt stuns me that every election, a bunch of politicians run for political office promising change and reform. We never really get it, so you have to ask yourself, how can so many people get away with the same lie for so long? It’s because all of you ninnies out there keep voting for them, so what incentive would they have to tell the truth?
This November, I’ll be at Walmart voting for more rice to store in the basement, next to the bullets.
- Posted by russ in PARichard, Jeff et al
“Alice” doesn’t live here anymore, i.e., “she” isn’t real.
Sorry to break the news to you.
- Posted by ArielI also love the fact that the media and all you ignorant (okay not all of you) obama disciples think that mccain hasn\’t mentioned where he stands on issues in the usa. please let me do the research for you, while you all claim that republicans don\’t research and vote for the “most likable person.”
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issu es/17671aa4-2fe8-4008-859f-0ef1468e96f4. htm
please keep telling me that all mccain wants to do is drill for oil. it really makes my morning better when someone can make me laugh
- Posted by mattyou’re kidding me if you think obama is just now running attack ads. both obama and mccain have been running bad ads all summer. Reuters, please get with the program!
- Posted by mattI love the fact that the Republicans are pushing the line that John McCain (republican) is going to take down the establishment (republican).
There is a logical fallacy here. If all these Republicans are supposedly voting for McCain based on the fact that he is a maverick and is going to change Washington, does this mean that these Republicans didn’t like the Bush years? If so why did they vote for him twice? Or is it that they want the status quo to continue and in which case they all know the ‘change’ platform is BS to pull in undecideds.
- Posted by Jeffwow “Alice”, you do realize you are talking about re-electing the same party that has been in power for 8 years. Sadly most of your life. What a crappy world to grow up in. You have my deepest sympathies.
The thing about politics is, ignore all this personal mud-slinging bullshit and focus on the policies. Parties push policies. The Republican party has been pushing their policy for the last 8 years, this will not change with a new head of the party.
Policies intended to make life better for youngsters like yourself should be focused on sustainability, quality of life for middle income families (unless you are rich?), education, and keeping you out of wars. Does that sound like the Republicans?
- Posted by Jeffafter 5 despicable smear ads from the mccain campaign, I swear, if obama didn\’t do anything about it, I would have dropped my vote for him. I liked this ad. it wasn\’t a smear ad, but more of a \’enough!\’ ad. that sex ed ad was the last straw. what was mccain trying to insinuate? that one made me sick to my stomache. I\’ve never seen this man lie sooooo much! what happened to him??? where\’s that maverick of 2000? and when the king of sleaze (karl rove) says you\’ve gone a bit too far. oh my goodness, there are no words to how low this man will go. and his little sidekick has no shame in her game either. I have yet to see a speech or interview that she has not thrown out a lie or distortion. helloooo…..it\’s called factcheck. takes only a few minutes. and now his campaign acknowledges it and say they don\’t care. whatever it takes to win. okayyyy….because country first, right? so sad. your own people said today that they felt you sold your soul to the devil for the whitehouse. shameful. you and palin have lost ALL credibility. I dont\’ even know why you did this to yourself. don\’t you have, like, a thousand reasons why obama should not be president? couldn\’t you use those reasons, if they are, in fact, true? so when we\’re smart enough to check your accusations, they would be facts. and then nobody can call you a liar.
oh, and alice, I feel your pain. I said the same thing to my folks and they voted for bush. I still haven\’t forgotten.
- Posted by mikI’m a 64 yr old Navy vet (3-61 to 3-65) who has sadly watched John McCain drop honor, truth, & ethics on the side of the road in his desperate quest for the White House. As far as “country first” goes, he ditched that one the minute he picked Palin as his V.P.
- Posted by stbdtacNothing left but an empty suit.
As a first time voter I am amazed at the immense amount of propaganda being slung by the media on both sides, with the economy in the state that it is in and the strained relationships we now have with other countries we have a duty to everyone in the world to show that we are choosing our candidates by their intelligence and innovation and forward thinking. The only thing i want to hear are actual concete ideas for how to make this country better, so far Obama seems to be delivering SOME ideas but McCain’s ecnomic solutions amount to drilling and tax cuts???? Were in a much bigger hole than that people and we need some new ideas. I think the Media needs to start making this election about solutions instead of controversy and americans need to start thinking internationally, there are serious downsides of carrying on with international policy as we have been these past 8 years.
- Posted by first time voterNo gutter. Just the facts. I respect this.
- Posted by terry