McCain Ad: Obama Isn't There For The Troops Unless Cameras Are Around
The McCain campaign has this brutal new attack ad against Barack Obama, making the blatantly false charge that he doesn't care about the troops unless there are cameras around:
"And now, he made time to go to the gym, but cancelled a visit with wounded troops," the announcer says. "Seems the Pentagon wouldn't allow him to bring cameras."
"John McCain is always there for our troops."
As we reported yesterday, the Pentagon told Obama that the issue here was not that he couldn't bring cameras, but that he only had campaign staff with him and not Senate staffers. And since the Pentagon didn't tell him this until he had already embarked on his trip, it was too late for him to do anything.
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It's important to point out that this ad appears to be an attempt to capitalize on the new viral e-mail smear.
All in all, very Swiftboat-ish: deceitful, dishonorable and cowardly.
You know, at least Bush wasn't a hypocrite...
July 26, 2008 7:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep. I've already received that email twice.
July 26, 2008 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
That email has been debunked and the soldier who wrote it has retracted it. I think he's really in trouble because politiciking while in uniform is a no-no.
July 26, 2008 10:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh thats a very big no-no. I can't believe anyone in uniform would be stupid enough to do such a thing. I predict this, along with that ad will mean a very bad week for John McCain.
July 27, 2008 2:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes. Very sad that McCain would stoop to using such trumped up information to further his election cause. This from the guy who professes such loyalty to troops. This places McCain in the same area as bottom river cleaners who eat you know what. Who would have thought that the John McCain, war hero, would stoop to making certain some young soldier would get in a heep of trouble just to further his hateful campaign. One only has to wonder what despicable thing McCain will attempt just to further his campaign. Sad, sad that McCain has totally lost all moral authority. using a kid like this - beyond the pale.
July 27, 2008 7:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
It' not even really very Swiftboating because it's coming from the campaign itself, not some outside group!!!!
July 27, 2008 12:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
that is true, bush wasn't a hypocrite. he had the decency to just lie
McCain’s SuperMarket Trip: Insiders Edition
July 27, 2008 9:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
this email bullshit really pisses me off. Email has turned into a tool to smear people and it really sucks. You can't counter the argument because it's email and it goes out to god alone knows how many people.
July 27, 2008 10:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Fucking piece of shit.
July 26, 2008 7:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
My sentiments exactly
July 26, 2008 7:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
I sincerely hope that Obama's campaign is smarter than Kerry's was because it's time to take the attack to McCain and NOW!
If Obama believes that Americans are too smart to fall for this sh*t all over again, he needs to remember the last two elections.
As Siegelman said, "Rove's fingerprints are all over this."
PEACE
July 26, 2008 9:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well it is - haven't you figured that out by now? This campaign is one of the most well run I've ever seen.
July 27, 2008 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, the Obama campaign responded with a 'strongly-worded' press release that began by stating that John McCain is an honorable man. As long as they refuse to insult John McCain they're heading for a Dukakis finish.
July 27, 2008 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
I kind of agree. It's fine to be above the fray, so to speak, but this ad has to be answered in some forceful way.
So far, the Obama campaign refuses to go negative. I think that's going to have to change.
July 27, 2008 11:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
I like the "John McCain is an honorable man" riff...
"Yet John McCain says he was ambitious;
And, sure, he is an honourable man."
July 27, 2008 11:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes!
I used to wonder why Obama would always call John McCain a "war hero." I mean, if he's said it once, he's said it 10,000 times. In every speech. Obama always describes McCain as a "war hero." And at first I thought, "does he really want to give that up like that? I mean, he's just handing McCain a freebie." I couldn't get why Obama's campaign would want to help with what seemed like "positive" branding - at least from McCain's point of view.
But I kept thinking about it, and I think it's a good tack. The media had clearly already decided that "John McCain = War Hero." Nothing Obama says is going to change that. If he even tries to go for McCain on that ground, he just opens himself to all sorts of attacks on the patriotism/ commander in chief/ military experience blah frah. So he keeps pushing the "War Hero" even further, keeps his own tone respectful, and lets McCain go on the attack. The cynicism of an ad like this does a lot to undermine McCain's "heroism," or any claim to patriotism, troop supporting, or "straight talk." And a lot of the "honor" of McSurge's heroey goodness just deflates when confronted with this or this or one of his other honorable acts...
July 28, 2008 5:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
McCain is such a cry-baby when it comes to criticism of his own failed military career. I am sorry, but losing three planes and spending a war in a POW camp does not make you Commander in chief material as his hagiography claims.
Where is the honor in signing up for military duty if you then goof off military academy partying and graduate last in your class? McCain's neglect put other's lives at risk beyond his own.
If McCain was a liberal, his Rovian chums would be claiming that he deliberately deserted, dishonorably abandoning his arms to the enemy to avoid service. Then we would have the Wolf Blitzers of the world asking if the questions are fair six times an hour.
July 26, 2008 9:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ditto
July 27, 2008 12:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ditto
July 27, 2008 12:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep, Rove's advising McCain, alright.
But this is just the standard Beltway consultantocracy CW in action--go hyper-negative in the summer and drive up the opponents negatives, then go all sweetness and light and heroic after Labor Day.
The Rove flourish, of course, would be taking the negativity into the realm of accusations of treason.
July 26, 2008 7:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're right. This has the stink of Rove all over it.
If McCain is so 'country first', then why has he done nothing to arrest Karl Rove and Osama bin Laden, allowing them to spew their hateful propoganda to the rest of the world?
The fact that both of those men walk free speaks volumes about just how bad his candidacy is, even setting aside the fact Rove is still advising Republicans.
After watching that ad, all I can think to say is that IT IS SOOOOO ON!
July 26, 2008 10:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is a very small ad buy, only in Denver, D.C., and Harrisburg, but that's all it takes, as the 24hour news culture will do the rest. The ad will be discussed on the Sunday morning news shows and shown repeatedly on the Monday cable-news-circus. The news anchors will pretend as if this is a serious matter to be debated, the scroll at the bottom of the tv screen will bear a question of "Obama stubs the troops?", and the talking-heads will argue over each other as to whether Obama snubbed or didn't snub. And then Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert will poke fun at how ridiculous the accusation is and how asinine the media is. And depending on whether the story gathers legs via blog outrage and radio discussion, we'll rinse, lather, and repeat on Tuesday or wait for the next republican attack ad to do it all over again.
July 26, 2008 7:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
You've described it exactly. It's the same movie, over and over. They are airing it on television something like TWICE. It's media bait, pure and simple.
July 26, 2008 7:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
And will the media actually expose it for the lie that it is? Of course not. Wonderful media bias there.
July 26, 2008 7:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama's staff screwed up. Obama could have left the campaign staff, along with the reporters off the base and had a private visit with the troops. He didn't need his Senate staff with him to do that.
Instead McMaverick's team runs crap like this and Dems have to waste 2 days trying to get the real message out.
July 26, 2008 7:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
You mean McDesperado. :)
July 26, 2008 7:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Even landing the campaign plane there could have been a problem. They tried to err on the side of caution, to avoid any appearance of impropriety, but by that point, it was no win either way.
July 26, 2008 7:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're absolutely right, listening to the Pentagon was a mistake. I hope Obama has learned his lesson.
July 26, 2008 7:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
I disagree. This whole issue appears to be manufactured with the support of the Bush White House.
July 26, 2008 7:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
That was the mistake. He should have ignored the Pentagon's request.
July 26, 2008 8:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I disagree. They told him no, so what was he going to do, insist? Then McCain would have said Obama will not listen to the commanders 'on the ground' and demanded to see the troops for his own gain. This is a no brainer, and Obama did what was asked of him. He followed the rules, the only error was the Pentagon's dragging their feet and not telling him until the last day. Easily answered, not a big deal and no one will believe it is unless they want to in the first place. We had two days of the troops mobbing him, so that is out there too for everyone to see, which they did.
July 26, 2008 8:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nailed it.
July 26, 2008 8:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you.
July 26, 2008 8:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
damn if you do, damn if you don't............
July 26, 2008 9:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not if you expose the hypocrisy in McCain's suggestion to defy the pentagon.
Damned if you do, indeed, damned if you don't remains an open question.
July 26, 2008 10:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
They need to have an add with Jim Webb stating how supportive of the troops John was during the GI Bill.
July 27, 2008 7:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Let's nip this crap in the bud now. Obama had NO intention of ever bringing cameras in to meet the troops. This was about the Pentagon suggesting that given the nature of his trip, it could be seen as politicizing the wounded. He didn't take cameras with him when he visited soliders at Walter Reed. Nor in Iraq and Afghanistan. And he called several wounded soliders in the alternative.
Just making sure the facts are out there.
July 26, 2008 9:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wait a minutes, didn't the military prevent Obama from visiting injured soldiers in his recent trip because he had campaign staff, instead of his Senate staff.
The big whigs at the Pentagon cannot afford an Obama presidency.
July 26, 2008 7:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
tb
I'm joining this discussion a bit late, but can't even allow myself the time to read each comment to the end to see if anyone has responded yet to your query: "Wait a minutes, didn't the military prevent Obama from visiting injured soldiers in his recent trip because he had campaign staff, instead of his Senate staff."
That's the point! They waited to advise him of this rule until his senate staff left to go back to the U.S. If this kind of sandbagging had existed in New Orleans, we could have kept the f'n levees from failing....
July 26, 2008 9:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wish they'd run an ad with his incoherent ramblings about the definition of a "surge" in the supermarket aisle, but they won't. Or one delineating all the "gaffes" he's made recently, but again, they won't.
Hopefully someone is working on a rebuttal now, even as they may still be in the air. We'll need a response in the morning.
July 26, 2008 7:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe, oh hope of hope, Americans aren't THAT fucking stupid this time? Maybe, because this is so transparent in its disgustingness, pandering, and mudslinging, American's won't buy into it? I hope.
July 26, 2008 7:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Expect a lame-ass mellow rebuttal from the Obama camp. "John McCain isn't playing nice anymore and maybe needs a time out..."
But then again, I think the McCain people are hoping Obama responds and makes this a big issue. If Obama doesn't respond this small buy goes away, however if he responds then it could blow up and this small buy could pay off 10-fold, if not more.
July 26, 2008 7:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am afraid that Kaneblues has it right, though. Laura Ingraham and Bill O'Reilly will make the "small ad buy" into a national one -- for free -- by discussing this bullshit over and over again on their respective propaganda hours.
July 26, 2008 7:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
No matter who the Demcratic nominee was, we knew the negative attacks were coming. Even the media knew, as they told us repeatedly throughout the primaries.
The fact that McCain is going so negative so early tells me that his campaign doesn't like the polling numbers they're getting. What we are seeing is McCain's version of the kitchen-sink strategy.
Sure, democrats could throw a hissy fit, but at this point it's to Obama's advantage to take the high road. To get down in the mud with McCain at this stage is exactly what republicans want. They would much rather fight all the way to November than discuss and debate the issues. Look at their candidate and look at ours. Republicans want nothing to do with debating Obama on the issues. They will do all they can to take Change you can believe in and turn it into politics as usual.
Instead of throwing a hissy fit, the Obama campaign should make a calm and brief statement. They should point out Obama's record of supporting the troops, and publicly remind McCain that politicizing our troops in a time of war does a disservice to our troops and their families. Taking the high road allows Obama to present himself as presidential while continuing to represent change, and it adds fuel to the fire of McCain being angry and desperate.
July 26, 2008 8:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
My sentiments exactly
July 26, 2008 7:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is BLATANTLY dishonest! What the hell happened to running a clean campaign? This is just WRONG.
July 26, 2008 7:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Obama team needs to have a very STRONG counter ad to this, perhaps even use Chuck Hagel in it.
July 26, 2008 7:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have no doubt that will be done. They have been very savvy with their strategy, and I don't think we need to react to every ad. This ad is just stupid, and my son saw one in NYC which he said came across as stupid also.
July 26, 2008 8:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, glad to hear the McCain campaign is stupid enough to spend money on ads in NYC!
July 26, 2008 9:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
agreed if the media do their job there would be no reason for obama to send respond ad, hopefully this will backfire on mcslime.. i must admit i'm no fan of andrea mitchell but she spoke up for obama on morning joe..........
July 26, 2008 9:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama doesn't need to respond to this ad directly. A simple public statement (which I guess they've already made) that McCain's attacks are dishonest, then a whole bunch of ads building in footage from the trip---the crowds, Obama meeting foreign leaders, and of course hanging out with troops who really like him. Just make McCain's attacks look like the ridiculous, desperate lies they are, without even dignifying them with a direct response.
July 26, 2008 9:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good take quinn.
I agree.
July 26, 2008 9:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks. As I think about it, though, I'm not sure he should use footage with the troops in ads. Would that be perceived as "politicizing their mission"? I don't know....
July 26, 2008 9:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Worked real well for Kerry.
July 27, 2008 11:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama Campaign response:
The Obama campaign also sent along an excerpt from the Congressional Record meant to embarrass McCain for his tactics. In a floor speech from May 2007, the Arizona Repulbican said:
Finally Jack Reed has weighed in on the issue -
July 26, 2008 7:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
All ^^ gleaned from HuffPo article - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/26/mccain-to-obama-welcome-h_n_115143.html
July 26, 2008 7:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Time for Obama to take out the heavy lumber, and lay out all the votes that McCain has cast against Veterans benefits.
July 26, 2008 7:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not sure why, but I don't see this sticking for some reason. I might be alone on this one. "He disrespected the troops" seems like too broad a charge, kinda like the "what will I tell my kids?!?" line of attack. And the "he loves the camera too much" stuff is vague and played out too. He's running for President, of course there are cameras everywhere.
We'll see... I hope I'm right that it fizzles.
July 26, 2008 7:50 PM | Reply | Permalink