New McCain Ad Congratulates Obama
So here's the ad the McCain campaign has been hyping all day -- it's a spot that will run during tonight's speech in which McCain, directly addressing the camera, congratulates Obama for his achievement:
"Senator Obama, this is truly a good day for America," McCain says, adding:
"How perfect that your nomination would come on this historic day. Tomorrow, we'll be back at it. But tonight, Senator, job well done."
The McCain campaign is releasing this spot seemingly designed to counter his growing image as the negative campaigner in this race on a day when there's no way to detract from the overwhelming historical resonance of Obama's appearance in any case.
Full script after the jump.
JOHN MCCAIN: Senator Obama, this is truly a good day for America.Too often the achievements of our opponents go unnoticed. So I wanted to stop and say, congratulations.
How perfect that your nomination would come on this historic day. Tomorrow, we'll be back at it. But tonight Senator, job well done.
I'm John McCain and I approved this message.
Well, he's attempting to siphon off a bit for himself, alright, but it's hardly yet decided whether or not that will be successful, no?
sheesh.
August 28, 2008 4:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well we can not fault him for congratulating Obama. Maybe McCain should take his Rovian Darth Vader mask off more often.
August 28, 2008 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
O please - y'all can't see this? The little fucker is just trying to steal some of Obama's thunder.
This is Obama's moment, not McLame's.
August 28, 2008 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Of course we can see it, but we can't fault him for it. It's a more subtle form of politics than we've been exposed to recently, and I think it's well done. Of course, in the ad itself he signaled that he won't be so subtle tomorrow (and so on).
/golf clap for McCain
August 28, 2008 5:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Of course we can fault him! That smug little shit... So nice of him to tell us what moments are important!
August 28, 2008 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Much like Slimy Norman (Quimby) Coleman, who popped up with depressingly bothersome regularity during the late Senator Paul Wellstone's mourning period (!) to "remind us" that he had suspended campaigning for the duration. Norman, you should have been on that plane.
August 28, 2008 6:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
But but but it's just so Mavericky of him!
August 28, 2008 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
EXACTLY!!!!
McP.O.Dubya has been awfully visible this week when he really shouldn't...
August 28, 2008 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
ditto!
August 28, 2008 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, its painfully obvious- He has that same smirk that he gets every time he says something the McCain of 2000 would kick him in the stones for
Basically every time he says something he knows is bullshit
August 28, 2008 6:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, then he suffocates and has to be burned on a pyre.
Geez!
August 28, 2008 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
I addressed you on this downthread, but I don't understand you. How can you maintain this posture about a man who was a POW and tortured and turned right around that stood there in Congress and voted to allow our military to trash the very international laws that were in place to protect him in that prison? A man who will exploit that experience to the nth degree to get something he is not fit for. A man who walked out on his injured wife and their kids for his billionaire mistress - whom he calls a cunt, publicly.
I don't understand you - he is not a decent human being.
August 28, 2008 6:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Too late, Senator, to obscure the dirt from your campaign.
(By the way, is it true you were once a POW? Someone told me that the other day, but I hadn't heard it before.)
August 28, 2008 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, that was unexpected...
Seems like a pretty shrewd move, actually.
August 28, 2008 4:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
agreed. didn't see this coming.
August 28, 2008 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
When spox Hazelbaker went on Morning Joe this moring and said McLame recorded a direct commercial, I knew this was what he was up to. This was a brilliant move.
August 28, 2008 5:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
how on earth couldn't you see this coming?? i'm a political idiot, and i called it on huffington hours before it was released.
even THAT campaign wouldn't be stupid enough to have mccain personally attack obama on the night of arguably the most historically significant acceptance speech, and PARTICULARLY not on the anniversary of MLK's famous speech.
moreover, the campaign is certainly shrewd enough to understand that mccain is running very low (or empty) on goodwill, and needs another shot of it before he/they get REALLY nasty. they saw the same polling we saw -- that americans overwhelmingly saw him as the nasty one in this election cycle.
NOWHERE in the statements by his camp was anything about an "attack." places like huffington just ASSUMED that. it was abundantly clear from the statements made by the campaign what this ad was going to be.
mccain has conditioned you to expect certain conduct -- and in that regard, as others have pointed out -- it allows him to play this as being "mavericky." certainly, that's why his campaign hyped it as a "first," as "exciting," as whatever the mavericky adjective of the day is.
that was a long way of tooting my own horn for having called it. :)
August 28, 2008 6:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
yeah, i thought the ad he was going to put out was going to be hard hitting and pressing him to do townhall meetings
New McCain Fear Mongering Ad
August 28, 2008 4:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Shrewd, yes, but with serious blowback potential. This is certainly pitched to the Vast Middle, given placement - demos that are just tuning into programming Already in Progress.
The Back to Work tomorrow bit is critical, however: among those who have an impression of Senator McCain as a negative campaigner - historic highs, mind you - this serves to simply underscore that the Toxic Fumes emanating from Camp McCain are nothing more than tinted smoke designed to scare the children away from the Abandoned Mineshaft.
In trying to Act the Gentleman, he's simply called his own messaging out as so much manure. It's very easy to point to this stunt - and let's be honest, that's exactly what this is - as evidence that Senator McCain will say absolutely anything to get the presidency.
August 28, 2008 6:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain is schizo.
August 28, 2008 4:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain is Norma Desmond.
August 28, 2008 6:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Today: congratulations Senator Obama.
Tomorrow: you're a mindless celebrity, surge, unprepared to lead, surge, you want the country to lose a war, you're responsible for high gas prices, surge, POW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://strategy08.wordpress.com
August 28, 2008 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly.
This is nothing but a shrewd political ploy.
August 28, 2008 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Errr.... what?
Bipolar
August 28, 2008 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I want to see this as a gregarious move, but I just can't.
All I can think about is McCain pointing to this ad every single time Obama goes on the attack.
Call me cynical.
August 28, 2008 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Looks like cynical could use a dictionary.
August 28, 2008 6:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, more to the point, the press was slowly realizing just what a nasty, fucked-up mess the McCain campaign has become. This is an attempt to derail the process by making the Village gush about how honorable making the ad was, providing cover for whatever slimy garbage McCain decides to hurl tomorrow.
When I first saw it, I thought it would work flawlessly, but McCain's performance is so insipid that I'm not so sure anymore.
August 28, 2008 6:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's it?
August 28, 2008 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hahaha. Nice.
August 28, 2008 6:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Does anyone else find it funny that McCain is honoring this "historic day" after opposing Martin Luther King, Jr. Day?
August 28, 2008 4:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
"How perfect that your nomination would come on this historic day."
Um, read between the lines and imagine that sentence spoken in a sarcastic tone of voice. He's cynically accusing Obama and the Dems of having planned it this way. Never mind whether that's possible; all he needs are media bloviators to start speculating.
August 28, 2008 4:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think you're reaching here.
Anything can be twisted by saying it in a sarcastic voice.
Try doing it with what I just wrote. See?
August 28, 2008 4:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
How dare you insult me? Hmph!... Oh, wait.
You're right. Darn.
August 28, 2008 5:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I noted that "how perfect" and thought the same thing!
August 28, 2008 5:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Would've been exciting if he'd apologized for his shit.
August 28, 2008 4:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't believe it, McCain finally did something he didn't have to excuse by playing the POW card.
August 28, 2008 4:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Literally daring Obama to attack him on this day when McCheese shows what a good sport he is.
August 28, 2008 4:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think you nailed the strategy. It's the "see how civil I am while Obama attacks me in his speech" ad.
August 28, 2008 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Right. He's trying to make any attacks look ungracious.
Unfortunately, the lighting makes him look like Rod Serling, and he appears to be struggling to repress a grimace, so the effect is more disconcerting than uplifting.
August 28, 2008 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe it's just me, but this is all I can see when I watch McCain these days, and this ad is the worst example yet.
August 28, 2008 6:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
You don't need to tell a blind man that rain is about to fall. When he hears the sound of thunder he knows that something is on the way
McCain won't know what hit him after the convention.
August 28, 2008 4:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed. Then it's really going to start.
August 28, 2008 4:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
O very nice!!
August 28, 2008 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Smart, but he appears to be in an unlit room -- is this a veiled POW reference?
August 28, 2008 4:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Enjoy the moment.
August 28, 2008 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm pretty disgusted by this ad. I'm surprised more of you aren't. It's an insult to anyone who's, you know, paid attention...at all.
This will backfire. It's too fake, too hackneyed, too Patch Adams.
August 28, 2008 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
I"m with you - totally. The timing is an insult, alone. He's doing his best to disrupt Obama's huge moment.
Little fucker.
August 28, 2008 4:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think that's just what he's doing. He's going after the people who havent' been paying attention but who are checking in to see Obama's speech. They'll see McCain being nice and thinking, "He's not such a bad guy..."
August 28, 2008 5:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain will get plenty of Pundit love for this ad. He has gotten pundit love for telling raps jokes, calling his wife a cunt, and from attacking other legislators. Nothing will change that.
August 28, 2008 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
rape*
August 28, 2008 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's fair to assume that McCain really does not wish to congratulate Obama and that this is only a calculated political move.
You can only go on outer behavior which so far has been pretty bad on McCain's part....especially the remarks that are intended to question Obama's patriotism and if he is fit to lead.
If McCain is willing to admit that he voted for George Bush twice - I think we can call into question McCain's judgement about who he thinks is fit to lead.
August 28, 2008 5:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
It just seems like they're trying to spend as much money as they can before next week.
August 28, 2008 5:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Christmas truces, anyone?
August 28, 2008 4:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow. I didn't saw that coming. Strange after all this times and the political climate we're living in, that a little show of decency is actually shocking.
Yet, I must recognize this ad is a good signal that maybe, just maybe, there's hope after all that there's something more that trashing each other. He's right. History will be made tonight. And he's recognizing this achievement. For once, kudos Mr. McCain. You're right, tomorrow we'll be back at it.
You can count on that, at least from me.
August 28, 2008 4:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh boy. You have a lot more faith, hope, and charity left in your soul than I do.
I have precisely $ 0.03 worth of trust left for the Republican party, and I'm saving all three of those cents to use on legislative compromises next year.
August 28, 2008 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
This ad is just an attempt to paint Obama as the negative one if he attacks durring his speach tonight. You may also bet that they will portray anything Obama says that differentiates him from McCain as an attack.
August 28, 2008 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
See, if that were true, why release it now and give Obama a chance to soften some of his rhetoric?
August 28, 2008 5:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Because if Obama does they win. If he softens his rhetoric McCain did not get attacked. If he does not he is the one on the low road.
August 28, 2008 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe that's the point, pressuring Obama to soften up tonight. I hope he doesn't. If McCain really wanted to congratulate him you could have left his ads of the air for tonight and made a quiet phone call after the speech.
August 28, 2008 5:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ding, Ding, Ding, We Have A Winner!
August 28, 2008 5:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
I knew this kind of responses could happen. In fact I won a bet with myself. I owe myself 20 bucks that I don't have. Problem already solved. Awesome!.
It's true, the GOP can't be trusted. It's true, maybe there's a hidden agenda on all this. But, I'm sometimes a good old fashioned kind of guy that wants to see some good gestures and not treat people like A-holes all the time. That's because of my family values, my education and my beliefs. (For the record, I'm 27 years old).
If you knew me well, you'll see someone you thinks that people is F... annoying most of the time, but I also really want that we, as persons we can treat each other with a little respect and understanding.
That was MLK example, that's Obama's example and that's my own mother's example, which I follow closely. So, even if you agree with me or not, which is fine by me, that's my stand on this.
I won't respond further on this, so if you want to unleash hell on me, fine and if you agree with me, cool.
Now, let's go and see history unfold, shall we?
August 28, 2008 5:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree that this was a smart move for McCain. But the Republicans know that attacks get much more press than positive spots, so this is just a throwaway, possibly to use as a bludgeon later when Obama authorizes harsher attacks on McCain. Clever play, although I doubt it will do him a whole lot of good.
August 28, 2008 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know. It might not be a mere "throwaway." The "news" people may see this as man-bites-dog stuff.
August 28, 2008 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't buy it. McCain looked condescending and insincere.
August 28, 2008 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Like an old uncle saying, "pull my finger."
August 28, 2008 5:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
WAS YOUR OLD UNCLE A POW FOR CHRIST'S SAKE?
August 28, 2008 5:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gentlemanly move on McCain's part, but he's still an asshole.
August 28, 2008 4:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
You made my point in less words.
August 28, 2008 5:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not so gentlemanly, really. His campaign team put out this web ad on the same day McCain puts out this two-faced ad:
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/08/mccains-messa-1.html
August 28, 2008 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is there any indication that this is a real ad? No acknowledgment at the end. And, certainly no inidcation that this is ever going to see any air time. I sure hope that this doesn't get free airtime on any of the cable networks.
August 28, 2008 5:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
If it's not a real ad it should be...and he should run it non-stop!
August 29, 2008 10:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think it's a nice gesture, genuine or not. And unfortunately this is the McCain we could have run against. But he chose to with Rove. And one congratulatory ad doesn't erase the last month of lies and distortions.
August 28, 2008 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Who cares, where's the big Veep announcement Senator?
August 28, 2008 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nobody hates the GOP more than I, but maybe you should change your avatar.
August 28, 2008 5:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, it really puts the b back in subtle.
August 28, 2008 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Some friendly advice: get your head out of your ass and change that avatar. You're using a swastika as a joke? Are you high?
August 28, 2008 5:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
co-signed
August 28, 2008 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
It worked for Mel Brooks.
August 28, 2008 8:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
seriously...
i don't even have the words....
well actually i do...
Do you somehow think your avatar and that symbol will get more people to read your rhetoric? Does it comfort you at night to be an instigator?
Do you understand what hate is and what it is capable of? Are you simply looking for attention?
There is no place in modern society for your nonsense. There is no place in this world for hate.
Remember - Your Rights END where MINE Begin!
August 28, 2008 5:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
The avatar is in profoundly bad taste, but I don't see how it infringes on yours or anyone else's rights.
August 28, 2008 6:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama can use this ad every time McCain launches a ridiculous smear...
August 28, 2008 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Senator McCain never launches any attacks--Candidate McCain does.
August 28, 2008 5:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sure the thought of that is why he said, "tomorrow, we'll be back at it."
August 28, 2008 5:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
POW McCain. Please save this one for the morning of November 5th and January 20th.
August 28, 2008 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Awww, it's like Ralph Wolf and Sam Sheepdog.
August 28, 2008 5:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain does look insincere.
Also, he's playign good cop bad cop all by himself.
August 28, 2008 5:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wonder if this ad will be parsed by the talking heads 1/10th as much as Hillary and Bill's speeches were.
August 28, 2008 5:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Funny how he doesn't look into the camera and deliver his slimeball smear attacks himself. Coward.
August 28, 2008 5:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't see why people think this is unexpected or gentlemanly.
It's condescending and an attempt to steal back the spotlight.
August 28, 2008 5:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain made a commercial to congratulate Obama.
It's a good gesture even though it was for the wrong reasons.
August 28, 2008 5:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would thank Senator McCain and ask him to pass along some of whatever he's drinking to Candidate McCain because he's a prick.
August 28, 2008 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Congratulations, Senator Obama. I still think you're a traitor..."
August 28, 2008 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Y'all saw the recent national polls that showed a large number of people viewing the McCain campaign as increasingly negative and focused on attacking Obama, while Obama's campaign was seen as focusing on the issues. They're worried about the brand. Probably past saving at this point. Even if they could save it, they won't try because without the lies and negative ads and attack, they got nuthin'. This will be the last positive ad you see from McCain for the rest of the campaign.
August 28, 2008 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Its code: A black man being nominated for president, but please remember it is a black man.
August 28, 2008 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly.
August 28, 2008 5:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
God I hope this isn't the underlying message.
I honestly got that vibe from this ad. Obama's achievement is being a black man who has got to this position. No other achievements, just that he's black.
On the other hand, maybe its too subtle. If Obama speaks about uniting as a nation this plays into the whole idea. Obama's candidacy unites people.
August 28, 2008 5:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bingo.
August 28, 2008 5:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
That was my thought as well. It was all about calling attention to blackness. I wish I weren't so cynical, but that was my first thought.
August 28, 2008 6:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ahahaha! What a fake. Who does this ad win points with? His followers have been brainwashed into thinking Obama is an empty suit, celebrity who wants to lose the war out of political ambition. Obama's followers aren't buying this crap. Does he think the independents or others in the middle will forget his Britney/Paris stupidity? This ad is so unbelievable.
August 28, 2008 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Doesn't this actually confer achievement on Obama's shoulders?
Strange thought...McCain is saying Obama has achieved a great deal, and that his nomination is a good day for America. Do empty suits deserve this kind of congratulations?
Dilute your own message!
August 28, 2008 5:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Congratulations, Obama. You've achieved a lot for being an empty suit anti-christ who was raised in a Madrassa."
August 28, 2008 5:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
It implies one achievement: being born African-American.
(Must be tough just to be born into Navy nobility.)
August 28, 2008 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I suspect this might be the real message but we can't go after McCain for it.
Plausible Deniability is such a wonderful thing.
August 28, 2008 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
THIS IS THE WEB AD HIS CAMPAIGN PUT OUT ON THE SAME DAY AS THAT FUCKING INSINCERE AD:
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/08/mccains-messa-1.html
Fuck you, McCain.
August 28, 2008 5:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly. Disgusting.
August 28, 2008 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Someone needs to do a mash-up of this ad and the britney spears ad.
August 28, 2008 8:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
well...one things for sure.
the corporate media will LOVE IT and will play it nonstop while fawning over how gracious John McCain is.
also, i think greg's point was important enough to be repeated verbatim.
this isn't a sincere ad about congratulating Obama. It's an ad designed to soften mccain's image.
August 28, 2008 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
"No hard feelings, okay? Good game. Let's shake on it. Here. I'll give you my hand . . ."
August 28, 2008 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
If I wasn't so cynical and jaded I'd say it was a nice, even (*gasp*) human, gesture.
Since I know better, I'll just respond with an upturned nose and try to ignore it.
August 28, 2008 5:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is it? Really? Big deal.
I suspect this could be a ploy so that if Obama attacks McCain at all in his speech then McCain can play the innocent victim who only had effusive praise for Barack.
If Obama's speech is really terrific this will just blend foregettably into the background. Thanks John, our candidate really is great.
Thanks for telling us you'll be on the insidious attack tomorrow though!
August 28, 2008 5:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Reminds me of the Richard Pryor routine where the dog who usually chases him, senses he's having a rough day and instead of biting him, sits down and empathizes.
Then the dog gets up to leave, looks back and says to Richard Pryor: "You know I'm gonna be chasin' you ass, tomorrow, right?"
The difference is that dog was sincere and McCain's a creep.
August 28, 2008 5:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's using the Hillary playbook - remember, she said all sorts of nice things about Obama ("It's an honor") and then a day later trashed him ("Shame on you, Senator Obama").
August 28, 2008 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why put out an ad? Why not just call Obama? It's 100% political calculation and the infotainment talking heads will eat it up. Nobody will call him on the other 99% of his ads and statements.
It's also done to make Obama's attacks look small and petty. Notice how McCain says "tomorrow we'll be back at it" like there is some sort of truce tonight that Obama is not going to honor.
Besides as has been mentioned above, look at the web-ad released on the same day as this ad.
August 28, 2008 5:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess this answers the question as to whether it was stupid to have our people saying McCain is someone we respect as a human being.
Now we don't look like assholes with him doing this. I'd rather have him not do it, but it is smart, and we can say back we disagreed with him and took some New Politics class in how we went after his positions.
Hell, it may even work.
August 28, 2008 5:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
The problem I have with what you are saying articleman, is that McLame is not a decent man and does not deserv= well, my respect. I can't speak for anyone else.
He has no morals.
August 28, 2008 6:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't worry Tena, hopefully they'll have the body language experts analyze this one too. McCain is so totally insincere and slimy in this ad i feel like i need a shower after watching it. Also, it looks like it was filmed in his old cell at the Hanoi Hilton.
August 28, 2008 6:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
One word: Weird.
Republicans bank on the assumptions americans are cannot connect the dots and can't make out the difference between a monday and a tuesday. Sadly, it works in some quarters.
Grumpy granpa is just disrupting proceedings on a glorious day. This day belongs to Obama and no one else.
McNasty pretty much considered Martin Luther King Jr as a anti-american extremist and has clear record against AA and civil rights.
Its insulting for him to remind rest of us about a "perfect" day.
He was, is and will be an hurdle in making America a more perfect union.
McLame go away.
August 28, 2008 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
He looks like Col. Kurtz from Apocalypse Now.
The horror!
August 28, 2008 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain's press person Jill...called the ad a "strip tease"...This is shit and shit doesn't fly in my book! He wants to try and distract so the stupid pindits will be talking about his great attempt at good will...GRRRRR
Just remember we won't be fooled again!
August 28, 2008 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
I really hope the idiots in the media don't trip all over themselves saying how the 2000 McCain is back and the last 2 months were just a nightmare.
August 28, 2008 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
This strategy is futile. Obama will continue to honor Brutus.
August 28, 2008 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
You can stuff your congratulations in a sack, McLame!
August 28, 2008 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is it possible that what happened at the convention last night scared him a bit?
August 28, 2008 5:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
O ya think?
LOL!
August 28, 2008 6:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain is going to run this during the convention tonight, right?
You've got to figure that the audience are Democrats or at least lean Democratic.
Releasing an attack ad is not going to sway any of those folks on a night like tonight.
I think the goal is to make some of those leaners scratch their heads and think "Maybe McCain isn't such a douche after all"
August 28, 2008 5:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, I think it's entirely aimed at the "news" media and pundits (where there is a distinction remaining between the two).
August 28, 2008 5:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't want him ruining this moment for me and my family.
Go away, crazy man.
August 28, 2008 5:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nothing to worry about.
Obama should gracefully acknowledge McCain's congratulatory message. It would be rude of him not to. But once he's done that the path is clear to resume the attack.
August 28, 2008 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think it would be rude of Obama to completely ignore this crap. It's 100% fake. Not an ounce of sincerity at all.
August 28, 2008 5:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Etiquette is about perception.
August 28, 2008 5:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
you aren't a very nice person are you?
August 28, 2008 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
NO - McLame isn't a nice person. At all!
August 28, 2008 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
First of all this thing is freakin creepy... ughghg...
He is totally trying to steal thunder and attention... look at me, look at me... I am gracious...
God love him, he doesn't really have anything else he can do...
I bet he wishes he could drop out and come play on our team.
August 28, 2008 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Of course, McCain is trying to win the election, and this is a move toward that end. And it also shows why it was smart of Obama and the Democrats not to attack McCain so viciously like so many bloggers and posters wanted to do, it would have made them look petty.
Is he trying to steal the limelight? of course. But it could backfire as well, and soften people's building negative attitudes towards Obama, which are the only things giving McCain his ever-so slight chance of victory.
Anyway, so many of you are the biggest crybaby hand-wringers ever. Obama hardly ever really attacked Hillary, only near the end of the road in PA, and he still won.
It's not about scoring points, or about hurting the other guy's feelings as much as possible. Something may make you angry, but it's not your job to "get back at them" It's your job to WIN THE ELECTION.
Barack Obama knows what he's doing.
August 28, 2008 5:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh yeah?
Well, my friends Trish and Jen told me that you're the biggest crybaby hand-wringer ever in the whole universe!
August 28, 2008 5:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Look, 'the biggest X ever' is clearly a bigger X then 'the biggest X in the whole universe' given the possibility of other universes, populated, perhaps, with clones of Bob Shrum, Richard Cohen and Cokie Roberts.
It may very well be that the biggest handwringer's ever would epitomize the platonic ideal of a handwringer, existing outside the universe as a pure mathimatical form.
That is the class of handwringing we're dealing with here, as Joe Biden would say literally
August 28, 2008 5:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
You just lost Trish and Jen.
August 28, 2008 6:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe that's the point, pressuring Obama to soften up tonight. I hope he doesn't. If McCain really wanted to congratulate him you could have left his ads of the air for tonight and made a quiet phone call after the speech.
August 28, 2008 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
The purpose of this ad isn't to congratulate Obama.
The purpose of this ad is to soften up McCain's image, now that everyone thinks he's a negative, nasty campaigner.
August 28, 2008 5:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you - that and to cut into Obama's big moment.
This is one of the cheapest, most petty things I've ever seen a candidate do.
Magnanimous gesture my ass - a snake is a snake is a snake.
August 28, 2008 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
He can soften up these balls.
August 28, 2008 5:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Greg,
Unless i'm misstaken, you dropped of the end bit:
August 28, 2008 5:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Very condescending tone. Seems like at the end, old Uncle John wants to pat Barack on the head, give him a quarter and tell him to run along.
August 28, 2008 5:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
If he wanted to extend a nice gesture, he wouldn't be running any ad at all tonight. So, yes, we can fault him for it, and we should.
August 28, 2008 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hell yeah!
August 28, 2008 5:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well it seems sincere...(cough)
Perhaps if he hadn't went so negative so fast it would work...
I wonder though, if on the night Mac accepts his nom if O will do a similar ad, stating how historic it is for McP.O.Dubya to be the oldest man running ever...
Obama / Biden '08
August 28, 2008 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
I say we put McCain's mother and Biden's mother in a room. Only one comes out.
August 28, 2008 5:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
What a kind gesture Mr. Grinch er McCain (freudian slip)! This commercial is so overproduced as to be creepy and unnatural. I hope someone posts the McNasty outtakes on youtube.
August 28, 2008 5:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
OK, what should Obama's congratulatory Hallmark Card ad to McCain say?
"Just a shout-out to my Republican opponent, Sen. George, er, I mean John McCain on receiving the nomination of his party. Good job, Sen. Bush, er, I mean McCain. I look forward to seeing you out on the campaign trail. See if Mitt will loan you some magic underpants. It is going to be a rough ride."
August 28, 2008 5:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's weird. It just doesn't ring true -- it comes off like one of those Lowenbrau ads. "Hey, guys...here's to good friends." And everyone goes "aww".
It just feels fakey. Maybe it's McCain's overly earnest read. His tone is stilted, like he's reading from cue cards.
I think I could actually appreciate the message if it didn't feel so damn fakey.
Here's what I mean: Check the last 5 seconds of this commercial and see if the vibe doesn't match up with McCain's ad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJMwMqTIkfo
August 28, 2008 5:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Look at it this way. McCain spent a week calling Obama a scary radical celebrity who's so vapid and unprepared that he can't wait to appease our enemies to further his own twisted ambitions. McCain's camp set up a war room in Denver featuring Mr. 911 who's only job was to put out snarky press releases and coordinate with so-called PUMA groups. And now, right before his own convention starts, McCain's saying, "Congratulations, and let's be civil about all this".
Of course it seems off. Of course it seems fake. McCain is fake. His whole campaign is a facade. He expects this to be the final image we remember from him in Denver, and sweep aside all the pot-shots he's taken over the past week. He's expecting reporters to remember his congratulating Obama tonight to translate into their calling any Obama counterattacks next week unfair.
Of course this is a shame! McCain is running a sham campaign.
August 28, 2008 6:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know. And in the midst of it, this commercial sticks out like a sore thumb. Which makes it seem doubly fake. It doesn't seem like it belongs with the rest of his campaign, and on top of it, it's stilted read of an obvious script.
Maybe it's not so much of a Lowenbrau commercial as it is Marty DeBergi at the beginning of Spinal Tap.
August 28, 2008 7:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is part of the very subtle racial undertone of McCain's campaign: congratulations on "your achievement" but you aren't ready to lead. This picks up viscerally on some whites' worries about affirmative action. In context with all the character attacks before and after -- using "not experienced" to mean ahead of himself, asking for more than he deserves -- this is quietly condescending. It also, of course, portrays McCain in a presidential pose: in office, he would need to dispense (hypocritical) praise all the time.
Nothing happens here that is not intended to send a message to the white voters McCain is trying to persuade.
August 28, 2008 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bingo.
And it's also a crass, preemptive volley aimed at making any criticisms that Obama chooses to launch tonight look petty.
Oh, how generous and thoughtful of McGoo to decide that tonight--when Obama will hold the floor before his largest audience ever-- is a time to be nice and respectful.
What a snake.
August 28, 2008 6:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly.
And he's making the point in a none too subtle fashion.
August 28, 2008 6:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
OT, I think Obama might be in trouble in Idaho.
August 28, 2008 5:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe he should visit the men's room in the Minneapolis public restroom. You know, to network and develop some grassroots connections. I wouldn't know myself, but I hear a lot of successful Idaho politicians swear by it.
Or maybe we'll just have to write off Idaho for this cycle.
August 28, 2008 6:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Reminds me of Elaine's orgasm discussion with Jerry Seinfeld. Fake! Fake! Fake! And Fake!
August 28, 2008 5:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Translation of McCain ad: I'm not losing the press, watch how easy it is for me to reel them back in.
August 28, 2008 6:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yawn.
August 28, 2008 6:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
If by back at it McCain means, I'll continue to question your character and patriotism while misrepresenting almost all of your positions to fuel my campaign of fear, then I'm cool with this ad.
Also, this could be cover for McCain to leak the VP announcement.
http://pufferfish.typepad.com/
August 28, 2008 6:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Um, you realize this opens the door to Obama making a similar congratulatory pitch on the night of McCain's nomination. In fact, it opens the door to a "wish you a successful convention, congrats McCain, let's be bi-partisan" pitch running throughout the republican convention.
August 28, 2008 6:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama's response should be "Thanks, John, but this isn't my achievement. It's the achievement of all my supporters and it's an achievement of the American people."
That will eliminate any attacks that Obama is only in this position because he is black, or that he's an ego-centrist (is that a word?).
Just a thought.
August 28, 2008 6:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good politics by McCain.
Today is a day to set aside partisanship! To come together as one America and ... wha, wha?? You're attacking my campaign for president??? Nooooooo! I wanted to be nice! Nooooooo!
Very calculated, almost Clintonian.
August 28, 2008 6:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good job?!
Good job at what? Being black? Thanks.
August 28, 2008 6:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bingo. Time for a new book: "What's The Matter With Arizona???"
Goldwater voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964, dontcha know...
August 28, 2008 6:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain's entire career is made up of fake good guy moments - no-one to blame for his divorce but himself, all torn up about his honor being damaged in the Keating 5, apologizing for his Confederate flag flip-flop - he disarms his critics with his false humility and public self-flagellation. It makes for good theater.
It turns the critics into the meanies. How can we be so mean as to doubt his motives? Can't we see how repentant he is? The man is HURTING! Plus, he was a POW.
August 28, 2008 6:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gee, an ad with a friendly, smiling John McCain.
This wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that a Google search of "McCain" and "temper" gives you over 700,000 hits, would it? (Learned that on another blog today)
August 28, 2008 6:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't see the ad itself out here in the boonies, but going of the text, I'm hearing a dog whistle:
"how perfect that your nomination would come on this historic day." Maybe the tone of the actual ad belies my read, but this pushes Obama into the racialized category of civil rights leader.
August 28, 2008 6:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
There ya go.
August 28, 2008 6:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
This ad is disgusting and McCain is seriously creepy. I have to put my kid to bed before this shit airs!
August 28, 2008 6:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think John Sidney McCain III is hoping Obama goes for the jugular tonight. Juxtapose a "friendly" and familiar face, against an angry black man.
August 28, 2008 6:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
And John Sidney McCain III is an idiot.
Obama isn't -
August 28, 2008 6:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Indeed.
August 28, 2008 7:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
i gotta call bullshit, this is his 'see, I'm still a nice guy, the rest is just politics' ad, his way of dulling the (sadly anemic) attack on candidate vs senator
August 28, 2008 7:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
This ad was clever. It is like McCain is taking a short break from his participation in the swift-boat sleaze-ball campaign that he has been heading to let the viewer/swing-voter know that ole' Mavericky is still in there somewhere, just waiting until after election day to come back out, wink-smirk-wink. Karl "Turd-Blossom" Rove's scummy little paw prints are all over this...
August 28, 2008 7:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
while this ad is clever and it is a decent thing to do it also at the same token is just stupid.
The republicans have taken on this new thinking...
run attack ads all week long and then come out with a decent ad and claim that you are taking hte high road and demand that people see you as the good guy.
after all the attacking you cant just throw out a smile and call it all good...
the surge may have been one of hte thing to help quell violence in iraq, but that doesnt mean we should forget about the last 6 and a half years...
IT DOESNT MAKE UP FOR IT
i cant wait to hear john mccains people talking about htis ad and how he is such a good man...
some of us are smarter mclame
August 28, 2008 8:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
No wonder McCain got snippy when asked to define honor recently.
August 28, 2008 8:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Isn't this wonderful. A smiling McCain plays the race card. "How perfect that your nomination would come on this historic day."
August 29, 2008 12:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Fake-classy move, McCain. MP3s from the spot are up.
August 29, 2008 10:13 AM | Reply | Permalink