Obama Camp: McCain's "Celeb" Ad Is An Attack On Ordinary People
I'd been wondering when Camp Obama would do this: Campaign manager David Plouffe is now trying to raise money off McCain's "celeb" sneer ads, ratcheting up the counterattack on the spots by painting them as an assault on ordinary voters who see Obama as more than just a cheap pop culture phenom.
From Plouffe's latest email to supporters:
John McCain and the Republican National Committee are trying to convince you that you've been swept up and tricked into wanting change...While supporters like you are out knocking on doors, registering new voters, and organizing in your local communities, our opponents are not even trying to match your efforts. Instead, they're spending millions to spread the smear that Barack is just a "celebrity" and that our grassroots movement is just a bunch of mindless fans.
So who is John McCain really attacking? Real people like Brandon, a carpenter from McCall, ID. Stephanie, a registered nurse from Phoenix, AZ. And Pamela, a retired teacher from Franklin, WV.
These are actual people who have made donations to our campaign this week.
The "tricked" and "mindless fans" lines are exactly right. The "celeb" spots are all about getting people to doubt their own responses to his candidacy, to portray them as something cheap and inauthentic, something that has nothing to do with Obama's policy aspirations or even their own genuine political yearnings.
Plouffe's letter asks folks to register their objections to the ad by donating all of five bucks apiece. It would be interesting indeed to track how much McCain's "celeb" sneers bring into Obama's coffers.
Nice, they should definitely keep that line of attack going strong.
August 11, 2008 2:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed. Hit them hard!
August 11, 2008 3:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Derision of the largest grassroots movement ever seen by this nation can only be qualified as elitist.
August 11, 2008 2:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is smart - those ads hit me with that message right from the start - it's not Obama's doing if he's a celebrity - it's our doing for making him one and the ads are an attack on us. (disclaimer: I'm not saying Obama is a celebrity - although I think he's turning into one - but not the way McLame is using the word)
August 11, 2008 2:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
The same defense he used against Hillary. Nice.
August 11, 2008 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can't find the quote. Anyone?
August 11, 2008 2:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was just thinking that.
And actually, the first Obama reponse to the first celebrity ad was this same thing: McLame is attacking us for our enthusiasm.
August 11, 2008 2:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
From the Feb. 21 debate in Austin:
"The implication is that the people who've been voting for me or are involved in my campaign are somehow delusional."
http://www.slate.com/id/2184892/
August 11, 2008 3:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
too bad they just made their own "celebrity" ad.
this line of attack could have been effective if they hadn't just undermined it
August 11, 2008 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
i thought the obama ad's point is that in DC, mcCain's a "celebrity" insulting the enthusiasm of washington insiders isn't the same thing.
August 11, 2008 3:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well personally I love that they finally made an ad pointing out the facts about McLame and his constant appearances on TV and even in film.
There's a difference between McLame sneering about Obama's popularity and lying about his being a celebrity, and Obama's pointing out the fucking facts with the vids going back years of McLame in front of cameras.
So I think you are frankly full of shit.
August 11, 2008 3:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
except there are so many other legitimate things to hit mccain with.
and they chose "celebrity"...
which is now, what the debate will be about.
voters don't care about that kinda stuff. they want solutions to their problems and gettign into a pissing match over who's the biggest "celebrity" in the race isn't going to get voters the solutions they need.
August 11, 2008 3:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
in other words, the obama camp took the bait.
and john mccain is probably very happy to be debating "celebrity" status as opposed to his policies (or lack therof) and his 95% with Bush voting record.
August 11, 2008 3:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I disagree, the ad Obama did basically ridiculed McCain's ad. I don't think it comes off as "I know you are but what am I". I think it just makes the celebrity argument look stupid and makes McCain look like a complete fool in the process.
August 11, 2008 3:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think they ad was much more than an excuse to use a bunch of pictures of Bush and McCain embracing each other. The celeb and lobby stuff was filler.
All and all, it's a pretty good ad.
August 12, 2008 9:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think you're off on this.
McCain's ad compared Obama to two celebutantes to whom he (Obama) cannot reasonably be linked, simply because people actually like him. Even in other countries! Apparently, the fact that Obama can fill a room, in the eyes of the McCain Camp, makes Obama a "Celebrity".
Obama's ad very distinctly pointed out that McCain has used his position in Washington to gain access to the actual trappings of celebrity. Whereas McCain was forced to use insinuation and innuendo where there was no actual link, the Obama Camp could use actual footage of McCain behaving like a celebrity and being cozy with a famous, if unpopular, individual who just happens to be the President of the United States. Before Barack Obama, John McCain was quite literally the Belle of the Ball in Washington, DC. It makes McCain's ad look like hypocrisy because it is hypocrisy.
August 11, 2008 4:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
The ad hits him for his lobbyist connections and paints him as responsive to them and not to the voters.
August 11, 2008 3:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama's celebrity ad offends only the lobbyists and Washington insiders to whom McCain is a celebrity.
August 11, 2008 3:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Barack ad used the word "celebrity" as a dig at McCain. The ad showed him, accurately, as an old school politician playing the insiders' game in Washington. A Washington celebrity has nothing to do with adoring fans, rather with hustlers, lobbyists, politicians and hangers-on.
August 11, 2008 3:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain's ad certainly lacked for substance, but I think Obama supporters are being a little hypocritical in their objections. Obama's campaign was happy to use Obama's celebrity status as a selling point all throughout the primaries, and still today with his Berlin speech. They were happy to reinforce the notion that the person who draws the most people to a rally is the superior candidate. All of the stories of people fainting and crying weren't made up from whole cloth. All I heard before the California primary was how many people Obama was drawing, and how pitiful Hillary's crowds were. As we saw in the actual election, that's not necessarily the telling point.
Obama's campaign was happy to push the whole rock star thing when it served their purposes. It's a little late to cry about it now.
And really, "it's not Obama's doing if he's a celebrity - it's our doing for making him one and the ads are an attack on us." More mindless drivel from HusseinTenaX. Really, poor Obama was forced to act like a celebrity. His campaign did nothing to promote it. Please. Although I certainly don't expect cogent analysis from anyone who adopted the name Hussein. I suppose you list "Obama" as your religion on Facebook, too?
August 11, 2008 3:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah. Way to hold rallies, Obama.
August 11, 2008 3:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly hyperRevue! ChrisO clumsily knocked Tena, but the mere notion that the Obama campaign would turn away enthusiastic supporters for fears of coming across as a "celebrity" is the real mindless drivel.
August 11, 2008 3:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, Leni Riefenstahl would have been proud of the imagery.
August 11, 2008 3:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Does your mother know that you're using her body in your avatar?
August 11, 2008 3:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
White man, now that's just pathetic. You used to at least try to be cute.
August 11, 2008 3:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm still trying to figure out why you'd put Obama's head on your mothers body..
August 11, 2008 3:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
In all seriousness, you get the underlying meaning of the combination of a chicken and a head, right?
Fogu2 brings unbearable shame to whatever constituency he pretends to be part of.
August 11, 2008 6:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Then, as now, people are simply saying that there is nothing about popularity that implies a lack of substance.
We're happy to have a rockstar candidate with great charisma, and there's nothing hypocritical about pointing out the stupidity of comparing what he is to Britney Spears or equating enthusiasm with occultism.
August 11, 2008 3:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nicely said.
I think the whole thing is silly, myself, and I think Obama could just as soon have ignored it, but the campaign decided not to, and I generally try to not tell David Plouffe and Barrack Obama how to run Obama's campaign from my chair here in Taos, New Mexico.
They've done a very good job, in my opinion, and I don't expect they'll do anything but a very good job all the way to the White House. I have been watching campaigns for a long time. This is one of the most elegantly run campaigns I've ever seen.
August 11, 2008 3:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
i got this same email, only its asking me to donate $25...not $5.
whats up with that?
August 11, 2008 3:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think they must request whatever your last donation was - pretty sneaky. My email asked for $100, which is what I last gave.
August 11, 2008 3:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama is all about databases in the virtual world.
He's got nothing in the meat world.
Can't wait to hear his version of "Chocolate Rain".
August 11, 2008 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah - the rule of thumb with Obama's fundraising emails is that they hit you up for the largest amount you ever donated. My copy of this email asked for $250....
August 11, 2008 4:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bwahahaha
Obama gets an E for effort.
McCain gets an A for achievement.
In the real world wishing and trying ain't good enough. The bottom line is the bottom line and Obama's got nothing there except a bunch of wishing and photo ops.
Clinton...Clinton...Clinton...Denver.
August 11, 2008 3:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
What are you clucking about? You aren't making any sense.
August 11, 2008 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Celebrity-being famous for being famous.
Obama = Celebrity
August 11, 2008 3:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Obama = Celebrity"
John McCain, the real celeb: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0564587/
August 11, 2008 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nice!
August 11, 2008 3:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's kinda cute how hard your trying.
Recess is over, back to class for you.
August 11, 2008 3:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
"It's kinda cute how hard your trying."
Making you look like a baboon's ass takes minimum effort.
August 11, 2008 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hillary = Wife of a former celebrity.
August 11, 2008 4:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hilary - celebrity in her right these days, I think.
But yes, Clinton is a celebrity. International, no less.
Obama looks to be headed right there - and I don't find one damn thing wrong with that, either.
August 11, 2008 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm LOVING how closely they keep track of who gives what.
MY version of the email asks for $500. Without any decimal point.
August 11, 2008 3:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
"but the mere notion that the Obama campaign would turn away enthusiastic supporters for fears of coming across as a "celebrity" is the real mindless drivel."
So are you willfully misreading my comment, or is your reading comprehension that poor? Where exactly did I say that Obama shouldn't have held rallies? My point (which you conveniently ignored) was that the Obama campaign capitalized on the rock star story when it fit their needs. Are you really going to claim that the whole rock star persona was foisted on them, and they did nothing to foster it? Holy cow.
OK, you can all go back to telling each other how right you are, and what racists all of Obama's critics are.
August 11, 2008 3:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
"So are you willfully misreading my comment, or is your reading comprehension that poor? Where exactly did I say that Obama shouldn't have held rallies? My point (which you conveniently ignored) was that the Obama campaign capitalized on the rock star story when it fit their needs."
If your initial argument wasn't so mangled, and hamfistedly clumsy, people would have gotten a clearer picture of the already misguided argument that you put forth. That being said, you never pointed out in which ways the Obama campaign "capitalized" on being a rock star - you just threw vague generalities out there, forcing people to assume that you were talking about the crowds he was pulling in. I mean, you can clarify your statement and make it more coherent if you simply cite specific instances where the Obama campaign "capitalized" on the "rock star" meme.
August 11, 2008 3:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think this is right on time.
The Obama camp had to see if the celebrity crap was going to be a five minute tantrum from the Grouchy Warrior or a sticking point from here on out. Probably spent a week drawing up a counter strategy and waited.
Once they saw the new ads, they knew what this would be and now they're going on the attack. I think regardless if they did some polling to test its effectiveness and saw it was damaging, they were going to respond no matter what. You can't let shit get out of hand.
August 11, 2008 3:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
So many more people attend Obama rallies than McCain events. Look at the pictures of people who show up for Obama events - large venues, lots of people, lots of activity. 200,000 in Berlin - 75,000 in Portland. Republicans, being the immature jealous type, claim "well there was a free concert the people came for, not Obama."
Bullshirt. McCain had his own musical event recently with a big country music star who wrote a piece to honor McCain (it was so mindless I have already forgotten who and where). It was billed as a big event but he only got a couple thousand people to show up.
Republicans are allegedly the people of means - jobs, vehicles, etc. but they can't mobilize to attend an event for a true maverick, a war hero, the next president of the United States. Jeez!
Go ahead McCain, make fun of Obama being a celebrity. He IS a fucking celebrity who happens to be respected and admired by a bazillion more people than the old white haired dude can draw to a free event.
If I was a real Republican (I'm still registed as one) I would be JEALOUS of the crowds Obama gets. Or, I would start drinking heavily to become apathetic, probably passing through the emotional band of name calling and unleashing the suppressed racism.
Wait a minute, that's what Republicans are doing now! Duh.
August 11, 2008 4:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
And Veterans who are not Happy with McCain's lack of votes and flip-flops on their care...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfAUG08/nf081008-1.htm
In February of this year, presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said, "I'm going to get every one of our veterans a plastic card to take to their doctor or healthcare provider to get the care they need." That story here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfFEB08/nf021108-1.htm
And, McCain has said that many times since, touting his "VA Card" as a solution to veterans' healthcare problems.
Now, he has withdrawn that promise. Some would call this a "reassessment"...others would call it a "flip-flop." You decide.
The new-and-improved McCain "VA Card" would only be for certain veterans in special circumstances. This announcement was made in an address to the DAV convention in Las Vegas on Sat., Aug. 9, 2008.
McCain says the "Card" would be a choice for "veterans with illness or injury incurred during military service, as well as low-income veterans," not every veteran as previously promised.
And, the "Card" could only be used if the VA could not provide care under the following conditions: "...no more than an hour's drive for care, routine care within a week, urgent care within 24 hours, and specialty care within a month."
Vote for Veterans Right As they Fight For Yours!
And don't forget the Vote Record, Obama might have been in office a short time...But he has never put veterans, troops lives, in front of his ambitions! Remeber That!
*The Lie vote McCain keeps talking about was one vote and he wanted troop to come home.
Now some have to come Home to Georgia and not only fight in another war but face the truth of thier own lives and or family members. This is shameful...
August 11, 2008 4:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hmm. John McCain's VA Card should be followed by one of those fast-talking disclaimers:
Not available in all areas. Offer void where prohibited. Some restrictions apply. See local VA for details.
August 11, 2008 4:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Obama campaign is right. McCain is attacking ordinary people in the ad. SHAME ON YOU, MCSHAME!
August 11, 2008 5:27 PM | Reply | Permalink