New McCain Ad Stars Palin, Attacks Obama
In advance of Sarah Palin's big speech tonight, the McCain campaign goes up with a negative attack ad hitting Obama and contrasting him negatively with her:
The GOP didn't appear to mind the risk of trampling on Palin's positive message tonight with this aggressively negative spot.
The ad, which will run in "key states," attempts to belittle Obama by comparing him with the GOP Veep choice, casting her as the true reformer of the two. And as TPM's Eric Kleefeld just noted, the ad puts the lines praising Palin in the voice of a woman, and the lines attacking Obama in the voice of a man.
Full script after the jump.
Late Update: First Read fact-checks the ad and finds "misleading assertions."
The Journal says: "Governor Palin's credentials as an agent of reform exceed Barack Obama's."They're right.
She "has a record of bi-partisan reform."
He's the Senate's "most liberal."
She "took on the oil producers."
He gave big oil billions in subsidies and giveaways.
She's "earned a reputation as a reformer."
His reputation? Empty words.
What? John McCain can't stack up against Obama so he sends a woman out to fight his battles? Some tough maverick!
September 3, 2008 1:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's it - off with the gloves. Surely Obama's got an ad in the can ripping her to shreds.
September 3, 2008 1:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
This "ad" isn't going to be played. A) it's weak. But B) it gets into a topic they don't want discussed. It's just meant to spin the elite media.
September 3, 2008 1:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sarah Barracuda's Sexual Abstinence Principles:
Thanks for all the great Family Values Parenting Mom. Love Bristol.
http://z.about.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/t/G/2/palin-pregnant-daughter.jpg
September 3, 2008 1:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
O god - liam that is just the best ever!!!!!!!!!!!!
LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 3, 2008 1:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
ROFLMAO!!
I really think they should have quoted the Free Republic, it would have been about as unbiased a source as these.
Embarassingly BAD.
September 3, 2008 1:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Clearly an attempt to woo women voters. I don't think it will work.
http://thepajamapundit.com/
September 3, 2008 1:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Says the veep pick with the husband who works for a foreign oil company.....Just more of the same.
September 3, 2008 1:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
weak!
waht woman in the world would vote for McPhalic?
September 3, 2008 1:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
So, it's No. 2 versus No. 1?
We compare Biden to McCain?
September 3, 2008 1:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
This ad is just shoddy. Obama gave big oil billions? Please. I bet my bottom dollar her speech tonight will be lots of fluff and not much stuff and the MSM will fall over themselves to genuflect at "breath of fresh air" altar. It doesnt bloody matter. Refusal to be deposed after she insisted she had nothing to hide from the investigation? AIP doesnt matter she wasnt a member. These guys are openly anti-american and she attended two conventions and recorded a good luck speech for another and o btw her snow mobile man was a 6 year member....
Obama needs to do what he did today stick with the economy and whack Mcwhack on the head with it non stop until Nov 4th.
September 3, 2008 1:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
This will just get them laughed at. But it's also why Obama himself needs to basically ignore her- he only diminishes himself by getting into an exchange with the other side's second banana. They've also wisely had Biden pretty much leave her alone. If they do feel the need to go on offense against her they will no doubt use female surrogates (if Hillary doesn't want to do it Nancy Pelosi would do nicely). But right now I think benign neglect is best, on the Napoleonic principle that you should neer interrupt your enemy while he is in the process of making a mistake.
September 3, 2008 1:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nothing here... nothing here... move along...
September 3, 2008 1:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
These "quotes" are indirect quotes from the McCain camps own press release touting her selection.
But thanks for defining what your campaign meant by "circular logic":
1. Issue Press Release.
2. Read news story quoting press release.
3. Quote news source in ad as having said positive statement in press release.
Nice work advertising geniuses. Is there any evidence to back up any of these assertions, Tucker Bounds?
September 3, 2008 1:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
What about her religion? Does she understand when her pastor talks in tongues? Does she talk in tongues herself?
Is Pentecostal extremism as weird and discomfiting as liberation theology? A religiously intolerant nation needs to know.
September 3, 2008 1:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
This picture needs to find its way on TV tonight.
September 3, 2008 1:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sarah Palin' in comparison.
September 3, 2008 1:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Personally, I don't think is wise to go after her religion directly. The serious thing for me is still Troopergate, she refusing to testify, and so on. I think it gives an opening to characterize this lady as a mix of Gonzo and Brownie. Incompetent and corrupt.
September 3, 2008 1:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seriously - her religion is more than fair game. There is nothing about Ms Sarah that isn't fair game.
What do you think this election is for - head of the Chamber of Commerce?
This is serious shit and literally everything is going to be fair game here. She's a pinata full of outrageous Repug ideology.
It's a gift to us.
September 3, 2008 2:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess this is part of McSame's "respectful" campaign.
LOL
September 3, 2008 1:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
They forgot to include the Frum quote about Palin making Obama look like George Marshall.
September 3, 2008 1:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not this minute, but somewhere along the way a great ad involving Palin might be to align her with Cheney. Troopergate is shaping up in a way that would accommodate that comparison nicely. And it establishes a nice, neat one-to-one comparison that parallels the McCain=Bush link. McCain is to Bush as Palin is to Cheney. Knocks down the reformer image, too. Also harder for the Republicans to fit that one into their absurd sexism/victimhood/culture-wars frame.
September 3, 2008 1:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
The scariest thing is, this ticket IS a rehash of Bush-Cheney, a buffon and a right wing ideologue.
September 3, 2008 2:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Of course, that's "buffoon". Detached, intellectually lazy buffoon.
September 3, 2008 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Team Obama needs to kill this Palin-is-a-bigtime-reformer meme in the cradle. They need to run an ad and get surrogateson every television show possible spelling out her actual record.
1. she raised taxes as mayor of Wasilla
2. she increased government spending as mayor of wasilla
3. she ran a $20 million deficit as mayor of Wasilla
4. She led a PAC dedicated to supporting the poster- child of pork spending and corruption in Alaska, indicted Senator Ted Stevens.
5. She supported the Bridge to Nowhere.
September 3, 2008 1:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree that the phony reform claim needs to be addressed soon, before it gets any momentum.
September 3, 2008 1:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm surprised that the ad didn't say that Obama's reputation was "he's a celebrity"...LOL!
It's kind of a stupid ad.
September 3, 2008 1:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
On the visuals:
In the ad Palin hand is oddly placed. At a glance she appears to have on instead a low cut provocative suit.
September 3, 2008 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
What were some idiots saying about focusing the attacks only on McCain?
September 3, 2008 2:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
You gonna ad a fact check link for your "supposedly not a member" BS from this morning?
September 3, 2008 2:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hi wallace.
I am confused about a few things and want to come over to your side. Can you explain some things for me.
1. What has mcbush done to warrant the maverick label? I just don't see it.
2. What facts warrant either palin or mcbush to be labeled a reformer? What have they done in the past to warrant that label as well?
Thanks in advance.
September 3, 2008 2:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Still fighting the bad fight! I'm impressed!
"Supposedly not a member" is totally fair game until she addresses it in an interview. You know, when a person sits down with a reporter and answers actual questions? I will take her at her word when she says she wasn't a member. She will still face questions about her association and her husband's membership. Remember the fury over "proud of my country" remarks by Michelle? I would say the "1st Dude's" membership in the AIP would suggest a similar issue of pride in our country that deserves an equal airing.
And just to add, in my last post directed at you today (it's troll fatigue)...She "supposedly" addressed their convention this year, and "supposedly" didn't even criticize them for seeking to secede from the USA. Oops, did I say "supposedly", I meant CERTAINLY:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwvPNXYrIyI
"Keep up the Good work, and God Bless" - Sarah Palin, AK Governor, addressing the secessionist Alaska Independence Party, just 6 moonths before accepting the Republican Vice Presidential nomination.
Seriously, are we living in fucking fantasy land?
September 3, 2008 2:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can you imagine if obama addressed a wacked out organization like the aip? I can hear it already. It doesn't matter if she was a member or not or if she attended past conventions or not. She addressed their convention in March 2008????? She should have been lambasting them for spitting on the american flag and wanting to break up the country, not addressing their convention. Unbelievable. And the right-wing media is just pussy footing around about this. SHE ADDRESSED THEIR CONVENTION AND IT'S ON VIDEO. Give me a break.
September 3, 2008 2:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think it's a huge tactical error to make this a race between Obama and Palin. The repubs can't win that race, and it only makes McCain look weak. How many Biden ads have you seen?
September 3, 2008 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Does anyone remember the book/movie "The Handmaid's Tale"? The Republican Party of McCain/Palin is starting to remind me in a frightening way of the society depicted in that book. Think about it, Palin's daughter is more celebrated for being pregnant than she would be if she had gotten admitted to Harvard! Actually makes me miss Chelsea Clinton...Not to mention all the rest of it, religious fanaticism, old men, young babes, etc.
September 3, 2008 2:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Throw in the militarism and fake war. It really is starting to sound like the movie. Awesome movie by the way.
September 3, 2008 2:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
The awesomest. I saw it 3 times with my best buddies, and then we got all drunk a puked! It was SWEET! Kick ASS! GO USA!
September 3, 2008 2:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Quotes from WSJ and the AP priceless
Obama will never learn. You never let McCain define Palin and write the narrative. Obama MUST do that. Now that he hasn’t he’s playing defense. We have already seen this by the MSM dumbing down expectations in Palin’s debate against Biden. Obama needs to say “that with someone who seems to be so experienced and qualified on foreign policy and world events as Palin she should have no problem debating Biden.” But instead they sit there and get punched.
Obama central argument against McCain is judgment. I wish he would make it.
Obama has shown once again by choosing not to attack the most unqualified VP selection ever he loses and will always get smacked in the face by McCain.
Obama should have come out hard and taken Palin apart. She was for the bridge to nowhere before she was against it, she’s a huge beneficiary of earmarks and TROPPERGATE.
Once again another huge opportunity missed and not seized upon by the Obama campaign. If Obama was aggressive and a fighter Palin would have already been knocked out. We all know McCain would have not shown any restraint in attacking Obama’s VP pick if Obama choose someone like Plain
Nice move Obama getting rid of the 527’s the folks who would have done this for you
September 3, 2008 2:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, come on now. They're having to play frantic defense during their own fucking convention! How great is that?
September 3, 2008 2:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama is in the same position with Palin as he was with Hillary.
He can't attack this white female.
Without Obama saying a word the media and McCain has decided they are going to use Palin to hammer Obama on experience. DESPITE, Obama being the Presidential nominee.
This is hi- tech emasculation.
How the hell was Obama going to define Palin? She is NOT his opponent...McCAin is!!
McCain is hiding behing Palin's skirts...we know this is due to his POW status ..right?
September 3, 2008 3:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama is in the same position with Palin as he was with Hillary.
He can't attack this white female.
Without Obama saying a word the media and McCain has decided they are going to use Palin to hammer Obama on experience. DESPITE, Obama being the Presidential nominee.
This is hi- tech emasculation.
How the hell was Obama going to define Palin? She is NOT his opponent...McCAin is!!
McCain is hiding behing Palin's skirts...we know this is due to his POW status ..right?
September 3, 2008 3:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sloppy, sloppy ad. Watch at :23 to see the Seattle Times article 'wipe' to Anchorage Daily News. I know it's a quibble, but these people can't even get an attack ad right.
The Republican Farewell Tour '08!
September 3, 2008 2:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, she's a real dynamo. This ad is no less convincing without the images, for sure.
September 3, 2008 2:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I love that!
September 3, 2008 2:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Before McCain starts talking about Palin backfiring, maybe he should remember his making fun of a 17-year old Chelsea Clinton by telling this joke at a GOP fundraiser in 1998:
"Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly?
Because her father is Janet Reno."
Yeah John, that'll really win the woman's vote over.
September 3, 2008 2:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sounds like an out of touch joke from an ancient angry white guy republican. But he is such a reformer and maverick. Give me a break.
September 3, 2008 2:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama is in the same position with Palin as he was with Hillary.
He can't attack this white female.
Without Obama saying a word the media and McCain has decided they are going to use Palin to hammer Obama on experience. DESPITE, Obama being the Presidential nominee.
This is hi- tech emasculation.
How the hell was Obama going to define Palin? She is NOT his opponent...McCAin is!!
McCain is hiding behing Palin's skirts...we know this is due to his POW status ..right?
September 3, 2008 3:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Palin is an insulting, absurd pick. But have you seen how the pathetic R's are rallying around her? I don't know how they spin her supposed 'readiness' and 'more experience than O' with a straight face. But they do it - over and over and over and over - until the low info voter believes it.
We underestimate them at our peril. They are better at talking points than Dems. Sad but true.
Working for, contributing to, and supporting Obama is more important now than ever.
September 3, 2008 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Greg Sargent-
Six hours before advance excerpts and over nine hours before the speech of the "pitbull with lipstick", you release a post describing Palin's remarks as a "positive message". Perhaps you should leave the prophecy to the evangelicals at the RNC. Now over fourteen hours later I see you have one recommend. Did you do that yourself?
September 4, 2008 3:36 AM | Reply | Permalink