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Republican National Committee Spending $5 Million On Ad Attacking Bailout Plan And Obama?
Yesterday the Republican National Committee's independent expenditure arm released an ad, to air in multiple battleground states, that seemed to attack the bailout package and negatively link Obama to it.
Today, the RNC made its report to the FEC on how much it's laying out for TV ad placement, and it's serious money: Nearly $5 million.
So let's see if we can get this straight. At a time when John McCain keeps saying that the bailout is necessary to save the republic, and keeps decrying partisanship and finger-pointing amid the crisis, the RNC is apparently spending five million dollars on an ad campaign dumping on both the bailout and on Obama in connection with it?
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There are running out of ideas. You miss a major point Greg.
Who created the mess that required a bailout?
October 1, 2008 5:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Also, RNC will be doing us a huge favor. Reminding people because of Bush/McCain/GOP disaster economics we had to shell out $700 Billion.
And as long as it stays on the top of the voters' minds, they'll come remain pissed walking into cast their vote.
October 1, 2008 5:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good point. Moreover, I doubt that most voters recognize a distinction between McCain and the RNC. I expect that in a lot of folks ears, John McCain running ads decrying partisanship will sound very hypocritical when paired against this ad. Knock a few more points off of his "trustworthy" ratings.
October 1, 2008 5:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's in negative numbers with trustworthiness.
October 1, 2008 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Am I the only one who thinks it would be absolutely amazing if Obama came out and demanded that McCain denounce outside unpatriotic rogue organizations like the RNC for their divisive rhetoric in a time of crisis?
October 1, 2008 5:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think this is a great idea.
October 1, 2008 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is the political equivalent of stepping on your dick.
October 1, 2008 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
But republicans don't believe in science, which means they wouldn't have the microscopes required to see them!
October 1, 2008 5:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
My friends, THAT'S country-first partisan bullshit we can believe in!
October 1, 2008 5:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
WTF?
October 1, 2008 5:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lis, you said it best.
October 1, 2008 5:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have this running theory that the RNC is not, in fact, aware that they nominated John McCain as president, and assume his frequent presence on the television to be merely a coincidence. This would explain why GOP.COM currently has quite a lot of photos of Barack Obama immediately visible as soon as the page loads, and dozens of references to and pictures of Obama (and a few of Nancy Pelosi) accessible in the different javascript panes, but McCain's name or visage does not currently appear anywhere on the front page that you poke.
October 1, 2008 5:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
That would explain much. I sure as hell think they'd like to forget him.
October 1, 2008 5:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
New McCain attack ad in Spanish:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmcbiL8XtbQ
El viejo sigue diciendo puras mentiras!
(The old man keeps saying only lies!)
October 1, 2008 5:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Puras mentiras! Sounds even better in Spanish!
October 1, 2008 5:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
And calling him el viejo. Personally I'd say: el viejo mentiroso!
The old liar of all liars.
October 1, 2008 5:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Eh, don't bother. You're living in the reality-based community, dominated by reason, logic and rationality. The RNC? Not so much, so there's probably little to be gained from trying to figure out what they're going to do next.
October 1, 2008 5:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain can't stop sliding in the polls. It looks like it is finally time for the RNC to start its Dole-esque political backstabbing.
October 1, 2008 5:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
And independent groups to start running Wright-Ayers-Rezko ads, which they've already started, in fact.
October 1, 2008 5:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
They're probably thinking McCain is going to lose but they need to limit the downticket damage.
October 1, 2008 5:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think this is a good insight, especially since I was thinking the same thing. ; )
October 1, 2008 5:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama just gave a fabulous speech on the floor of the Senate. CNN says that they don't know whether or not McCain will give one.
Says it all.
October 1, 2008 5:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Of course he won't. If McCain make comments in front of the Senate now, that would limit his ability to run against the plan and blame Obama for its passage later on.
October 1, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Think you nailed it.
He may try to have it both ways. Vote for the bill but somehow tear down Obama for doing so. Wouldn't put it past him.
October 1, 2008 5:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
He will. It will be three words long: What Obama said.
October 1, 2008 5:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Awesome
October 1, 2008 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just for the sake of argument, anybody think there's a chance McCain will flip, hitch his wagon to this, and vote against the bailout? Another reckless roll of the dice? Another stab at game-changing contrast?
I don't think I'd bet on it, but I also can't say it would surprise me at this point.
October 1, 2008 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
He may be weighing that. Why else would he let the opportunity slide to speak on the floor of the Senate?
October 1, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
He is in a box. He can't. If he doesn't the bill will not pass. And the markets will react and McCain will again get the blame.
October 1, 2008 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have to admit, I don't know what the votes are expected to be in the Senate and whether McCain would be needed to pass it. If so, I agree it would be an "all-in" move at this stage. At the same time, initial market response would be rough, but not sure where it would go from there. I understand the House GOP is working on an alternative plan . . .
October 1, 2008 5:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think the bill has already got the votes in the Senate. The problem lies in the house, but I still think you are right in one sense. I.e. The ostensible "leader of the party: voted against it in the Senate and so it failed in the house and so on... what you said.
October 1, 2008 5:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, normally, I'd say no chance in hell, given that he's on record as saying that he's "cautiously optimistic" that it will pass.
However, I would never have predicted the choice of Palin, the choice to suspend the campaign, the call for delaying the debate, the claiming of credit for the passage of a bill that wound up not being passed, the accusations against Obama followed immediately by the admonishment that "now is not the time for blame"...
So, with that in mind, I'd say the chances are 50-50 at this point.
He's not behaving consistently.
October 1, 2008 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not behaving consistently.
That's putting it mildly.
October 1, 2008 5:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
...unless you want to say he has been consistently inconsistent, I guess. I can't remember ever seeing a legit candidate stagger so drunkenly through a campaign.
October 1, 2008 5:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
How can anyone predict what someone who makes rash and reckless decisions on the spur of the moment will do?
October 1, 2008 5:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think the next step is going to be an allegation that Joe Biden raped Sarah Palin backstage.
October 1, 2008 5:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
And she wants a bailout to pay for the rape kit.
October 1, 2008 5:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
How many split personalities are at work here? Does this make SYBIL qualified to run the RNC??
Someone get Sally Field on the phone STAT!!
October 1, 2008 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Love it!
October 1, 2008 5:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Even the flying nun can't save them now.
October 1, 2008 5:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Even better!
October 1, 2008 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Today's laugh.
How would you like to be the idiot writer, that wrote this book. Check out the title.
http://www.amazon.com/Bush-Boom-Misunderestimated-President-Economy/dp/1594670870/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222896975&sr=8-1
October 1, 2008 5:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
I almost feel sorry him.
October 1, 2008 6:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
At a time when John McCain keeps saying that the bailout is necessary to save the republic,
that's not fair. he only says such things on even-numbered days. i think today he's anti-bailout.
October 1, 2008 5:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Its every rethug for him/her self...
October 1, 2008 5:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe he is going to flip and vote 'no'. That way he gets to say he is a maverick or whatever and this creates yet another distraction from the biden/palin debate tomorrow. He has to do something. His camoaign has been waaayyyyyyy too quiet in the last couple of days. Just have this feeling that he is upto something. if the MSM did their jobs then he would be called out for his flip-flop. But, he has nothing to worry about. As long as the palin interviews with Katie Couric get airtime. Maybe he's looking for his own bailout of his VP pick. Hoping someone from the GOP will rescue him.
October 1, 2008 5:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
McLame doesn't have enough thinking ahead wherewithal to be plotting something.
Lord.
They are simply flaming out.
October 1, 2008 6:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Republican Civil War, baby!
Nobody else saw the full-page ad in the NYT today with a drawing of George Bush waving a hammer and sickle flag?
October 1, 2008 6:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Guys, I don't want to be a concern troll, but Vets for Freedom is making a play in California by spending 2.2 million dollars in a major ad buy for their new ad. I've seen it 3 times tonight alone.
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-vetsad1-2008oct01,0,4788775.story
Is this something to be worried about?
October 1, 2008 11:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
There's such transparent desperation to all these attacks, whether from McLame or the 527s, you have to think maybe even the American public can smell it by now. Maybe.
October 2, 2008 5:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
The people that are angered by the bailout, hell, infuriated about the bailout know very well that McCain voted for it, too.
October 2, 2008 9:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Desperate. they have nothing else to go on.
October 2, 2008 10:06 AM | Reply | Permalink