"Dishonorable?" John McCain's Picture Should Be Next to the Word in the Dictionary

John McCain's latest ad contains not just his usual exaggerations but a flat out lie made by chopping a sentence of Obama's in half and making it seem the opposite of what it really is.

The ad has the announcer begin a sentence with a quote from Obama in the middle:

(Announcer) "He says our troops in Afghanistan are..." (Obama) "...just air-raiding villages and killing civilians..."

The announcer then says "How dishonorable" (using the same whiny voice that makes me cringe whenever I hear it).

What did Obama really say? This:

"We've got to get the job done there and that requires us to have enough troops so that we're not just air-raiding villages and killing civilians, which is causing enormous problems there"

He wasn't saying we are JUST air-raiding villages, and he wasn't criticizing the troops at all so much as saying they needed more help.

McCain knows this. He's a liar and the one who really is dishonorable.

McCain is unfit to be president and unfit to even be a U.S. senator. Worse than that, he's a loathesome scum-sucking piece of shit of a human being. And so is anyone who supports or condones his behavior.

Powerful Ad Shows McCain Winning on November 4th

A third party group has released a really powerful ad that seems aimed at combatting complacency on the part of Obama supporters. Very effective, IMO.

Dishonest Lunatic McCain Already Has Ads Claiming He "Won" the Debate that He Wasn't Going to Attend

McCain told the American people he was suspending his campaign to help negotiate the bailout and didn't want to go to the debate tonight. Yet it turns out he already has ads prepared declaring himself the "winner" of the debate he didn't want to go to!

I've run out of adjectives to describe just how bizarre this all is. Or just how stupid one would have to be at this point to actually believe that McCain didn't plan this entire stunt purely for political purposes.

John McCain could well be the most dangerous man to ever run for president.

Obama Team's Whining and Intimidation Tactics Over Political Ads Must Stop

I think it's great that the Obama team is taking an active role in countering what they believe to be mistatements and dishonest portrayals of their candidate, but this is not the way to do it:

The Obama campaign has written radio stations in Pennsylvania and Ohio, pressing them to refuse to air an ad from the National Rifle Association.

"This advertisement knowingly misleads your viewing audience about Senator Obama's position on the Second Amendment," says the letter from Obama general counsel Bob Bauer. "For the sake of both FCC licensing requirements and the public interest, your station should refuse to continue to air this advertisement."

"FCC licensing requirements"? Are they suggesting that they're going to try to get stations' licenses pulled for running political ads? The rest of the letter (linked above) contains similar veiled threats about stations "bearing responsibility" and having a "duty" about this or that. What is this B.S.?

It is de rigeur for political ads to contain half-truths, exaggerations and comments taken out of context. Obama's ad team should sure as hell know that, given some of their own ridiculous ads, such as the "1982" piece or the one trying to tie McCain to Rush Limbaugh.

The letter goes into specific detail about how and why Obama's camp feels the ads are inaccurate. So? It's not the job of the TV stations to pore over every ad fact-checking it and trying to sift out intent and context. The appropriate way to deal with an ad that you feel does not represent your candidate fairly is to reply with an ad of your own, not try to silence your opponents.

I've said for quite some time that Obama was very weak in the gun area, and that it was obvious that the NRA and other gun owners' groups would come after him on it. His positions on gun control are a shifting quicksand of ambiguous statements and unpopular votes, and that's nobody's fault but his own.

Barack Obama needs to come out and clearly show that he supports the Second Amendment, not try to interfere with the First.

Thank John McCain

Thank John McCain

What is the Deal with Biden?

I've defended the guy here more than once, and I know he means well and is trying hard, but some of the stuff he says.. hoo boy. This time, he criticized his own ticket's ads in an interview with Katie Couric.

Is he really this bad at controlling his mouth? I dunno, but if he is, he needs to be slapped upside the head a bit. His behavior of late has been so odd that it keeps reminding me of my still-not-forgotten Hillary Screen Pass Theory. :)

Putting Lipstick on the Race Card

Was it only last week that McCain was faking outrage about "sexism" over Obama's use of the phrase "lipstick on a pig"? Now we have a blogger at Time Magazine claiming that McCain is "playing the race card" because of an ad that tries to tie Obama to former Fannie Mae Chairman Frank Raines.

I've watched the ad in question and all I can say is: get real, Ms. Tumulty. The ad is cloying and deceptive, but that's typical of all McCain ads. I don't see any racism there, unless one is looking for it, much as McCain was last week with the porcine makeup products.

New Obama Ad Addresses Americans Directly on the Economy

This morning, Barack Obama's campaign released a new, long (two-minute) advertisement with the candidate speaking directly to Americans about the economy and the current crises in the markets. It is a positive ad that makes no reference to John McCain -- though it does make indirect reference to some things people will asssociate with him -- and describes Obama's plans for improving the economy. It ends with a Web address where watchers can go to read more.

You can watch the ad and read a transcript of it at TPM. Key excerpts:

In the past few weeks, Wall Street's been rocked as banks closed and markets tumble. But for many of you -- the people I've met in town halls, backyards and diners across America -- our troubled economy isn't news.

...

This isn't just a string of bad luck. The truth is that while you've been living up to your responsibilities Washington has not. That's why we need change. Real change.

...

Here's what I believe we need to do. Reform our tax system to give a $1,000 tax break to the middle class instead of showering more on oil companies and corporations that outsource our jobs. End the "anything goes" culture on Wall Street with real regulation that protects your investments and pensions.

...

Doing these things won't be easy. But we're Americans. We've met tough challenges before. And we can again.

Good ad, though I am not sure how many people will have the attention span to watch it.

Sarah Palin Swiftboated! ;)

I don't care who you are, this is pretty damned funny. :)

Romney: "What's the Heart and the Soul of the Republican Party Going to Be Going Forward?"

Edit: Seems this video is actually from the primaries, it is not recent. Which makes sense since Romney is too much of a Slick Willie to take that sort of principled stance during an election...

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The backlash continues, as conservatives and Republicans continue to repudiate the sick joke that has become the McCain/Palin campaign.

Looks like ol' Mitt is already running for 2012.

Obama Wastes No Time Hitting McCain Over "The Fundamentals of Our Economy are Strong" Claim

Go get 'im, senator. What I like about this ad is it is simply facts, and McCain's own words making him look like the out-of-touch clueless idiot he is. And the music is good, too.

Even *Fox News* is Pushing Back on the McLie Campaign

Nice to see.

P.S. I hope there's a Hell, so that people like Tucker Bounds can rot in it for eternity.

If Obama Finally Makes a Good Ad But Nobody Hears It, Does It Make a Sound?

This is the sort of ad Obama needs to keep hitting McCain with. The question remains, however: does anyone even care any more? I think some still do, but will it be enough?

What Does it Say When *Karl Rove* Thinks Your Ads are Too Dishonest?

Well, that's what he said about McCain's.

Go ahead America. Vote in a lying scumbag and his racist culture war inducing VP. Then enjoy watching this country implode.

This Is How You Stick It To Lying Republican Hacks

Enough is enough. No more being nice, no more saying "half truths", no more "twisting". Call these bastards out on their lies. Do it every time. Do it loudly and do it often.

Obama Campaign: McCain "Would Rather Lose His Integrity Than Lose An Election"

This is More Like It:

Today on "The View," John McCain defended his campaign's latest ad campaign, which has been debunked repeatedly as both false and sleazy. In running the sleaziest campaign since South Carolina in 2000 and standing by completely debunked lies on national television, it's clear that John McCain would rather lose his integrity than lose an election.

And when they bring up the "John McCain was a POW so blah blah blah", DON'T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT! It doesn't matter if you were honorable in 1968, it matters what you do NOW.

Planned Parenthood Hits Back on McCain "Sex Ed" Sleaze

This is how you do a negative ad, folks.

Obama's "1982" Ad Could Have Come from a 1982 Presidential Campaign

Okay, I watched Obama's so-called "attack ad" again.

It's bad. Embarrassingly bad. So bad that if I were McCain and Schmidt and the rest of the Forty Thieves, I'd be rolling in the aisles laughing. This crap is not going to change anyone's mind about anything.

Whoever made this ad needs to be fired -- out of a cannon, if necessary.

Either stop with the negative ads or get someone who knows how to write them. They should be sharp, stinging, incisive and still accurate. They should cut to the heart of an important matter. They should be memorable.

Why didn't they continue with the "lipstick on a pig" meme? Because it got under McCain's skin? What's the problem -- it worked too well? It was too concise? People actually remembered it and could identify with it?

Where are the ads on McCain's AWFUL veterans' affairs record, while he is wrapping himself in the flag?

Where are the ads rightly scaring women about voting for a right-wing ticket that wants to outlaw abortion?

Where are the ads showing his true cluelessness? The video of him saying he doesn't understand the economy, for example?

For God's sake, Palin as mayor of Wasilla was charging RAPE victims for kits used to investigate their own rapes! Why doesn't EVERY person in America know about this?!

Are they holding this stuff back to spring it later? I sure hope so. These ads are so bad that I can only hope this is a feint to make McCain feel overconfident. Maybe it is.

It's September, and I'm not panicking by any means, but I am getting a little frustrated at Obama seeming to bring not even a knife to a gunfight, but a plastic spoon.

P.S. Yes, I know there was no presidential campaign in 1982. :P

Obama Campaign Comes Out Swinging - Sort Of

Obama's campaign came out swinging this morning, sort of, launching two new ads and campaign manager David Plouffe has sent out a stinging memo about gearing up for the rest of the campaign.

In new ads out Friday morning, the Obama campaign makes fun of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) because he “can’t send an e-mail.” And Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) insists in a personal appeal to voters: “This year, change has to be more than a slogan.”

It’s part of a new aggressiveness by the former frontrunner, who’s suddenly scrambling to contain an insurgent McCain-Palin ticket.
...
Eager to regain momentum, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe cast the recalibrated campaign as a relaunch for the final 53 days: “Today is the first day of the rest of the campaign.”

Obama has been all about change, and polls show this is a change election. But starting at last week’s Republican National Convention, McCain tried to eat Obama’s delicious lunch by claiming to be the real candidate of change – someone who would do it, not just preen about it.

In a memo to reporters and supporters, Plouffe is vowing to seize back that mantle of change after what he called a series of Republican “smears, lies, and cynical attempts to distract from the issues that matter to the American people.”

“We will respond with speed and ferocity to John McCain’s attacks and we will take the fight to him, but we will do it on the big issues that matter to the American people,” Plouffe wrote. “We will not allow John McCain and his band of Karl Rove disciples to make this big election about small things.”

Obama also released two new 30-second ads - "Still" and "Real Change" - that, as the campaign put it, explain “What Change Is and What It Isn’t.”

The first ad tries to put meat on the bones of change by urging viewed to “Read the Obama plan for REAL change – Barackobama.com/issue.”

Obama says into the camera: “We’ve heard a lot of talk about change this year. The question is, change to what? To me, change is a government that doesn’t let banks and oil companies rip off the American people. Change is when we finally fix health care instead of just talking about it. Change is giving tax breaks to middle class families instead of companies that send jobs overseas. Change is a president who brings people together. I’m Barack Obama, and I approved this message because this year, change has to be more than a slogan.”

In the second ad, an announcer says: “Things have changed in the last 26 years. But McCain hasn’t. He admits he still doesn’t know how to use a computer, can’t send an email. Still doesn’t understand the economy. And favors two hundred billion in new tax cuts for corporations, but almost nothing for the middle class. After one President who was out of touch, we just can’t afford more of the same.”

In a July interview with The New York Times, McCain said aides “show me Drudge,” but said he didn’t e-mail: “I am learning to get online myself, and I will have that down fairly soon, getting on myself.”

Some Democratic strategists were surprised that Obama was on camera responding to the McCain campaigns attack over the “lipstick” remark, and Plouffe’s memo suggested that Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) will be playing the traditional running mate’s role of doing the attacking.

“Senator Biden will be integral to that effort, both in pushing back on the lies that we’ll continue to see from our opponents, and in keeping the debate focused on delivering for everyday Americans,” Plouffe wrote.

On further reflection, I'm sorry guys, but this is not enough.

First of all, the negative ad from Obama, sucks. Seriously. If they are going to do negative ads they need to get someone who knows how to do them. I doubt anyone really cares if McCain can use a computer. This is not going to convince voters of anything.

Second, talking to the camera is fine, but the people who aren't idiots already know that McCain is a fraud. The GOP is beating Obama at the emotional level, and a silly ad about 1982 and computers is not going to change it.

I'm really trying to give David Plouffe continued benefit of the doubt, but man, he's making it hard.

Obama's Dukakis Moment Arrives Right On Schedule

It's been less than 12 hours since I posted my article about Michael Dukakis and Obama needing to be seen as human and strong on personal matters. John Neffinger makes the excellent point that McCain's vile attack ad yesterday that implies Obama wants to teach kindergarteners about sex is the perfect opportunity for him to do so.