McCain Campaign Running Obama-Castro Ad

The McCain campaign has a new web ad out placing Barack Obama, for the second time, side-by-side with a foreign dictator. This time, it's Fidel Castro.

A Democrat in south Florida alerted the Huffington Post to the image, which shows Obama and Castro, profiled side-by-side, above a quote from the Cuban leader praising the Illinois Democrat as "the most advanced candidate."

Picture association is a time-honored tool in political campaigns (think: former Georgia Sen. Max Cleland having his mug pasted beside Osama Bin Laden's during the 2002 congressional elections). And indeed, this is not the first time that the presumptive Republican nominee has used the tactic. Early in June, McCain's campaign launched a web ad placing Obama beside Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad underneath the caption: "Is it OK to unconditionally meet with anti-American foreign leaders?"

Unlike that spot, the Castro advertisement actually uses the foreign leader's words against Obama. But the quote is misleading in regards to the actual political dynamics in play. For starters, since Obama became the de facto nominee, Castro has been critical of his candidacy, arguing that he has not called for serious alterations to U.S.-Cuban relations and would willingly allow the island nation to suffer from hunger. Obama, meanwhile, has criticized Castro as a repeated abuser of human rights and a tyrant whose time has passed.

Moreover, the guilt by endorser meme is something that even McCain has disavowed. When questions started being raised about his supporter, John Hagee, the Senator washed his hands of the pastor's controversial statements. "When he endorses me," McCain said, months before he rejected Hagee's endorsement, "it does not mean that I embrace everything that he stands for and believes."

For now, it seems the McCain camp is using its Castro ad on sites catering to South Florida - obviously a politically important geographic region. An email to McCain staffers went unanswered, but if readers have any more information, please send us tips.

Comments

[writerforhire]

11:47 AM on 07/25/2008

I support McCain. And I believe that we can not believe everything we see, hear or read as gospel truth. In the political season all will lie, all will be spun, all will appear rosy with a white picket fence.

American's if we trust ourselves and not allow the media to spoonfeed us a new mind we should be intelligent enough to chose a new leader and intelligent to know that debate, personal opinions and choice are a gift. Agree to disagree, shake hands, move on and respect each others decisions.

[luckyt]

08:59 AM on 07/29/2008

With due respect if you support McCain I guess you do believe everything you read.

[exotic]

08:51 AM on 07/25/2008

McCain , Ileana ros Lehtinen, the Diaz-Balart Bros, etc.. You guys are a dying breed, becoming extinct like dinosaurs. Just please go away! My city (Miami;am a native) needs a long, long thawing out of the coldwar policies of hatred you all have shoved on every American living here. Everyone and their mama knows Cuba was controlled by the mob under Batista and that political climate is what Miami has been for nearly 40+ years.

It's time to speak English and get with being American and not Cuban . Time to repeal the 1966 Cuban Adjustment Act.

It's time. Get with the program.

[Harmony1812]

02:00 PM on 07/26/2008

I'm also a native Miamian and I agree completly.

[ellscruiser]

11:37 PM on 07/24/2008

amazing! This is the same candidate that bush and team defeated by inferance and inuendo 7 years ago and now he is pulling it. What a load of ____. I am not a fan of O , but this is a new low for Mcain. He has sold his soul to the devil!

[rhondadavis28]

09:08 PM on 07/24/2008

McCain is desperate. Needs another new team to get him on message

[Rjchinook]

01:41 AM on 07/25/2008

Your right, Grampy McCain is grasping at straws.

[Harmony1812]

02:03 PM on 07/26/2008

He is grasping at straws, gasping for air. All he has left is negative campaigning that he said he would not luse. His recent appearancesmake him look McCheesy.

[oxford]

08:56 PM on 07/24/2008

I tried earlier today to list a bunch of surrogates and spokespeople in the McCain campaign that are members of record in the PNAC. Because it listed some of the MSM's favorite pundits, it gets blocked. No bad words, (unless you count the truth), no name calling, etc. What did I do wrong??? Is it supposed to be a secret who these PNAC members are???

[dormar206]

08:41 PM on 07/24/2008

Shame on this old fool

[HUFF-N-PUFF]

07:38 PM on 07/24/2008

Is this fair? Today I posted my 6th reply/blog on Huffpo which didn't make the cut. I'm thinking un-American activity or atleast un-Huffpo activity.
I admit I am opinionated and detailed in my mother blogging blogs but not vulgar in the least.
Nothing but the truth as I see it.
WHY AM I BEING DISSED? WHY? WHY? WHY? There are other blogs that seem questionable
but are printed none the less.

[bryansmith]

05:49 PM on 07/24/2008

This was to be expected. I expect Cuba to come up more as the election nears. I also predict McCain announces VP next week to try shifting the focus - though he should have done it this week.

[Bendersky]

05:47 PM on 07/24/2008

I'm not worried about McCaine winning, unless Americans are somehow greatly inspired by his "Soggy Bread" brand of charisma. I am, however, way worried about the voting machines.

Nancy? Harry? Rep. Conyers? Anybody looking into these? Remember--Obama RECEIVED ZERO VOTES IN EIGHTY DISTRICTS IN NEW YORK!!! during the primaries. Zero, nil, zip a big fat f*cking donut. Does this strike anybody as red flag?

[RedEyes]

06:34 PM on 07/24/2008

Well that would be corruption on the left side of the isle, wouldn't it?

[Harmony1812]

02:05 PM on 07/26/2008

I'm a Floridian and the Republicans here are extremly against any paper trail. Our machines are corrupt and put a corrupt man in office.

[Harmony1812]

02:03 PM on 07/26/2008

Diebold is the only hope for McCheese. Diebold has won twice before. God help us!

[surfcitysteven]

05:32 PM on 07/24/2008

We need to remind the Cuban expatriates that once bush got there support, nothing was done on their behalf. How has this "hate Castro" thing working out for them in their goals?

[AzRealProgressive]

06:03 PM on 07/24/2008

What did Bush promise them? I can't find anything on that.

Help?

[rwe]

04:40 PM on 07/24/2008

And yet so true

[Donnat]

04:29 PM on 07/24/2008

Now that Israelis prefer Obama, maybe he should run some ads in South Florida standing with the Prime Minister

[Trittydi]

04:05 PM on 07/24/2008

Do McCain's people realize how desperate they are showing themselves to be?
*

[Sixtwo]

03:27 PM on 07/24/2008

The Repulicians will stoop to the lowest level to distort Obama's position on issues of concern to the American people, and to smear his character. I pray that the American people will see the Republicans for who they really are--liars! They do not now the definitiion of INTEGRITY and professionalism. The Obama campaign exhibits both of these characteristics.

[AzRealProgressive]

05:52 PM on 07/24/2008

Said as well as I have ever heard from a true Obama acolyte.

[dagnew]

03:10 PM on 07/24/2008

Mickey C isn't smart enough to speak on the real issues, so he resorts to this. What a #$%&*^@ !