McCain Camp Happy To Inject Racial Tension Into Latest Web Ad

***UDPATED BELOW***

John McCain's advisers are doing their best to convince media outlets that they're not interested in talking about race ever again, though that message might become more difficult to push if they keep sending out new web ads meant to stir up racial uncertainty about Barack Obama.

No, not among white people, but Latinos.

Perhaps it's meant to be all in good fun. But someone at McCain HQ evidently thinks it's really important that, in his speech from Berlin, Barack Obama neglected to cite a Latin American country.

The new web ad, which features exclusively Spanish-language super-titles and a saucy Latin percussion rhythm, is entitled: "Barack Obama Forgot Latin America."

There exists some debate as to whether the oft-mentioned "black-brown divide" in politics is actually an active phenomenon or a simplistic media creation. But with lines such as "maybe he forgot about us," it would appear McCain is sending out a few signals just in case it's true.

Watch:

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Another point of potential humor: at first blush, the negative reaction to Obama's speech in conservative circles was focused around the "citizen of the world" line. Now, apparently, Obama is at fault for not citing enough foreign nations in his speech.

English and Spanish-language scripts for the ad below:

English Script For "Barack Obama Forgot Latin America" (WEB 1:00)

CHYRON: The World According To Barack Obama

BARACK OBAMA: Tonight I speak to you not as a candidate for President, but as a citizen; a proud citizen of the United States and a fellow citizen of the world.

CHYRON: But Entire Nations Were Forgotten!

BARACK OBAMA: France, Berlin, Hamburg, Britain, Kandahar, London, Rwanda, Iran, Bangladesh...

CHYRON: Where Was Latin America Left?

BARACK OBAMA: Karachi, Beijing, the former Soviet Union, Pakistan, Paris, Bali, Russia, Chad, Zimbabwe...

CHYRON: And Latinos?

BARACK OBAMA: Afghanistan, Somalia, Darfur, Belfast, South Africa, Madrid, Europe, Burma, Amman...

CHYRON: Maybe He Forget About Us?

JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approve this message.

Spanish Script For "Barack Obama Olvid America Latina" (WEB 1:00)

CHYRON: El Mundo De Acuerdo A Barack Obama

BARACK OBAMA: Esta noche no les hablo como un candidato para Presidente, sino como un ciudadano; un orgulloso ciudadano de los Estados Unidos y un ciudadano ms del mundo.

CHYRON: Pero Naciones Enteras Fueron Olvidadas!

BARACK OBAMA: Francia, Berln, Hamburgo, Gran Bretaa, Kandajar, Londres, Rwanda, Iran, Bangladesh...

CHYRON: Y Donde Qued America Latina?

BARACK OBAMA: Karachi, Beijing, La Antigua Unin Sovietica, Pakistan, Paris, Bali, Rusia, Chad, Zimbabwe...

CHYRON: Y Los Latinos?

BARACK OBAMA: Afganistan, Somalia, Darfur, Belfast, Africa de Sur, Madrid, Europa, Burma, Amman...

CHYRON: Ser Que Se Olvid De Nosotros?

JOHN MCCAIN: Soy John McCain y apruebo este mensaje.

###

LATE UPDATE: Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Federico Peña have issued the following statement in response to McCain's ad:

"Once again, this is just another low road attempt by John McCain to distract from his own record on Latino issues by making false attacks on Barack Obama. On a day when our economy lost another 51,000 jobs and when Latino families all over the country are struggling, John McCain chose the low road rather than offering a real plan for the Latino community. What is clear is that Barack Obama has fought for issues Latinos care about for the past 20 years as a community organizer, Illinois State legislator, US Senator and as President he will continue his fight for comprehensive immigration reform, education equality and healthcare for everyone."

Comments

[JBoy]

Pena & Villaraigosa state that :

"What is clear is that Barack Obama has fought for issues Latinos care about for the past 20 years as a community organizer, Illinois State legislator, US Senator and as President he will continue his fight for comprehensive immigration reform, education equality and healthcare for everyone."

I am curious as to specific Latino issues BO fought for prior to his presidential campaign.

[DiegoUK]

Sí se puede!

[bobo5]

Y la gente Nahuatl de Ixachilan norteño?

[Raymondf]

I see nothing racial in this ad.

[OneAmerica]

maybe because you don't understand spanish, the ad clearly states where is latin america? Which implies he does not care.

[JBoy]

...so where was Latin America? It does appear that he doesn't care.

[ebonyjsg]

Then you are blind! I am loosing more and more respect for McCain! McCain is just as dirty as Bush and the repub party! Please people wake up, do we really want someone as dirty and underhanded as McCain to run this country! I personally don't that is why my vote will go for Obama!

[rebeccaj]

Madrid is in Spain. Spain is somewhat Hispanic, I believe.

And how do I know this?

Maybe because I am "Hispanic?"

No, Mr. McCain -- and slimy, racist pol operatives working for you -- it is because I am not stupid.

I support Barack Obama.

Ciao!

[Knowledgeseeker]

I'm a Latino from Costa Rica and I'm voting for Barack Obama

[rosal]

This people are more and more pathetic by the day. Even uninformed people are questioning such lame tactics. I guess O needed 30 minutes to mention every country in the world, why not the Milky Way? As a Latina I am happy to tell you, Latinos don't like McDesperate at all.

[serena1313]

Obviously McCain's new ad is meant to divide the country.

This might be more of an effort to rally his "base" -- and bigoted voters -- to come out in droves to vote because without them he is sunk.

[BigBen]

If another candidate had gone on and on about the color of their parents they would be accused of playing the race card ,but Obama gets away with it. He is the one who constantly plays the race card."I am not from central casting" he says again and again. Bill Clinton pointed that out and was scorned for pointing it out. The King has No Clothes On. As for "no experience"Bill pointed out that electing Obama was rolling the dice and again he was scorned for pointing to his inexperience. The American people are beginning to realize what Bill Clinton knew and told the super delegates from the beginning.This guy is a fairy tale and now we want him to be president! McCain is bad but we know what to expect from him. As for Obama ,on shore drilling off shore drilling, For NAFTA against NAFTA, for FISA against FISA,for gun control against gun control etc. etc.etc.Who knows what he stands for except for Presidency.

[k6007]

MSM buttparrot.

Critical thinking: It's a GOOD thing.

[ebanks84]

Once again, ignorance tries to prevail. If you remember or know from experience, Bill didn't have any experience either. So, he was a governor and he did a terrible job of that, too. O has more intelligence and knowledge of world matters than Bill ever had or will.

The American people are realizing that Bill and the rethugs were playing the same malicious game, that's all. Your realization can't trump the absolute truth. And since you don't comprehend what O is really saying, you should not speak untruths. That's what all the rethugs do when they're pinned in a corner like you are. O has never drawn the race card, but mcdaddy did a video of O on a dollar bill months ago. Where were you then?

[brooklyncitizen]

Eyes rolling....
well as a Latina...MY impression was not that Obama forgot Latin AMerica...Latin America is enjoying a socialist revival and prospering on many fronts while (most important) distancing themselves from the USA and strenghtening ties to other nations. The areas that Obama rattled off are the most troubled indeed.

[Jinxykb]

This is the most ridiculous campaign ever.

[ebanks84]

And to think it's been this way through all the other campaigns as well. It's like you're just waking up to reality isn't it? I know the feeling!

[FiveFortyOne]

He didn't mention Canada or the Caribbean either. It's quite possible he sees us all as part of The Americas. Todos Americanos!

[NCRESIDENT]

In Obama speech he said Madrid. Isn't Madrid in Spain and isn't Spain a latin country? So what is the McCain Campaign talking about?
This right here proves they are trying to use the race card and it is sad. They don't know their countries and I hope someone in the news media calls them out on it.
Hey Huffington Post call the McCain camp out on this. Obama mentioned Madrid in his speech. Although Madrid isn't Latin America it is Latin and there are people from Spain in America.

[edwarvir]

TJoad funny but no! We have to bring our America back to where she belongs
A great Nation

[zippywpinhead]

O didn't mention Canada, either. I guess that means he hates Canadians, too.

Sheesh, the limbo campaign goes even lower...

(watch the MSM totally ignore this bit of race baiting hypocrisy)

[speeddeeps]

Well is there a canadian vote?

[zippywpinhead]

is there a Mexican vote? What a dumb question... Besides, according to the repubs, being bilingual is 'elitist' and this country must be English only, so why is he putting out ads in Spanish?

[openhand]

They complained that he had no foreign experience, not anymore.
They complained that he recommended U.S. citizens learn Spanish...

[justobserve]

It's worse if McCain has "experience" but doesn't know the difference between Shite, Shi'a, Iran, Pakistan, Szech Republic,...