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

[Texas4Obama]

It is probably a good thing that McCain is wasting his money on negative ads.
1) It makes McCain look bad.
2) He will have less money to use where it counts.

Obama '08

[Tropiholic]

spend your money elsewhere old toad

[yoli647]

The most stupid Ad, yet.. As a Hispanic woman I am offended because McCain does not give a damn about Hispanic. At least Obama know what we been through not like the Republicans, who only care about themselves, power and money, and have never walked in our shoes. I hope this Ad backfires, and yes McCain is using race again, now with the Hispanics. Shame, desperation, stupidity. God help us if he is the Nominee. Obama te deseo mucha suerte con los Hispanos!!

[ebanks84]

So true!

[eljodio]

The Spanish is idiotic in this ad, as if they translated from English with a comptuer application like Systran. That's the first thing. The second thing is the message of the ad. To whom is it addressed? So Obama didn't mention Bolivia and Mexico and Venezuela, etc. But the citizens of those country, while "Latinos," to use a geo-political term invented by the Nixon administration, they are neither citizens of the US nor do they vote in US elections. They third thing is that if you're "Latino," and live in the US and are a citizen of this country, you are an American citizen, not a citizen of a Latin American country. The ad falls between two stools because it's just plain stupid.

[WFV]

Even the music is pandering. Pathetic.

[Okieborn]

Sen. Obama just went up percentage wise with America and most of all the Latino population !!LOL !!!l

[Jinxykb]

THAT is a prime example of using the race card. Shame on you old man!

[realistxxx]

Right now politcal junkies and the 24 hr media echo chamber are rattling these negative ads around with a vengeance. However, most people aren't paying attention. Meanwhile, O's campaign is working the ground game with unprecedented zeal for a Dem candidate.

Mac's increasingly outrageous air campaign is already wearing on the punditry, except for the most strident repub supporters (e.g. Fox Noise) and it is only early August.

Expect O's campaign to roll out their serious ad campaign in September and October when they will be most effective. Right now O is way ahead in campaing office organization and combined with the key macro-trends of this election and huge enthusiasm gap that Mac faces, this gives O a remarkable long-term advantage.

This is a marathon not a sprint. Ignore the national polls.

[SouthFloridaDem]

These ads are created just for the media, not for mass consumption. They can't afford media buys anyway, so all they have to do is create and preview them, and the media picks them up and runs them non-stop for free.

[zippywpinhead]

exactly...

[grayday81]

its true- no one is really paying attention.­..

Unfortunately this includes my Republican family who should know better! They are missing how McCain is no longer the man he was in 2000 and they WILL not listen to me about it... hopefully they will get some view of this in the fall when the debates get going... either way they will vote for McCain they did in the primary they will in the GE

barfgh

[ebanks84]

Can this man NOT come out with an ad about himself for a change. Who is he trying to promote?

I think he really needs to put more attention on his OWN message instead of BO's. He is turning people off by the thousands every day he continues this these dirty campaign ads.

Is he TRYING to lose by chance?

[KiwisCanFly]

This would seem the logical path to take but McCain (now under the influence of a Rove disciple) is campaigning as W did. Relentless and Negative ads against the opponent. Some of it will stick and this strategy worked becos there are more uninformed voters than their are informed ones.
We got a Republican President and a Republican majority in Congress and we got a dismal economy, a housing crisis, and 1 stupid and unnecessary war.

Obama is right when he said that the Republicans, "...are very good at negative campaigning. But no so good at governing.­"

But then he has been right on a lot of issues.
Obviously, experience is not irrelevent but he has good judgement and that beats experience any day.

[lthuedk 1]

Just how will McBush perform in a debate? Will he wear an ear bud or will he be allowed to speak without assistance? How will McBush control the ground rules when clearly he can't handle substantive topics?

Neo Con puppet masters have their hands full with McBush. But I wouldn't take anything for granted. Bush lost his debates to Kerry and made a fool of himself, yet was still awarded the stolen election.

http://www.light-to-dark.com/kerry_bush_1.html

[Jinxykb]

I'm so excited about the debates! Grampers must be scared; He's working overtime trying to destroy O's reputation ,and I think its because he knows he can't gain any ground debating O.

[gurukalehuru]

It will be Bush-Kerry redux. Obama will crush McCain in the debates,and the media will report it as a draw. There can be no doubt. The corporate media fears an Obama presidency.
We cannot be complacent. We have to win by huge numbers, or they will steal it again.

[BushBites]

Wonder what the Repub base thinks of McCain cutting an ad ALL IN SPANISH?

[DASM]

I seem to recall Republicans ranting about the U.S. being English-speaking when a Democrat used a few words in Spanish during a speech-- didn't some of them even try to put through English Only legislation?- but I guess it's the usual-- when they do it, it's just fine.

[Jay20]

this is what happens when you nominate Barack Hussein Obama

[Jinxykb]

BHO for President!! Whoo Whoooo !

[eljodio]

With all due respect, this is indeed happens when someone like Obama is the nominee of a major party and he has to deal with mindless, race-baiting republican thugs like yourself. So don't blame Obama, if you want to blame someone for this polluted political climate, have a look in the mirror and be prepared to be repulsed.

[Yuma]

You must be taliking about mccsenior.

[lthuedk 1]

The is the American Fascist Party at work. No issues, and no substance. Just mindless attacks and racial manipulation

How low will the right wing scum go? Lower than McCain's heroes.

http://www.light-to-dark.com/benedick_bush_ms.jpg

[ebanks84]

No truer words have been spoken. Fascism at its best!

[liberaldemdave]

McCain says he doesn't want to play the race card. Someone needs to tell him that it's more than just a "black and white" issue (pun intended).­..it's also yellow, brown, red, et. al.

In all my life, I've never seen a more cravenly desperate politician.

[Dane1911]

THe media needs to talk about this, instead of "obama playing the race card", they are doing the exact same thing the McCain Camp wanted too do..Talk about something other than the issues....