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

[blackmouth]

We are a lot smarter than McSame thinks we are. We are not only Latinos, but Americanos first. We love our culture, but we love our country (The United States) so much that we have given our lives to defend it and the freedoms we all love. We will never forget the Republican hatred towards our brothers and sisters trying to make a better life for themselves and their families. McCain will pay the price the Republicans thought they could afford to loose. We support Barack Obama and nothing they do or say will sway us from our commitment to him. Viva La Revolucion.

[MissKaren]

McCain is using every coded expression he and his campaign can summon to say to Latinos and Latinas that "this black dude is your enemy and I, a white person, knows what you need more than you do.

[Yuma]

Thank you for the support.
We love you!

[justobserve]

Oh, so now when McCain talks about the world, he has to list every country on earth so he wouldn't miss a single one? Or he just pretends he cares for Latinos and lists only Latinos but not, say, Laotians, Zambaweeans, Indians, Greenicelanders, Keynians, New Zealanders,...

[Yuma]

He can not remember anything.
You are asking too much from him.

[FidKnop]

McCain has become a shadow of his former respectable self. C'mon John, get out of the mud, get back on your straight talk express and come fight like man... The filth that you keep trying to stick on Obama slides right off.... Spitballs to a battleship sir... Spitballs to a battleship.

[sufi66]

"former respectable self"

This was always a myth. He was always right wing. Check the voting record, not his remarks.

[Ashall]

If you can judge what a candidate will do as president by the way he runs his campaign, I guess you can count on McCain to spend money on stupid nonsensical things, like his recent ads.

[harriscrl3]

It will be annihaltion of the enemy. I see many more wars in our future if this man is President he cant battle his opponent with ideas so instead he choses to eliminate them. Typical of C student who are mediocre their communication skills is relegated to use of the FIST. I guess no one was buying his country first BS.

Carol

[sowhatdemos]

I really respect the way Obama handled this situation! This is the first time I've EVER seen a politician adress such an issue. Normally security just throws these folks out, but he didn't!
He's going to make a GREAT President who listens to all people without getting angry. Gotta love our man, O!!

[badbob2299]

this hereidreport headline is right on about obama, here it is, this guy is good, "Barak Obama now falling in the latest polls is once again playing the race card as he did against Senator Clinton . When this Junior Senator from Illinois does not get his way, he resorts to the Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Play Book "CRY RACISM"

[Ajegunle]

Politico is reporting that the Obama campaign recieved 100,00 new donations yeaterday alone because of McCain's negative ads!

In a video sent to donors, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe says the campaign received 100,000 contributions yesterday, a third of them from first-time donors.

"I think John McCain has harmed himself in the last week, really eroding any capital he had built up in terms of what kind of politician he is," Plouffe says. "But he's really helped our campaign, because so many of you have contributed in the last week. Our field offices had people pouring into them yesterday."

In the primary, Obama's most successful fundraising came during moments of conflict, and McCain's decision to go negative seems to be bearing the same cost.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0808/Plouffe_McCain_attacks_helped_our_campaign_moneywise.html

[dadw5boys]

Listen to Vietnam Veterans and POW'S against Mc cain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFM1xqqTX_g&feature=related

[abby4ever]

McDesperate must have sniffer dogs that sniff out anything that could even remotely mean trouble for O, It gets worse by the day.

He must have some lousy advisors.

[AnnieinOR]

desperation - to think that people once admired him and now he is compared to Boosh and being the spokesperson for depends and polident.

[TJoad]

Obama should put out an add depicting McCain wearing nothing but a soiled Depends and with drool driping from his mouth speaking gibberish--and playing goldgish with nuclear launch codes.

[OldKnute]

Right,,, and what has been the Bush/McCain attitude toward Hispanic men and women and Mexicans in particular,, They can do the jobs that Americans won’t ???? What is that McCain,, clean our toilets, scrub our floors?

Oh God in heaven,, now McCain believes he is going to win their vote? With a racially divisive add?

Mexico is being torn apart by drug wars at the border, and what has McCain offered? Help,, aid,, a compassioned plea for the end to this needless violence and crime.

While Obama is tearing down walls, building bridges,,,, Bush McCain are building WALLS as fast as they can. REAL WALLS,, the message,,, you are NOTHING! We don’t want you,, your people or your troubles.

This is what America is about,,, racial exclusions, divisiveness, ethnic prejudice and HATE?

Sorry,,, Not MY America. NOT MY AMERICA!

More of the same,,,, McCain. Business as usual.

This makes me SICK!

JMO

All the best

Knute Neo-LIB

[nordstrom]

Here's a better video: "The Real McCain":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEtZlR3zp4c

Please send it to 10 people and ask them to do the same.

[dadw5boys]

ARE YOU AMERICAN? OR LATINO? WHEN YOU VOTE YOU VOTE AS AMERICANS RIGHT?

IMIAGINE 4 MORE YEARS OF THE SAME GOVERNMENT BUSH IS RUNNING.

People are actually going back to Mexico to live!!!!

No jobs here Imagine 4 more years of this!!!!

[SurrealPumpkin]

Is the spanish transcript accurate? because if it is the spanish is terrible.


off topic: is anyone tracking the repug rebellion on c-span? it would be funny if it were'nt so pathetic.

[reasonshouldrule]

Great point! Surely that's not what was actually said in Spanish. It's full of really stupid errors. On the other hand, it that's what was said, McCain will lose even more Hispanic votes.

[NotFooledByDistractions]

Nice response Mayor! Nailed 'em.