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:

Story continues below

advertisement

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

[tecpatl]

You don't know what you are talking about. Have you ever been to Latin America? Have you ever read a book about Latin America? Your statement reeks of ignorance.

[tecpatl]

This was placed as a lone comment by mistake. It was meant to be a reply to nativeeyes below. Not my fault - I clicked reply.

[SurrealPumpkin]

Well, there's Latin America which includes the Spanish Speaking Caribbean Islands and the Isthmus of Panama: Honduras, Nicaragua, San Salvador, Costa Rica and Panama and Belize. Belize is English speaking.

Then there's South America which includes: Colombia, Venezuela, Surinam, Guyana, French Guiana, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, La Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia.

Brazil is not hispanic and Surinam, Guyana, and French Guiana are Dutch speaking, English speaking, and a French province respectively.

[319]

This kind of campaigning is incredibly childish. JM has no honor and shows Obama no respect. Disgraceful.

[AnnieinOR]

not to mention his attempts on his website more than a month ago....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-shaw/reading-the-pictures-emdo_b_116451.html

[bascombe]

time for another tour!

[Shelly1970]

I don't see any "racial tension" here. HuffPo, you're often times worse than the sensationalist media you try to criticize. I would say the ad is an attempt ad winning votes through petty tactics, but definitely not racially tense in any way.

[Tulka2]

You and Stephen Corbert. I know you both don't see color, but we who know history see a thread.

[neesy08]

hahahahaha­hahahahaha­ha!!!

[RedKnuckles]

He didn't mention Outer Slobovia, so he can forget the Slob-American vote...

[NoSandwiches]

This from a candidate who forgets there is no longer Czechoslovakia

[Ides]

Obama's winning Latinos over McCain by more than 30 points, a larger margin than any presidential candidate in about 20 years. If the black-brown divide is big, how big is that dang white-brown divide?

[WFV]

OMG!! What about the Italians, the Phillipinos and the Swiss!!

Muy cojo, Senor McQueso!

[TroubleNYC]

The black-brown divide is real, but it is overblown by the media. Among the 45 and under crowd it really isn't there. It's the old folks. Always the old folks. ;)

[ThePeacemakers]

Didn't McCain turn his back on the comprehensive immigration reform bill he helped co-sponsor?
Oh, that's a fact. His campaign doesn't deal with those.

[Seven7s]

Why the hell would he mention the West when he is in the East? the message was written to relate to the audience. Communicat­ions/Publi­c Relations 101.

But it's still stupid country full of stupid people so I'm going to go ahead and say good AD for McCain.

There is definatly a brown-BLack devide just read the hate crime numbers in Los Angeles alone. They hate us and we are starting to dislike them as well. iT seems many of them think they are white people that speak spanish.

Either way dumb people and racists people will eat this up like they always do. The only reason we can see through this is because we are intelligent and most of us are educated. The majotrity of Americans arent. They get to vote too.

[madkey]

That still doesn't change the fact that Mccain threw Latino's under the Bus to win the Republican nomination. Remember when Mccain said he would vote against his own immigration bill. For him to do something as stupid as that, he doesn't deserve to win the Latino vote. I hope Latino's don't vote for him. It will serve him right and teach him don't try to use Lation's just to get elected. How do they know he won't throw them under the bus after he's elected?

[speeddeeps]

When I read this serious i get demoralised and wonder whether Sen 0 can win, because it might actually work for jmac

[kid5rivers2]

Never knew there was a country named América Latina. Donde esta? Puedes ayudarme?