Dems Praise McCain In New Ad (VIDEO)

***UPDATED BELOW***

One-minute long political web ads have one primary audience, aside from political junkies: the press.

Like another recent spot from John McCain's campaign -- "Broken" -- their latest seems intended to burnish the Arizona Republican's "Maverick" credentials among journalists who could be starting to wonder whether he's become just another regular hack politician in light of recent harsh attacks on Barack Obama.

So the campaign brings us a piece called "Praising John McCain," which features a string of top Democratic heavyweights bestowing praise on the presumptive Republican nominee.

While the quotes are not dated in the ad itself, the McCain campaign's memo announcing the release shows that all of them (except for those of Sens. Obama and Clinton themselves) date from 2006 or earlier -- before this seemingly never-ending presidential campaign kicked off in earnest.

So while it's a neat trick of editing, it hardly settles the question of whether McCain is still the same maverick who elicited all this praise in the past.

The Huffington Post has calls out to all the Democrats in the ad, and will update you if and when they respond.

UPDATE: The Democratic responses start rolling in ...

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean released the following statement today in response to John McCain's new ad that shows Democrats speaking about the John McCain of 2000:

"John McCain a maverick? The John McCain of 2000 wouldn't even consider voting for the John McCain of 2008. The American people are learning that the John McCain of 2008 represents more of the same failed policies we've gotten from George Bush for the past eight years. Senator McCain is clearly in the tank for Exxon and big oil, for keeping our troops stuck in Iraq for decades to come, and for an economic policy that puts tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations above relief for hardworking families. John McCain has changed: he's taken the low road, leveling false, negative and misleading attacks against Barack Obama. John McCain is no more a maverick within the Republican Party than Dick Cheney is. He's just more of the same."

And Sen. John Kerry offers this spicy riposte:

"The McCain campaign is determined to give their Paris Hilton ad a run for its money in the desperation department, and they've succeeded only in shining a light on the fact that the John McCain of today is unrecognizable from the John McCain of just a couple years ago. The real question is what happened to the John McCain we used to know and why he changed overnight into a George Bush nominee with a Karl Rove campaign. The new John McCain supports the Bush tax giveaways for the wealthy he once denounced, opposes his own immigration bill, flip-flopped on torture, and runs negative ads after calling for an honorable campaign. Frankly, it tells you everything about this election that the McCain campaign spins its wheels recycling what we said about John McCain way back when while scrambling and sputtering to explain away Governor Pawlenty's praise of Barack Obama today."

And Sen. Joe Biden issued the following statement:

"The John McCain of 2008 is not the maverick of 2000. On the most urgent national security challenges we face - Iraq, Iran and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan -there is no day light between George Bush and John McCain. He has embraced President Bush's failed policies and will continue them. It's unfortunate he's changed so much in just eight years."

Comments

[CaptainVideo]

The reason that the election is so close is that the McCain people are running a much more effective campaign than the Obama people.

The Obama camp should long ago have run ads showing how the principled straight talker of 2000 has morphed into the opportunistic double talker of 2000. By now the Obama campaign should have framed McCain as a double talker in the public mind.

A few statements by Democrats is better than nothing but is totally inadequate because what they say will not get down to low information voters. They need to put ads on television in which McCain morphs into Bush, etc. and telling the public that the 2000 McCain would be appalled by the 2008 sellouter and would not support or vote for him.

[Ramirez]

Powerful ad.

The Dems now have to rush in with the "that was then, this is now" clarifications. Which sets them up for a flip-flip charge. It's a lose/lose for the Party of Defeat.

[DesertLight]

All the while, the last comment by Hill was done during the primary.

[CaptainVideo]

They need to run ads that McCain is the one who has flip-flopped. This can be a win for the Obama campaign if they have the skill to handle it properly (of which they have so far not shown any sign of being able to do.) Obama need to bring more capable people into his campaign organization P.D.Q. or he is going to lose.

[DesertLight]

That tire gauge bit may have sunk him.

[poco767b]

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

[obamanation31]

Maverick No More:

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

[Vurt]

just out of curiosity, does barack obamas face look widened in his portion of this add? I also wonder if perhaps his complexion has been darkened.
the Rapeublican machine has done that before.

[joeyp404]

Maybe he just got back from the Virgin Islands.

[JUSTME]

Thank you, Hillary.

[srtjsrtj]

Another Ad Spitting in the Hard Working American People's Eyes as if we are Morons!

Sen. McCain those comments are from 2000 you are not the same Man or Candidate. Back then you stood for something now you Fall for Anything.

Don't insult our Intellect Again as you seem to keep doing. You can't Bring Back the past no matter how many Games and GImmicks you play we The People Are a Lot Smarter than you and the GOP give us credit for.

You were deserving of these comments in 2000 you are not now because you have proven that you will do Anything, at all Costs no matter who you hurt, no matter how much you hurt Even the American People to WIN At All Costs.

Sorry Sen. McCain just the same old tired Washington games. You Should Be Ashamed, but you have proven in 2008 that's not possible.

[dsgeorge]

the problem is there are too many people are ARE morons and they are staring to buy into all these ads McCain is putting out there....b­ecause Obama is not answering ad with effective ad and the numbers are staring to show it.

[StillIRise]

Another problem is that Hillary's comments were made just a few months ago. Do you think that she finally understands why her less-than-stellar campaign against Obama had the potential to damage the Democratic nominee? I suspect the McCain campaign will be using even more of Bill and Hillary's statements in future ads to discredit Senator Obama. They were the Republican gift that just kept on giving!

[Jamchinadian]

Here's a lesson for all Democrats, especially all "representatives", "analysts", "sympathisers", and especially for Senators, Congresspeople, and most of all candidate Obama himself.

It has been most frustrating hearing all of you almost apologetically prefacing any and all pushback on McCain by repeating the old tired, worn out, and patently untrue mantra that "Senator McCain is an honorable man". That is patently untrue. Democrats: why are you lying about McCain over and over? It's disgusting and vomit-inducing.

Stop already with the over-worked "he is a genuine hero". He is a genuine POW. That much is true. I am not saying you should deny that, but really - does that qualify him to be CIC? It's sad that he had to suffer, but contrary to qualifying him for the highest office in the land - has it in fact impaired him so much physically, mentally and emotionally - witness his ballistic outburts - to disqualify him?!!!

Why are Dems so scared and apologetic of even being alive for heavens sakes. You don't have to be nasty, but tell the unvarnished truth. And don't unwittingly play into the minds of the uncritical who think being shot down, and being a POW, are automatic qualifications for POTUS.

For God's sakes Dems. Wake up and smell the ballot boxes (pardon the mixed metaphor).

[Seattlelite]

it seems for Kerry it's pay back time! He is kicking a$$ and taking names. Go KERRY!

[pb28]

Let's have all republican senators who hate Mccain get quoted out of context

[SwingingFromCenter]

Well, this commercial was entirely predictable. Knew they were gonna roll out something like that.

ANd lo and behold, there's the Hillary statement, just like we all knew would happen. Well done, Hillary.

[JackND]

I'm glad the H'illary statement is there, it will re-reruffle some feathers.

[LiberTLover]

Wow, her second starring role in a McMetooMagoo commercial in just a few days. She is on a roll.

[scouserinlondon]

Wish she'd roll off.

[freaktown]

Great responses. Put 'em in an ad and get it up on the air in the markets where mccain is airing his!

[HadEnoughCrap]

So...he can't get quotes of support from his own party? And it's clear he can't get anyone except some of the crazies (like Lieberman and his girlfriend Graham) to say anyhting nice recently

[Jamchinadian]

Okay, so as I'm writing this, two have spoken - Dean and Kerry. What are the others waiting for.

As I said in an earlier post (below), Hillary should have been the first out of the gate. She provided the weaponry for McCain's attack. The only honorable thing for her to do is come out promptly and disavow her own words. She should say these were ill-advised words, spoken in the heat and frustration of the campaign, that she regrets using those words, and that she regrets most of all that she provided the ammunition for what is becoming clear will be an outright smear campaign by McCain.

I'm not saying it's easy, but it's the only honorable thing for her to do. If she truly means that she now fully supports Obama, she will do it. And if she does, and does it in an unequivocal and convincing way, she will have gone a long way to redeem her reputation.

Hillary: if you read this, do it for your country, do it for your daughter's respect and admiration, and most of all - do it for yourself - and I don't mean for any tangible reward, I mean because it's the right thing to do and doing it will enhance your stature.

[CtJean]

She won't

[Sabreen60]

Hil is too busy telling her supporters that she knows they still love her and they have pent up anger and frustration, but not to worry. She will see to it that their voices are heard at the convention. Puke!

[Biracial1]

Get rid of the "McCain = Bush" and start saying "McCain, worst than Bush"

[wanj]

John Kerry is on FIRE!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!! Joe Biden is always classic but Kerry is something else lately! He gives a good smackdown!