McCain Ad: Celebrity Obama Will Take Away Your Life Savings

The McCain camp released a harsh new ad Friday that, playing off of the idea that Obama is an out-of-touch celebrity, suggests -- through the very cadence of the narrator -- that the Illinois Democrat will tax away the life savings of senior citizens.

Titled "Painful," the spot is an extension of the celebrity meme that John McCain has been hitting on for more than a week. This installation, however, may be the harshest and most personal yet.

Life in the spotlight must be grand, but for the rest of us times are tough.

Obama voted to raise taxes on people making just $42,000.

He promises more taxes on small business, seniors, your life savings, your family.

Painful taxes, hard choices for your budget. Not ready to lead. That's the real Obama.

There are some noticeable and/or objectionable aspects to the ad. McCain is not mentioned once, continuing an attack-based mode that for a brief moment this week seemed to be ebbing. The claim that Obama voted to raise taxes on people making more than $42,000 comes with a caveat. The Budget Resolution that Obama voted for and McCain now highlights was a provision to allow portions of the 2001 And 2003 Tax Cuts to expire. Taxes would have gone up. But it was not a vote to raise taxes.

UPDATE: The Obama campaign responds

"This ad is a lie, and it's part of the old, tired politics of a party in Washington that has run out of ideas and run out of steam. Even though a host of independent, nonpartisan organizations have said this attack isn't true, Senator McCain continues to lie about Senator Obama's plan to give 95% of all families a tax cut of $1,000, and not raise taxes for those making under $250,000 a single dime. The reason so many families are hurting today is because we've had eight years of failed Bush policies that Senator McCain wants to continue for another four, and that's what Barack Obama will change as President," said Obama campaign spokesman Hari Sevugan.
The ad is going to be cycled into a buy the McCain campaign has already made in
Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Comments

[Rianna]

Again, McCain is wrong......Bush did that already, and it is too late.

[DieHardObamaSupporter]

Didn't you get the memo? The Greedy Oil Party has already taken it.

[grata2ude]

Stop lying McCain.


From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
McCain claims in an ad released today that "Obama voted to raise taxes on people making just $42,000. He promises more taxes on small business, seniors, your life savings, your family."

But when it comes to promises, it's worth pointing out that, according to the non-partisan Tax Policy Center's analysis of both candidates' proposed plans, Obama would cut taxes for those making in the range of $38,000 to $66,000 three to almost eight times more than McCain would.

Under Obama's plan, according to the center, by 2009, those making $37,595 would see an average increase in their income of 3.6%, or a tax cut of $892; those making an average of $66,354 would see an increase in their income of 2.4%, or a tax cut of $1,042.

On the other hand, Under McCain's plan, those making $37,595 would see an increase in their income of only about 0.5%, or $113 tax cut; those making $66,354 would see only an increase of 0.7% in their income, or a tax break of $319.

[FiveFortyOne]

Actually I'm mistaken. They're not running this ad at all. They're running the "celeb" ad they released prior to this one. If I'm wrong someone please correct me. They could be running different ads on different stations or at different times.

[FiveFortyOne]

They've changed the ad drastically. The one posted here is not what is playing on TV. They cut a lot of the "celeb" footage and monologue. They've taken out most of the lies - the ad now says Obama will raise taxes, increase the size of government , and therefore cost jobs. And they include footage of McCain and talk about his energy policy. Anyone who says McCain is controlling the election dialogue is crazy. I only see him reacting to Obama and criticism.

[Donnat]

that's because Obama is on the defensive with the 'celebrity' angle and McCain and his campaign have backed off, as bullies do when they are challenged. Keep hitting back, Obama.

[farmgirl]

Celebrity? Rovian. Attack the strength. Here's the answer on C&L:

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/08/10/how-obama-should-respond-to-the-celebrity-charge/#more-31710

[rbenjamin]

Impossible for Obama to take my life savings. Republicans have already snagged 'em.

[Merersu]

Yours and mines both!

[SEQUOIABISON]

The reverse Robin Hood strategy of the Bush administration has already robbed the middle class of our savings, surely McCain will allow Exxon to take the rest.

[ezrider]

How unreal and out of touch these people are.

GEORGE W BUSH has already taken our savings.
Few of us have little left.

Get real repugs, don't you know we are wiser now than we were 7 plus years ago.

YOU GOING DOWN BABY.

[genia]

I love it...every election season the republicans put on their leisure pants take off their ties and remember the plain folk....they suddenly .......remember the middle class. Not only do they remember the common folks..they transform into one of them.

Every time.......as soon as they are elected...bam! they do nothing for the struggling poor or the middle class...they focus on their mission of making the rich get richer.
...and every election millions of people forget what republicans really are.
what short attention spans many Americans have.
People...people..have the past 8 years taught us nothing??

[DieHardObamaSupporter]

No he did not. No McKeating Five did not go there. Does he think Americans have forgotten about his Keating Five savings and loan deregulation scandal? Where are O's surrogates? They need to be jumping all over this ad. Oooooh, I wish I could be on MTP come Sunday with a pair of Ali gloves on....oooooooh. This is too good to pass up, not to mention the other crap of lies in the ad.

[genia]

Yep.....he knows he can say anything he wants to....just anything...with that smirk on his old puss....he can do it because ................we, democrats said we will practice politics of change.
To a republican that's like saying here are our women... would you like to rape them?

[andyg]

Old news, getting rid of tax break, means higher taxes.

[bobo5]

I saw a McCain advert last night. It was in english and was an outright lie.

No cabe duda de que sus anuncios castellanos son mentirosos. McIgual es fanfarrón.

[Okieborn]

John Mccain still does not get the struggles of the poor and middle class in this country !!
Sen. Mccain the working class in America has no savings to lose your hero George Bush and your party have deleted such dreams !!
Make America "HAPPY" "SHUT UP" !!!

[YunekFlava]

Is the same man that was involved in thousands of people being bilked of their life savings in the 'Savings and Loan" scam? No way, he could have handed the Obama campaign such a gift and they not use it. I say smack him down good with it, and make him cry "uncle Barack".

[lvoigt]

Upon hearing that Czechoslovakia was no longer a country and that Sentor Obama had already congratulated the Czech Republic, the McCain camp issued a strong statement:

It is unfortunate that Senator Obama would exploit these olympic games for his presidential ambitions. Instead of talking about the countries involved and their athletes, he should try to play some sports.

When shown a video of Senator Obama playing basketball with the troops and hitting a 3-pointer, McCain responded:

Once again, his exploitation of individuals remains astonishing. Now, the troops. He has sunk to a new level. He should try to play real sports, ones that are loved by many, especially by myself and my friends, such as shuffleboard, bridge, checkers, and bingo.

When reporters asked the Obama campaign if they had a response, they stated:

Nah. We're just gonna sit this one out.

[YunekFlava]

Hey lvoigt, excellent display of wit and word.

Write on.