Obama Ad: McCain's War Policy An Economic Disaster

The Obama campaign released a new attack ad on Wednesday that -- as the Senator has tried to do during the debate over the surge -- ties economic troubles at home to McCain's support of the Iraq war.

Titled "Book," the spot reads: "Economics by John McCain. Support George Bush 95 percent of the time. Keep spending $10 billion a month for the war in Iraq, while the Iraqis sell oil for record prices, giving Iraq a $79 billion oil surplus and hurting our economy."

The ad plays off of McCain's self-proclaimed weakness on economic matters and is the second harsh spot the Obama campaign has aired in as many weeks. The Iraq angle is a curious one. Rather than going back to the war authorization -- and, obviously, avoiding a debate on the surge -- Obama is homing in on the pocketbook pull of the war.

A spokesperson for the Obama writes that the spot will start airing on Thursday in Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin -- a significant buy.

UPDATE: The McCain campaign responds by attempting to tie Obama and Bush, though there seems to be a bit of friction to the idea that the Senator was "in lockstep" with Bush "nearly half the time."

"In the Senate, Barack Obama has voted in lockstep with President George W. Bush nearly half the time, including the Bush-Cheney Energy bill which gave close to 3 billion dollars in new giveaways to Big Oil - a terrible policy that John McCain opposed. The truth is Barack Obama's plan is a job killing machine that ignores the struggling economy and raises taxes on family savings, social security and small businesses," said Tucker Bounds, a spokesman for McCain.

Comments

[galinha]

06:29 AM on 08/14/2008

Yes McTrigger should know that national security is not all about guns, tanks, bullets and fighter planes and atomic bombs. National security also means economic security, food security, health security, and the security of being with loved ones who have not been shipped to Iraq.

[harriscrl3]

02:05 AM on 08/14/2008

I have to say this about Obama he is the only candidate that I see can do a negative ad but still make it classy. LOL at the book Economics by John McCain. We all know thats not his strongest area he said so himself of course he forgt but thats neither here nor there. The point is this is one of the classiest negative ads I've seen. Obama has such high standards even when he is attacking the opponents policies.

Carol

[jkpcguru]

12:38 AM on 08/14/2008

Who's more bi-partisan?

John McCain who voted with bush 95% of the time or
Barack Obama who voted with Bush 50% of the time.

Ding Ding Ding.... Barack Obama...... Now that's change you can believe in!

[jkpcguru]

12:33 AM on 08/14/2008

Who's more bi-partisan?

John McCain who voted with bush 50% of the time or
Barack Obama who voted with Bush 95% of the time.

Ding Ding Ding.... Barack Obama...... Now that's change you can believe in!

[OldKnute]

11:57 PM on 08/13/2008

Uhh???

Attack Ad? HOW?

Are their smears,, exaggerations, ties of McCain to Judas, Pharaoh, Anti-Christ, KKK affiliations, Race bating,, Sneaking into Slaves quarters, hanging out with Abermoff, Reed, the Church nearly falling down when McCain walked in, Pimping Evangelicals for contributions?

Informational ads are only Attack Ads when you LIE.

Comparison and reminders are open season.

Fact, McCain flipped on Drilling, Alternative Energy, (he crushed in the 80s), the Church, Abortion, The War, Torture, Fiscal Responsibility, the deficit, Tax Breaks for RICH, Civil Rights, , Privacy Rights, Veterans Relief, Secret Prisons, Term Limits, Campaign Spending,,, On and on and on.

Now Obama is attacking because he draws honest comparisons???

Sorry,, I don’t see it!

All the best

Knute Neo-LIB

[noamjunior]

11:23 PM on 08/13/2008

given the recent irrefutable evidence that Bush took us to war under false pretenses, it is fair to say that the current state of the economy is due to purposeful actions on the part of the Gop and electinging republicans will certainty produce more of the same

[whitebird46]

10:52 PM on 08/13/2008

Great ad! Could someone give some details about the Bush-Cheney energy bill that McCain keeps talking about? He states O voted for it and it gives the oil companies $$$$$giveaways. I'd like to know the details on that one. I'm pretty sure it's either a false or twisted statement coming from the McCain
camp.

[harriscrl3]

02:02 AM on 08/14/2008

Obama voted for the Bill because it was a compromise in that it had money going to renewable sources of energy which I believe will help him in places like NV and NM. He voted for the bill for the money going to these sources but he stated that he oppose the money going to the oil companies but that this was the way to money to other alternative sources. McCain didnt show up to vote and here's where it gets interesting. A new bill was created that TOOK away the subsidies for the oil company it was a way to rectify the Cheney bill and guess who voted against this John Mcain. SO the reason he didnt show up to vote for the Cheney bill is NOT because he oppose subsidies going to Oil companies its because he oppose them going to renewable sources of energy. SO of course he keeps harping on that Cheney bill Obama voted for but he is not telling you that bill gave one of the hugest amounts of money to alternative sources of energy thats why Obama voted for it and he voted to take the subsidies away from the oil companies and McCain oppose.

Carol

[jsarets]

07:43 PM on 08/13/2008

Good ad. This is an important distinction:

Obama: Protect the middle class, because that's what makes America great.
McCain: Protect the rich, because everybody dreams of being rich one day.

Why do many working-class Americans support a flatter tax code, low capital gains taxes, and no "death tax"? Because many people don't vote based on where they are today but rather where they wish they'll be in the future. They believe they'll be kicking themselves for supporting the estate tax when they finally hit it big. The electorate is chock-full of aspiring multi-millionaires.

The difference between Democrats and Republicans is basically abortion/gays/guns plus distinctly different interpretations of the American Dream: Democrats aspire to a secure, comfortable, middle-class lifestyle, whereas Republicans aspire to be the richest family in town.

[Liberoservative]

07:41 PM on 08/13/2008

The TRUTH hurts McC

Maybe your campaign could try it.....

Oh wait!! You don't HAVE anything resembling the truth that can hurt your opponent so you sink yourself into a campaign of lies and smears....

You are truly pathetic....

Not this time.... Not now!!!!

Take back our govt!!!!!

Obama 08!

[liberalrebuttal]

07:17 PM on 08/13/2008

YES !

"The Middle Class FIRST "

I love that part.

[kimofAZ]

06:46 PM on 08/13/2008

YES, FINALLY HE HAS A REALLY GOOD AD. Obama is starting to strike back on the McCain lies...GOOD FOR HIM. McCain is a joke and I completely agree with the person who says "McCain scares the hell out of me". If McSame gets elected we are in BIG TROUBLE FOLKS. We will be poor, our enviornment worse and of course enter into WWIII! I don't have any kids of recruitment age but the draft will happen under McCain. This isn't a scare tactic it's reality from a really worried mom in Arizona.

Obama 08!

[MiddleRoadLiberal]

06:41 PM on 08/13/2008

Note to the McCain camp: 95% > 50%

[GHENT007]

06:28 PM on 08/13/2008

If mccain is weak on the economy then he is clearly not strong enough to support the middle class, he will support the military industrial entertainment complex, just like he has done 95 percent of the time with george bush, he's not thinking about the middle-class he could care less about the average person, anybody that thinks john mccain has their interests at heart are confused and simple-minded and willing to be lead around like a dog on a leash no one in america need be manipulated into voting for someone who after being elected, will present his real agenda, and it wont include you!!!

[SEQUOIABISON]

06:17 PM on 08/13/2008

Brilliant absolutely Brilliant glad to see we finally got some hard hitting professional ad talent who nailed a lot of pertinent issues in 30 seconds, I smell victory.

Obama/Clark

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

06:04 PM on 08/13/2008

Great ad this one hits hard and cuts deep and of course is true and substantiative, unlike McBush's ads.