McCain Ad: Obama "Dangerously Unprepared" To Be President

John McCain's new ad hits Barack Obama with a specific and harsh assault on Iran policy. Watch:

The AP points out that the ad is incredibly misleading:

The ad is misleading because it states that Obama said Iran is "tiny" and "doesn't pose a serious threat" without noting that Obama was comparing the threat Iran poses today to the Soviet Union, the nuclear-armed adversary of the U.S. during the Cold War ...

In calling Iran "tiny" compared to the Soviet Union and having a small fraction of the Soviet military force, he noted that direct diplomacy with the Soviets was a bipartisan policy for decades in spite of their threat.

ABC News' Jake Tapper concurs: "Today's new McCain ad -- "Tiny" ... crosses a new line into dishonesty, however, beyond whether or not it's actually airing anywhere."

Marc Ambinder addresses the inherent conflict in reporting on these kinds of ads:

McCain campaign airs provocatively misleading ads.

The press has a conundrum.

If we want to point out how misleading they are, we air the ad.

Story continues below

McCain's campaign wins the point.

If refuse to point out how misleading they are, McCain's campaign escapes criticism.

Obama campaign spokesman Hari Sevugan responds:

"John McCain is distorting Barack Obama's words to cover up for the fact that it's the failed Bush-McCain approach to foreign policy and the Bush-McCain war in Iraq that that have strengthened Iran and endangered Israel. While Barack Obama recognizes that Iran has been the biggest beneficiary of the war in Iraq and that the Bush-McCain fear of tough diplomacy has allowed Iran to spin 3800 centrifuges, threaten Israel, and fund terrorism, John McCain promises more of the same. If John McCain was serious about dealing with the threat from Iran, he would join Barack Obama's bipartisan effort in the Senate to step up sanctions on Iran instead of adopting the same tired, old Bush-Rove playbook."

The Full Ad Transcript:

Script For "Tiny" (TV :30)

ANNCR: Iran. Radical Islamic government. Known sponsors of terrorism.

Developing nuclear capabilities to "generate power" but threatening to eliminate Israel.

Obama says Iran is a "tiny" country, "doesn't pose a serious threat".

Terrorism, destroying Israel, those aren't "serious threats"?

Obama -- dangerously unprepared to be president.

JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approved this message.

Comments

[Tommygun264]

"I'm John McSame, and I approved this message because I know I can't win unless I lie."

[ayo78]

the obama campaign can't afford to let have mcbush have the issues of terrorism and national security... the only issue he is ahead in. We know the repugs are going to distort, lie misinform, and try to scare up votes again.
Obama should aggressively point out mcbush's lapses in judgement (authorizing wa with iraq and staying there indefinetly) and also showcase his laundry list of gaffes.

[windwalker1984]

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world.....
http://english.pravda.ru/topic/georgia_ossetia-603/

[NoSandwiches]

Pravda (doesn't that mean Truth?) used to be considered a propaganda rag of the Soviets when I was working in the periodical section at the library....have things changed? I had a friend who immigrated from Russia, and he had no respect for it, but that was back in the 190s.

so....what are we supposed to get from this?

[swanie]

Just another example of the DISGUSTING TACTICS the Republicans are using. They will get as down and dirty as they have to, and they will STILL LOSE and LOSE BIG.

The Republicans are the OLD way of doing business and it time for a NEW, FRESH face.

[rhubardpi]

Why will they lose, it has served them well in the past? Just wait til they point out to
America that Obama is Black.

[GaiusLucilius]

Given Fournier's latest antics, when the AP says you're biased, you must be really biased.

[grata2ude]

McCain who verbally abuses his wife in front of camera's with a vile word. McCain who goes ballistic when challenged on the Senate floor and tells his fellow senators to F off. McCain who lies thru his teeth repeatedly. Who stood with Bush during the Katrina disaster having birthday cake instead of going to the disaster area. McCain who's only mantra is to "bomb bomb bomb iran." Who jokes about rape. Who agreed with Bush 95% of the time. Who hired all of Bush's advisors to run his campaign who made the statement " McCain doesn't speak for the McCain campaign."

Ladies and Gentlemen if he isn't the dangerous one then I don't know what is.

[stardog]

So when John McCain falls to Barack Obama in November, by pure logic that will mean that he's worse than "dangerously unprepared". He's just plain dangerous.

[Birdman]

McCain Ad: Obama "Dangerously Unprepared" To Be President

This coming from McCain who cannot keep up with what country names are, this coming form a man for every single gaffe says well I was a POW thats why. So who is unprepared? I think McCain does protest too much.

I can see it now March 2009 McCain launches an unprovoked nuclear attack against Peru because He thought that they were helping Iran (he does have troubles with maps, and who is who, and country names in general) but then he says, well I was a POW. Just before we are all cinders.

[Dreamers 101]

NOVEMBER LIVE PICTURES FROM THE PEOPLE!!!!

Voter suppression is a reality this November folks lets counter the MSM the local po’lice and these Rethuglicans with hundred of thousands of video cameras.

Let’s have cameras at the voting precincts, in the neighborhoods leading to those voting precincts, on the freeway and highways exits let’s put people in building with cameras everywhere.

Let’s not leave this up to just the Democratic Party lets all as citizens of this country get our f--king cameras and make sure if there is some BS we have it documented.

Pass The Word!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Obama/Biden 08/12

[grata2ude]

great idea.

[TheLostNews]

Cheap....I just hope people realize that McCain will govern like he campaigns....on the cheap

[ShamusNYC]

Where is the O response ad? This should be a slam dunk - just call him a hypocritical liar & start in on the integrity issue

[Ohg]

John McCain has totally missed the point of the role of a Commander in Chief - As defined by the constitution, Obama is more qualified. .............
http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/08/28/commander-in-chief-role-of-a-citizen/

[DCtrain]

Republican's Dangerously out of step with reality and dangerously and helplessly unprepared to lead the nation

[BEHM777]

I really do not like liars.

BEHusseinM777

[Egalitare]

McCain - dangerously incapable of engaging in the adult-level statecraft needed to deal with both our allies and adversaries.