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

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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

[dnegri]

So.....another tepid response like the one to the Rezko or Ayers Ads? Come on....when will Obama come right out and accuse McCain of using false, deceptive advertising. And remind the public that after 8 years of deception in the White House, is this something we want from our next President?

But excuse me if not not optimistic. And we'll see another mamby-pamby almost whining "response".
And unless you come out and DIRECTLY put the onus on McCain to prove the veracity of an Ad - especially with his "I approve' on it, then I don't care how much mamby-pamby you use, the McCain Ad will resonate with the voters (the dumb voters that unfortunately we need some of to win).

[Tobiasism]

It was McCain and Bush along with Rummy, Wolfie and Cheney who wasted a half trillion American bucks and slaughtered 2500 American soldiers, to buy Iran the biggest gift that they never could have gotten for themselves, IRAQ.

[GrainOSand]

Is the thinking that this ad is hard hitting a result of an understanding that anything McCain says is the truth? I realize there are some people who would buy this bunk and therefore the Obama camp will need to respond. Too much time is wasted chasing rainbows. The ad does not even deserve a response in what it suggests and McCain needs to tell me what his Iran policy consists of versus telling me what his opponent's does not. John McCain, your attacks are old, tired, translucent, obviously flawed, and cliché, comic book like even.

Iran as a political issue is tiny next to the giant problem of American hubris and the giant talent of the men and women who serve in the armed forces and those who do not. Iran is tiny in the face of a united America.

The suggestion they are making is Obama will let your children die and blood will run through the streets where hard working (white) Americans live. Why not just say that instead of producing this crap you call a political ad, it is a garbage ad of low to no value. When you have no answers attack the messenger. That is what Mr. Obama is, he is a wake-up call that some are still snoozing on.

[Meggie]

Well, so everyone on the talk shows make sure they say it's a lie. Say it every time they're on for as long as the ad is running. Hound the repubs as liars who will say and do anything to stay in the white house and run this country into the ground. It isn't far fetched. They take the name of God and Jesus in vain to win elections, and they apparently have marriages of convenience for political benefit - look at the general view of Fl's Crist, and surely the argument could be made for mccain himself.

[Gary47]

Stop playing defense and start attacking hard, everyday drop a new attack on McCain. Paint the image of him as an tired old grandpa, who can barely move, who forgets all kinds of important facts, even his own policy positions, who's a grand flip-flopper, who keeps confusing the word "maverick" with "tepid follower", who can't figure out whether he respects a woman's right to choose or not, who was not a war hero but a pow, who lost a number of planes in the war, who cheated on his first wife and threw her under the bus. Etc, etc, etc. Make them scramble every day to play defense. We don't have to be dishonest - there's plenty of truthful material to totally destroy this guy. Just do it! Now!

[Tobiasism]

Actually that is the best idea.
Then the stupid MSM will spend endless hours covering the McCain negatives.

[highlyamused]

Exactly...­........we DON'T have to be dishonest.­..........­McCain does. He proves it everyday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-R5Vh5tOWk&feature=related

[Ptama]

Nice post, I'm really feeling the passion. I totally agree with you.

Did you notice how they put the word "tiny" next to Barack’s picture. Now they are attaching his manhood.

We need to stop the guys and start fighting back hard!!

[Ptama]

Nice post I'm really feeling the passion. I totally agree with you.

Did you notice how the put the word tiny next to Barrack’s picture. Now they are attaching his manhood.

We need to stop these guys and start fighting back hard!!

[S1m0n]

Iran *is* is tiny and poses no threat to the US, besides being--on the record--one of the least belligerant nations in the middle east.

The prospect of the US and Israel, the two most belligerant nations operating in the area, having a collective fit because the most peaceful might develop a weapon that's useless except in defense is truly bizarre. How do they say these things with a straight face?

[YouDisgustMe]

more dishonesty, more jackassery

[SensibleAmerican]

McCain is the beacon of truth ...

[highlyamused]

OMG you are truly delusional.

[Meggie]

drinking early today, aren't you?

[Diogenis]

you mean...truth distortion­".....ofco­urse

[YouDisgustMe]

and I am jesus

[dwillisno1]

A beacon with a dim bulb illuminates no truth!

[genia]

The right keeps lying...no one calls them on it. The Media always..in each situation, insist that "both sides" are guilty. Media = idiots
Well......there you go. They have been getting away with it....they have pushed this too far.

Now....If someone were to corner McCain (like Katie) and ask him about these tactics...McCain would say that they try to inject some humor into their ads.
I saw him......I heard him tell Katie Couric just that. She smiled and nodded.....but then the very reason Katie was interviewing him was so Johnny could explain all his houses and tell America that his FIL was also a war hero....lol
McCain...must really like Katie...as soon as he gets in trouble he runs right over to her....if he F's up Katie will edit the video to protect him.

[SensibleAmerican]

Media = idiots? Which channel? MSNBC, the official campaign site for Obama or the scores of Obama apologists on CNN? Borger, Gergen, Bernstein, John King, Roland Martin ... or the NYT? Maureen Dowd, the poor spinster blames Hillary for the Tsunami!!!

[Meggie]

I don't get that MSNBC is the offical site for Obama. Not by a long shot. They are the gossip channel.

[dnegri]

Setting aside the networks, are you saying that a campaign based on smears, lies and deceptive advertising is fine with you? And shouldn't go unchallenged?

[Tobiasism]

And what makes you sensible?
The fact taht you only like reports which agree with your predetermined ideas, ideas predetermined by Limbaugh and Hannity?

[glesslib]

And John is "dangerously" out of it to be president. Quite a quandary, eh, John?

[kappa08]

What I don't understand...If McShakes can cry "I was a POW" every time he "forgets". Then why would we want someone to lead this country that has been hit in the head too many times. You either have it or you don't. The Presidency isn't a lifetime achievement award at the Oscars for those old hags that never got to have one.
IT IS WHAT IT IS...He doesn't have the smarts to do the job. Regardless of how it happened.
I want a smart person in charge for a “change”. We have been down the stupid road. It failed miserably.

[ArmyCentrist]

hey orangepetal- 3 tours in Iraq, and we took off the MOPP gear in the first six weeks, there are no WMDs- take your lithium and go to sleep....

[MissDirection]

Based on some of the outrageous posts within this thread, perhaps a more fitting title would have been...
"Americans­...'Danger­ously Unprepared' to be US Citizens".

[glesslib]

Well, as my kids used to say, "He started it."

[mcarneyv]

Miss Direction...I couldn't agree with you more...Our Citizens, today, scare me with how little they know, and are led around like sheep, by the Neocons, and swallow the lies they tell time after time, and the whole Country suffers for their ignorance, and stupidity...

[Heavy]

McCone thinks Iran borders Canada.

[Ajegunle]

MCCAIN IS A WARMONGERING, WIN AT ANY COST, STAY IN IRAQ FOR 100 YEARS, RETHUG B*TCH.

THIS IS A VIDEO OF PAT BUCHANNAN WARNING AMERICANS THAT MCCAIN IS DANGEROUS AND INTENDS TO LEAD US INTO MANY MORE WARS!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlX9l1g1ZE0&eurl

[Ramirez]

From Jay Ambrose at the DC Examiner:
*********

What if Obama was president instead of Bush?

By Jay Ambrose
Examiner Columnist | 8/26/08 5:58 PM

More and more it looks as if we've won the war in Iraq, thereby giving the United States a crucial victory in the struggle against Islamic radicalism, and it is clear we wouldn't have if the most important war protester in Denver this week had had his way.

That protester is not one of the street shouters waving a banner and thinking he has thereby made a profound, world-changing statement, but Barack Obama, who rode his opposition to the war to primary and caucus wins and finally to his moment of selection as the Democrats' presidential nominee. . . .

Put Obama's timetable in place and take away the surge he did not want, and we could now be facing a deteriorating situation with deep, dark tragedies lying in wait: A quick return to a dictatorial, vicious, anti-American regime, genocide, an al Qaeda resurgence and the increased likelihood of terrorist strikes within the United States.

*****
Read the whole thing at:
http://www.dcexaminer.com/opinion/columns/JayAmbrose/What_if_Obama_was_president_instead_of_Bush_.html

[ex-pat]

If Obama had been president at least 4000 families lives wound not have been destroyed. Unfortunately no one can give an adequate account of the lives of Iraqis as we don't keep track of those lives as they are not as precious... they are only Iraqis.

[PensacolaTiger]

Bah! More tripe from the Neocon garbage bin.

Ask rather where we would be if Bush did not lie about WMDs and get us into this meaningless conflict to begin with. And fear for yourself and your children if the maniac McCain is elected. His conception of diplomacy is to count to three before beginning the bombing.

"No way. No how. No McCain!"

[sink]

If this is what winning looks like, I'm not sure it's worth "winning".

Just because you suddenly decide you're done with something doesn't mean you've necessarily "won".

[dnegri]

So, is there a point to be made? Are you saying that anyone deserves "credit' for Iraq? Are you saying that Iraq is a model for our next invasion? Are you saying that John McCain would make better decisions about where and when to invade than Obama? Now, shall we ask which of the two candidates not only accurately forecast the trap that would be Iraq, but accurately forecast the implications it would have in Afghanistan. So, what does the dcexaminer think about that?

[BlueZoo]

Let's see those 4000+ coffins we weren't allowed to view and let's line them up row by row. The surge and this sham war don't look so great when confronted with the actual cost in human lives!

No how. No way, NO MCCAIN!