Campaign AdWatch: 'Alaska Maverick' Strains To Contrast

Here's the new advertisement from the McCain campaign, "Alaska Maverick," which extends the GOP's last ditch efforts to keep the "experience" argument alive after McCain chose Sarah Palin to be his vice-president. Naturally, the case could be made if anyone actually believed that al Qaeda could be defeated and the economy revived through a sustained commitment to the proper field dressing of moose, but even McCain-fan Mike Murphy is throwing a wet blanket on this line of attack. Murphy was just on TV talking about this ad, and he told Chuck Todd, "I love John McCain to death, but this is the stupidest thing in the world."

And it's true! Laura McGann brought word from Alaska yesterday that Palin had, in her own words, pooh-poohed her own executive experience, mocking it as "not rocket science." Strangely, for all the "not rocket science" nature of the work, Palin was unique among Wasilla mayors in that she still needed help. As ProgressiveAlaska notes: "...when Palin was first elected mayor...in 1996, she had to hire a city manager. When her predecessors had occupied the office, they did that job themselves. There went $60,000 per year." (Much more on that via Andrew Sullivan.)

The whole attempt at contrasting Palin as someone who stands up to "oil producers" is similarly baffling, considering that McCain's been broadly signaling that his presidency will be a drill-crazy bonanza for the oil industry.

[WATCH.]

Comments

[WHATISTHIS]

NEXT AD BARACK SHOULD COME OUT WITH.

IS MCCAIN SHAKING THE HANDS WITH PRES. BUSH SECRETARY OF LABOR.

AFTER HIS ACCEPTANCE SPEECH, YES IT HAPPEN 09-04-2008

THEN 10 HOURS LATER,

WE HAVE THE WORST JOB LOSS IN FIVE YEARS!!!!!!!!!!

[plooger]

So there's yet ANOTHER lie from Palin, when she was ridiculing community organizers.

What's is gonna take?

[Tobiasism]

Putting the oil companies back into the White House is a very very bad idea.
Get hip America.

[Kodiak535]

What, no pantsuit?

[rickjreid]

More of the same lame bull we've been hearing for the last 8 years and before that 17 years from Republicans. It's really pathetic that they have to blame the Democrats for everything they have failed at. As for the do nothing Congress, that would be Republicans blocking everything that would help middle class and poor americans get by and have been that way it seems like forever. Don't be fooled. These guys and "Gals" only care about their pocketbooks and can't wait to see how much more they can rip off the average American citizen. GO OBAMA/ BIDEN 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BamaMama]

It's interesting that the GOP hatemongers are so quick to point out Barack Obama's apparent lack of executive experience and are slyly comparing the Dem Presidential candidate to the bona fides of the Repug VICE Presidential candidate. Just asking: exactly what "executive experience" does John McCan have?

[DragonFly]

" ... exactly what "executive experience" does John McCain have?"

Thanks for pointing out a fact that has been largely ignored so far.

In reality, no candidate can truly claim to have enough experience for the position of the presidency. because our nation and the world in general are constantly faced with an ever changing set of demands and challenges.

But when considering which candidate would be best for the position, I think it's fair to say that the following matter - vitality, mentally acuity, stamina, and the ability to remain cool and flexible in all types of situations.

For most people, that requires being in one's 'prime'.

[Kodiak535]

I agree that nobody can be prepared to be president. That's why character is what matters. Somebody with character will get the job done, and done well, whether they're prepared or not.

Both conventions have told us plenty about the candidates' character. I'll take inexperienced, visionary and intelligent over inexperienced, hateful and clueless any day.

[imfedup]

Yeah. That's something they keep hammering that should be backfiring big time.

[serena1313]

Don't underestimate this woman. She is cunning and lies with ease.

[wdw101]

what lie?

[metalpipe]

MmmHmm, definately one of the hords cheering from their living rooms for the great white hope in female form. It's all about fighting for you guys, even if the fight benefits you not at all.

[metalpipe]

Sarah against earmark spending?

Earmarks " pet projects that members of Congress fund but that no federal agency has requested " have become a mainstay of political life in Alaska, and one that Palin embraced from early on in her career as a mayor of Wasilla to the governor's mansion in Juneau.

Just this year, she sent to Sen. Ted. Stevens, R-Alaska, a proposal for 31 earmarks totaling $197 million " more, per person, than any other state.

One of many lies your champion of hate has been selling to you and your mis-informed friends in the GOP.

[imfedup]

Lied about her record. Lied about Obama's experience and his plans to raise taxes.

[EuroPreacher]

WHAT PALIN DID GOOD:
-She insulated herself with future (or probable) media scrutiny"They are out there to get me;they are liberals!"
-She energized the base.
SHORT COMINGS:
-She was preaching to the already converted:Readness to be a heartbeat way from the presidency unanswered.
-Her speech was a series of recycled HRC speeches:"When the lights are off,the crowd are gone..."
-The international news find her mean,cold and calculated in her choice of cheap words: "She was disagreeable while disagreeing!"
MORE TO COME.

[Williamsburg]

I agree? I may be the only person in the world that thinks her speech was juvenile. As a VP candidate she was undignified and I think she lost swing voters and made my wife up her Obama campaign contribution last night.

They won the battle of her speech last night, at the expense of losing the war. McCain walked into a trap. He let the far right wing take over. Obama, please go after the Ron Paul voters, just like McCain is going after disaffected Hilary voters.

As far as the speech, on debate points in the election battle, McCain has categorically lost three points:

Experience argument, negated.
Obama's just a great speaker, off the table.
Country First, that narrative is gone. He is more of a pure politician this week than last week.

While the debate may be a heated now, this election will come down to issues for independents, which McCain loses. Obama 50, McCain 48, Barr/Nader 2.

I think New Mexico, New Hampshire, Penn, Iowa, are now locks. Unbelievably Florida and Virginia may be more in play than last week. Ohio is major trouble, we may need to do some work in Colorado to offset.

I'm not looking at the heat of the moment but the longterm layout of the race. McCain conceded some basic attack points. Over time the Republican platform, (drill, drill, drill, cut taxes, more nuclear plants) will collapse on itself.

[OB08]

She will be out of here before the debate - watch.

[albertBarr]

Wouldn't that be great

[luvronpaul]

Oh my goodness! To think I was going to vote Republican, when all they have been doing is expanding government in the past 8 years! I would have considered McCain, but Palin makes me say THANKS, BUT NO THANKS. I have never been an Obama fan but his speech was filled with his plans for our country, no hate or disrespect. Stating that McCain doesnt get it is the truth. Palin's (and Rudy's and Mikey's) were filled with hate! How hypocritical, they are blaming the Dems for attacks when they started the attacks! I cant stand the horrible division amongst this country. After watching Palin speak, I'm donating to Obama!!

I'm truly disappointed in the apparent lack of diversity at the RNC. America is a melting pot (Or salad bowl!!), obviously the GOP is not very representative of that nowadays.

[wdw101]

well I donated to McCain just now......to offset what you just did........

[Bobrobert]

fibber

[metalpipe]

Throwing good money after bad. I got a bridge to nowhere, real cheap. Interested?

[athenasword]

And four more folks in my family (white, rural Ohio, blue collar) all sent $$ to Sen. O.

Whoooo hoooo! Ohio for Obama/Biden 08!

[Williamsburg]

Save it because if McCain wins you will really need it. If he loses, it was money down the drain.

Just doing my bit as a web based community organizer to help you help yourself.

[mlaiuppa]

Who's running for president? Palin or McCain?

Should we compare McCain's record to Biden's? I'll put my money on Biden.

[ThinkAgainMyFriend]

Exactly, I knew they were going to try to compare her to Obama, it's all they've got!

[athenasword]

What they don't want to do is start a discussion about why we do this.... we talk about Pale'n cuz she would very likely have to step in for the OLD guy. Funny, the issues of age and health wouldn't be a problem for him, if he had picked someone w/ any experience that was young enough to be his daughter

[Lie Detector]

I think Republican voters need to be asked this question.

"When you've discovered the lie, why continue to contribute to it?"

[MadJeffersonian]

They can't help it. They can't bring themselves to vote for an intelligent man of mixed race origin who happens to look black!

[athenasword]

It's a familiar song.... "Stay the Course"

[gop4obama]

I've just updated my McCain / Palin site, for your consideration:

http://www.palinbycomparison.net

Thanks

[BamaMama]

Thx for your site, gop4obama. How's the response from your fellow Republicans? I hope many will vote for Obama/Biden out of frustration (and frankly, shame) about the smarmy GOP and its sleazy tactics. I have bookmarked your site and will visit often. It would be helpful if you or contributors could help decipher some of the coded msgs that the party is disseminating. Much obliged.

[MadJeffersonian]

Lies lies lies yeah!
Lies lies lies yeah!

[wdw101]

what lies were in the speech?

[metalpipe]

She says he hasn't introduced a single piece of important legislation. Oh well, I guess she's right-- oh wait! Look! Headline: "Lugar-Obama Bill to Keep Weapons Out of Terrorists' Hands Passes Congress." In his first two years in the Senate, from 2004 to 2006, Senator Obama authored more than 150 bills. Here's more:

Introduced a bill (S.1194) directing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to establish guidelines for tracking spent fuel rods.
Introduced a bill (S.1426) extending provisions in the Safe Drinking Water Act that relate to preventing and detecting contamination.

Introduced a bill (S.1920) amending the Clean Air Act to establish a renewable diesel standard.

Introduced a bill (S.3988) improving benefits and services for members of the armed forces and veterans.

[Williamsburg]

Palin: "To the families of special-needs children all across this country, I have a message: For years, you sought to make America a more welcoming place for your sons and daughters. I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House."

Cut special needs budget 62%, what a friend.

It only takes on lie, I don't need to go further. Also, she just recently supported Obama's energy plan until she was against it this week. She finished.

[AbTomp]

Wow, a lot of you people are absolutely ridiculous! Its rather entertaining.

[Diogenis]

Did they start drilling yet? I don't know how many more years I have!