McCain Broke 9/11 Negative Ad Pledge: Factcheck.Org

NEW YORK — An ad by John McCain criticizing Barack Obama first ran Wednesday in Colorado, but there is no data yet on whether the ad also appeared on Thursday, the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Both the Obama and McCain campaigns had agreed to refrain from negative attacks on Thursday to observe the anniversary.

The McCain campaign announced the new ad on Friday, even though it had already run two days before.

Evan Tracey, who tracks political ads as head of TNS Media Intelligence/Campaign Media Analysis Group, said the company's tracking devices show the ad aired on Sept. 10, and that there's no data yet to show that it also ran on Thursday.

McCain campaign spokesman Brian Rogers also said there is no evidence it did.

The 30-second ad criticizes Obama's campaign for what the Republicans call "disrespectful" treatment of McCain's running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Comments

[DiBaskin]

Absolutely nothing McCain/Pal­in/Bush/Ch­eney and the Republican Administration does surprises me. There is no attack too low for them. They lie so much they can no longer separate facts from fiction.

[nickyminor]

I cannot understand why fairly intelligent people are drawn into this issue. People there are bigger issues to deal with here. Why does Mc Cain pounce on something so trivial? Smokescreen. Lets see through this and get on with the issues that truly matters.

[escher123]

This is from Factcheck.org

"Clarification, Sept. 11: This ad aired on a Denver station on Sept. 10, prior to its official release by the McCain-Palin campaign. It was recorded by the Campaign Media Analysis Group, a unit of TNS Media Intelligence. Our original story did not include a date that the ad had aired. We do not have any information suggesting it aired on Sept. 11. "
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/belittling_palin.html

I know that there are a lot of rumors, claims, and all out lies but let's keep the claims backed up by actual proof. These kind of rushed articles give ammunition to spin doctors that claim everything as smears. Sometimes it is better to hold a story than to post information that can be easily proved not accurate.

[rachelwebster]

it was after midnight- sept 11.....I saw it!

[Parithbaby]

Lately I have been seeing that McCain's ads have had Obamas slogans in them. Like the "Some of the Same" comments Obama have been saying about McCain from the beginning. Also Obama "CHANGE" campaign, McCain has start saying that also. Some of Obamas ideas on how to make those changes McCain has said that is his plan also. Is McCain, Just desperate and stills ideas and make them his own? Obama has said that the american people are not stupid and wont fall for McCain's smear campaigns. But I wonder? I don't think the american people care cause they don't have jobs, or homes, or a future for there childern. All they want to see is a dirty fight. McCain make's ugly remarks, Obama try to stay focus on how to get us out of this hole we're in. but some thinks Obama staying focus on the issues that's gonna help us is showing weakness. To me it says, if Obama was President he wouldn't get destracted by the crap and stay on point of what is best for the american's How is focusing of a lipstick on a pig can help with my child's future. McCain hasn't giving us any real ideas on how he's gonna make changes other than the one's that I've already heard from Obama. I'm so afraid everytime I see how close this race still is. Do half or more american's only want to see McCain start a fire, than see Obama put out one?

[doneasley]

If Obama doesn't reply to McCain's lies, he'll go down just like John Kerry, who allowed his military record to be damaged by a party led by a president who went AWOL? But while being skewered by the Bush campaign about his decorated service time in Viet Nam, Kerry NEVER brought up Bush's service - or lack thereof.

Attack ads are appropriate if true, but McCain's "$42,000", "lipstick on a pig", "Obama responsible for $4/gallon gas prices", and "sex education" ads are lies. There's enough ammunition for Obama to fire back with the truth. How about McCain's actions and comments: that he knows nothing about the economy or computers; that "we are all Georgians" while his foreign policy advisor is a paid lobbyist for Georgia; that we'll stay in Iraq for "100 years" if necessary; that he will continue the Bush tax cuts; that, immediately after the 9/11 attacks, he wanted to attack Iraq, Iran, and Syria; that he actually went to Iraq on a promo visit to prove how "safe" it was while surrounded by troops and armored vehicles; that he actually sang "bomb, bomb Iran"; that he was admonished in Congress for collusion in the Keating 5 scandal which brought a costly Savings and Loan bailout during the 1st Bush administration (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac?); and on, and on....

Obama can easily fight back with the truth, having learned from Kerry that the vicious Republican attack machine will go to any lengths to win.

[ElizabethT]

Regarding the surprise over McCain's failure to abide by the 9-11 pause in campaign, I only have this question:

"You're surprised HOW, WHY?"

Since the campaign started, McCain hasn't addressed this country's issues. In the typical Rove-style of politics, it's been only attack-lie­-attack-di­stort.

again, you're surprised? LOL

[DangitRuss]

We've seen our neighboring Senator McCain in action for years. If he lived in California, he would have been bounced out for being inept and deceitful years ago. The youngest member of the Keating 5, McCain showed years ago that he was very comfortable around illegal activity. So, breaking a pledge to Obama to be cordial for a day isn't surprising.

[DebbieinPhx]

Yup yup, I live in AZ and believe me when I tell you, as far as McCain is concerned the rules simply don't apply to him

[Cville2008]

Why do you guys keep electing him. Even if we don't mention about his wife committing multiple felonies and being addicted to drugs. if it was O, OMG we would never hear the end of it. It would be on loop over and over again- but since these people have money and power they can get away with anything- even lying about taking our boys to war-

STOP ELECTING THIS PEOPLE

[Speakchic]

Yeah I'm sure they're claiming the "prove it" alibi. I mean if no one can provide "evidence" then I guess it didn't happen. That makes it clear that they did in fact break it or someone would have said otherwise.

[dillydawg]

Mc/BUSHPALIN is not be trusted. If he blantantly lies before he gets into office, why would anyone think he would tell the truth when he gets in office. He has become a shamefull human being.

[annieR]

McCain violated the no-campaigning pledge by criticizing Obama, more than once, on the service forum, for not having town halls with him. Obama passed up opportunities in the same forum to point out that John McCain did not support the new GI Bill, among other veterans' programs. I've lived in Arizona for 35 years, and I've known for a long time that John McCain is not an honorable man.

[TGrantE]

Please edit this headline.

I am a fierce Obama supporter. As such, it offends me that a story that says we don't know if John McCain ran attacks on 9/11 is given a headline that clearly says he did. We can't stoop to the level of lies the way he has or we lose our current clear moral authority. Don't give the other side ammo.

[NewArtz]

I agree. When I read the article I couldn't find the fact of the headline. What is that all about? McCain can be hit hard without missing like this. McCain hits hard but he misses all the time because he's not being honest. I found the headline confusing, and, if I were a Republican I would argue it was dishonest. As a Democrate I expect honesty from my candidate AND from journalists. The later expectation stretches my faith. Of course, I never expect honesty from Republicans, murderers or credit card companies.

[EvasDaddy]

I also agree that the title was misleading. That's just great, we're sounding like republicans. I've seen this on several articles lately. I see a headline that describes a total zinger of an article, which I read and reread, only to realize that the crucial point is missing, or that it was grossly exaggerated.

Please, isn't there someone at HuffPo that understands the importance of accuracy?

[Honestly22]

Oh the INDIGNATION!

I am beginning to see a pattern developing here of trying to put Palin above reproach with self righteous indignation.

To suggest that Palin is above scrutiny is to suggest that all voters cast their ballots as uninformed.

Yes, how dare they ask Palin any questions she may not have an answer too.

As a women that has spent most of her career in a male dominated field I find this self righteous indignitry as a camouflage for weaknesses.

As Palin has stated herself,referring to Hillary "whining does nothing for women"

[Bettysdad]

Since Nixon, Republicans can run only two kinds of ads : Negative or lies.

[LIBSDOA]

And they always win, . Tell your canidate to stop complaining, strap on a pair and fight back...

[HadEnoughCrap]

so you want a POTUS who fights dirty? that's pathetic

[lovintheconstitution]

bull****!!!!! Tell YOUR candidate to stop perjuring himself and allowing his Veep selection to continue to perjure herself too!! This is simple stuff here...have we forgotten that lying and deceipt are character traits of unethical people?? do we REALLY want MORE lack o'ethics leading this nation?

frankly I want her and her gaggle of unruly children to go back to "the great state of Alaska" and crawl back in their cave and hibernate til spring...take a couple books and learn something while they're at it!

[whiteboyblues]

McCain has been the one complaining the most. But who cares, REPUBLICANS ARE THE PARTY THAT WRECKED AMERICA!

[jaybs]

What can we expect from McCain only to be disrespectful to the agreement not to campaign on 9/11 - the man is completely out of his depth and daily shows is he far too ailing for the post of Commander in Chief and it is totally frightening that his running mate Palin could have her hand on the trigger, watching her first live interview last night she has not a clue about McCain policy and was making up policy as she went long!

[2bad]

I see several posts here about what kind ads Obama should responding with. I think the only way to make sure the public knows about the lies is during the debates. That's when he can call McSurge out and make him repeat the BS in his ads to his face!