Obama Ad Calls Out McCain For Employing Lobbyists

In an ad that hasn't officially been released to reporters, the Obama campaign goes hard after John McCain for employing big-time lobbyists in high ranking positions.

The spot, entitled "Special Interest," leaked out on Friday despite what Democratic officials say was Obama's design of waiting until the weekend. The ad is indicative of the continued battle between the two candidates over who can best carry the mantle of reform.

"John McCain's chief adviser lobbies for oil companies, even from Russia and China. His campaign manager lobbies for corporations outsourcing American jobs. The campaign chairman he picked last year -- a bank lobbyist. If seven of McCain's top advisers are lobbyists, who do you think will run his White House? John McCain. We just can't afford more of the same."

The McCain campaign was out with a response immediately, claiming Obama was the one ineffectual when it came to taking on special interests.

"Suffering at the hands of his own underperforming, deeply partisan, do-nothing record, Barack Obama has hastily resorted to blatant hypocrisy or simple ignorance to his own lobby-driven campaign," said spokesman Tucker Bounds, spokesman. "The truth is Barack Obama's campaign is saddled with former lobbyists, and John McCain is the only candidate who has led the fight to root out the influence of corporate money in politics..."

So who is right? The fact that the question is still debated is, in itself, remarkable. David Donnelly, head of Campaign Money Watch, a national campaign finance watchdog group, offered the following statement regarding the back and forth.

"Under President Bush, Americans have witnessed Washington and the economy work well for the oil companies, the health insurance industry, and the big money players who can afford to hire one of John McCain's many lobbyists. During these difficult times, Americans want their government to listen to them, not to those who continue the pay-to-play system. Sadly, John McCain's campaign, as this ad describes, is captive to big money lobbyists, and he has refused in this campaign to support comprehensive policies that will clean up Washington."

Comments

[JennyA]

URGENT ---
This is what Barack needs to do more of...Spend the money on getting this message out. I will donate money to his campaign...right now. There needs to be an add addressing the following points:
-the lipstick on a pig issue...how McCain used it three times before, in one instance referring to Ms. Clinton
-how McCain vetoed support for veterans
-how McCain says he knows exactly how to catch Bin Laden and will do it when he's president; meaning the "country first" notion is another lie...and he's put Americans in danger for the last seven years
-the fact that he's supported most of Bush's policies -- this is huge; he's been distancing himself from Bush and we've allowed him to get away with it
-how he stands on morales and the good of the country, meanwhile he abandoned his wife leaving
-the Roe vs Wade issue; how he said it was a bad idea and use the clip from The View
-and so on...create the ads and litter the airwaves with them

[SunshineDaydream]

barack said this is "the first day of the rest of the campaign"

yay!!

ENOUGH!!!!!

[TrooAmerican]

RepUglicons always, when they are called out on their lack of integrity, always try their best to add in the dems as the same as them, even though the situations are TOTALLY different and completely one sided in how bad they are against the Pubs.

[mnash]

Which one said after JM made a gaffe said, "He, meaning JM, doesn't speak for the campaign." So who do you think runs that campaign???? BINGO!!!!

[Palinland]

Douglas Holtz-Eakin, McCain’s chief economic adviser, told Slate, “[McCain] has certainly I’m sure said things in town halls” that don’t jibe perfectly with his written plan. But that doesn’t mean it’s official.

Got that? If we want to better understand John McCain’s economic policies, we should overlook what John McCain says about his economic policies. McCain’s “official” positions don’t come from McCain.

John McCain does not speak for the John McCain campaign.

[StephanieF24]

Seriously, the best ad against McSame is McSame himself. He constantly contradicts himself.. i believe this is what you call talking out of both sides of the mouth?

This website has some excellent ads like this.. i wish we could see some other places besides these blogs.

http://therealmccain.com/

[TrooAmerican]

David Donnelly, head of Campaign Money Watch, a national campaign finance watchdog group, offered the following statement regarding the back and forth.

"Under President Bush, Americans have witnessed Washington and the economy work well for the oil companies, the health insurance industry, and the big money players who can afford to hire one of John McCain's many lobbyists. During these difficult times, Americans want their government to listen to them, not to those who continue the pay-to-play system. Sadly, John McCain's campaign, as this ad describes, is captive to big money lobbyists, and he has refused in this campaign to support comprehensive policies that will clean up Washington­."~~~~~~~~­~~~~~~~~~~­~~~~~

That was a powerful statement there.

Obama should do an ad showing an orgy like party of lobbyists with mccain/palin campaign signs all over, with important looking documents with writing on them "no bid contracts for friends of mCCain/palin" "reform this..." "more of the same" "want some more money? gotta playball with me first" with mcCain's pic on it, and then showin all his campaign staff's lobbying.

[boing007]

TrooAmerican,

Obama should do an ad showing an orgy like party of lobbyists with mccain/palin campaign signs all over, with important looking documents with writing on them "no bid contracts for friends of mCCain/palin" "reform this..." "more of the same" "want some more money? gotta playball with me first" with mcCain's pic on it, and then showin all his campaign staff's lobbying.

How about the people who created Spitting Image? Their Thatcher/Reagan sketch with the nuclear button was a classic.

[apoyo]

You're not voting for a man. You are voting for an administration.

[kmich718]

The administration reflects the man!

[yhgtup]

HEY!! HEY!! HEY!! Kick em in the a**, Barack! Boy oh boy, the Rethugs get EXTREMELY upset when the shoe is on the other foot. These ads take money, people!! Send money, & volunteer! This is the home-stretch! Only three more weeks to register voters. As I've said before, every true Barack supporter should register, AT LEAST, ten voters. Imagine how that would add up?

[spyda]

GREAT AD!! Keep them coming and fast as lightning!! Don't give them enough time to get pissed just keep flying them out the door!! And oh get alot tougher!!! LOL Way to go!! OBAMA/BIDEN'08

[MrGill]

Seems to me the Washington Gravy Train is hitched up to the Straight Talk Express.

[NavyVet30]

with the Moose Caboose hauling oil, along for the ride...

[bison1]

You don't have to lie on McCain to show corrupt he is --the truth says it all!

[Tobiasism]

Excellent ad
Much better than "1982".
1982 could benefit form adding the clip from today wherein McCain says that he is in D.C. and out of touch.

[PAposter]

I agree, and I think saying he can't use a computer, could offend Seniors. I'll do an informal poll with my parents and their friends, LOL! Might want to pull that and replace with the "Divorced from everyday problems". Just a thought, LOL!

[Palinland]

The President will need to use email and current technologies, at least understand them. I don't think seniors will be upset though , surely they want the leader of the free world to be on top of things.

[Bocababs]

Now -- you see these kind of ads....??? They have to keep coming and coming and coming. I will tell all the Democrats on this site that if you want them to keep coming...send what you can to the campaign today...even $3.00 to $5.00. And I will ask you all again....do you want to WIN or NOT???

[SunshineDaydream]

time and money

time and money

time and money

he can't do it on his own

[NicoleAnon]

And Axelrod wasn't a lobbyist? What exactly did he do for health companies again?

But wait - I forgot. When dems do it you can't call it be a "lobbyist" so we should call it something else insetead.

[TrooAmerican]

Right, we should call it something else...why? because Obama has like 2 connected lobbyists on his staff, and they have vetting responsibilities. McCain has like 142 lobbyists in his campaign and they run it.

[JR49]

Well you think 1 is the same number like 7 ? Oh I am sorry you passed Bush's program NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND...so it is good enough excuse that you can't count.

[Lotus19]

I'm also going to go the Planned Parenthood and Wildlife website and leave a note of thanks. Let them know we appreciate what they did!

[PAposter]

Absolutely.