Obama Ad Goes After McCain For Being Old, Incompetent

There has been talk in recent days that Barack Obama would get tougher in his campaigning following the September 11th détente between he and McCain. Sure enough, Friday morning the Senator released his most personalized attack ad yet.

Making overt references to McCain's age, the spot, titled "Still," calls the Republican nominee out-of-touch, showing footage of him from 1982 alongside screen shots of disco balls, a (Zach Morris-like) old school cell phone, a record player and a rubix cube. It even calls McCain out for his unfamiliarity with the Internet. And, as a parting jab, the ad uses footage of the Arizona Republican riding with George H.W. Bush in a golf cart.

"1982," reads the campaign. "John McCain goes to Washington. Things have changed in the last 26 years. But McCain hasn't. He admits he still doesn't know how to use a computer, can't send an email."

In addition to the "Still" spot, the Obama campaign released another ad Friday morning, this one more positive in nature, with the Senator speaking directly into the camera, defining change.

It could very well be that the latter spot, titled "Real Change" will be the one that airs in most places, while the more inflammatory "Still" is designed to grab the media's attention. Already, the McCain campaign is out with a response.

"What is becoming clear to the American people is the fact that Barack Obama has no record of bipartisan legislative accomplishment, no history of bucking his party and no chance of bringing change," wrote Tucker Bounds, spokesman McCain-Palin 2008. "The truth is, Barack Obama voted for $2.8 billion in corporate welfare for big oil companies, broke his pledge to voters on campaign finance and has personally requested nearly a billion dollars in pork barrel spending for his home state - making his message of 'change' nothing more than an empty campaign slogan."

Comments

[GrainOSand]

He is not going to hit them as I would. I am glad he shows such restraint.


It all comes down to the restraint a president needs to have versus the passion and emotion individual citizens have and how that passion and emotion may be good for them but not for an entire nation.


Think of the famous Bernard Shaw question to Dukakis:

"Governor, if Kitty Dukakis [his wife] were raped and murdered, would you favor an irrevocable death penalty for the killer?"

Now Dukakis went on to give an answer that from a principled standpoint was the truth. He did not frame his answer properly as Professor George Lakoff talked about. People could not identify with his answer. He did not communicate it well. It did not seem authentic.

His answer should have been, No Bernard, there would be no need for the death penalty because in a moment of passion I would shoot that fool myself. Most Americans could agree with such an answer even when followed up with, but as president I cannot allow myself to be moved by personal passions when it comes to doing the business of the mass of people. Where it concerns the death penalty a leader must practice restraint that an individual may find hard to practice.

We would be talking about two Dukakis terms right now if he had just said something like that. I cannot take credit for this line of thinking. I got it from Mario Cuomo.

[TheImpaler]

I don’t know if it is restraint, he just seems uncomfortable in a street fight. I’m in Chicago, we generally have reputation as being nicer than, let’s say, people from north east; however, his demeanor is uncharacteristically “soft”, even for a guy from Chicago! When I think about the south side of Chicago, where he used to work, very rough neighborhood, I can’t help but to wonder how did he survived? I think that his demeanor would be a great asset if elected, but right now it appears to be an impediment. BTW. I agree on the Kitty Dukakis rape question.

[jean22]

If you think Obama is soft than you don't know what real strength is.

[berrycooda]

What a stupid ad....
A lot of people don't know how to use a computer and don't even want to.
Why does that matter. He has enough people working for him that he doesn't have to do messaging.

Why not an ad showing Obama in diapers and saying he has to learn to crawl before he can walk the walk.

Still don't know what this has to do with issues. Where does Obama intend to get all the money he intends to give away. Most Gov't money comes from people who WORK and pay into the tax system.

[jnratliff]

Where does bush get all the money for his little war billions? berrycooda you are a nutball!

[NamvetPR]

A lot of people are not running for President, he certainly is. He's just a millionaire accustomed to be served in every possible way including the simple use of a computer.

[GrainOSand]

These are good spots; McCain is out of touch and he is fighting the old wars. He is attempting to place a 1950s template over America in 2008. The Sarah Palin choice as VP is a call back to the politics of old. Let us demonize the "black guy", "USING" -- “NOT UPLIFTING”, and “NOT GIVING REAL CREDIT AND CONCERN TO”, the white woman or any other woman, via a lynch mob mentality insinuation or spark of the “darkies are coming”; it is a component of a broader narrative web of perversion that the sickly in the GOP are attempting to weave.

McCain’s response concerning the issue in Georgia was a Cold War response that he wanted to heat up in the light of a brand new day. His bomb, bomb, bomb Iran was a flashback to Vietnam.

We have seen this before, some in America may fall for it, and we have seen that before. Let us hope that what we have seen is a dying past not a present cancer that threatens to sink a nations’ future; a nation already in perilous waters.

[Mattie]

I thought he was promising a new kind of politics. He's a uniter not a divider, he's all for hope and change. Gosh, who would have thought he's the same old same old! The man is as phony as the come. When his hope and change gimmick didn't work, he goes on the attack. He can't stand by one thing he has promised. FISA, Public Financing, Supporting Big Oil, Faith Based Initiatives, you name it he's changed his mind on it, or basically lied about it to get votes. He's quite the Uniter, just don't get in his way if' you're a woman, especially a working woman, he seems to get a special kick out of demeaning women who choose to work.

[PhDiva]

His wife is a working woman so you're wrong. Also, he has not choice but to defend himself after all of McCain's lies.

[SMAGGIE]

As I have stated before, Barack Hussein Obama has held his temper down for about as long as he can. SO, look out because that smiling sneer is about to change. I see that most of you are in favor of that, BUT look out, you don't know what you are asking for. As the saying goes "becareful what you ask for, because you might really get it".When he gets the change from the star face to his real face, I feel as though it will be a BIG difference. My opinion only!

[glittergirl]

Be careful what YOU wish for smaggie because if McCain and god forbid Palin get into office, we will continue to be in a war no one wanted, our wildlife and the environment will be in serious danger and the rich will keep on getting richer while the middle class and poor fall further into debt and hardship, and our relations with the rest of the world - the world we as a nation are a part of - will face certain unrest and who knows what else. McCain/Palin do not champion anyone but their own selves and what can be done to further their own dreams.

[PhDiva]

This is that old racist stereotype that all black people are angry beasts even if they seem nice and polite. It's racist and pathetic.

[mdmpo]

Please help get this defenders of the wildlife ad on the air. They've already got it in Ohio and they are trying in Florida. It's graphic. I can't see how anyone with a heart would vote for her.

http://actionfund.defenders.org/palinvideo

[OhioJan]

Sam Stein, you're a boob!

Exactly WHERE in the "1982" ad did you hear one WORD about Johnny McHatesAmericanWomen&Wolves being "too old" - as your headline implies? It very CLEARY says that Johnny McForrestall is 110% OUT OF TOUCH with us as Americans, as voters, and as citizens in the 21st century - ie: Technology (the humongous mobile phone), idealogy, ECONOMICALLY (hence, the reference to the booo$h policies/oil co. tax cuts). Holy Haliburton, Sam! It doesn't even reference his "incompetence" either!!! (Although it SHOULD've!!!)

Please, Sam, watch & learn from Dr. Rachel Maddow how to PROPERLY research & critique BEFORE you run off at the keyboard! Thanks SO much!!!

[SMAGGIE]

Whatever comes out as an ad from the McCain group, is always dirty?? Why do you think that the ads put out by OBAMA are not dirty? Anyone who talks ugly about an older person, will be paid back for that. IF GOD GIVES HIM THE GRACE TO LIVE, EVEN OBAMA MAY REACH THAT AGE. Of course I won't be living then, but I hope he remembers all the nasty, ugly things he has said, not only about McCain, but ALL OLD PEOPLE!

[Greg27]

my god. who is the ad agency????

are they trying to put mccain in the white house without an election???

[PhDiva]

Yes. It's just awful. They need to start over again.

[connecticutwriter]

I think Obama/Biden should fire their agency. These ads are all over the place. Here's the commercial they should run, right now:

Sarah Palin is a compelling figure, with an exciting life story.

But the McCain campaign is lying about her record.
She never sold the governor's plane on EBay. She ran for governor of Alaska on a platform strongly supporting the bridge to nowhere. And she has consistently led the pack of governors in requesting millions in earmark projects.

But the biggest lie is that she's ready to take over as President of the United States.
Sarah Palin has no background in national economics. Sarah Palin has a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism. Sarah Palin has no experience in foreign affairs or diplomacy -- she got her first passport just last year. But John McCain is willing to put her this close to running the most powerful nation in the world.

That's not just a lie -- it's an outrage.

[LightningJoe]

Good copy, writer. Short and sweet, and to the point.

[lordmi]

That is not true. What is a need to TWIST again?
I know PLENTY people around 70 easy with computer, emails, this blogs, etc.
remember - he is also not driving, prefers Cindy to.
and so on , and so on.
It is just ordinary life conservatives, REJECTING everything new. Ob Physical and physiological level.
He just can NOT make it.
So - what change do You expect ??????

[research]

McCain will bring Change for the worse.

[Greg27]

funny i read that about obi on rep blogs months ago.

so mccain DID steal the change argument right out the dems playbook. thank you for confirming that for us.

[misayo85]

The whole "doesn't even know how to use the internet" thing is probably going to work against him. My grandparents don't know how to use the internet, they don't even know how to use their cell phone. Come on Barack! This isn't you! I want to hear more about what you are going to do, not what McCain doesn't know how to do. Sell yourself, don't stoop to his Karl Rove politics. I did like the last one though, it didn't sound angry to me, it was more like "see, talk is cheap b/c the McCain campaign just stole my slogan" They were the ones who said you have to have more than hope, well you have to also show you aren't just all talk, and so far McCain/Palin have not shown me that.

[WildcatRob]

unless the only place that this gets played is on the internet...

[SMAGGIE]

Bluejay00234::


Who the heck is Plains and who is her husband?

[DasBoot]

I still think McCain's campaign is all tactics and no strategy. Unlike Bush in 2000 and 2004, he seems to change his overall message on the go, which might end up confusing enough voters not to trust him. Not that there was any reason to trust McCain in the first place, but that's how many voters think: "at least I know where candidate X is coming from." With McCain, you don't know: does he value experience or not? Will he continue Bush's economic policies or not?

So I agree with those who say Democrats need not panic (as if panic ever helped). But I like this add. It's simply a matter of honor to respond to a bully. Good for Obama.

[Azjhutch]

The reason we get hysterical in a close race is that if it is close, the republicans will steal it. It has to be a blow out.

[lordmi]

No, it is so, because we do NOT want to be fooled again.