Time: New McCain Attack Ad Plays Race Card

Karen Tumulty writes:

When politicians interject race into a campaign, they seldom do it directly. Consider McCain's new ad, which the campaign says it will be airing nationally ...

This is hardly subtle: Sinister images of two black men, followed by one of a vulnerable-looking elderly white woman.

Let me stipulate: Obama's Fannie Mae connections are completely fair game. But this ad doesn't even mention a far more significant tie--that of Jim Johnson, the former Fannie Mae chairman who had to resign as head of Obama's vice presidential search team after it was revealed he got a sweetheart deal on a mortgage from Countrywide Financial. Instead, it relies on a fleeting and tenuous reference in a Washington Post Style section story to suggest that Obama's principal economic adviser is former Fannie Mae Chairman Frank Raines. Why? One reason might be that Johnson is white; Raines is black.

The AP digs into the thin claim that Raines is an Obama adviser:

Obama's campaign says Raines is not an Obama adviser and that McCain's campaign knows it because Raines said so in an e-mail earlier this week to Carly Fiorina, a top McCain adviser. Obama's campaign provided The Associated Press with a copy of the e-mail.

"Carly: Is this true?" Raines asks above a forwarded note informing him that Fiorina was on television saying he was an Obama housing adviser. "I am not an adviser to the Obama campaign. Frank."

Obama's campaign says Fiorina did not respond.

McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said he was not aware of the e-mail to Fiorina, but noted that the Post reported on three occasions, between July 16 and Aug. 28, that Raines was advising Obama.

"If he was not advising, obviously someone somewhere along the way should have corrected the record," Rogers said.

Obama spokesman Bill Burton said he has since asked the Post for a correction. Burton said Obama only met Raines once briefly at an event, and that Raines sought an introductory meeting with Obama Senate aide Mike Strautmanis. At that meeting, Burton said no advice was sought from or given by Raines, who also had served as President Clinton's budget director.

Watch the ad:

Comments

[cmilburn]

I heard about this ad, read KT's article about it, and read all the comments about it before I saw it. So, when I finally saw it, I knew what I should be looking for. I gotta tell you, I see nothing racial about this ad. I think it's a coincidence (mostly) that Raines is black. The picture of the elderly woman at the end is simply an expressive picture of an elderly woman showing concern. Two scary black men ganging up on a white woman? Nah.

I then showed the ad to my wife who also saw no racial overtones in the ad. Understand we are both Obamaniacs and actively campaign for him. I'm 55, a Vietnam vet and I voted for Perot once. Having said that, we both give the McCain campaign a pass on this being a racial ad.

Having said that, it's still wrong and misleading. Guess who approved the bonuses and golden parachutes for both Johnson and Raines. Would it surprise you to know that person works in McCain's campaign?

[tm68]

I think this ad is directed at people who already hold suspicious, racist views of African-Americans, and so if you asked one of them what they deemed the message to be, it would be one of "thats what you get when you put black people in charge."

Luckily, what I think most of these comments have proven, is that this ad will be ineffective to those who do not share the above view. It doesn'tnecessarily make McCain a racist, but it makes him dishonorable to play on the irrational fears of racist people with this ad. The man is not fit to lead our country.

[DiscoStu]

So, Because McCain showed a picture of a black CEO he's racist? Is Obama racist for showing a picture of McCain? Sexist for showing a picture of Palin?
P.S. why is never anything on Huffpo on Biden? Is he really leaving?

[freedog]

The huff post represents the far left socialist/communist movement in the United States. Along with Moveon.org. They will be pulling the strings on all Obama decisions with Pelosi and Reid as the chief puppemasters.

[Outofnowhere]

The government takes over key financial institutions and you're still calling someone else socialists, weird.

[Vote For America]

Sept 20 Polling Update
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=62&ArticleName=Poll+Update+

Obama 289, McCain 249
http://voteforamerica.net/electoral.aspx

Their Possible Pasts
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=60&ArticleName=Their+Possible+Pasts

The Red November: An analysis on campaign marketing
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=50&ArticleName=The+Red+November

Cindy McCain's Fallacious Rebuttal
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=54&ArticleName=Cindy+McCain%27s+Fallacious+Rebuttal

[BillORights1776]

Black Man + Black Man - Money - Old White Woman = Scary!!

Here's an alternate take on McCain's newest ad:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK4q4j5JAfQ

[placeyourvote]

the only thing a racist has now is his hate, this adminstration has taken everything else from them.

bye bye america as you once knew it. hate will destroy you for good.

[dana94591]

I would laugh only it is too painful!!! I can't stand this stuff much longer. Why doesn't McBush come out and just say it: "are you ready to vote for a n-----r?" That is what they are getting at anyway. The latest code words are making me want to bust both McBush and Palinodrome upside the head.

[globalcitizenlinda]

Racism will not work for most voters, not this time!!!

[AbbieHoffman2]

I hope you are right. But if Obama isnt elected, however, it will be for this one reason. There are still a lot of ignorant racist bigots running around loose out there.

[ILOVELOSANGELES]

Of course the Republicans will try to make the election about race. They rolled out former Rep. Dick Armey last week to remind us that McCain can count on the "bubba vote" of rural white men. What I don't understand is why do these "good old boys" always vote against their own best interest. Rich white corporate republicans could not care less about them. The only thing they have in common is their hatred of non-whites.

[rmcreates]

Hey McCain, can we stop the conversation about the donations from Fannie and Freddie, after all the total sum that was donated is less than your wife paid for her dress at the RNC. Who did you say was the advocate for the middle class?

[Evoxx]

Obama took $126,349 from a company going belly up at taxpayers expense. He should give it back and apologize. Just because he and Chris Dodd were leaders among many who did this doesn't make it right. It's time for Obama to lead that group by giving the money back.

[tmartin1]

Um... the figure you posted was not contributions from the company to Obama - these monies were from private INDIVIDUALS who worked for the companies NOT lobbyists. Give it back? Huh? Please educate yourself.

[alijean]

McCain took $169,00.00 (approx) from directors, managers, ceos. from the same company.

[placeyourvote]

I'm an employee of a major company, one of the millions who have given to obama. If my company gets into trouble should my contribution be considered given by the company.

[alabaman]

Well, if the gloves are off now, then the Obama campaign, through its surrogates, should play the mental illnes card and portray McCain as the unstable, mentally impaired man that he is. Bush did it to him in 2000 with devasting effect. The Dems should do it now, especially since his cognitive impairment is so obvious.

[vegangoddess]

That's just it, Alabaman, it's so obvious!

no need to waste money on ads stating what everyone but the delusional has known or is starting to realize. Mc Cain is his own free advertising.

New Mc Cain slogan (voiced by that creepy, molester-sounding announcer):
"Want a whiff of Leadership and Integrity? Vote for the man of 1,000 faces...Jo­hn Mc Cain. (you never know who'll show up at the party)

Want REAL Leadership and Integrity (and not Hollywood fiction?) vote Obama and Biden '08

[pdsimdars]

Let's see.

When the discussion is on SIDE issues -- McCain wins.
When the discussion is on REAL issues -- Obama wins.

What part of this don't you get?

This kind of discussion gets us NOWHERE!!!

Why not try exercising some personal discipline and NOT put articles like this one up that ONLY HELP McCAIN?

[Evoxx]

Which real issue does Obama propose solutions that don't involve increased spending?

Couldn't his real issues involve anything other than bureaucracy and payoffs to radical buddies?

[redheaded1]

Real issue that hits our pocketbook, hurts America, and can represent a cost savings: ending the war in Iraq.

[billblow3]

you republicans are stuck on stupid, this country has been going down the drain since that (KILLER BUSH and CHENEY) stole the election. Is the american people better off now than they where 8years ago, HELLLLL NNNNNOOOOO!!!!!!, thanks to the republicans. And now that party is asking the american people for 4 more years of the same crap, DON'T BE STUPID AMERICA

[CaptainStormfield]

A former Fannie Mae executive has written to The New York Times in an effort to escalate Democrats' pushback to a McCain campaign ad accusing Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) of guilt by association with former officials of the mortgage giant.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20080919/pl_politico/13643

[Vote For America]

Sept 20 Polling Update
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=62&ArticleName=Poll+Update+

Obama 289, McCain 249
http://voteforamerica.net/electoral.aspx

Cindy McCain's Fallacious Rebuttal
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=54&ArticleName=Cindy+McCain%27s+Fallacious+Rebuttal

Their Possible Pasts
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=60&ArticleName=Their+Possible+Pasts

The Red November: An analysis on campaign marketing
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=50&ArticleName=The+Red+November

[3rdEye]

"Ciny McCain's Fallacious Rebuttal" was absolutely hilarious. If you are an English or a Math person, you'll be into this article. If you're neither like Cindy McCain, you won't get it. Maybe it's the pills she stole from charities and less fortunate countries through her personal charitable organization?

[elizajane2]

I'm just a tedious, not-very-r­acially-se­nsitive white gal. But when I saw the N.Y. Times report on this campaign ad in the newspaper this morning, I couldn't believe that they did NOT point out how blatantly the McCain campaign was playing on racist fears of, precisely, rich and powerful black men. It could hardly be more obvious, or more disgraceful.

[GravitonX]

Don't worry not many white people are racially-sensitive, either. They don't have to be, since discrimination based on race doesn't really effect them. Happy, though, that you could sit up and take notice on the occasion.

[goldnchyl]

Anyone who watched John McNsane this week and would still entrust the delicate balance of our economy, society and world reputation­/partnersh­ips, to him, is suffering from something extreme and severe. Particularly in contrast to the way that Obama has handled the crisis we are facing, which much of the media is ignoring. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmfeesYmx1Y

Any American citizen who would vote for McCain and his unfortunate, but telling, veep choice, given the condition of our country at this time, would be guilty, IMHO, of an act of treason.

[Evoxx]

When Obama and his wife were making more than a quarter million per year, he couln't fit a rental car on his credit card. He can't even manage his own budget. Now it's clear he took $126,349 from Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. This was second only to Sen. Chris Dodd.

Entrust Obama?

[vegangoddess]

took money? explain your outburst, please.

[cobobs]

Why are inocuous, intelligent comments I make always flagged by Huffington post and then disappear. You guys have a STUPID filter, and I know your stupid filter will flag this as well.

[BARRY08]

I HOPE WE AMERICANS DO NOT JUDGE THIS ELECTION
ON THE COLOUR OF THE SKIN OF OUR CANDIDATES

THAT WOULD BE A GROSS MISCONDUCT ON OUR PART

AND THE MOST UNPATRIOTIC THING WE WOULD EVER DO !

FELLOW AMERICANS BE WARN ..........­....

DO NOT ALLOW REPUBLICANS TO MAKE IT ABOUT RACE
THEY ARE TRYING TO REMIND YOU ABOUT IT

DO NOT ALLOW IT , I BEG YOU !

[ScoutandBuckGoodDogs]

No need to YELL. We are reading your comments. More likely to read them actually if you DON'T USE ALL CAPS AND BLIND US READERS!!!!!

Capiche?

[manofwar]

Whoever wrote the memo stating all CAPS are yelling is misinformed All Caps are for seniors that have trouble reading okay!