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

[rshrink]

When you have nothing, you use manipulation. McCain has nothing to offer this country at this time. His only hope for election is that his manipulations work. Will Americans fall for it? They fell for Bush two times. He also had nothing to offer but hell and heartache, pain and suffering. Americans apparently in adequate numbers, voted for Bush a 2nd time, because of swift boat and Kerry's long face. Nothing like substance, is there? Kerry served in Viet Nam, Bush ducked out and campaigned for his daddy. Bush won, go figure. McCain rises at least to the same level of incompetence as Bush, perhaps worse now with his daily gaffes and flip flops. At least Bush was consistent in his bad judgment and bad policies. People need to focus this time on intentions and judgment. Senator Obama has insightful intentions and excellent judgment, both required to lead. Don't be fooled again, vote for Obama.

[GaylaH]

Nicely put.

[Evoxx]

And Obama's fearmongering about Social Security? He could write books on Chicago style political manipulation.

[SwingVoter]

This first time I saw the Ad, my first thought was race bating. So nothing new here; Limbaugh and Hannity does it everyday. Now race bating is not the same as being racist, so lets not confuse the two. Sharpton and Jackson Sr. have race baited for years. The difference here is McCain is running for President and he ought to be ashamed of himself.

[cinemabon]

LImbaugh and Hannity DO it every day, not does.

[SwingVoter]

subject/verb...not agreeing...I blame the public school system. Just kidding...I was too eager to get my point across.

[jrterrier]

of course race baiting is being racist. people who aren't racists don't race bait.

so when gov sebelius explains obama's polls numbers by saying it's caused by racists who won't vote for obama, is that racist or race baiting? i wonder how she explains obama's rise in the polls this week?

or when obama runs an ad in spanish linking mccain to words taken out of context by limbaugh made to sound as if mccain approves of calling mexicans stupid and unqualified, what do you call that? where is the time magazine article by tumulty accusing obama of inserting racial and ethnic overtones into the campaign?

and when the obama campaigns agrees with those who called hillary a racist or using the race card because she praised LBJ's role in passing the Civil Rights act, that is not inserting the race card into the campaign?

this is garbage and it doesn't help obama. it is offensive to any person who has a sense of right and wrong and fair play, black, white or any shade in between.

[Paul Peete - Huffpost Blogger]

Get real! the sleaze coming out of McCain's camp threatens to make them the laughing stock of all media but those low lifes like Hannity and Limbaugh. The Obama campaign is on to the issues that matter. America will overlook race when their life is threatened. Who these days objects to a black policeman answering a crime emergency, or a black surgeon saving a life. Our economic life is on the line and Obama is offering real solutions, not the lowest type attacks that McCain and company deliver.

[raskolnikov72]

CNN repeated the BS "adviser" line last night.

[LeeCalif]

I'm White and yes, that ad is tinged with suggestive racism.

[naschkatze]

I have a sense that the crowds who rally to McCain's political appearances are in large part racist. Fortunately, McCain draws much smaller groups than Obama, and I infer from this that racists are a segment of this country but no long the majority. In light of the serious problems facing this country and the very obvious superiority of Obama's ideas to McCain's slogans, this is probably the best chance we have of race not being the central issue of an election. As for the racists, when Obama wins, I wish there could be some way of separating out the racists from the aid most citizens of this country will need in some form or another. Let them eat their racism then.

[jrterrier]

how can you seriously write this? is saying that "we are the ones we've been waiting for" a slogan or a superior idea?

it is not racist to have concerns that in this dangerous and fluctualing world, voting for a man as president whose sole national experience is a first-term senator, who's been running for president almost from the day he was sworn in as a senator? and don't tell me that naming biden takes care of it -- that's how W shored up his lack of foreign relations experience by picking an older white man, with supposed experience. and one speech in 2002, where he got it right on the war doesn't make up for the fact that he got it wrong on the surge or failed to vote on the iranian revolutionary guard vote; or who has never run a business, an institution or had any other executive experience.

[naschkatze]

I think you have gotten a bit off topic, but so be it, and there is no comparison between the intelligence and judgment Obama has shown to be found in McCain. I am white, and I am completely color-blind when it comes to voting for Obama.

[microbrother]

Perhaps I am only stating the obvious here, but I will state it anyway. But first, let us dismiss with all of the perfunctory excuses (e.g. lack of experience, he’s unknown, elitism, exotic) for why Senator Barack Obama is deemed not acceptable by a greater percentage of the American electorate and state it like it truly is: Race…okay…he is black!

Today, the whole world is laughing at the stupidity and racism of this symbol of freedom called America. After the meteoric blunder of the Bush Administration for the last eight years, for what other reason could this election cycle be so close?

Now, there it is: Race.

America would rather shoot itself in the foot before it would elect one of the most intelligent and able men that this country has produced who seeks the highest office in the land. A recent poll stated that Americans between eighteen and thirty-nine years of age preferred Obama over McCain. That tells me that young people are beyond the "race" issue and accepting of Obama based on his character, intelligence and outlook for America. They are thinking about now and the future.

For those of you who are parents and are concerned about the future of your children, why stifle their future with more "Bush-think" because of your last century hang-ups? Most prudent parents want conditions better for their children than they had for themselves.

Some say the American electorate is stupid, prove them wrong……this time!

[rshrink]

I am much older than 39 and agree heartily with microbrother. I hope my age group comes around and won't be suckered by McCain.

[radical1]

I'm older, white, female & educated. I know McCain is a "lie in your face" woman hater.
And I know about his Keating Five crime that renders him completely unable & unwilling to repair any financial institutional collapse.

I hope we're educating the rest of the voters, several at a time, and in time for Obama '08. People need to be able to recognize when they're being lied to, and they need to understand how McCain can look anyone in the face and flat out lie.

[jrterrier]

america chose W over Kerry -- two white men -- at a time when most of W's flaws were already obvious for all to see.

[RealityCheck101]

All of you are so naive!!! He has an ad featuring Jim Johnson as well! Just because Raines happens to be black doesn't imply racism!

[rshrink]

And just because you call yourself reality check doesn't mean you really understand reality.

[Sonny James]

And in desperation,

MCain goes...where only few ships have ever gone before...

Race ( not space) the final frontier.

[Beranek]

"Poll: Racism among Dems hurting Obama" reads the headline on MSN's homepage. Hmmmm. I wonder if there is any connection between the thrust of this article and this political add?
Nooooooooo! John McCain wouldn't stoop that low! Palin would recoil in horror if she thought her campaign handlers were using the race card!
Trust in the goodness and morality of the Republican ticket! (About as much as you can trust them with your savings).

[foxfan]

The only people I ever see talking about race are the analysts and the commentators, unless you count Obama's remark about not looking like the President's on the currency. I think too many people see race becasue "they" want to bring it inoto the campaign.

[Beranek]

Move to either Fremont or El Paso county in Colorado (you know, the home of Focus on the Family). You might just change your tune.

[naschkatze]

The Christianists, as Andrew Sullivan calls them, yes I agree with you, there is a lot of racism in that crowd. They are McCain's base, but they are a minority themselves. Ironic.

[talkingclock]

Cindy McCain and John need to become more transparent and now that they are putting race into the campaign, tells us even more about them.

[Thom44]

THis was not the first ad of his to play the race card. You don't think the "Sex education for Kindergarten" wasn't tapping into an image of the sexualized black male?

[g4griffin]

No. I think you're pretty much alone on this one.

[mississagua]

There is nothing racist in this ad whatsoever. Anyone who suggests that, is playing a desperate don king role. There is no fight in this arena, so pack and go, the players attack and lie about many things, but there are no black and white issues here. You can neither aggrevate the dems or African Americans. When you rise above this point, you'll have a plate full of real issues predominantly about money not race, so keep your eyes on the prize.
I am not a republican, but fair is fair.

[Beranek]

Are you sure you're not a Republican? Hmmmmmmmmmm.

[BoardsOfCanada]

I think mississagua has somewhat of a point. I'm pretty liberal and think it's absurd to think McCain would be stupid enough to blatently inject race into this election. Theirs also an ad with Jim Johnson in it, so why is every ignoring this? This is the same as when the Republicans complained about the lipstick on a pig. Please get back to the economy were McCain can continue to demeanize himself.

[timetraveler2039]

REMINDER: Google "Keating Five" -- and remember the part played by Senator McCain -- keep repeating it "Keating Five", "Keating Five" -- pass it on, tell your friends to look it up -- "Keating Five"!!!!

[Ajax10]

To use the words of that infamous republican Clarance Thomas, looks like a "high tech lynching" to me.