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

[Mygirl]

McCain know this is his last chance to fullfill his obsession of becoming President so he will stoop lower than doggie doo to win. He is now counting on race to scare people into voting for him. I am waiting for the Obama camp to hit him with the Keating Five connection.

[toje]

Just so we're clear, when Democrats cry that racism is at play in this election, they are only admitting that it is their party who is racist. Republicans aren't going to vote for Obama because he's a freakin' democrat, not because he's black. So the only true fear of racism that dems have to fear is the possibility that it is their party that actually has the racists.

[nomoreofthesame]

what planet are you from? that rant is really d u m b

[brownforall]

If you have doubts and worries about voting for John Mccain than this video should help you out alot on reinforcing your vote.


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

[Mygirl]

Ask about John McCain's connection to the Keating Five scandal you smart person.

[brownforall]

Well I was hoping that if there was anyone on here that had on planning not voting for Obama that they would have seen the video. I was trying something diff but your right that was a wrong approach.

Mccain is the worst choice ever. He dont care about anybody except his GOPers.

Every Obama supporter spread this video!

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

[DoomSay]

Racism, now that is desperate. Any criticisms of a black man now is racism. So Obama criticizes McCain's 7 advisors that are white. Is that racism?

Remember Bill and Hillary are racists too.

[NPA]

You don't get it? I'll explain. The ad is false, the black guy never advised the biracial guy, but the white guy with Fannie Mae did. But using the false black guy is racist because they refused to use the white guy that did get the sweetheart deal from countryside. So why would McCain use the black guy (which is the wrong guy) over the white guy? RACISM

[DoomSay]

Raines has been boasting.

“…taken calls from Barack Obama’s presidential campaign seeking his advice on mortgage and housing policy matters.” (Anita Huslin, “On The Outside Now, Watching Fannie Falter,” The Washington Post, 7/16/08)

“Two Members Of Mr. Obama’s Political Circle, James A. Johnson And Franklin D. Raines, Are Former Chief Executives Of Fannie Mae.” (Editorial, “Tough Decision Coming,” The Washington Post, 8/28/08)

Obama linked Limbaugh to McCain on immigration on Spanish Radio ads. McCain went against party and talk radio to support Kennedy McCain immigration bill.

Next link to Obama will be Jeremiah Wright

[Mygirl]

Next !

[JerCee]

No that is not racism. Blacks have only had the choice of Caucasions to criticize for many, many years; elect more minorities and they will be criticized too when necessary.

No, Bill and Hillary are not racists "too." Maybe they tried some tactics that were called racist, but they are not racist.

[DoomSay]

Blacks have many elected representatives in city council, shool boards, mayors, state legislators, congress. Where do you get off saying Blacks have only had the choice of Caucasians. I am voting for Alan Keyes for president and he is black.

http://www.americasrevival.com/index.php

[Beranek]

As any criticism of Palin is sexism. Funny how the Republicans en mass have become the party of woman's lib. Then again it's pathetic, not funny.

[dlbdpb]

I am a 67 yr old white woman, so I have seen many many elections, but this is the most important one in my lifetime. If we don't elect Obama, we will have missed the chance to do the right thing for this country, and this world. If there are still so many racists out there, and it seems there are, then hopefully they might each have a friend who can see past the color and try to help them do the right thing.
If you cannot bring yourself to vote for a half black man, then do not vote, but please do not destroy the country for the rest of us.

[Lil-Vette]

Thank you, I totally agree. This is the U.S. chance to get right with GOD.

[talkingclock]

I also agree.

[foxfan]

I think that Obama is actually th nominee says a lot about how far we have come as a nation. The few people I know who won't vote for Obama "because he's black" are not troubled by Obama himself as much as an image they have of racists and rabble rousers like Al Sharpton. I think we are maybe one generation away from having a truly race free election.

[Christabel4]

This is ironic, because I was thinking that McCain is so desperate to win, so unscrupulous in his adopting the mantle of change and reform he has become like a black man putting on a white sheet to win an election. There are no depth to which he will not stoop. He is a menace and he needs to be stopped. Vote O.

[lovingpolitics]

Give me a break!!! The man is black!!!

[AgeofReason]

And your point is?

[robbor]

this is off the subject of the political ad described above but lately i've been thinking were are entering a new level of servitude no seen since the days of slavery. This form of slavery is in the form of finances; financial servitude.

For the last couple of years talking head economics people have said the expense of the Iraq war combined with our national debt is going to be paid by us and our grandchildren. This week's bail outs have added to the pile we the people have been asked to pay, without our approval. I think we can safely say that the debt will take the earnings of many, many of our generations to come.

I hope this isn't true. Perhaps there can be an unexpected explosion of prosperity after Obama takes the wheel.

[thespy]

McCain's "I'll do ANYTHING to win" attitude is scary. You would think, after the way Team Bush smeared him back in 2000, he'd have a little more integrity. Guess not. And on a lighter, only loosely related to McCain (aka white-haired dude) note - check this out, it's pretty good:

http://givemeamillionparishilton.com/

I want to see her do it so pass it on!

Good weekend to all!

The Spy.

[highlyamused]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/20/opinion/20blow.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

"It turns out that the Republican enthusiasm for Sarah Palin is just as superficial as she is. They were so eager for someone to cheer for (because they really don’t like you) that they dove face first into the Palin mirage. But, on the issues, even they worry about her."

[grizhead63]

And this is only Mid-September.

[aware4O]

OH MY GOD.

This is scary stuff. Veeeeery scary!

Please take a look and lets reverse this tendancy

Let's prove them wrong.

Is this America in 2008???????????

http://news.yahoo.com/page/election-2008-political-pulse-obama-race

[boing007]

Tucker is so young, he'll say and do anything that doesn't make sense or is insensitive.

His loyalty to McCain is boundless and unshakeable.

[bish66]

It was just a question of time when the Obama campaign would bring up the race card again. Worked well enough against Clinton in the Primaries, so why not use it against McCain.

Guess they just waited for the next problem to pop up, like Obama's strong and various ties to Fannie & Freddie. Just to distract from his nakedness on the issue, the race card has to be played again...

Problem is, already 90% of the black voters lean Democratic, so there is little gain for Obama. It is just good enough to secure his bases for a few days. But, the debates are coming up and my guess is that we will see the race card back again, if Obama loses the debate.

[applespider]

I read this week that 19 of McCain's advisors and consultants are former Fannie and Freddie executives. Is this true, bish66?

Also, this is Time Magazine--specifically, Karen Tumulty--raising this issue, not Sen. Obama's campaign.

Should you check your facts before posting?

[LAcarlito]

Classic ReThuglican tactic to run a racist ad and get in front and try to call the other guy a racist first. It is impossible for either campaign to not have people involved from Fannie & Freddie, the funny thing is that Obama dropped Johnson right away after his Countrywide mortgage deal was revealed. Meanwhile, all of the senior McCain ties to Freddie/Fannie continue.

BTW, this is not the Obama campaign playing the race card, this is media analysts who are reviewing this ad and saying it has racial undertones. Get your facts straight! But I guess that is what makes you a goose-stepping ReThuglican, you just post the talking points and don't care what the facts are.

[galinha]

When did Time become Obama? get your facts right

[Beranek]

Give us a scenario of Obama losing the debate. On the issues? On his ability to articulate his positions? On his intelligence? On his record?
Now . . . look at McCain's issues, positions (if you can figure out which position he's taking), intelligence and record.
Yeah. Obama will really succumb to McCain the Magnificent.

[bcookie]

Do they actually believe we are that stupid....BE THE CHANGE