Obama Hits McCain's Foreign Car Ownership

This is micro-politics, but the Obama campaign is looking for leverage in Michigan by taking McCain to task for not being truthful about the number of foreign automobiles he owns.

This Sunday, Newsweek Magazine reported that McCain owned 13 vehicles, at least four of which were not domestic. The list included a Lexus, a 2005 Volkswagen convertible, a Honda sedan and a Toyota Prius for his daughter (perhaps bought by her).

Well, the composition of this fleet didn't jibe with a remark McCain made to a Detroit television station in which he claimed that he had "bought American literally all my life."

So, what does the Obama campaign do about it? They put together a lengthy memo on the matter and release a television ad aiming to undercut McCain's straight talk reputation.

Titled "Foreign Car," the spot will air in Michigan. It may seem like small potatoes in otherwise big-themed election. But with the state polls looking tighter than ever, leverage in the car wars may mean the difference in the Electoral College count.

Comments

[GMrules]

It is your duty and obligation as Americans to drive American made cars, especially GM. By not doing so, you are unpatriotic and unAmerican and should thereby revoke your rights to live in this country. GO move to Japan or Germany, you don;t belong here, just like import cars don't belong here.

Americans drive GM, and maybe Ford or Chrysler (Not as high quality or dependible as a GM but still) but they DO NOT drive imports.

An American Revolution

[rosodigital]

seems petty, but since its airing in Michigan only I suppose its okay...its about time he starting punching back...

[chyko]

I respect factual attack ads than made up ads championed by Mccain.

[Gary47]

Don't stop attacking, at least one new ad each day. Keep it up until the election. Throw them off balance and make them play defense continuously.

[truelie]

F**king awesome!!! That's how you kick ass. That's how you win elections. Joe Biden needs to learn from the pro and stay on message. This shows you why Barack is kicking ass the way Gore and Kerry never even came close and that's how he'll be the next president. The key here is you can't reason with a pig. You kick him hard in the groin.

[Concern2008]

Don't miss the point of the ad, the ad is about character.

[LeSamourai]

With the added bonus that the average American voter gets to find out that the REAL elitist is: JOHN McCAIN!!!

[Tom95134]

!00% right.

Just remember, when McCain says, "my friends", it's figure of speech because he isn't your friend.

[Concern2008]

The point isn't whether McCain owns foreign cars or not, that's his choice as a consumer. The issue is misleading the people. McCain could has easily said I support American products, I have several American made cars.

[UPT]

In Michigan it's considered greatly unpatriotic to own a foreign car. This is a good ad.

[strangelet]

On the one hand, this is a really petty ad. If McCain has 3 (or maybe 2) foreign nameplates out of his 13 cars and golf carts, that still means he has 10 (or maybe 11) American nameplates. And his daughter's car is a Prius. Who the heck can really object to that?

Yes, I know he said "literally", but average Americans misuse that word all the time. Actually, I think a lot of people think it MEANS "figuratively".

On the other hand, Michiganders do tend to view the matter of foreign cars through a different lens than most of the rest of the country, and the Obama ad IS in response to a McCain statement aimed directly at Michigan. And it's literally (and I do mean that) accurate, so no harm.

Actually, a possible positive sidenote is that it quietly reemphasizes the fact that McCain owns several times more vehicles than the average person -- even if most of them are US nameplate.

[kannadzuki]

Well said, Strangelet. My initial response to this clip was "This is really petty. Three out of 13 cars isn't such a big deal." But (unfortunately) I suspect that Obama's people are campaigning as honestly as they can while still hoping to be effective. Would've been dangerous if they didn't limit that ad to Michigan, though!

[mebble]

Rather trite. But I suppose that goes with the territory when you're running against endomorphs like McCain & the Hockey Mom.

[brenner21]

unbelievable trite, but then i've never been to detroit

[Gary47]

Well, this is about winning the election. Believe me, everyone will get over this period of being trite.

[maxwellinformed]

I own a Dodge. The gas mileage sucks.

[sanywhere]

you made a wrong choice on which dodge you choose then. why try to make a larger statement out of your misstep?

[nick1936]

I also own a dodge and get 29 mpg on the highway and 23 to 24 around town. God I love that small six on my magmun

[onegandolf1]

Oh, and I don't mean a Toyota (their quality rating sucks BTW) made in Tennessee (or wherever) the profit from them still goes to Japan. I mean a US Car .

[onegandolf1]

Ya know what? We would all be doing ourselves a favor by buying our vehicles from American manufacturers.

Not only is it foolish to buy Corn from your neighbor if you grow Corn yourself (unless you have so many orders for Corn that you can't supply enough to cover them-not the case with American made cars), but the Chevy Malabu was Consumer Reports (they always pan U.S.Cars) pick as best mid-size sedan.

Wake up America !!!!

PS I don't work for an auto maker- I teach HS Econ.

[strangelet]

Mmmm. I think you mean to say that we would all be doing the US economy (read: auto manufacturers) a favor. And I don't even agree with that.

Cars are not corn, and "we" are not the US automakers, so your example kinda crashes.

BTW, I will always try to find a reasonable American car for my needs. In fact, right now I own a Chevy 1500 pickup, a Suburban, a Mustang, and (guilty pleasure) a 1987 Porsche 951. I probably need to unload the Sub, and will replace it with the vehicle that best suits my requirements, thank you very much.

And please, CR does not "always pan U.S. cars". They pan BAD cars, some of which are U.S. nameplate.

I'm sorry to hear that you teach HS Economics.

[yeswecancan]

LIARS ... McCain and Palin are consummate LIARS and just guess nobody will find out. While their own actions are basically self-parody, check out this hilarious video for today's installment in "Educating Sarah":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nb8Y9ojenM

[Georgiapundit]

This is a start. I hate to see Obama's ads become almost as silly as McCain's. Since McCain does not have a leg up unless he goes negative, Obama has to hit him hard.

700Billion of a mess some voters let republicans get us into. We have given 1Trillion to the Iraq conquest; China owns much more of us. If McCain wins the election, we will get what we deserve, a nation handed over to Wall Street Corporations and wealthy folks like himself.

For Obama: Vote No To The Financial Bailout!