The Most Stupidest McCain Ad Ever?

John McCain is running a new campaign ad that actually attacks Barack Obama for agreeing with John McCain. This has to be the first time in history that a candidate ever went negative on his opponent for being too agreeable.

If the ad had a lighthearted, funny tone I think it could work. But instead, it is angry and sneering, just like John McCain.

Watch the ad:

Aside from the tone, the ad's problem is that it reinforces Obama's message that he is willing to work across party lines. Why in the world would a campaign put up an ad that says that the opposing candidate only cares about doing the right thing, not about winning the political battle.

Basically, McCain is accusing Obama of being a decent guy.

Moreover, everybody knows that Barack Obama has serious disagreements with John McCain, starting with Iraq -- where John McCain was unequivocally wrong:

Comments

[sandbag]

Re the Huffington video edited by John Lewiston: He should be working for Obama's advertising campaign. That was a thing of beauty and a joy forever.

[sandbag]

I apologize for getting Jed Lewison's name wrong. The video had returned to Replay and his name was gone. Apparently my short-term memory is not what it once was! My enthusiasm is not diminished because his name is Jed Lewison and NOT John Lewiston! The video was wonderful.

[scotia626]

the video is masterful and should be used by obama in an edited form as an ad. mcnobrain gets more credit for this fantastic "judgement" and as best i can tell all he ever said was if you overwhelm the iraq people and create a military state vilolence will go down. whoa nelly- that rocket science!! but its a meaningless endpoint and not in any shape or form a surrogate for victory- whatever that is- but victory is not a temporary reduction in violence enforced by a nonsustainable model.

i think his room is ready at the seniors villa.

[CaLaWyer]

I concur 100% That was excellent work. I really wish the Obama campaign would take the lead in doing this kind of thing. But I'm grateful to Mr. Lewiston for putting together that montage. It is absolutely devistating to McCain.

[Vermontah]

What's so transparently cynical about this is the fact that McCain tries to sell himself as someone who reaches across the aisle, someone honest enough to work with the other party. I thought this was a good thing. So here we have Obama, reaching across the aisle, acknowledging common ground, making the attempt, as he has since day 1 of this campaign, to bring people together, to unite people to a common cause and a common vision.

And all Mr. Maverick could do was sneer.

His childish, petulant and obviously pre-planned refusal to even glance at Obama even one time was the most disgusting display from a politician I have ever seen.

[StevenS786]

This ad strikes me as bad, short-sighted thinking by McCain's people:

1. It sets McCain up so that he can't agree with Obama in the upcoming debates, regardless of the proposition. Obama can now lob a cream puff and ask McCain to agree, and he'll have to either stick to his guns and look like an old crank, or commit the apparent crime of agreeing with an opponent.

2. We're just wrapping up 8 disastrous years with a guy who couldn't admit that he was wrong or that anyone else was right? McCain just set himself up for an obvious comparison to Bush.

I do wish that Obama had commented on the obvious tactics McCain was using in the debate. For example, much of McCain's rhetoric would have appeasred silly if Obama had said something like "I'm afraid that Senator McCain is confusing 'not understanding' with 'not agreeing'.

[Icantbelieveher]

You've made a great point! If McCain agrees with Obama that we need regulation, then he's not fit to lead, right? HAHAHAHAHAHA!

And now he'll have to stop stealing Obama's campaign!

[freedom0808]

Obama stated, "John you're correct", "John you're right"...but after stating that, he always expounded in additions to what he agreed with McCain on. By him stating that he agreed with McCain on certain points, then expounding on those points, he made McCain look as though he is narrow-minded and cannot see the entire picture.

This world is not alway just black & white. There are a lot of shades of gray out there. If you do not take those shades into consideration, a person will often make narrow-minded rush decisions without looking at the entire picture! Classic example of the McCain camp not thinking things through (in addition to the picking of Sarah Palin) and only seeing things in black & white is the latest campaign ad that reinforces Obama as the person that will bring people together by working across party lines.

[bellepepper02]

This ad can be so easily parodied. Obama should re-run this McCain ad, and simply change the ending. Instead of the tagline "Is Barack Obama Ready to Lead? No", they could ask "Is Barack Obama a Reckless Maverick? No". That would be funny cos it would start with McCain approving the message!

[Icantbelieveher]

I smell an SNL skit!

[dagnome27]

Dear McCain campaign, your BASE may be STOOPID enough to fall for this tripe, but independent voters are NOT. We're ALL sick of the lies of your campaign - You lose on this ploy...

[willynel]

I can't wait until next week.

Biden won't have to destroy her quickly. He will dismantle her gradually.

It's too bad Paul Newman won't be around to see it. He would love it.

By the way, it is true that he was #19 on Nixon's enemies list. He called it one of his biggest honors.

Cool, to the end.

R.I.P. Mr. Newman.

[Icantbelieveher]

That makes me so sad -- he was my fist crush at 13! I'm sad that he's gone. Talk about class! He and Joane had it all over!

We love you, Paul Newman!

[loax]

57 million people know this is a BS ad. McCain should be greatful that Obama said one nice thing about him. I sure as hell can't think of even one!

[oscartucker]

Someone compliments you, and you use it against him. This is different. So is McCain. His camp workers are like vultures, waiting for any tidbit.

[Optimist]

I hope they run this ad again and again; they're doing Obama's adverstising for him.

[Bad Daddy]

OMG.....McPalin is so out of touch. Kudo's to Jed Lewison for his excellent editing!! Bravo!!

An idea for Jed.....you have a picture of a tired looking J McCain and the sound in the background is a strong heartbeat as the picture fades out a picture of Sarah Palin comes into view.......the heart beat slows and then stops!!!!!! How frightening can reality be!!

Vote Obama / Biden for a better world in 2008!!!

[morefromLA]

The McCain campaign continues to redefine 'pitiful.'

[BluesDogLefty]

This is the dumbest thing I have ever seen

[ddb]

I think Obama's style was great. He is reasonable, gracious, and intelligent. Seems like someone who will listen to all sides and make considered decisions. Unlike McCain (and Bush), who will oppose people just based on who they are, not on what they say. And now we know McCain thinks being nasty and disagreeable is a leadership quality!
At one point during the debate (I can't remember the topic), Obama gave a great answer, and then McCain said "Sen. Obama doesn't understand" and repeated excatly the answer Obama gave. He just looked foolish.
I used to like McCain (as a person, not his pro-war politics) when he would appear on the Daily Show, but he now acts like a nasty old man -- reminds me of Dick Cheney.

[skiit]

Obama was jus making sure McCame felt a lil love. He sure as heck hasn't been getting of of that lately.

[Icantbelieveher]

Do him and Cindy look miserable and angry, or what?