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

[Postroad]

I had said it when I watched the debates: Obama ought not begin a retort with "I agree" We agree and then go on to point differences. He ought simply to say You are wrong and here is why

[V4Vigilance]

I have to disagree and here's why. Which action looks more foolish; Obama occasionally agreeing with McSame or McSame attacking him for doing so? IMO, it's definitely the latter. Agreeing on small points while refusing to concede the larger issues reinforces Obama's confidence and reasonableness, while McSame continues to channel his inner "old man shouts at cloud".

[Egalitare]

Team McCain is reduced to arguing fine points in commercials. It will, at best, reassure supporters who came out of last night wondering why McCain didn't "wipe up the floor" with Obama.

Money essentially wasted on calming down the already converted is money that can't be used gaining converts. Expect more "Hail Mary" passes from Team McCain, as we are well into the 4th Quarter, and we KNOW that McCain has already burned a "time out."

[Icantbelieveher]

And he still stood up there and said less government, like these people can be trusted to police themselves! And more tax cuts for corporations and wealthy! Doesn't that sound like George Bush? Nothing he says or does makes any logical sense!

George Bush cut taxes when he came into office, and gave big corporations tax cuts. I know that the laws were changed in the Clinton era, but in the 6 years when they had majority, they never asked to have it changed. So tell me how more deregulation and more tax cuts will make our situation better rather than worse!

Middle America is not the one who is stupid, John!

[azakayaks]

"The laws were changed in the Clinton era ..
" True as far as the calandar dates, but don't forget that in Clintons's second term, when many of these regulations were changed or crippled, there was a Republican majority. Maybe better called the "Gingrich years".

[SeanHannity4Obama]

Obama debates like he's still at Harvard (intellectual debates)-- where you can cede a point and contrast another, on and on. I'm sure he has learned his lesson and will never do it again. I promise you, Mccain is gonna lose the coming debates by a bigger margin.

[GenXer]

In all honesty, the use of depate video and audio for ads should be banned.

[SeanHannity4Obama]

True, especially from a debate.

[Icantbelieveher]

I don't think you'll feel that way after the VP debate!

[Icantbelieveher]

If McCain is saying that Obama is agreeing with him, and then saying Obama's not ready to lead, is he saying that he, himself is not ready to lead?

[Heavenhelpusall]

Obama's zero commercial is so much more powerful. There were 90 minutes of debate, how many times did McCant say middle class? Zero

[stickshift]

A friend of mine who recently retired from the government was in a position to know more than a little bit about a lot of things...
She's quite a reserved person but back in the primary season without prompting she said to me...
"Of all the people up there [on the debate stage], Americans need to understand NOT John McCain."
Months later...Sarah Palin. This week...theatrics.

Vote for the Obama-Biden ticket on Nov 4.
Don't take chance with Mr. Unstable and Ms. Unable.

[BadChristian]

Gee...
Sound-bytes with a "time-out" half way through the sentence.

It's perfect, if you have an attention span of about 2 seconds.

[BadChristian]

"I'm John McCain and, after all my time hangin' with Washington elites, I think Americans are THIS stupid."

[08politicaljunkie]

Jed, put your ad on tv. It's great!

[justnotcricket]

Whilst overall it was pretty clear to me that Obama won the debate last night, I must admit that each time he started his response with "John McCain is right but..." it left me a little troubled. Maybe it was a little too conciliatory...? I get what he was trying to say and felt that he made his counterpoints very clearly but given McCain's attempt to paint Obama as naive and inexperienced, he was never going to give Obama the same courtesy in his responses.

Having said that, you're right....the ad is just stupid.

[Quinty]

That "but" resounded loudly. It always preceded an attack - one dignified by superior logic.

That whole business about "talking to terrorists" is a complete non issue which McCain dug up to make Obama look weak. Let's remember that when Bush 43 took over in 2001 one of his first acts was to end the talks with North Korea. They became "evil" so therefore we could no longer taint ourselves by dealing with them. At the time there had been some progress, and the North and South Koreans began to talk to each other. All that came to an abrupt end.

When Obama suggested "negotiations" he was undoubtedly thinking of that. The far right leapt upon that issue because you can't talk to "evil." Now the argument has been twisted into making Obama appear naive and inexperienced. As if the US would ever negotiate with anyone from a position of weakness, without preparations. If anything, gullibility reflects back on Bush 43.

Unfortunately, Obama didn't bring up this history in the debate last night. He missed many chances to nail McCain. Why? Perhaps because to some extent he's playing his cards close to his chest. On the basis (which McCain is exploiting) that anything which requires knowledge and more than a minute of thought might work against him. It would be considered elitist.

[didleijoe]

He was blasted hardcore on taxes & Iraq but of course he takes this out of context. McCain hears only what he wants to hear,

[jse17]

“ROFL ...for someone with a Harvard Degree ( WHERE ARE THOSE GRADES BTW) ... he sure doesn't appear very aware of his own spoken word or the overall effect it would have during the debate. Once again, take away the teleprompter and ... I rest my case.”

Alas my compromised and limited friend, Barack was the president of Harvard Law review. To further highlight Barack’s academic achievements, Law Review is the ultimate law school honor society ahead of even Moot Court membership. The president of law review is an elected position indicating an even greater honor. Thus, look elsewhere and perform far greater research before questioning a genius’ mental capability!

BTW, you do know that Mac finished 894 out of 899 in his class and asking where you finished if at all, is unnecessary!!!!!!

[Icantbelieveher]

But McCain is a POW and a reformer and a maverick! Just ask him,he'll tell you!!!!!

These people who can find a way to put someone down for being a community organizer and having a Harvard Degree are hilarious!! If McCain said up is down, they would argue that he's right!!!

Blind leading the blind!

[snesich]

Only extremely naive people would believe this ad. A second grader
could see through it. It's pretty cheesy---and patronizing to the
average voter. As if we can't see that these comments are edited and
taken out of context.

Does anyone---even strong McCain supporters---really, truly believe
that this ad could sway anyone who is still undecided? It may,
however, get undecided voters angry at McCain for talking down to
them and assuming they won't understand blatant manipulation when
they see it.

[Icantbelieveher]

With 57 million people watching the debate, I doubt that anyone thinks that McCain is right about anything! After choosing Palin as his VP, I doubt that anyone thinks Obama thinks he got that right! I don't have to have a Harvard Degree to see what a bon ehead move that was!

[Sadie1976]

Pretty sad world when a man acting like a gracious gentleman is seen as weak.
So, are they saying anyone who agrees with McCain apparently has something wrong with them? I see their point!

[eze]

I'm sorry, I don't get it. Even if you accept the premise (that Obama agrees with McCain on everything). that hardly puts McCain in a position to say he's not ready to lead. At least when Biden ran his "I agree with Joe" ad, it was about how he must be right because everyone agrees with him, not how everyone must be stupid because they agreed with him. (I'm remainded of Graucho Marx's old line about never joining a club that would have a guy like him as a member.)

It's like they had the conclusion ready, never found a gotcha moment, so they just stuck in something else without bothering to change the ending. Really embarrassing (worse than Barack's internet ad by a mile).

[Icantbelieveher]

You're right! If McCain is saying that Obama is agreeing with him, and then saying Obama's not ready to lead, is he saying that he, himself is not ready to lead?

[rksu747]

It amazes me that these guys are anywhere near close in the polls! This is how I know that America is still messed up on race! John McCain on one hand talks about how government spending is out of control yet he wants to continue a war that costs America 10 billion dollars a month! Spain got bombed and pulled out! No one is really helping us and no one is bankrupting our country like Bush and McCain would have it! We cannot keep doing this! The bank is broken! The jobs are gone and no one can afford a decent education!

People are nuts! This notion of losing a war as being too painful for America's ego is baffling and more so embarrassing for those of us with brains! We lost in Vietnam and only now agree that we should not have been there! All the evidence we have regarding Iraq and al-Qaeda has told us from the begging that we should not be in Iraq. Iran is going to get nuclear weapons because of our foreign policy and lets not forget about North Korea. If something doesn't happen soon, there will be an international race for nuclear weapons and the racist morons will only have themselves to blame when we allow a crazy few to kill all of us!