McCain Ad Distorts Obama, Day After Decrying Gotcha Journalism

John McCain is out with a new ad that accuses Barack Obama of making the same claim - "the fundamentals of the economy are strong" - that McCain himself was viciously criticized for just a week ago.

But the quote plucked by the McCain campaign is taken entirely out of context, just a day after the Arizona Republican himself decried "gotcha journalism" when it came to his running mate.

Here is the Obama quote McCain highlights: "We've got the long term fundamentals that will really make sure this economy grows."

And here is Obama's actual statement, which suggests exactly the opposite of what McCain alleges: mainly, that he believes the country must repair the economy's long-term structure.

[We need] a plan that would extend expiring unemployment benefits. For those Americans who have lost their jobs and have been working hard to find a new one, but haven't found one yet. That's part of the change we need. And then after this immediate problem, we've got the long-term fundamentals that will really make sure this economy grows. Change means tax code that doesn't reward the lobbyists who wrote it, but the American workers and small businesses that deserve it. As President I am going to eliminate capital gains taxes for small businesses and start-ups.

Here is the full script of the ad, which the campaign says will be for the web.

ANNCR: Who's Barack Obama? First, Obama attacked McCain. Then said: BARACK OBAMA: "We've got the long term fundamentals that will really make sure this economy grows." ANNCR: Strong fundamentals? Is Obama saying McCain's right? Or is Obama saying his own attacks are shameless? Either way, Obama's a hypocrite.

Comments

[KOisGod]

How do you spell desperate li ars?

R e p u b l i c a n s

[LAThinker]

Add looneys

http://www.ucubd.com/Index.aspx?id=722&cid=3151

[stickshift]

McNoClass

[tsloan]

it is clear that the Straight Talk Express is now running without any wheels...s­kidding to a dramatic finish....

[libbygirl]

Just more evidence that McCain will do or say anything to get elected. I find myself constantly waiting to see what desperate move his campaign will make next. They seem to have no scuples at all. He is not someone I could ever be proud to call my President.

[grantlingel]

It is actually getting funny at how ridiculous McCain's ads are now... How desperate is he???

http://grantlingel.blogspot.com

[dawn2dusk]

deeply pathetic

[sg096]

that was so lame!

[Lulliloo]

Beyond the fact that it was taken totally out of context, McCain's substituting "strong" for "long term" fundamentals makes McCain's add a complete lie.
For goodness sake, what ever happened to the "truth in advertising" laws? Why isn't or why can't the Obama camp sue McCain for such lies and defamation of character?

[Actionmac]

makes his ad really stupid.

[tempting]

http://theboard.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/30/the-republican-party-having-brought-you-the-meltdown-now-blames-obama/

Americans are not as stupid as JM thinks we are!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Bullyness]

To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln - " If my opponent keeps lying about my record, I'm going to be forced to start telling the truth about his "

[kcnativnla]

"Obama's a hypocrite.­" - John McCain

I've been saying for weeks that, during one of the debates, Obama needs to look John McCain in the face, and assertively call him a LIAR. Yes, he needs to call John McCain, to his face, a LIAR. At the very least, he needs to say "John McCain is lying about my record, in the hope that the media and the people won't call him on it."

The strength of that charge will force the country - from the media, to main street, to focus on the legitimacy of that charge. The result will be a plus for Obama, having the guts to face his opponent and call him that to his face. No one will doubt his strength and his character for doing so, when John McCain is, in fact, lying.

[theone718]

This is almost as bad as that Iran ad. How can Mac sleep at night.

[Mainer36]

He takes Ambien regularly. No Joke. Messes with short term memory among other nasty side effects.

[GuyRC]

When you are 72 it is hard to stay awake during the day. Sleeping at night is no problem.

[dutt]

Imagine having an opponent you disagreed with but could still respect. McCain unfortunately is not that opponent.

[rr52]

Obama should sue for slander. That was taken out of context and is direct deceit.

[NJCPA]

It is just so Republican Party. I am sure both parties push the limits, but it seems the Repugs go right past decency with unending fervor. I can't wait until this is over and we only have to worry about FAUX News distorting everything.

[p marie]

"I didn't decide to run for president to start a national crusade for the political reforms I believed in or to run a campaign as if it were some grand act of patriotism. In truth, I wanted to be president because it had become my ambition to be president. . . . In truth, I'd had the ambition for a long time."

in his own words, from McCain's memoir

[Crit]

Wraps it up, doesn't it? Blind ambition. Great.