New DNC Ad Criticizes McCain Over Negative Attack Ads (VIDEO)

The DNC has released a new ad criticizing McCain for his aggressive turn towards negative campaigning. The spot ends with McCain, in a clip on the campaign trail from 2000, saying "if all you run is negative attack ads you don't have much of a vision for the future, or you're not ready to articulate it." As TPM notes, the McCain campaign's ad spending is now nearly 100 percent devoted to attack ads. Watch the DNC's new ad below.

CHYRON: "John McCain... readying a newly aggressive assault on Sen. Barack Obama's character." [Washington Post, 10/04/08]

VIDEO: Montage of McCain attack ads

CHYRON: John McCain is "looking forward to turning a page on this financial crisis." [Washington Post, 10/04/08]

VIDEO: Montage of McCain attack ads

CHYRON: McCain Campaign's Ad Spending Now Nearly 100 Percent Devoted to Attack Ads [Talking Points Memo, 10/3/08]

MCAIN: "I'm John McCain and I approved this message."

MCCAIN: "Uh, I, I just have to rely on the good judgment of the voters not to buy into these negative attack ads. Sooner or later, people are going to figure out if all you run is negative attack ads you don't have much of a vision for the future or you're not ready to articulate it." [The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, 2/21/2000]

CHYRON: John McCain: We Can't Afford More of the Same

Comments

[stuckintx]

I hate to say it, but this ad sounds like a McCain ad criticizing Obama. With the exception of the last 5 seconds which is silent, it favors McClaim. They need to pull it and fix it.

[white mende man]

i believe you are right.

[gbht12]

I guess old McCain forgot that he said that.

He forgot to tell his airhead VP also

[Matt7]

I don't usually like to second guess professionals from the sidelines, but I agree with many of the other posts: the ad misses the mark and needs re-tooling.

I listened with my eyes closed, and nothing "punched" until McCain's words at the end, i.e. I heard "Barack Obama, Barack Obama, Barack Obama," then a calm voice told me that if there are only negative attack ads, there's no vision for the future.

The goal was probably to leave that impression in the minds of viewers (as opposed to the negative attacks themselves). The problem is that those who choose to, will pretend they've never seen/heard a negative McCain ATTACK ad ("he's just telling the truth!"), and might apply the words to what they view as Obama's "negative ads" which push back at McCain's smears. (Disingenuous, I know).

How about leading the commercial with McCain's comment, and then contrast w/some audio (key words, or grating voice of either McCain or Palin delivering attacks), and maybe fewer but impressionable graphics, that demonstrate his contradicting his own words?

No disrespect to people who earn their living doing this. (You know there are always arm-chair critics on any issue). I just think the point of the ad was NOT strong or memorable enough. Clarify: "McCain FLIP FLOPS; says one thing and does another WHEN CONVENIENT; is ERRATIC and UNTRUSTWORTHY in his words and actions. SEE FOR YOURSELF."

I like the premise though.

[Madmac]

I liked the ad but they should have done it in reverse. Open with the ending first.

MCAIN: "I'm John McCain and I approved this message."

MCCAIN: "Uh, I, I just have to rely on the good judgment of the voters not to buy into these negative attack ads. Sooner or later, people are going to figure out if all you run is negative attack ads you don't have much of a vision for the future or you're not ready to articulate it." [The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, 2/21/2000]

CHYRON: "John McCain... readying a newly aggressive assault on Sen. Barack Obama's character." [Washington Post, 10/04/08]
VIDEO: Montage of McCain attack ads

CHYRON: John McCain is "looking forward to turning a page on this financial crisis." [Washington Post, 10/04/08]

VIDEO: Montage of McCain attack ads

CHYRON: McCain Campaign's Ad Spending Now Nearly 100 Percent Devoted to Attack Ads [Talking Points Memo, 10/3/08]

CHYRON: John McCain: We Can't Afford More of the Same

That is a much better commercial. It needs to be tightened from :38 secs to :25 to :30 secs. A tighter more powerful punch.

[brownforall]

Splice a bunch of things like>

Whos that Sen from South Carolina?
Gramm: "Of course Johns policys is the same as George Bushs"
Pawlenty: "Silence and no movement on being asked a question about the differences with Bush"
Jindal: "Silence and no movement on being asked a question about the differences with Bush"
Ridge: "John Bush"
Mccain: "Fundementals of our economy is still strong"
Mccain: "My anger didnt help my caimpaign"
Mccain: "BOMB BOMB BOMB Iran"
Mccain: "I did everything I could to get George Bush elected and re-elected"
Mccain: "Im a deregulater"


ANY CLIPS AND AT THE END!

IM JOHN MCCAIN AND I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE!
With the same picture in this ad!

[brownforall]

I think what would be very effective is whats at the end of the ad! See the part where they threw Mccain in there and said "Im John Mccain and I approve this message"

Imagine all the things that he has said or his surrogates has said.

Splice a bunch of things like>

Whos that Sen from South Carolina?
Gramm: "Of course Johns policys is the same as George Bushs"
Pawlenty: "Silence and no movement on being asked a question about the differences with Bush"
Jindal: "Silence and no movement on being asked a question about the differences with Bush"
Ridge: "John Bush"
Mccain: "Fundementals of our economy is still strong"
Mccain: "My anger didnt help my caimpaign"
Mccain: "BOMB BOMB BOMB Iran"
Mccain: "I did everything I could to get George Bush elected and re-elected"
Mccain: "Im a deregulater"


ANY CLIPS AND AT THE END!

IM JOHN MCCAIN AND I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE!
With the same picture in this ad!

[obamanation31]

Excellent! He probably is having a out of body experience.

[UCSD101]

Out of Body Experience - So is Sarah.

PASTOR LAYS HAND ON Palin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kj-on3kfWuE&feature=related

Countdown: Sarah Palin and the Preaching Witch Hunter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kzw7PvBrGKU&feature=related

Sarah Palin Witch Hunting Pastor Returns to Wasilla
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKEpsrwyiLk&feature=related


OBAMA-BIDEN 2008

[WAWTU31]

whats in those tax returns mcbush? gambling problem?

[Yohomegirl]

I guess he's just not ready to articulate it! Who would want to say that all they plan to do is continue Bush's plan, rob the poor, so as to let the rich keep sailing?

[mccainmakesberries]

DNC calling the kettle black.

http://tinyurl.com/4na3vz

[filo]

I got two words for you: President Obama

Get used to it ! You're going to hear that a lot in the next eight years.

Start slow.....practice saying it in front of a mirror and you'll have it down pat in no time !!

[Bertha40869]

Let it go. McCain started this, but Obama is going to finish it.

[enlighteninglad]

Mac is a phony from the word "go". Anyone that votes for him is either uninformed, misinformed or brainwashed. Now go make some berries of your own.

[voting4BO]

This ad does need a make over. I like the message of the ad, but too much is going on and the message is lost. The clip of him end the end is a perfect way to say...."In McCain's own words.... by running all of the negative attack ads, he has no plan for our country.

[LMT]

The REAL McBush:
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain

[Scarllatti]

I love when McGambler's own words are used against him. This ad is straight to the point. Please play this clip alongside every negative ad the McGambler's campaign puts out.
This old man is loosing his frea-k-i-n-g brains.

[filo]

That is about word for word what I was going to say.

[Ohg]

McCain's quest for power had distorted his reasoning - or power is more important than integrity. McCain is known for using anger to manage, manipulate, intimidate, and control others. .............
http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/10/04/mccains-world-view-power-and-control/

[obamasOHangel]

Not very good in my opinion. If anyone is like me, you're multi-tasking and barely looking at the television and having to read an ad is risky. You might hear the end where Mc is speaking but that looks better for HIM. This needs a re-do.

[ratcityreprobate]

Agree.

[enlighteninglad]

This isn't targeted to you though. It's targeted to people that actually pay attention to TV advertising (like my parents). If it weren't for the Internets I would never even see this ad or any other since I have a DVR and fast forward through the commercials.

[ATruthBeKnown]

This ad SUCKS !!!!!! The intent was great but the execution is POOR. They MUST have e gone to school with Palin. Bottom of the class performance.

Now what to do:

Drop the ad theme completely. Ain't worth it.

Replacement ads: Emphasize his erratic behavior and confusion.
Outline McCain's performance in this economic crisis. What did he do ? Other flips/confusion etc ...
Sunni Shite
Win what ?
War will be easy
Welcome us as liberators
Fundamentals of the economy are sound.
No pork in rescue !!!!
Where are the darn WMD's
Let's deregulate ...get the government out of the way ??

[enlighteninglad]

All that is coming. Be patient. Going full on negative right now would be detrimental. They need to balance the positive and the negative and work into this otherwise the real message will be lost and no one wil remember that O has a postive message. That would make all Mac's accusations of O running a negative campaign true to the people that swing.

[ATruthBeKnown]

I agree the response should be timed, balanced, and measured. I would like to see an ad that summarizes the erratic/confused issue.