McCain Debate Ad Tries To Break From Bush

John McCain put out a one-minute ad Thursday morning that is noteworthy on a number of fronts: the Senator speaks directly into the camera, he admonishes the Bush years, and he never mentions Barack Obama by name.

Tilted "Fight," the spot seems transparent in its purpose: paint McCain as the candidate railing against Bush's record and Obama as the product of D.C. Note the quotes he highlights in the script.

"The last eight years haven't worked very well, have they?" the Senator says. "I'll make the next four better. Your savings, your job and your financial security are under siege. Washington is making it worse -- bankrupting us with their spending. Telling us paying higher taxes is "patriotic"? And saying we need to "spread the wealth around"?"

It's interesting to note that hours before the McCain camp put out this spot, Barack Obama's team had an ad of its own reminding voters that the Arizona Republican has supported George Bush 90 percent of the time, often on the vital issues.

That ad, and McCain's record, have made it difficult for him to effectively break from his party leadership. It's hard to imagine that he will be able to do so in the next three weeks.

Comments

[Belgian Beer]

God, that was the most desperate and pleading campaign ad I've ever seen. It was almost as if he were saying, "Look, I'm not a disastrous choice. Please, believe me. I'm not so bad."

[Whinger]

John, you'll always be McSidekick to me, George W's shadow had to move over to make way for you!

Fair play to you John, you backed Bush right or wrong, veterans didn't matter, the country didn't matter!

[ominous]

that was a year of my life i'll never get back.

[PCdoc]

what is with his voice? He sounds like he's really talking down to voters, like he's reading a story to a little kid. Sorry John, your bedtime story scares the h#ll out of most of us

[Artised]

And the music? This looks and sounds like one of those life insurance pitches to seniors that someone like Ed McMahan would do...

[enlighteninglad]

Or blood pressure medicine with side effects worse than the disease.

[Esot3ric]

I feel the same way about his voice. It has a very condescending quality to it, as if the listener is stupid and he is trying to politely tell them so. Barf.

[PCdoc]

and the odd facial expressions he makes at the end. Very odd

[Montanan4Obama]

Paying taxes is patriotic. If people do not want to pay, then they should forfeit their right to drive on the nations roads, play golf at public courses, and walk instead of fly. They should start digging fire line when flames lap at their door and rescue themselves from deadly hurricanes, because no one is coming to help them. We forget that taxes make a civilized society possible.

Republicans found cutting taxes was a home run for them politically and they have been running with it ever since. But, how do we pay for two wars and the troops we supposedly care so much about if no one pays taxes? Oh that’s right, everyone else should pay, just not me!

[DeniseD]

Absolutely! Great post.

[J-Rome]

You are absolutely on point!!!!

[Grunty1]

I agree. Let them pay zero taxes, but forfeit the right to use anything paid with, even partially, tax money.

So when they walk, they have to walk through the grass, because the roads and sidewalks are built and maintained with tax money. No eating FDA inspected food. No access to fire fighters or police. No access to court room justice.

[fivecard]

I agree. America needs to get its house in order. People who talk about how much they love America need to put their money where their mouth is. (By the way, that's an old-fashioned, conservative expression.)

When people in America achieve financial success, that's terrific--that's a big part of what America is all about--but then I think they also have an obligation to give back to their country, to re-invest in America. Our country is greater than the sum of its parts.

[Middleclassvotingbloc]

Big Story: McCain's statements about women health and rights to equal pay. These statements beg for an AD.

[SoonerThought]

Cheesy as Chester Cheetah.

[ginia51]

Warshington??
oh seems that Joe the plumber is related to Charles Keating and is not a registered voter...oh oh

[caterpol]

Is this his Mr. Rogers impression?

What a stark difference between the snarling McCain of the debates and the condescending boob in the ad. He needs better advisors.

[DeniseD]

If it is, he should have put on a cardigan, but, then again, maybe he would have seemed even creepier.

[eden4barack08]

Sorry Johnny, you can't run away from your own record. It's hanging around your neck.
Waste of an ad.

[whatsgoingon]

Thats a dumb ad since he helped to turn this countries economy into the mess it's in now.

[Gardinia]

Mccain said "Sarah palin is a role model"?
Role Model to who?

[munki]

negative role model... someone you do not wish to ruin woman in politics

[Grunty1]

Thank you for reminding me!

THAT was the comment that made me literally vomit in my mouth during the debate!

[poco767c]

90% of the time he voted with the last eight years.

McCain 08 :: Sure he crapped on your carpet, but he has a damp cloth to help clean up.

[IslandChica]

Okay, just laughed for 5 minutes on your carpet comment!!!

[patianneb]

when he tries to sound sincere, he whines.
we keep hearing how his advisors said he HAD to do this and he HAD to do that so even tho' he "hated" it, he did because they told him to.
Is that what mavericks do?

[SantaFeStars]

True, McCain is not Bush, but he's too damn close to Bush for comfort!