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

[LarBear]

OK.... Let me think on some of this....

We have a "JOHN" supporting crappy trickle down, and Joe the Plumber... Got to be a Link there somewhere.­...

QUOTE: "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"?".­..........­.

Well Mac 'N Sarry.... Spreadin that thar wealth around works better for me, then spreadin poverty around... As to Washington "bankrupting us with their spending" you are speaking of you, John McCain... 26+ years of it.... Either you were ineffective for 26 years and need to resign, or you contributed to the mess...

The Fact that WE the People need to pay taxes to support Government is Patriotic.­.. The Fact is the Wealthy can afford to pay a larger percent... Example 30% of 100 million leaves 70 million to live on... ($5,833,33­3.33 / month to live on) 30% of 10 thousand a year leaves $7,000. ($583.33 / month to live on)... Perhaps the wealthy can afford to be a bit more "patriotic­".... However, in Fact and Deed the Wealthy are likely going to have Tax Accountants ( and Congress) finding ways to NOT pay the 30% in the first place...

[oldugly]

Dear larbear..

We have a "JOHN" supporting crappy trickle down, and Joe the Plumber... Got to be a Link there somewhere.­...
This is the funniest thing I have seen on the web in days, very well done!

[DeniseD]

Of course they are! The wealthy always whine about how high their taxes are, but there are so many loop holes, they end up paying a lesser percentage of their income than poor people. These Republican conservatives who whine about taxes are greedy little jerks.

[artwrite]

Alternate Headlines for this article:
Grumpy Turns Into Gumby.
Blinky Gets a Teleprompter.
"I Know I've Been Mean, But I Won't Hurt You Anymore."

[enlighteninglad]

"I Know I've Been Mean, But I Won't Hurt You Anymore."


I'll let the rabid dogs I've awakened do that for me.

[Middleclassvotingbloc]

Wrong Ad for McCain--This ad helps Obama more than it helps McCain--their has to be someone in McCain's camp that simply do not want him to win. Who is the insider sabotaging McCain's chances of winning?

[DeniseD]

My husband's theory is that they have a Democrat inside John's camp. LOL!

[enlighteninglad]

The well paid and "intelligent" operatives didn't want to work for Mac. He had little money, no ideas of his own and yells too much. Plus, they thought he was going to lose anyway and they didn't want to ruin their reputation (in the world of the right). So now he has all lobbyists that will ever only do things for themselves and those they represent and they don't know about running a political campaign for sh*t. Thus, confusion, internal conflict and a BAD presentation of a political "alternative" to what we have now.

[DieHardObamaSupporter]

Huffpo where is the new ad Obama has out this morning addressing this statement from Mac?

[eden4barack08]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/16/obama-ad-goes-after-mccai_n_135146.html

[KahneO]

I will give credit where its due --- McCain this about the only punch that you actual throw.

But didn't Obama upper cup you with his retilation.

[jsar70]

That music, his tone of voice, he sounds like the host of "Romper Room." "I see Billy, and Susan, and Joe the Plumber." Good grief.

[pb28]

Those aren’t plans those are statements. Those are empty words void of action and policy specifics. Don’t tell what, tell me how. Why would I trust one of guys responsible for the war in Iraq and the financial meltdown as an agent of change? McCain has never told us how his policies are different from Bush. He cant because they are exactly the same. McCain is the problem not the solution. For example, if you had surgery and doctor removed the wrong body part would you go back to that doctor for your next surgery?

McCain is right on one thing, we are sending billions of dollars to the Middle Eat every month. Unfortunately McCain does not recognize those dollars are going to support a war based on lies and against a country who never attacked us on 911

[MathIsTruth]

"I'll make the next four years better." That was addressed to Exxon-Mobile and Halliburton.

"Washington is making it worse." (Mocking) "spread the wealth around". These were addressed to the Republican base.

"Let's fight for America." That was addressed to me. And I will fight. I'm voting Obama.

[merle7]

i can't believe he for once did not mention a negative thing about Obama do you finally found out that negativity is not working for him, still never mentioning the middle class though typical republican philosophy

[Bruupo]

The poor and uneducated who the Republicans always trick into voting against their own interests don't aspire to the middle class. They're confident they're going to win the lottery one of these days and they hate the idea of state and federal governments stepping in to take half their winnings.

Republicans pray upon that alone to make poor people believe that income and capital gains work the same way, and that people who have actual earnings or assets are somehow getting taxed out of being rich. It's sad that anyone ever actually believes that people actively stay in a lower tax bracket because they somehow make more that way, or that graduated tax brackets somehow stifle incentive.

If those voters had any skill in math...

[eden4barack08]

He had the dig on Biden about taxes and patriotic though. McN@sty can never be 100% positive, he just can't.

By the way what's the problem with paying taxes being patriotic? It's every citizen's duty to pay for all the services of the country. Plus soldiers giving their life is patriotic, but paying taxes to pay for their safety is not?
For a Vet Pow, he sure doesn't get it, imo.

[white mende man]

You are John McCain and you should be ashamed you approved that message.

[hopefulinpa]

I hate when they say "spread the wealth around." It is not spreading it around. It is simply making the top 5% (the rich guys- mega rich) pay their fair share. I, as an average citizen, have every penny I make with the exception of health care (which McCain wants to tax me on that too) taxed while the rich do not. Having them pay tax on all their money is fair, not "spreading the wealth around." And if for aruguments sake. say it was..(whic­h it is not) what does it say about the Rep. to put that down? Most of them are the elite , the rich who are greedy and want to hold onto every penny. Their greed has not been more transparent than over the last 8 years.
OBAMA/BIDEN '08

[Aesthete]

Paying taxes is not about "spreading the wealth around." There are valid reasons why paying taxes is necessary. It is only logical that those who have enjoyed the greatest benefits and blessings should pay their fair share. It's also the Christian thing to do. We've got military troops abroad and all that goes with that to support. We've got an infrastructure to support unless we want all our roads and bridges to crumble and fall in. We want good schools for our children. We want security and good law enforcement, etc., etc. Are only those among us who have the lowest incomes to shoulder the entire tax burden while the rich get a free pass as they enjoy all the benefits?

[publanski]

I hope he does keep saying "spread the wealth around" because a vast majority of Americans, who are far from wealthy, probably think it's a good idea.

[aznurse]

With Oil companies making world record profits and getting tax breaks, I don't have a problem
with "spreading the wealth around".
As for "stand up with me" maybe he shouldn't have been sitting.

[DieHardObamaSupporter]

Mac just doesn't get it. It's morning, and thisf00L is reading bedtime stories.

[Tobiasism]

Not paying taxes and making overseas shell operations to avoid paying taxes is what?
Unpatriotic? I would think so.

And who has been Senator Washington, D.C.?

[Johnjlws]

No denying that was a great line for the maverick in last night's debate. Unfortunately, like all the substantive comments Obama sort of tossed it back at him and made him appear to be even more like Bush.

But I'm curious. Nineteen days out from the election do you want to be running a campaign still of who you are not?

Seems to me you'd want to be able to continue explaining your vision, talking about the specifics of your solutions and keeping your opponent occupied in his backyard, his states. A lot like what Obama is doing. My advice to the maverick's campaign, if I were advising, would be "follow the leader."