Black Obama Fan in McCain's "The One" Ad Speaks Out

The first thing I noticed about Sen. John McCain's web video mocking Sen. Barack Obama as "The One" was the choice of crowds used to portray Obama fans as adoring. The images are faint, shrouded in heavenly clouds, but it looks like the admakers chose black crowds.

 

It's noteworthy, capping a week tinged with racial overtones.

 

Anyone who has ever traveled with Obama knows that he gets a more raucous reaction when he's speaking to predominantly black audiences, but the jumping up and down, crying and ear-splitting cheers are not limited in any way to one demographic.

 

After more than a year of covering Obama rallies, I've seen screaming (white) Obama fans in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Minnesota, and so on. Even in Berlin, the crowd chanting his name could have been transplanted from any rally back home.

 

He gets almost identical reactions upon introduction no matter where he is, and that's why I've started filming the crowd as he takes the stage.

 

The best example of the crowd reaction from my many days on the trail is Geneva Clark. Readers may remember I posted video I took of her in Cincinnati back in February. And I pulled it up on my YouTube page Friday to prove my point to a co-worker who questioned my theory about the crowds.

 

Here's the video - that's Clark in the blue shirt and black sweater. She's a volunteer for the campaign and spent most of the rally that day on her feet, jumping up and down and screaming. It's one of my favorite videos because it captures what so many scenes from the campaign trail are like. I even showed it to Obama later that day on his campaign plane, prompting him to joke, "it's a cult."

 

 

 

 

Watching the YouTube clip of Clark again on Friday, I realized why I'd noticed the quick few seconds of crowds in the McCain ad - one of the shots is from my video.

 

What's more, the heavenly seeming light shining down on the black man with Clark serves as a spotlight, while the many, equally excited white voters in the frame are impossible to see.

 

Here's a screen shot from my video:

 

 

And here's one from the McCain ad.

 

 

You can see the two crowds of mostly black voters at about 0:16.

 

 

 

 

I asked Clark to ask her thoughts on the video, and to see if she could put me in touch with her friend who is more prominently featured in the McCain ad. She said she was "offended" by it in part because "I feel that McCain is making fun of my Christian beliefs as well as my spiritual principals of love, dreams, and most of all Hope."

 

She wrote:

"Sen. McCain acts like Sen. Obama can not be charismatic and intelligent at the same time. I wonder why people are not in an uproar about this type of negative campaigns, I believe that these types of ads only make fun of Spiritual and/or religious people.

I also saw myself in that video, if you look closer, I am holding the hand of the person you refer to as my friend. I don't even know him, I never saw that guy before, we were just enjoying the moment of not only the possibility for making history, but for the first time since I have been engaged in the voting process, I have never been and felt this excited about any other candidate, black or white."

She said viewed the ad as desperate, and said McCain is "using the race card" along with "making fun of the American people who feel right now that all we have left is HOPE, because Faith is the substance of things to Hope for and the evidence of things not seen."

 

Maybe I'm too cynical, but my understanding of the way politics works is that no image is chosen by accident. Maybe some aren't researched in great detail (like Hillary Clinton's stock footage of a child who turned out to be an Obama supporter years later) but someone puts in the time to consider the best use of each individual shot.

 

I'd love to know why the McCain campaign quoted from Obama's speech in St. Paul, Minnesota the night he clinched the nomination but didn't choose this predominantly white crowd to depict the senator's adoring fans:

 

 

 

 

I had a story in Saturday's paper about the McCain ad. Read it here.

 

 

— Christina Bellantoni, national political reporter,
The Washington Times

 

Bookmark my blog at http://www.washingtontimes.com/weblogs/bellantoni

Find my latest stories here and visit my YouTube page.

 

Comments

[Bastic]

So why not have some fun with this. We want to believe that the average voter is smart enoug not to "buy" this stuff but i dont belive it.

So why cant the BHO campain create an ad that use the McCain images to say something like:

The other side belive that i am a latter day Moses parting the red-sea. We know they are afraid, but all i want do is part the red-tape that chokes Healthcare reform. To work to move to new land where we free from our dependence of foreign oil. To combine and use the creative genius of all to face and solve the many economic challenges we face and build for tomorrow. To work with our friends around the world and negotiate with nations that are now our adversaries to create common understanding.
etc

[sryuuza]

I love how this post mentions the girl from the Hillary ad who in the linked article states that she attended the Obama rally in Key Arena in Seattle, WA. Then later on in the post it has the "white" crowd footage from that very event at Key Arena... coincidence?

[Christina Bellantoni - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi there - Just to answer your question - the "white" crowd footage is actually from St. Paul, Minnesota. I've never been to the Key Arena.

[DetroitRedd]

This is ridiculous! This is the lowest anyone can go. To play on the fears and ignorance of people is the most detestable thing a person can do. I don't know who's worse the person that stoops to that level of sinsterism or the people that fall for it. People need to wake up and see that any person who would go to such lengths to assassinate someone's character does not have the best interest of the American people at heart.

McCain's ad is indicative of the same old dirty politricks the republicans have always dealt in. We, the American people, need to realize that just because we have traditions that it doesn't mean that they were right traditions. We need a new tradition of honesty and a government that will work with the people and not oppress the people.

Lastly, the DNC needs to start speaking up for Obama. Why are they leaving him out to fend for himself? Obama is representing the party. You would think the DNC would have his back!

[magen]

Americans are dying for change.

Nobody goes crazy for McSame at any of his rallies.

[jsinclair]

Good article and love Clark's comment. So touching that she didn't even KNOW that man who joined hands with her--that they were just caught up in the joy and inspiration of hearing a great man.

McCain doesn't only NOT bring Hope (and mocks it). He doesn't bring joy, inspiration, excitement, or idealism either.

And there's no question these images (like all ads) were carefully chosen and made as subtle as possible to still get the racism across.

They may talk about "Inexperience" vs. "Experience" (conveniently leaving out the lobbyists, Keaton 5 and corruption part of the equation).

But the -real- message is "Hope" vs. "Fear". Republicans have won on fear many times before. Hopefully, people won't fall for it this time.

[demfriend]

I hear people say that Mccain cannot do anything without playing the "race card" because obviously Obama is black and Mccain white. I always tell them they have to show me proof that Obama has ever, ever run his race as a black man. When we have history of Jessie Jackson running or even Al Sharpton running they ran as BLACK men. I have only see Obama running as a man period. The recent tingesof race Mccain has been throwing at the wall where anyone can pick or choose which way the ad/statements go is the way he has chosen to use race. Just enough racist to color it but not so blatent as to be called for sure racist but enough to raise the doubts.

[larmarch5]

These are outstanding photos from Scout Tufankjian, a photojournalist who has traveled the Obama circuit.
http://www.scouttufankjian.com/main.php
They show a fantastic mix of people at his gatherings, small and large. Each section has a slide show. Note: these are candid shots, but definitely partisan. Still they are beautiful and exciting. I love the tributes to his secret service and security staffs. And the kids' pictures are lovely. I don't know if she's on the Obama payroll or part of the media, but every picture is a winner.

[ericmiami]

Just wanted to echo larmarch5's sentiments on the photos at the above link. They are stunning and emotional. World-class photo work and great fun to look at.

[bigbenny]

Beautiful

[serena1313]

Thank You for sharing that link. The photographs are beautiful.

If asked, after looking at the slides, to describe Obama in 3 words based solely on the photos: sincere, thoughtful and happy.

Obama is a unique and special person. Inasmuch as people have tried to tear him down he does not give up. It's amazing. I do not know anyone who could endure the type of attacks that have been made on Obama, his integrity and character by the press, his opponents, colleagues, and people in general. However he has shown nothing short of grace under fire.

His facial expressions and his body language are consistent with his messages. Those who are blind to see him for who he is do so because they choose to. Obama's inner strength and commitment to a better world have been on full display, yet many closed their minds to see that. That is astonishing to me!

Obama's vision is our vision. McCain's isn't.

[harriscrl3]

You know many people keep saying Oh you bring race into everything or this is not racist or as Bill Clinton I'm not racist. But thats is not what people are really saying. They are not calling you racist what they are saying is that you are using racial undertones to reach the right audience. Its a political strategy which is fine you know all fair's in war love and politics I guess but at least have the guts to OWN UP TO IT. Dont insult people's intelligence by using racial overtones and then say Oh I never bought race into it the other guy did. Thats what makes it disingenious to me. You can play on racial division to win election thats fine whatever works but OWN IT!! Thats my problem with Bill and Hilary. Own it and understand why the AA community is upset dont insult their intelligence and say it has nothing to do with race.

Carol

[Daly]

Next they will say that the large number of black soldiers in Iraq should be disiplined for political supporting a candidate.
If they want to show black then the soldiers who were in all colors but more represented a face of color in the Obama trip to Iraq would be a nice backdrop to show exactly who McCain is against providing benefits for.

[vschicago]

As Bob Herbert said, the GOP has visciously used race for years, decades. And if the GOP wins because of it, then the rest of the world will feel justified in executing those long-delayed plans against the United States. If Americans come to their senses and vote against this racist nonsense, maybe America will have a little more grace time to get back on track.

[Pupadup4oBama]

Christina, thank you for this post.
I LOVE Ms Clark - validating that one person CAN make a difference.

As for some of the "commenters" on the Wash Times article - they crack me up...hand picked audience...right - 10,000 people were hand picked, 75,000 people were hand picked, 250,000! people were hand picked. As opposed to McMacandCheesy.

[Superb1]

Whew, I thought it just me being my cynical self in noting that the crowd was predominately Black. Of course MINI-b (mini-bush) and his minions chose this deliberately.

[Bulldoglover]

To the people who vote party only and support McCain...good luck with the next 4 years if he wins. You win too....higher economy, your home price continues to drop, you get to pay over 4.00 a gal. for your gas, you get to know in your hearts that no longer can a woman get a legal abortion...it will only be conducted in a back alley somewhere but hey it's not yur back yard! You get to go to bed at night with the blood of soldiers on your hands and best of all? You get to elected a President who calls women names and thinks viagra is a medical condition while birth control for poor women is not.....kinda makes a circle with no abortion...see the stupidity?

[Candyx]

what I continue to say over and over until I drive this point home...this is who John McCain is. The last time I checked the person with their name plastered all over the front of this campaign is "John McCain" and if he wanted to stop the negative, racial, divisive bottom of barrel ads he would. But, the choice is John's and he won't. He has decided to sell his, soul, character and principles to become the most powerful man in the world. The offer is so tempting even the "maverick" can't refuse.

[jaundicedview]

Copyright infringement issues perhaps? You might be able to get the campaign to pull the ad.

[MadOzbo]

If Paris Hilton and Britney Spears could have their images used without their permission for attack ads, I doubt this situation will be any different.

Evidently copyright and image trademarks (which the celebrities have for the use of their images or likeness) do not apply to political advertising...Pity. I'd love to see all the lawsuits that would stack up against the McCain camp...