9 Days Out: New DNC Video -- McCain's Surrogates on More of the Same

On Tuesday Joe Biden laid out a simple challenge to John McCain: to name just one difference between himself and President Bush on the economy.

Joe Biden:

"Folks, in the most recent debate, John McCain felt the need to declare that he was not President Bush. You know that old expression. You ever heard it? He doth protest too much... Folks, over the course of the three debates, 20 months into the campaign, and eight years of failed economic policies, there's not one fundamental economic issue on which John McCain has challenged George Bush or his policies."

Well all morning McCain surrogates have done their darndest to convince us that McCain is nothing like that George Bush character, whoever he is. Appearing on ABC's This Week, for example, Senator Lindsey Graham said "John McCain is truly an independent, stood up to his own party." But not too long ago Graham was singing a different tune, and it earned him a starring role a DNC web ad put out moments ago looking at how the McCain campaign has addressed this most pivotal question over the months:

Indeed, the McCain campaign has had quite some time to come up with an answer to Joe Biden's challenge, given that the economy has been the top issue on voters' minds, and distancing himself from President Bush has been McCain's top challenge for virtually the entire election. Here's the chronological walk down Memory Lane....

On May 11th, ThinkProgress caught Republican Whip Roy Blunt, #2 Republican in the House playing it positive as a surrogate for McCain on CNN:

WOLF BLITZER: So it would be in effect a third Bush term when it came to pro-growth tax policies?

ROY BLUNT: It would be. I think it would be. And I think that's a good thing.

On June 8th, Lindsey Graham was bold and resolute - to his credit? - on ABC's This Week:

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: (Off-camera) Let me bring Senator Graham back in on this because you brought up two. You said the tax policy, and the health care policy. Where essentially, Senator Graham,John McCainis calling for an extension, or maybe even enhancement of the Bush policies..

SENATOR LINDSAY GRAHAM: Absolutely. He wants to lower corporate tax rates. We have the second highest corporate tax rate in the world, second only to Japan. John understands we live in a global economy...

A couple weeks later ThinkProgress was at it again, catching Liz Cheney this time in what some would call "a bit of straight talk" on MSNBC:

CHENEY: At the same time, I think on the really important issues that face the country, on issues like the war on terror and the economy, Senator McCain in fact is advocating those policies that those of us who supported President Bush and the Vice President believe are the right ones for this nation.

On July 13th, though, HuffPo caught South Carolina Governor and then-vice presidential prospect Mark Sanford getting a bit shaky:

WOLF BLITZER: Are there any significant economic differences between what the Bush administration has put forward over these many years as opposed to now what John McCain supports?

MARK SANFORD: Um, yeah. For instance, take, you know, take, for instance, the issue of -- I'm drawing a blank, and I hate it when I do that, particularly on television. Take, for instance the contrast on NAFTA. I mean, I think that the bigger issue is credibility in where one is coming from, are they consistent where they come from.

But most recently, John McCain's fellow Republican Senator from Arizona John Kyl took a whack at the question just an hour or so after Biden laid out the challenge. Appearing on MSNBC, Mr. Kyl seemed to lack the resolve of the Graham-Cheney-Blunt trifecta but expressed more certainty in his uncertainty than Gov. Sanford:

Norah O'Donnell: Let me just ask you first, he [Biden] said not on one fundamental economic issue has John McCain differed with or challenged George Bush. Can you name one economic issue where McCain has been different than the President?

Sen. Kyl: I don't choose to and here's why: the fundamental difference between John McCain and Barack Obama, forget President Bush...

"I choose not to run!" Anyway, you guys still have 9 days to give a final answer, plenty of time...

Comments

[honestpolitician]

Excellent video!! - BRAVO!!

PEOPLE!!! Go out and Vote!! We need an Obama landslide as reports show that McCain is trying to rig/scam this election!! Please get your family and friends out and vote for this historical moment! You are contributing to history!

NEW POLITICAL AD ATTACKS(Video) http://politicaladattacks.blogspot.com/

[Pupadup4oBama]

The best ad EVER!!!!

[rockyb26]

Perfect ad! The last surrogate proves Biden's point brilliantly!

[reno1190]

PRICELESS BRILLIANT

[RobinSeattle]

As long as we're saying how McCain is just like Bush, the Administration allowed the plastics industry to determine where the FDA stood on a dangerous substance found in home food containers:
http://www2.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=809282

You will get more of this if you vote for McCain.

[nwmother]

Or the ironically named EPA program--"Blue Skies Initiative" which actually lowered industrial carbon emissions standards and pollution controls. Orwellian.
In WA we lost 7 of our 83 resident Orca Whales this summer, one individual was the 98 year-old matriarch of the pod--they starved to death because the salmon didn't return this season. The Bush administration is trying to delist some of our local native species to pave the way for expanded development of our watersheds. I don't expect senator mccain or governor palin to be very sympathetic to this cause when their mantra is "drill baby drill"...

[InspiredbyObama]

McCain is exactly like BUSH except he's WORSE!!!!

[PT6]

Lets Review What Republican Bush McCain Did: TRICKLE DOWN ECONOMICS:

GRAMM/McCAIN DE-REGULATE = Crooks Run Wild and High Mortgage & Broker Profits
Greenspan Lowers Interest Rates to Lowest in History = Mortgage Crisis and Huge Corp Profits
Greenspan Does NOT write Mortgage Rules - 6 Years = Mortgage Crisis and Huge Corp Profits
REGULATORS TURN BLIND EYE ON THEIR JOBS = "TRICKS" and High Corporate Profits Block States with Lawsuits from Regulating = High Corporate Profits WAR = High Corp. Profits
We pay $40 for every soldier's breakfast & $99 for Laundry in IRAQ!
"TRICK" MORTGAGES ALLOWED BY FED AND NO RULES = High Corporate Profits
BUNDLED "TRICK" MORTGAGES SOLD AS "AAA" = High Corporate Profits
ILLEGAL NAKED SHORTS = High Corporate Profits
LEVERAGED OIL = Highest Corporate Profits IN HISTORY!
JOBS SHIPPED OVERSEAS = High Corporate Profits
HUGE BONUSES and SEVERANCE PAY = High .1% Profits
BAILOUT = High Corporate Profits
LET THE MARKET FALL AND EVERYONE SELLS = High Broker Profits
MARKET REBOUND AND EVERYONE BUYS AGAIN = HIGHER BROKER PROFITS BLAME
Fannie and Freddie for IT - Deflect YOUR Culpability for THIS CRISIS ==========­==========­==========­==========­==========­==========­==========­====
What is left for the Middle Class? DIRT

This has been the WORST DESTRUCTION OF THE MIDDLE CLASS IN HISTORY!

[nwmother]

During this period of regulation by the people opposed to regulation and record corporate profits this country has lost nearly 2.1 million jobs=trickle-down doesn't =better lives for average Americans.
The past 8 years has seen the largest redistribution of wealth from the middle class to the upper class in the country's history.
Just say no to race-baiting politics and fears of a socialist takeover.

Obama/Biden 08

I voted. Have you?

[irisda]

I love it! That's what happens when you don't bother with formulating a unique and coherent plan. Or when you think you can do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. GREAT ad!

[IllinoisTexan43]

Kiss of death- "You're doing a great job, Johnnie!!!!!!"

[forthepeople1]

In my opinion I say this:
Consider this: Neither Bush nor Cheney are able to campaign for John McCain. That speaks volumes about how destructive their Republican Rule as been. All one has to do is look around at their surrounding cities, communities, schools, and just see that we are teetering on the brink of a Great Depression, and two wars may be brewing in the Middle East, on top of grave energy concerns. Never has it been more important to vote, vote early (VOTE NOW), to change the power. TRICK THEM, Trickle Down Economics does NOT WORK WILL NEVER WORK once an Economy has declined to this level. We can not afford another FOUR MORE OF GEORGE, who is JOHN's BEST PAL. And John's side kick, SIX PACK PALIN is as unthinkable as the Nuclear Codes.

[nwmother]

Here's how America voted the last time we faced a financial crisis of this magnitude. Democrats took control of the house, the senate, and the oval office; the New Deal programs implemented helped to pull us out of the Great Depression.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Election_of_1932

[forthepeople1]

Consider this: Neither Bush nor Cheney are able to campaign for John McCain. That speaks volumes about how destructive their Republican Rule as been. All one has to do is look around at their surrounding cities, communities, schools, and just see that we are teetering on the brink of a Great Depression, and two wars may be brewing in the Middle East, on top of grave energy concerns. Never has it been more important to vote, vote early (VOTE NOW), to change the power. TRICK THEM, Trickle Down Economics does NOT WORK WILL NEVER WORK once an Economy has declined to this level. We can not afford another FOUR MORE OF GEORGE, who is JOHN's BEST PAL. And John's side kick, SIX PACK PALIN is as unthinkable as the Nuclear Codes.

[forthepeople1]

THE biggest transfer of money ever $700BILLION DOLLARS of our tax money never occurred under Democratic Rule, we never had fake war declared under Democratic Rule, we never ha huge massive national job losses such as we do RIGHT NOW under Democratic Rule, we never experienced World Wide Markets in economic meltdowns under Democratic Rule, we've never experienced a Recession this severe (almost like the beginning of a Depression) under Democrats. We never had a Democratic president eat cake and take four days to respond, while Hurricane ( Katrina) victims drowned. So what is the fear all about John? The desire to have a new direction and get this nation healed and on a better road, takes high precedent over anything you are talking about. Take a ticket and please go somewhere else with this silly noise. Nobody and I mean Nobody is going to buy this garbage. It hasn't worked in the last 8 long years and just look at it today, right now this moment in time. No body wants this Republican inheritance you best pal George W left for us. WE WANT CHANGE WE WANT OBAMA!

[EmotionDetector]

Barack, approve this and put this on the big MSM stations, it's just too good just to be floating around the internet!

[brynn6]

I'm in Texas and I can't recall hearing ANY McCain ads. I'm hearing a lot of Obama ads though...m­uch to my surprise. Maybe because I'm in the Austin market, which is true-blue, but still....

[jacqmac]

Remember this-We don't live in a state that is considered to be a 'swing' state. Whatever ads we are getting are mere 'afterthoughts'. McCain's spending all his dough in the 'swing' states, now too numerous to mention. Obama can afford to spend money on us here in the not battleground states because he CAN. I, for one, believe that Texas is going to be a heck of a lot more purple after this election--and, although the polls don't give all that much hope--we're only 12 points down--after being down by as much as thirty.
EVERY VOTE COUNTS!!! Vote EARLY! VOTE NOVEMBER 4. COUNT EVERY VOTE!!

Obama/Biden '08

[dkerrice2861]

I agree, Obama will put a little scare In McCains campaign hopes here in Texas and he is winning a lot of support from us! Unfortunately, as much as I wish we could turn the state blue, it will never happen here in Texas Tea country! It doesn't hurt to wish for it!

[zenaby56]

I have to wonder if McCain even realizes that the American people have half a brain and there is the information super highway and facts get out. He keeps saying stuff that repeatedly turns up to be distorted, false and outright lies. Over and over again, I am reminded how poorly he would be as a President. He lack any integrity.

Also, I was listening to a piece from McCain's Meet to Press interview and he said "... and I've got the scars to prove it." This line annoys me every time he uses it. Having physical scars from torture does not prove to me in any way shape or form that he is qualified to lead this country. It only tells me that he survived torture as a soldier. Again, he acts like we don't have brains. I get so frustrated with his complete disregard for my intelligence!

[brynn6]

It wuz those lyin' Intertubes what done me in, doncha no. Yew betcha.