Damn You Obama For Being So Cool!

Oh for the halcyon Eschaton-mongering days of the Daisy girl ads.

Give me, please, the salacious insidiousness of the Swiftboat Vets for Truth.

Give me any of that over McCain's low: the Britney/Paris/Obama ad.

And I don't mean low as in: low-class, cheap shot and underhanded. I mean low as in: "I pay you guys all that money, and this is the best you can come up with?"

The best political ads have always had text and subtext; the obvious and the arcane. The obvious text of B/P/O is: "would you all stop loving this guy so much, please!" The whole ad seems like an open admission by Camp McCain that, yes, Obama is young and hip and cool, and our guy has trouble ripping songs onto his iPod unless his grandkids are around to help him.

But the subtext is where the ad doesn't even get going. Contrast it with the infamous Willie Horton ads. The subtext there was: Watch out! Mike Dukakis is gonna let dark-skinned people break into your houses and deflower your ivory wives and daughters.

But the most fear the B/P/O can monger is: Watch out! These guys are going to get all the good tables at Le Bernardin, and you know I got knocked down five spots on the list to get my new Ferrari California because of one of them.

The ad openly admits what we already know: that Obama is a superstar.

And no matter whatever other racial difficulties America may have, it's got no problem with its superstars of color. Tiger or Denzel or Will Smith or Michael Jordan, for which the phrase "I want to have his baby" was created. Like a teenage girl Camp McCain has basically scotch taped a Tiger Beat Poster of Obama to the wall of America's bedroom so that we may now all sit, stare and coo "Isn't he dreamy?"

But this lameness is not limited to McCain. To this day -- though certainly seasoned with some racism -- the only strategy that seemingly anyone can come up with to wield against Obama involves admitting he's better than them. You know; he's that lucky black man who actually appeals to the populace. He's that elitist who got himself off food stamps and into Harvard. He's the arrogant guy who would hang out at country clubs...if he wasn't so busy playing pick-up games of basketball.

He's like a wealthy heiress, and I know 'cause I got me one!

While some take offense at the ad, not me baby. Oh happy day when the enemies of ascendancy have got to confess that people of color rock.

The only thing that's going to make me happier is when Camp McCain runs the Bea Arthur/Jack Klugman ad announcing that uncool is the new cool.

Comments

[consciousempress]

hot dang!!

[LegalCat]

Boy, even the supercharged internet can't keep up with the rate at which the McCain campaign is jumping the shark. 45 minutes ago, the Britney/Paris ad looked like the lowest blow the McCainies could strike; now, after the Moses ad, it seems positively restrained.

I can't wait for tomorrow's ad, which will be entitled "Obama Is a Stinky Poo-Poo Head."

[anon004]

"I can't wait for tomorrow's ad, which will be entitled 'Obama Is a Stinky Poo-Poo Head.'"

I guess I don't need to say that this is brilliant! LOL!!!!

[dartagnan]

LMAO!!

[joefazio]

Is this sort of crap going to work ANAIN!

We're about to find out if this countries finally come of age.
Can they push asisde the garbabe and go to the polls
and elect the best man for the job. Obama!

I hope so, however I have serious doubts.

[abigail1]

:)

[robjh1]

Mr. Ridley you say the ad is racist? Why didn't any one comment ont he Obama Girl ads? White girl scantily clothed pawning over a black man. I see double standard all over this. You pick and choose what you talk about. When race will benefit the candidate it is ok to throw it out there. I like both McCain and Obama, but for the life of me I can't see why the media and journalist won't let him be a man and defend himself? I am beginning to think he is benefitting from being a black man for people are afraid to say anything lest they are labeled a RACIST!

[buggedabouttheus]

Now, you're being silly. Face Ridley's column was dead on AND it is funny as all get out.

[Dandrea]

The scantily clad white girl made sense to me.

[lawchic]

Actually, people did comment about the Obama girl ad. Obama himself said it made him feel uncomfortable and he wished people thought about the impact something like that would have before they made it. He made this comment because his daughters were asking him whether he was having some kind of relationship with the Obama girl. I think people are giving McCain a hard time about the racial aspect of the ad because of the similarities to the Harold Ford ad. Personally, I think it was an extremely dumb ad whether there was implied racial subtext or not, and I have lost a lot of respect for McCain in this last week.

[Titonwan]

You're very reasonable! Neat O :)

[11907281]

Soft ridicule with ease and humor are the ticket, well done. I think getting angry and ranting will only "embolden the enemy"

[PrinceHal]

Hey, I dunno if you noticed, but . . .

The enemy is ALREADY emboldened.

Enough already with the softballs from the geniuses behind the Obama campaign.

[QueenTiye]

I guess we'll see soon in the polls if the rest of the world reacts as you. I hope so. I actually liked the commercial - but thought it had a bunch of cheap shots (things taken out of context) which means that the ad is functionally a lie. I resent it like crazy, but if the net result if more bounce for Obama, great!

QT

[Strywever]

Hear, hear! Good piece, Mr. Ridley.

[jsinclair]

He got his money's worth, though.

These ads aren't for media buys. They're for free media--all day long--on the ever-friendly news networks.

"Get them talking" means "give conservatives a chance to be guests who are asked about this ad--and use it as an opening to get out anti-Obama talking points/spin."

IMcCain isn't going to put down millions for these ads to run across the country.

If the MSM stopped showing them and talking about them, they'd never see the light of day.

Its a cleverly duplicitous approach, really, very Cheney-Rove in execution.....

[Yola]

RODFLMAO! So right!! McSame, don't hate just appreciate! Obama is the man!

[djyman]

Mr. Ridley,

Your column always brightens my friday. Your ability to see truth is unmatched on the internet, and you are eloquent and poised in speaking harsh truths. Thank you!

[PAposter]

I agree, always on point. I love this guy :)

[janep576]

Arnold Schwarzene­gger,wasn'­t he a celebrity before he became governor of California,or doesn't that count,since he's republican.

[shystar]

And was not Ronald Reagan an accomplished actor before he was president.

[kellysmalltowngirl]

LMAO!! Great point!