Turning on a Dime -- Has McCain's "Celebobama" TV Attack Ad Knocked the Obama Campaign Juggernaut Off-Course?

Many years from now, when strategists look back at Republican John McCain's celebrity "attack ad" against his Democratic rival Barrack Obama -- and see it as a pivotal moment in this historic presidential race, everyone will probably exclaim, "You've got to be kidding!"

Just one week after the controversial ad hit the airwaves, the latest Gallup Poll and a Rasmussen Report daily Presidential Tracking Poll show McCain tied with Obama and even beating him under some circumstances -- a surprising turn of events considering that prior to the ad, Obama was leading McCain in almost every poll nationwide.

Meanwhile, the media gleefully continues to cover the negative fall-out from the ad, even as they decry the politicians' descent into the tried-and-true tradition of slinging mud at their opponents. Ratings have never been better. Late night talk shows finally have something to talk about. The back-and-forth, tit-for-tat, bitch-slapping, nail-scratching snide comments coming from both camps would fit right in with the backstage drama of Flavor of Love.

Ironically, only Paris Hilton's mother had the correct response to the ad. She rightfully noted that it was inappropriate for a politician of McCain's stature to be publicly insulting a private citizen, and using his considerable political clout to do so on national television. It would have been another thing if Paris was actively campaigning for Obama, which she is not.

Where's the Beef?
Yet my beef is not with the media -- it is simply being true to its frivolous self; or John McCain, who is following in the time-honored footsteps of greater men before him who have stooped to mud-slinging, name calling, and school-yard taunting of their political rivals to bring them down. My beef is with Obama himself, who seems to have come unhinged -- just as he appeared poised to secure his position as the official frontrunner in the presidential race.

Obama used to be a study in coolness, gentle wit, intelligence, and eloquent composure -- unique qualities in a politician -- actually, in any human being. Yet his responses so far -- from himself and his surrogate spokespeople -- have been surprisingly petty and ultimately detrimental to his campaign.

A Moment in Time
There was an infinitesimal moment just before McCain's "Celebobama" ad hit the airwaves when even Republicans held their breath, hedging their comments and ready to bail out should the ad backfire. The media, which can normally be counted on to exploit political missteps, also seemed ready to laugh off the old man. They were prepared to label it an act of desperation -- the kiss of death in any campaign.

But Obama chose to respond with sarcasm rather than indignation -- and so opened the floodgates that led to the worse possible insult that his campaign could ever suffer: not being taken seriously. Obama's oft-quoted sound bite, and his initial response to McCain, "...is that the best you can come up with?" sounded too dismissive and, alas!, arrogant. It actually played right into the ad's contention that he was beginning to act like a celebrity instead of acting like a president.

Obama and his surrogate spokespeople continued to compound the problem by maintaining a sarcastic, dismissive, even haughty tone toward McCain. Ironically, they started to play McCain's game, intentionally misconstruing his comments and poking fun at them. The media couldn't have asked for a better catfight.

In recent days, Obama seems to have recognized the errors of his ways and has begun to "attack" his rival with substance rather that sarcasm. He's offering solutions for the economy and the oil crisis -- rather idealistic ones, but you've got to give the man credit for trying. Yet, the damage he has already done to himself may be irreversible. For example, in Obama's latest plan for lessening the United State's dependence on foreign oil, what the media headlines observe is that he has reversed his position on key issues. Whether the plan is a good one or not is hardly addressed.

Meanwhile, the McCain camp hands out car tire pressure gauges to journalists. They explain it is in response to a comment by Obama that Americans can do their share to bring oil prices down by checking that their tires are properly inflated.

And the world laughs.

Comments

[JimR]

Of what use are national polls when predicting a race that is determined by the Electoral College? Citing state polls makes much more sense and, it seems, would give a more accurate picture.

[Samson1]

I suspect that the poll results are the result of the Obama campaign listening to the DNC and become sort of the Black John Kerry. He has been all pablum since the primaries. Bad FISA vote, sounds shaky on his Iraq position, doesn't sount positive about much. Not taking the fight to McCain at all, mostly on defense. Needs to sound less like a Harvard grad and more like a regular guy. Bring the rhetoric down about 3 notches and talk with people not over them.

[Nonamnesiac]

Atlhough the media is attempting to maximize McCain's "celebrity" points at Obama's expense, every time this campaign revolves around celebrity, Obama wins and McCain loses. McCain is from a priviliged military family who graduated 894th out of 899 at his war college and is arguing that what he mislearned and didn't learn in war college is why he's qualified to be President. ("I know how to win wars."). His celebrity is obtained from his dad and grandad and from his period as a courageous prisoner of war -- neither of which qualify him for President.

Obama, a product of a lower middle class family with a single mom, obtained his celebrity status the American way -- from hard work and genius on his own. Nothing McCain ever did, except being a courageous prisoner of war, would have qualified him for his celebrity status on his own merit. Obama on the other hand became a celebrity because of what he's accomplished on his own.

McCain's celebrity is more like Paris and Britney (making rape jokes, tantrums, mistreating his first wife, voting against MLK Day as a national holiday and screaming at his current wife) intellectually than Obama is. Given the breaks McCain had and his rank of 894 out of 899 from his war college, Britney and Paris both might even be smarter than McCain.

Does America really want to elect a guy President whose celebrity includes that he might be the stupidest guy to ever graduate war college?

[DaOne]

Mario, most voters don't give a hoot until October.

[ewoman]

I respectively disagree with you, Mario - I think you've come from a position where you watch too many political antics far too often. I was out of town during the "Celebobama" ads and the tire-gauge 'joke,' and I didn't have access to Internet or to television. So, the whole mess went over my head until I caught up with the news yesterday. I glossed over the ad and the 'joke' as two separate examples of McCain's short-sighted and immature reaction to Obama's strengths. I must have missed Obama's reactions, as I didn't get the same feeling as you did. Even if I did, I feel I can forgive Obama for his option to "chose to respond with sarcasm rather than indignation." McCain can bring out the sarcasm in any person who isn't blindly dedicated to the man or his party, especially when exposed to his antics continuously for an extended period of time. And, it's a waste of time to be angry with McCain - anger, simply defined, means that you want something to change. McCain isn't going to change. McCain, compared to Obama, doesn't represent hope. Nor does he display intelligent wit and charm nor serious and grounded rhetoric. How can I compare this to what you saw - a reaction that was changed in as much time as it takes to forget the news that happened yesterday? To answer your question - no, those ads did not knock Obama's "juggernaut" off course - at least not in

[Mario Almonte - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi ewoman...respect is always appreciate...I actually agree with all that you have said - but unfortunately it doesn't change the often frivolous nature of the society and culture we live in. To a reasonably intelligent person, it is aggravating to see a politician that is clearly resorting to puerile, childish games and undermining respect for the American political system - succeed! But there you have it. I report that national polls show that McCain's strategy is succeeding, but it doesn't mean I condone the strategy. I report that Obama's strategy of "sarcasm" backfired, but it doesn't mean I don't feel for the man. Please don't shoot the messenger.

[ewoman]

Hi Mario - Good heavens, I'm not shooting anyone. ha! I'm just at my wit's end, wondering why there aren't more "reasonably intelligent" people in this country. Our educational system, perhaps? I'm hoping that polls don't represent those of us who go on vacation and who don't watch television, hence the results that show McCain's antics are successful.

[nk007]

Blaze KING,

I am with you. Moreover I resent the fact that Mr. Almonte, like the other media people are perpetuating the idea that childish attacks from McVain, most of them based on lies are comparable to the dignified response from Obama. So now McCain is handing out tire gauges as Bush people handed out purple hearts to denigrate Kerry. Well Hurrah! If that is what the media is looking for in a president, rather than a discussion of serious issues then this country is doomed. I am so tire about this arrogant and elite meme on Obama. Well may be Americans are really that stupid to buy into the McCain-Media frame: Obama, raised by single mother, went to college on scholarship and student loans, chose the role of Community organizer, rather than corporate law firms, is an arrogant elite. The multi-millionaire McCain, Son and grandson of Admirals, who never held any other job outside of government, and was celebrity hero when Obama was still in grade school, is a humble common man. Never mind that most of Senator McCain's peers find him arrogant, and hot tempered whereas Obama's peers talk of his humbleness, integrity and poise. Well in America it what the ads say that define the man. The Media just follows the ads.

[BlazeKING]

I completely disagree. Obama came from a position of strength. What you outlined that he should have done is weakness.

[Danigirl65]

Huh??

[nomobull]

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