Ad Wars: McCain Quotes Biden; Obama Quotes Reagan
"Hi, I'm John McCain and I approve this message. But, before we begin, I have to admit...I can't believe my opponent's running mate said this. Making this ad was so easy, I almost feel guilty. It pretty much wrote itself - literally."
That is what John McCain probably thinks about another misstatement from Senator Biden, this time guaranteeing there will be an international crisis once Obama takes office. McCain exploits this slip, using Biden's words against Obama in a new 30-second campaign ad. The following day Obama launched a two-minute policy commercial that outlined his tax, energy and education proposals. Although the ad clearly articulates his plans, the Obama team should have split this into three or four spots for more concentrated messaging.
McCain "Ladies and Gentlemen" Ad (October 25, 2008)
The commercial breaks down the following Biden quote from a stump speech: "Mark my words. It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama. The world is looking. We're going to have an international crisis ... to test the mettle of this guy. I guarantee you it's gonna happen."
The ad begins with a deep ominous voice saying: "Listen to Joe Biden. Talking about what electing Barack Obama will mean." Then we hear the voice of Biden with his words superimposed over the visual of an Islamofascist group marching through the streets, stirring up memories of hooded terrorists who have beheaded U.S. citizens in the past.
The ad superimposes the phrase "It will not be six months before" over a snapshot of battleships roaring through the ocean, followed by video of Hugo Chavez and the words: "the world tests Barack Obama." A tank then flashes onto the screen along with the words: "the world is looking" implying that rogue regimes eagerly await the election results, and if Obama wins, they will mobilize.
Then we see the devious image of a young girl crying as McCain tears a page from the Hillary Clinton playbook. In Hillary's "red phone" ad, she showed children sleeping to insinuate that your family would not be safe under an Obama administration during a national security crisis.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejadn, the President of Iran appears. McCain plays on an ongoing debate in which McCain has called Obama naive for agreeing to negotiate with Iranian leaders without preconditions.
Biden says: "I guarantee you it's gonna happen", and as the screen fades to black the narrator says: "It doesn't have to happen." This is a very cunning ending because McCain is attempting to use Bush's winning formula from the 2004 election by instilling the notion that voters can only trust Republicans on national security.
Obama "Four Years From Now" Ad (October 26, 2008)
Obama begins the commercial with a powerful question, a play on words from an old Ronald Reagan line: The question is not, Are you better off than you were four years ago? We all know the answer to that. The real question is Will our country be better off four years from now?
David Axelrod, Obama's lead strategist, has used this direct approach with many black candidates that he's represented over the years according to a recent article in the New Republic, because it's harder to buy into stereotypes as voters become more comfortable with a candidate. That is why Axelrod designed the ad to capitalize on Obama's personable style and make it feel as if Obama is sitting in your living room.
In this screenshot, Obama clearly spells out the benefits of his "rescue plan" so there is no confusion: If you have a job, pay taxes and make less than two hundred thousand dollars-a-year, you'll get a tax cut.
In this segment, Obama takes the wind out of McCain's argument that Obama will hurt small businesses: And I'll make low-cost loans available to small businesses. He also addresses working-class concerns by promising to prevent corporations from shipping jobs overseas.
Obama rattles off a laundry list of promises about healthcare costs, energy independence and child education. Obama wisely outlines how he will pay for these programs to placate viewer skepticism. He provides specifics such as withdrawing from Iraq, closing corporate loopholes, and rolling back Bush tax cuts.
Obama wraps it up with his consistent theme of unity that he has attempted to pound into the minds of voters for over a year now. We face real challenges, and they won't be easy to solve. But we can do it if we end the mindless partisanship...the divisiveness, curb special interest power and restore our sense of common purpose."
Although Obama has seen the McCain gimmick before, McCain's ad will resound because of the way it deftly uses frightening visuals to prey on the worst fears of Americans. Yet, the flip side of this strategy can also work for Obama. In 1964 LBJ used the "mushroom cloud" ad to portray Barry Goldwater as dangerous, exploiting Goldwater's off-handed comment about nuking Vietnam. The Obama camp might want to try similar medicine and run an ad with a clip of McCain singing: "Bomb-bomb-bomb...bomb-bomb Iran..." But it's unlikely that David Axelrod will take my advice because, as evidenced by Obama's recent ad, rather than rely on emotionalism, Team Obama will continue to take the revolutionary approach of focusing on real issues.
Follow Michael Hughes on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mhughes3500
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You know what I want to ask? In an interview of "Joe" Wurzelbacher by Fox News (surprise! surprise!!), they asked him who was running the biggest "smear campaign" --Barack Obama or John McCain. Mr. Wurzelbacher said that he thought Obama was running the biggest smear campaign because he couldn't understand how Obama was going to cut taxes and do all the big things he's promising. Can anyone here tell me how a person of even average intelligence thinks this is what one would call as a smear campaign?
Holy cow, this election can't be over soon enough for me so there's a chance I might not ever, EVER have to hear of this unlicensed plummer, McCain or Sarah Palin again. They all need to go away.
Hope over Fear!
Obama/Biden '08! Go vote today!
My girlfriend and I voted early....FOR SENATOR OBAMA AND SENATOR BIDEN.
We live in rural PA.
Having a smart and concerned President is what we need. Barack Obama has shown he is smart, concerned and has programs and policies that will get us out of Iraq and improve our economy.
You should vote as early as you can.
OBAMA/BIDEN 08
If it's Fear and Smear you want, read this:
Felicity Spector assistant editor of the UK's Channel 4 news follows 'one of the worst smear campaigns' in the state of Pennsylvania.
State Republicans in the crucial toss-up state of Pennsylvania, where John McCain is now pinning his blue-state hopes, have sent out an email to 75,000 Jewish voters warning them that if Obama is elected it could lead to another Holocaust.
AP quotes the email in full: "Jewish Americans cannot afford to make the wrong decision on Tuesday, November 4th, 2008," "Many of our ancestors ignored the warning signs in the 1930s and 1940s and made a tragic mistake. Let's not make a similar one this year!"
A copy of the e-mail says it was "Paid for by the Republican Federal Committee of PA - Victory 2008."
It is signed by several McCain supporters, including a former Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice, Sandra Schultz Newman, and leading fundraiser Mitchell L Morgan.
The local GOP has hastily denounced the missive - insisting the consultant Bryan Rudnik, who helped to draft it out, hadn't been authorised to do so and was fired. According to Rudnik, Party officials DID sign off on it.
Pennsylvania's Democratic senator, Robert Casey, has called it part of one of the worst smear campaigns he's ever seen in the state.
Well, since the scandal broke, the local GOP has admitted the message to Jewish voters "went a little further than the facts would support". Some apology.
Hi...I'm berrycooda and I approve this message.....
Read my lips.....hurry and get this election over with....
No matter who wins, the war will go on....Wall St. will still be in a mess....
The good paying jobs and the tech industry have mostly "left the building"
So.....hang onto your hats....we are going around in circles and when it stops ....... who knows.
It`s apparent that all of the McCain Campaigns tactics are to confuse and scare the voters. Period.
Psychological warfare on it`s own people.
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