McCain's New Commercial Should Drive Voters to Obama
Have you seen John McCain's latest commercial? I'll describe it to you:
Over an image of a gas pump in the middle of a lake, a narrator says: "Gas prices four dollars, five dollars. No end in sight. Because some in Washington are still saying 'no' to drilling in America. No to independence from foreign oil. Who can you thank for rising prices at the pump?"
A photo of Barack Obama is shown side-by-side with a gas pump, while, in the background, we here a crowd chanting, "Obama." We then see footage of McCain talking to an audience while the narrator continues: "One man knows we must now drill more in America and rescue our family budgets. Don't hope for more energy. Vote for it. McCain."
(You can watch it on McCain's Web site.)
In campaign ads, it is normal for politicians to massage the facts to portray a candidate in the most flattering light possible. But McCain's latest commercial is such a work of fiction -- and a clumsy one at that -- that any undecided voter who watches should immediately decide to vote for another candidate.
In an nutshell, McCain's commercial blames high gas prices on Obama. The spot says that because Obama won't agree to "drilling in America" and isn't in favor of "independence from foreign oil," gas prices are high.
By "drilling in America," McCain must be talking about Obama's opposition to lifting the ban on off-shore oil exploration, but to correlate that position with higher gas prices is absolutely absurd. It is well-established that it would take years for any oil to be pumped from drilling off-shore, and even when oil did begin to flow, the effect on pricing would be minimal. The Bush administration's own report estimates that if drilling were allowed in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, oil production would not begin until 2018, and the effect on pricing would be a reduction of 75 cents a barrel (less than one percent of the current price) in 2025.
In other words, not only is McCain's claim patently false, it's ludicrous, beyond anyone's definition of the truth. He is knowingly being dishonest to the American people (so much for "straight talk"), using a hot-button issue to scare citizens into voting for him based on inaccurate information.
It is also quite clear that Obama is not opposed to "independence from foreign oil." One of the chapter headings in his energy plan is: "Set America on Path to Oil Independence." Obama wants to achieve true energy independence that addresses the larger financial, environmental and national security issues involved, not simply engage in gimmicks or quick-fixes that ignore the real dangers and concentrate on squeezing every last drop of oil out of the ground.
What makes the commercial especially outrageous is that it is completely hypocritical. Most analysts blame speculating, made possible by the deregulation of the oil markets, along with increased worldwide consumption, for the spike in oil prices. (Keith Olbermann did an in-depth and detailed report on this issue, which you can watch here.) And who was a leading figure behind the deregulation of the oil markets? Former Senator Phil Gramm of Texas, who, until a few days ago, was McCain's chief economic advisor, and was the architect of his economic plan. In his New York Times column on Sunday that assailed McCain's ignorance on economic policy, Frank Rich said that McCain's "bond" with Gramm "is more scandalous" than Obama's relationship with Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
So not only is the commercial completely fabricated, but, in fact, it blames Obama for something for which a key member of McCain's team was far more culpable.
It would be easy to write a short essay on all the reasons why Obama's position on the drilling issue is far smarter than McCain's, who is essentially supporting the proposal as a way of courting votes. (After all, McCain supports the gas tax holiday that most economists say would not significantly lower the actual price of gas for consumers.) But anyone watching McCain's commercial should not even need to engage in that discussion. Rather, the artlessness and bluntness with which the ad states things that are ridiculously false should alert any voter to the lack of intelligence and vision, as well as the desperation, of the McCain campaign. And the ease with which McCain is willing to pander and use dishonesty to pick up votes should also send up red flags for anyone still on the fence.
What is McCain's next commercial going to be? That Obama is responsible for global warming? The recent outbreak of salmonella? The inability of the Chicago Cubs to win a World Series (after all, Obama IS from Illinois)?
The new McCain ad marks a new low in the campaign. I hope that enough people watching it understand how inaccurate and off-the-wall the claims are.
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Funny but the McCain ad did not mention the fact that Senator McCain voted against a bill that would have required that the oil supply be used for American needs - sorry not clear on the specifics - but McCain doesn't want to hinder the oil companies from making even more money if they can get us and the Chinese in a bidding war for the new oil.
Well, at least its nice to know that after eight years, everything isn't Bill Clinton's fault anymore.
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Thanks for the comment, SonnyBono. Yes, you are right, and also that the oil companies gave more money to McCain than any other senator.
What more can one say except that your statement -
"The new McCain ad marks a new low in the campaign." - should have a time stamp. As a new low may have been reached today on McCain's incredible statements on Obama's speech at Yad Vashem. And today, McCain cancelled a weekly press conference. Apparently, he's afraid he's not spacing his "new lows" far apart enough.
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Yes, ahornick, you're right. I set the bar too low for "new low." The guy is coming apart at the seams.
it is obvious, the ad is lame because the RNC base is not enthusiastic about its canidate, i.e. DNC. He is clueless, tired and still fighting the Veitnam war, he's uncomfortable answering certain questions. He's just an older version of the 43rd POTUS.
This commercial is crazy dishonest!
Don't forget that it is the oil futures market that is driving the price of gas now. If the speculators think that there may be a large supply of domestic oil coming into the market within a decade, the futures prices will drop now.
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If this duplicates, I apologize, but I think the filter ate my original response.
I appreciate the comment, HBeachbum, but I don't agree with your analysis. The amount of time it would take to get to any oil, and the small amount of oil that would be found (relative to the world market), would render any price effect nearly nonexistent.
The article links to a Bush administration report that says that the price savings would be $.75 per barrell in 2025.
McCain can't stop talking about Obama. What's his policies and strategies, surely the surge won't carry him through until November.
It's so funny how he used the chanting of thousands of people who are FOR Obama to do an ad AGAINST Obama, but that actually has nothing to do w/ Obama at ALL...
Can we say "projecting!"
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Great point, Pupadup40Bama. Thanks for the comment.
From personal experience with my conservative friends and relatives: Conservatives seem to think that drilling on the OCS and in ANWR will help gas prices right away. When reminded that it will be at least a decade before gas from those sources would arrive, they simply say that it will HELP. When reminded that the "help" will be a tiny fraction of the cost of OIL, and an even tinier fraction of the price of gas, they again insist that it will HELP. When told that oil is finite and drilling will not answer the question nor solve the problem once and for all... they stop responding to e-mail.
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I've had the same experience, Sciguy. Keep up the good fight!
Clearly an indication of conservatives' ability to think logically.
Do you have ONE concrete solution to this national problem? Or can you only say this won't work, that won't work, blah, blah, blah.
1. Wind.
2. Solar.
3. A conservatives' favorite: nuclear.
Great commentary on the commercial, and thanks for digging a little deeper. The free pass tghe media is giving Pig Oil on this issue is breath-taking. My brother works out west running a drilling rig (won't say where) but they are after natural gas. In drilling to the gas production zone they drill through three different good oil zones. Why dont' they produce the oil? Simple, they want the natural gas cause it is the next commodity to go through the roof. They are drilling these wells today and that gas won't come on line for two years. In Oklahoma (where I worked in the oil fields) in 1981 we were told that there was no more oil in those zones. Not true of course, since today they are drilling in those very same production zones. The Overthrust Belt (a gas production zone stretching from Texas to Canada) has more natural gas than we can shake a stick at. And that production is still not on line ater nearly thirty years of drilling and exploration.
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Thanks for the comment, Nishnabe. It's great when people can add their personal experiences like that. It gives a good perspective on the issue.
We elected George Bush Twice. 77% of Amercians want offhsore drilling. It will work!
45% of Amercians are supporting McCain now... and it is clearly the 3rd term of a failed President... no matter.
Regards
Well, McCain isn't going to get my vote by repeating a bunch of lies over and over again. The question is, how many people will be fooled into voting for McCain because of the Republican lies?
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Thanks for your comment, mamacat. I agree, that is a good question. But as I noted in another comment, it's shocking how clumsy this ad is. The GOP, in the past, have been good at spinning the truth. Not so much here.
What I got out of the commercial, with that gas pump in the middle of that water, is if you vote for McClone we will have gas, (oil), in our water.
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You made me laugh. Thanks, Chillinout.
I first saw the commercial on TV. I laughed out loud when I saw it. I don't think that's the reaction they want.
That has got to be, hands down, one of the dumbest commercials. Who hired these guys? Are they getting PAID for that?
Well...what are they supposed to say? The truth? How can you publicize the solutions of a guy who has none? It's impossible. The only thing left is to lie, and continue lying for as long as you can get away with it. Or get yourself an actual real candidate......whoops, too late.
I agree 100% Driver. IMO, all of the McCain commercials (at least the 3 I've seen, plus some print/banners) are absurd, poor efforts to promote the candidate. The worst is the one that postulates the US after a McCain first term: NIRVANA! In that ad, not even any explanation of how that Nirvana will be achieved, just McCain = Eden! What more would you want? Why bother to ask about details?!
As you said, they have to go with something other than the truth because the truth just ain't gonna work. I suppose the thinking, albeit a hail mary mindset, is, well, we fooled 'em twice, maybe we can get the hat trick.
I can't wait for the debates!
This Republican was already there. Driven by the GOP nominating someone with the morals of an alley cat to begin with and no foresight at all where this country is concerned.
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