Video: McCain brings out the cross for his Christmas ad
posted at 4:13 pm on December 20, 2007 by Allahpundit
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A transparent attempt to press his momentum by reminding Christian conservatives that he’s “one of us” too. I’d call it shameless, but do you want to be the guy to tell a POW who spent six years being tortured by the VC that he can’t include a little politically advantageous religious symbolism in his wartime reminiscences? Me neither. Merry Christmas, Maverick.
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Is it just me or was there a floating cross in that ad??2?
jdpaz on December 20, 2007 at 4:16 PM
I like the documentary footage touch to this one. Clever.
Spirit of 1776 on December 20, 2007 at 4:16 PM
That’s a very touching story, but I don’t think it’s representing at all what was going on with that guard.
Editor on December 20, 2007 at 4:17 PM
**preparing noose**
JVelez on December 20, 2007 at 4:17 PM
Cue Donny Deutch and Chris Matthews describing their horror at the audacity of having a cross on the television set.
Matticus Finch on December 20, 2007 at 4:18 PM
Oh, linky to Chris and Donny D:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2-xzPVfHvs
Matticus Finch on December 20, 2007 at 4:24 PM
Nice ad.
aero on December 20, 2007 at 4:24 PM
I love McCain on defense, but his stance on illegal immigration combines bith his not-to-subtle- mental instability makes me like Mitt and Fred better.
davenp35 on December 20, 2007 at 4:27 PM
I don’t care if McCain has a cross in his ad, because he’s not trying to be cute about it and tell me that he doesn’t. If Huckabee had openly displayed a cross instead of playing his cute little religion games, I doubt that most people would have cared. I wouldn’t have, anyway.
ReubenJCogburn on December 20, 2007 at 4:27 PM
Editor,
McCain’s been telling that story for a long time now and there’s more to the story.
It was the same guard who drew the cross.
It’s a powerful story that a short ad doesn’t do justice.
Drew on December 20, 2007 at 4:28 PM
MB4 on December 20, 2007 at 4:28 PM
Lord help us – this kook spends half his time talking about fixing government – “it’s broken”. He is government.
Someone wake me up – if this lunatic makes a serious run for the GOP nomination – I’m going to register independent.
First Huckabee and now McCain – COME ON PEOPLE…!!!!
Crazy mixed up world when these two loons get anywhere.
jake-the-goose on December 20, 2007 at 4:29 PM
Finally a decent and profound Christmas campaign ad.
RobCon on December 20, 2007 at 4:31 PM
Me thinks Senator John McCain has more than paid his dues for America and if he sees fit to use his honor for political advantage, then so be it. Does anyone living deserve more?
Senator McCain is not my pick for President but I have no quarrel with anything he does or says. I wish this brave warrior would retire and enjoy his remaining years.
Wade on December 20, 2007 at 4:32 PM
I’m no fan of Huck, but there is no proof that he “superimposed” a cross behind him in that ad. I agree that there is a cross in the ad, but I don’t think it was planned. I think they probably noticed it and thought, “Neat.” But to think that there was some sort of pre-conceived plan for that? Please.
Matticus Finch on December 20, 2007 at 4:33 PM
So let’s just bypass the White House and put him on Mount Rushmore.
MB4 on December 20, 2007 at 4:36 PM
Okay, as a Catholic, I say enough pandering to my faith.
A truly religious man does not have to showboat his religion.
Wearing one’s faith on his sleeve is as bad as a Dumb pretending to have faith.
madmonkphotog on December 20, 2007 at 4:36 PM
Why? No one living there.
Wade on December 20, 2007 at 4:37 PM
Dues paid. He can do and say what he wants. You can vote how you want. When you are thanking the troops remember John was one of them.
Limerick on December 20, 2007 at 4:37 PM
huckadoodle is dictating whats in peoples ads
zane on December 20, 2007 at 4:38 PM
The High Reverend Huckster seems to think that God is planning his whole campaign.
His being God’s anointed one and all it only makes sense.
MB4 on December 20, 2007 at 4:38 PM
Drew, I know it appears that I was questiong the truth of the story, but I wasn’t – just didn’t have the motivation to do an explanation (lazy as charged). I truly, honestly believe that story to have happened, but that McCain had a misinterpretation of the the guard’s intent.
My belief is that the guard himself was a Christian, living in a spiritually torturous life of sorts and desperately reaching out to someone whom he hoped was a christian for fellowship. John is using this as an example of his “faith”.
What?
Editor on December 20, 2007 at 4:38 PM
It is a nice ad, I vote for Rushmore.
infidel on December 20, 2007 at 4:40 PM
I thought it was a good ad. It was a feel good story and a Merry Christmas at the end. That’s how Christmas political ads should be. McCain is a veteran of the presidential nomination game so I expect him to use that knowledge to his advantage over all the other clueless candidates.
ThackerAgency on December 20, 2007 at 4:42 PM
Exactly.
JustTruth101 on December 20, 2007 at 4:43 PM
McCain’s not my guy, but this was a nice ad.
Though, along the theme of him and religion, why did he make a point of saying earlier this year that he and his family have been members of a Baptist church for years, yet on the AP questionaire, he still claims to be Episcopalian. Not that I care if he is one or the other, but I don’t get being both.
CP on December 20, 2007 at 4:46 PM
I am the last person to be schilling for Johnny Mac but it seems he’s using to demonstrate how faith got him through an unimaginably evil ordeal.
His finding a fellow Christian who risked his life to live their shared beliefs in the depths of that hell must have brought McCain not only temporary physical relief but emotional sustenance as well.
It seems one might even interpret the guard’s actions as a sign from above, as it were. An indication to McCain that he had not been forsaken.
So yeah, I can easily see how that incident could have deepened ones faith, which seems to be his message.
I take it as an attempt to say, ‘I’ve seen faith in action and it helped me survive. I know how important it is’.
But then again, I am neither religious or a McCain supporter so season my thoughts with salt to suit your tastes.
Drew on December 20, 2007 at 4:47 PM
Well that was a great ad. It told me exactly what a McCain presidency will be like.
Taxes, spending, security, foreign policy, economy? Naah, we’re focusing on the important things because we’ve only got 30 seconds… so we’re telling a story about ourselves.
He has every right to put whatever he wants in his paid ads; but this ad persuaded me as much as a 30 second clip of a birthday cake. It’s nice, it has good sentiment, but it isn’t very persuasive.
It certainly doesn’t give anyone any good reason to vote for (or against) McCain. So it looks like a waste of time and money to me. Can anyone who disagrees explain why/how this is productive?
gekkobear on December 20, 2007 at 4:48 PM
This example of Christian mercy, by an enemy, carries a hell of a lot more weight with me then the mercy shown by Huckabee’s pardon pen.
Limerick on December 20, 2007 at 4:49 PM
So is Fred the only one among the top 5 Republican candidates who has not put out a Christmas ad? Wonder what his will be like. Hope he can afford one! Surely he can at least afford to put one on the web.
aero on December 20, 2007 at 4:52 PM
That’s how I read it, too. However, it wasn’t his faith in action, yet he’s touting (or hoping people view it as) proof of his faith. It just doesn’t work for me in the manner he’s playing with it.
Editor on December 20, 2007 at 4:53 PM
Like Drew said, this is a story McCain has been telling for a long time. It’s touching. Why shouldn’t he tell it in ad?
But I guess you guys knew I would say that…;-)
Rightwingsparkle on December 20, 2007 at 4:58 PM
I can’t stand McCain, but that is a good ad.
Has he ever talked about this before, or was he saving it for this campaign?
Buy Danish on December 20, 2007 at 5:00 PM
I’m certainly not saying he can’t do as he pleases with his stories. Just saying, “No sale.”
Editor on December 20, 2007 at 5:00 PM
Too bad he didn’t draw a line in the sand last year on immigration…man I want to vote for that guy.
right2bright on December 20, 2007 at 5:02 PM
I think some people are probably hoping for Jeri in an elf costume.
ReubenJCogburn on December 20, 2007 at 5:03 PM
McCain isn’t a faith on his sleeve guy. If that’s not for you so be it. Personally, I prefer his approach to Huck’s “I am the most Christian of all” crap but that’s just me.
Drew on December 20, 2007 at 5:06 PM
McCain is not my first pick but if the alternative is Huckabee or Mitt I would probably vote for him
My list goes as follows
1) Thompson
2) Hunter
3) Guiliani
4) McCain
5) Romney
6) Huckabee
Id never vote for ron Paul and Tancredo would have taken spot number 6 ahead of Huckabee
William Amos on December 20, 2007 at 5:09 PM
Was McCain a POW? Really?
I thought Huck’s face might appear over that cross?
It’s good to hear “Christmas” and see the cross. Even when people simply use it to promote themselves, it’s good stuff.
Hening on December 20, 2007 at 5:10 PM
Amen! Merry Christmas, Maverick
bnelson44 on December 20, 2007 at 5:16 PM
Dude, not asking him to wear his faith on his sleeve. I respect McCain much more than I respect Huckabee by a long shot, and I don’t respect McCain that much (probably not much more than for his service and pure will to make it home through hell). I’m just saying, as someone who professes faith, it’s. not. a. sale. John.
Editor on December 20, 2007 at 5:17 PM
If the GOP nomination goes to conference, Mac is the nom, no doubt in my mind….because it is his turn and that’s how the GOP works.
AZCON on December 20, 2007 at 5:53 PM
That’s what I’m afraid of…re: Bob Dole?
right2bright on December 20, 2007 at 5:58 PM
Ironically, McCain’s Vietnam ad makes Xopher Hitchens feel like a North Korean POW.
John on December 20, 2007 at 5:58 PM
Decades ago, before he was a senator, he spoke a the Crystal Cathedral during a businessmen lunch. He spoke of his POW, and this was one of the things he mentioned. Also of the 25 letter code he used, he could type out many words in a few seconds. The one story I liked was the code they used to separate Americans from their captors It was that old…da da da da da…..dum dum. The rhythm could not be duplicated by the Vietnamese, it is so ingrained in our childhood it just comes naturally. They would laugh at the weak attempts of duplicating the rhythm, a great speaker and a great American Hero story.
Man I wish he would get straight on immigration.
right2bright on December 20, 2007 at 6:26 PM
AP’s begrudging Christmas gift to McCain: an Absolute Moral Authority™ card?
Mark Jaquith on December 20, 2007 at 6:43 PM
Nothing veiled about this ad.
captivated_dem on December 20, 2007 at 7:22 PM
No, I don’t call it shameless at all. What was annoying about Huck’s cross was, first, that he dodged/denied it. As Glenn Beck said today, if only he’d been more forthright about it, it should have been no big deal. While I’ll never forgive McCain for his recent RINO transgressions, he’s being forthright, I think, and I defend him on this one.
The second annoyance with Huck is that he implicitly attacks Mitt on the basis of his religion. Tilt. Pitting one religion against another (versus fair criticism) is what’s shameless. I don’t see this from McCain yet, and I trust it won’t happen.
The cure is more religious tolerance, not less.It’s only in recent years, thanks to ‘progressive’ miltancy, that expressions of traditional holday greetings have been put under fire.
Besides, how come we’re letting the left define the debate in THEIR terms on this issue, put us on defensive about identity group politics? After all, identity group politics is the engine of contemporary liberalism.
petefrt on December 20, 2007 at 7:43 PM
The cross is integral to McCain’s story, and considering the setting, it could have meant death or torture for the guard who showed it to him.
McCain’s not my choice for the primaries, and I don’t agree with some of his legislative excesses, but I deeply respect him for all he’s given for his country.
sulla on December 20, 2007 at 8:07 PM
I’m all for respecting McCain’s service to his country but McCain Feingold and McCain Kennedy used up that entirely. This man lays down with Democrats way too often and by all rights shouldn’t have an R by his name anymore. He can go hang out with Murtha and Kerry since that’s where he’s more comfortable.
Buzzy on December 20, 2007 at 8:12 PM
So many RINOs. So little time to trip them up.
Griz on December 20, 2007 at 8:13 PM
huh? Why not? His POW status is no more holy to me then was Kerry’s Vietnam service.
I am starting to get sick of hearing that used to excuse or shield him.
I agree he is a national hero compared to a faux hero like Kerry.
But he also has to deal with the facts at hand, and frankly what he is doing now is more important.
Karl on December 20, 2007 at 10:27 PM
O.k, Karl, let’s talk about NOW about one important issue. John McCain has been right about Iraq, first in criticizing the Rumsfeld-Casey minimalist strategy and calling for more boots on the ground and then in supporting the surge strongly even while it was unpopular to support the Iraq War. John McCain has faithfully supported the troops throughout. The reason that John McCain has been right about Iraq is that he knows his stuff concerning military matters — NOW; and the reason that John McCain has stood by the troops is that he is committed to the service of our country. My older son is a U.S. Army First Lieutenant (with Ranger tab) who until last October served for 15 months in Iraq as an infantry platoon leader. I will never forget John McCain’s loyalty to the troops when the political thing to do was to turn away and strart to rationalize defeat.
The fact is that no one in either party is more qualified to be Commander in Chief NOW than John McCain.
Phil Byler on December 20, 2007 at 11:08 PM
Buzzy, John McCain is a pro-life fiscal conservative who has steadfastly supported the Iraq War and who supports the nomination of judicial conservatives to the federal bench. To say that John McCain shold be considered a Democrat flies in the face of his very Republican voting record.
Phil Byler on December 20, 2007 at 11:11 PM
right2bright, John McCain has been saying that he got the message on immigration, that law enforcement comes first. He said that in New York City in late September in an interview by the Wall Street Journal’s Pegggy Noonan. I am glad to see expressed and do understand your positive feelings about John McCain because he is a true patriot.
Phil Byler on December 20, 2007 at 11:16 PM
Let’s all remembver that John Mccain became a P.O.W. because he was a U.S. Navy jet pilot who flew a jet off a carrier and, after completing a bombing mission of a power plant in Hanoi, was shot down by a surface-to-air missle. The air defenses of North Vietnam were formidable. John McCain then endured imprisonment from 1967 to 1973 while his father was CINCPAC.
Phil Byler on December 20, 2007 at 11:36 PM
I think we all agree that his service to this country is worthy of our profound gratitude and respect.
But, a fiscal conservative? Wasn’t he against the Bush tax cuts? Anyway, he lost me with McCain-Feingold, and then along came Shamnesty, fighting Bush on “torture”, and joining the gang of 14 with Lindsey Gramnesty, Snowe, and others.
Plus he is ornery.
Buy Danish on December 21, 2007 at 12:09 AM
Ok Phil, so he backed off on immigration. That’s not my hot-button issue with McCain, but it’s one of the top few.
How is he in McCain-Feingold? Still on the record making a claim that he’d rather have money out of politics than free speech; so that was his goal?
I’m sorry that we disagree, but electing a President who thinks that his whim trumps the Constitution and is willing to make that clear in both actions and words is a deal breaker for me.
If you like I’ll do some google searching and find that quote again (where he makes clear that his wishes are more important than the Constitution). Or see if I can dig up my saved copy of it anyhow. I kept it once I read it to remember to never support him for dog catcher, much less any higher office.
Unless he backs off from that position, I can’t see supporting him; and I haven’t seen him back off from there.
gekkobear on December 21, 2007 at 12:57 AM
Noted.
But that has nothing to do with his qualifications now or his voting record.
I am not suggesting he is or is not qualified.
I am suggesting that to pass on criticizing him because he was a POW is wrong. I won’t grant him a moral authority card.
Karl on December 21, 2007 at 4:04 AM
I know he said he got the message, but now he has to act on his words. Otherwise he is just another Mitt, changes position without taking any action. Without action, words are just words.
Now I don’t want to insult McCain and put him in the same class as Mitt, so I will state McCain is a real patriot. Mitt sends his kids around the country in an RV and considers that protecting America (similar to our kids in the middle east).
But McCain has to do more than just talk, he has to put some teeth in his words…we don’t need another Mitt in the campaign, we need a man.
right2bright on December 21, 2007 at 8:56 AM
Anyone curious as to what might be going down Chris Matthews leg?
Helloyawl on August 18, 2008 at 9:16 PM
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