Video: McCain’s empty new ad
posted at 4:50 pm on January 15, 2008 by Bryan
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It’s running in South Carolina. It’s completely devoid of issues, probably for two reasons. First, issues like taxes and immigration probably don’t help McCain in conservative South Carolina. The war does, but Fred and Mitt are just about as good as he is on that issue. Compare the McCain ad below to Fred’s that’s already running in SC — Fred talks issues because they help him. Second, it’s becoming more and more obvious that on both sides, the voters don’t seem to be motivated by the issues. Personality and image are winning the day. So McCain is shifting to capitalize on that trend. He does have the most compelling personal narrative of anyone in the race on either side.
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“Second, it’s becoming more and more obvious that on both sides, the voters don’t seem to be motivated by the issues.”
Sad but true, it seems.
MarkoMancuso on January 15, 2008 at 4:55 PM
I really, really wish that wasn’t true, but it is.
I fully expect that the 2016 debates will skip questions altogether and instead be broken down into three categories: talent show, evening wear competition and standup comedy routine.
Hollowpoint on January 15, 2008 at 4:56 PM
It doesnt help that Washington DC Republicans have discredited issues with their weak stances.
William Amos on January 15, 2008 at 4:57 PM
Intrade shows Romney surging 20 points just today and Rasmussen Markets has Romney surging 28 points since yesterday. Get behind Romney now and stop Huckabee and McCain. This is the best chance Thompson has as well btw. Everyone who wants someone who will govern as a conservative to win needs to do everything they can to help both Romney and Thompson do so. This can only happen if conservatives focus on getting Huckabee and McCain out of the race.
davenp35 on January 15, 2008 at 4:58 PM
This election will put to rest the meme that the voters are hungry for issues.
Bullcrap. They want “kiss the babies, wear the hat, vote for the one who ’seems like a swell guy.’”
snickelfritz on January 15, 2008 at 5:01 PM
Thats how clinton got elected it wasnt so much on issues as on personality. Liberals want a feel good president Conservatives want leaders
William Amos on January 15, 2008 at 5:03 PM
Not quite sure what you’re saying, unless Fred drops out, I’m not backing Romney. Period.
BranBresil on January 15, 2008 at 5:04 PM
This man is completely devoid of commitment to anything except his own mavrickness.
csdeven on January 15, 2008 at 5:06 PM
Empty ad. Waste of my time and his money.
You’re right – McCain’s side on the issues is the wrong side. He shouldn’t win with his poor platform.
Personality and image won’t decide the Presidency. Those that select their candidates based on this will lose.
tgillian on January 15, 2008 at 5:07 PM
Fixed it.
Gregor on January 15, 2008 at 5:08 PM
Not true whatever else can be said of McCain he is pro military and Pro US. He might be a maverick on the WOT but its a maverick in the right direction.
While I know he is thick skulled on Immigration he is the same on the WOT. I want a strong president that will not back down if the dems keep pushing to let up on the WOT. I have no fear of McCain telling Pelosi and Reid to shove their Iraqi war suggestions.
I just wish someone could hit McCain on the head when he talks about immigration. Someone sold him snake oil and he needs a tonic to get rid of that constipation.
William Amos on January 15, 2008 at 5:09 PM
I disagree with that statement; McCain has a long and distinguished record of being a tough hawk and supporting the troops. Remember his 100 years comment? I think McCain has a clear advantage on the war. However, I hate this ad. One of the reasons I was a Dem for a while was b/c I hated Bush Srs. image-driven campaigning when he ran for his first term. Nothing but flags, hope, dreams, and other assorted garbage. Now all campaigns are run that way. This ad sucks.
RW Wacko on January 15, 2008 at 5:10 PM
I saw posted on another blog that McCain has left MI and gone to SC now? Is this true? Does this point to a McCain loss, maybe he saw the numbers coming in and didn’t stick around for the results? Has any other candidates left primary states on the day they were in the running to win it?
lan astaslem on January 15, 2008 at 5:11 PM
It strikes me as funny that Mitt/Fred leaning Republicans would attack McCain for putting out a character-based ad. Mitt spent the better part of this campaign yammering vaguely about his “faith” and “family values”, while lightweight Fred has milked the Country Lawyer/Pickup Truck myth for all it’s worth, artfully dodging any specific discussions of issues through the vast majority of his campaign.
Big S on January 15, 2008 at 5:13 PM
He is completely devoid of conservative principles.
Mojack420 on January 15, 2008 at 5:14 PM
I’m no Fredhead, but I’ve heard more specifics from him about the issues than from any other candidate. And less waffling and flip-flopping, too. But yeah, he lays the country-boy thing on pretty thick.
RW Wacko on January 15, 2008 at 5:16 PM
NH analysis has shown that McCain won mainly among those who don’t support his positions on the issue. It was purely personality based. He has now figured it out and decided to take it one step further. Luckily he will crash and burn in MI so this won’t help him.
Igor R. on January 15, 2008 at 5:17 PM
every attack on McCain i read from y’all, i read “fuck the independent voting block, we don’t need them”.
wise up.
treyevans on January 15, 2008 at 5:17 PM
In the TV age, speaking ability and likability are more important than ever. It’s been a fact of life since Nixon was blindsided by Kennedy.
That being said, McCain’s victory speach in NH was one of the worst ever given by any winning candidate…anywhere…ever. I fear if he wins the Nom, we’ll lose the General due to his lack of charisma and public speaking deficiencies. Add to this his age, and most likely he’ll be ‘bob dole’ed’ by either the Glacier or His Magnificence.
DrW on January 15, 2008 at 5:18 PM
“I’m a mentally unstable nutcase with an unexplainable passion for Amnesty and I approved this message while lashing out at anyone who doesn’t see that no American will pick lettuce for $50 and hour. Now go and vote for me because I deserve it.”
Igor R. on January 15, 2008 at 5:20 PM
McCain is not a hero in ANY way. He is a disgrace! Why anyone here would even consider voting for him is rediculous (unless you want to see our country handed over to illegal immigrants). Just like Murtha and Kerry lost their ability to claim hero status after they worked so aggressively against the interests of our nation, so has McCain lost his. He has literally done more to damage this country than he has to help it. Before the McCain lovers go off and say, “how dare I criticize a war hero”, I served in OIF I and III and saw plenty of combat.
davenp35 on January 15, 2008 at 5:21 PM
BINGO
bnelson44 on January 15, 2008 at 5:21 PM
If this is true, then the only victory he has is the state that he carried by 16 back in 2000. He was supposed to come in third in Iowa, but was beaten by a guy who had “no fire in the belly” and got in the swing of things “late.” If he comes out of a loss in MI, he will be limping into a state that he lost in 2000, where Fred and Huck have been campaigning harder for the last week, since they were not really running in MI. Yet, despite all this, should he lose in MI, I doubt that there will be a new script written that will suggest that the maverick should drop out. We shall watch and see. If he does lose in MI, then I will absolutely revel in watching Fred Barns (and Kristol if he is there) on Fox trying to explain “what happened.”
Weight of Glory on January 15, 2008 at 5:21 PM
Well! That’s not a very moderate tone.
Weight of Glory on January 15, 2008 at 5:23 PM
If McCain is the nominee, it will take just one anger induced tirade for him to get the label “insane”. Nobody will vote for him after that.
davenp35 on January 15, 2008 at 5:23 PM
Snoooooooooooooooooze fest
Drunk Report on January 15, 2008 at 5:24 PM
I’m sorry, McCain is too old and too mean. He is soft on immigration is trying to go “green.” I applaud his service and am in awe of how he handled his time as a POW, but that only goes so far and that was decades ago. Fred is low key, but the more I see of him, the more I like him.
bopbottle on January 15, 2008 at 5:24 PM
lol.
Juan Plantation McVain has a personality worse than that of a rattlesnake and looks worse than those of Uncle Fester from the Adams Family.
MB4 on January 15, 2008 at 5:25 PM
Hey let’s elect Rambo. He’s got a movie coming out and his personal history is interesting.
Griz on January 15, 2008 at 5:27 PM
And that’s why he is among the MSM favorites, heavily promoted as the savior of the Democratic…I mean Republican…election chances.
Igor R. on January 15, 2008 at 5:32 PM
Well go back to school and take a course in reading comprehension then as you sure need it.
You should take your cabeza out of your culo before you suffocate.
MB4 on January 15, 2008 at 5:33 PM
And the winners are; Mitt Romney for talent, Rudy Giuliani for evening wear and Mike Huckabee for comedy.
MB4 on January 15, 2008 at 5:36 PM
Meanwhile Fred is promising to rebuild the military while campaigning in SC. That should work a little better than McCain’s empty ads:
http://www.wjbf.com/midatlantic/jbf/news_index.apx.-content-articles-JBF-2008-01-15-0036.html
Igor R. on January 15, 2008 at 5:43 PM
To see McCain getting so much of the vote in Michigan after voting to mandate impossible milage standards from the auto industry is mind numbing.
Les in NC on January 15, 2008 at 5:46 PM
Don’t confuse wordiness with detail. Fred’s position papers are often heavy on the former and deceptively light on the latter. For example, take a look at his “Plan to Strengthen the Long Term Security of the United States”.
Excerpt:
That’s not much of a plan; rather, it’s a commitment to “being prepared” with a GDP percentage thrown in to make it sound more substantial. It’s pretty good for a boy scout, and about par for the course among the current GOP candidates. Unfortunately, it (as well as most of his other plans) are closer to “glittering generalities” than actual policy agendas.
Big S on January 15, 2008 at 5:48 PM
Fred is rolling out a new pro-life ad in SC (what do you say crazy Juan?)
http://www.lifenews.com/state2774.html
Igor R. on January 15, 2008 at 5:48 PM
McCain knows his chances and carefully employs symbolism in his campaign:
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/01/15/mccain-starts-primary-day-with-tour-of-funeral-home/
Igor R. on January 15, 2008 at 5:51 PM
fascinating and very revealing that mccain chose to be videotaped partially in the shadows.
half his face is in the dark
he’s got LOTS to hide.
and i am NOT talking about the scars from his cancer surgery, either.
i’m talking about his political outlook.
he’s a lib and he’s hiding it – in the shadows…
reliapundit on January 15, 2008 at 5:53 PM
This political season is psychotic. The electorate has gone crazy. A national couch is needed.
Is there hope Sir PB? In all your appearances, especially of late, work your magic. Are you in heaven or in hell? I know. I trust. I wait. This (polititical) reality is insane.
Entelechy on January 15, 2008 at 5:55 PM
He sounds Kerryesque with pushing his service.
It’s a fine line.
madmonkphotog on January 15, 2008 at 6:25 PM
Hollywood is partly responsible for American’s voting based on personality and image, rather than core issues. Makes it that much more of an uphill battle for ole Fred.
flbill on January 15, 2008 at 7:04 PM
Juan has been serving “America” every day of his life? Which America is that? The North American Union that he and his good buddies Vincente Fox and Teddy Kennedy want so desperately? Or maybe he meant those millions of “undocumented Americans” who’ve been marching in our streets, waving their Mexican flags in our faces, and threatening to bring the U.S. to its knees, or to start a “new American revolution.”
I don’t know what “America” Juan McCain has been serving, but it’s not my America. And it’s not my state of Arizona either!
AZCoyote on January 15, 2008 at 7:05 PM
Excerpt is right. You included maybe 5% of what’s there, which includes many detailed proposals.
You want “glittering generalities”? Visit Rudy’s page:
That’s not an excerpt- that’s the whole thing with regards to improving the military.
Hollowpoint on January 15, 2008 at 7:16 PM
Well clearly since MM supports Romney it seems most of the folks here do as well.
I don’t support McCain but one thing I am sure of is that Romney would be worse. But it really does not matter because if Romney gets the nomination, Hillary is our next president
georgealbert on January 15, 2008 at 7:45 PM
Rudy has listed 12 specific items on his website and he just came out witha very specific tax plan.
And Rudy is that only candidate that is not buying into the creation of another terrorist state as is being proposed by Pres Bush and supported by McCain and Romney and Huckabe and Fred.
I like Fred but he is just like pres bush when it comes to the Saudi and the PLO et al == he thinks they are moderates when in fact they are actively supporting Islamist terrorism against us.
georgealbert on January 15, 2008 at 7:49 PM
Hollowpoint on January 15, 2008 at 7:16 PM
Here’s a “more specific” set of bullet points.
I’m sorry, but they all say pretty much the same thing. Extra bullet points does not equal extra details.
Big S on January 15, 2008 at 8:13 PM
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