Video: McCain’s first negative ad
posted at 4:40 pm on July 18, 2008 by Allahpundit
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A little bon voyage present for Team Barry as they head for the Middle East. It’s silly to make an issue of him not having been to Iraq in years when the news this week will erase that from voters’ minds, but bringing up troop funding is clever in how it boxes him in. If he responds by noting that he’s voted for billions in war money since 2005, he risks giving liberals and independents another reason to be nervous about the depth of his commitment to pulling out. If he responds by playing up his anti-war cred and saying he’s proud of having voted against funding last May, he’s trapped into explaining why he wanted to cut the money that ended up fueling the success of the surge. The answer? He wanted a timetable for withdrawal, and when the bill that eventually passed failed to include one he joined Hillary in pandering to the left by voting no. That vote is further proof that he was ready to start moving out while Iraq was still tottering. Smart of McCain to put it back on the table.
If you hear an echo of Krauthammer’s column today in that pointed “Country First” motto at the end, it’s no accident.
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Wow, he’s standing next to the word “hange.” As in lynche?
Akzed on July 18, 2008 at 4:43 PM
conspiracy theory
jp on July 18, 2008 at 4:44 PM
Personally, I like some of McCain’s previous ads better, nnot much of a climax in this one
Hunt035 on July 18, 2008 at 4:45 PM
Akzed on July 18, 2008 at 4:43 PM
Seriously?
VolMagic on July 18, 2008 at 4:46 PM
It’s about damn time. He needs to get nastier.
Winebabe on July 18, 2008 at 4:46 PM
Check out the longer ad/documentary they’ve got going. Nothing but Barack’s words and the dates he said them. It can’t be a negative ad if you’re quoting the Messiah himself!
http://www.johnmccain.com/videolanding/documentary.htm
Good stuff.
Sarjex on July 18, 2008 at 4:47 PM
Yep, “Country First.”
DID YOU HEAR THAT HUSSEIN???
byteshredder on July 18, 2008 at 4:49 PM
I’m sorry, Sarjex, but you are obviously mistaken. I mean, just look at that headline.
wise_man on July 18, 2008 at 4:54 PM
At the end:
*sigh*
RushBaby on July 18, 2008 at 4:56 PM
Probably not. Remember the (Good)N-I-G(ht)-on-the-pajamas ridiculous uproar about the 3AM Hillary ad? I thought he was goofing on that.
baldilocks on July 18, 2008 at 4:57 PM
I heard “I uh-prove this message.” :::shrug:::
baldilocks on July 18, 2008 at 4:58 PM
I listened to it. It sounded like he said “I approved this message.” but he did pop his “p” - too close to the microphone, or without a p-popper screen. So it sounded louder.
wise_man on July 18, 2008 at 5:00 PM
McCain should meet Obama in Iraq, and say:
DaveS on July 18, 2008 at 5:00 PM
Yeah, Obama better be careful or…liberals may vote for the Geriatric Gigolo.
Too funny.
Krauthammer’s rant was as unhinged as ever…can I have those three minutes back, please?
alphie on July 18, 2008 at 5:00 PM
All Obama’s current policy prescriptions on Iraq are useless. We are past the need for them. It’s like being a year late for an important meeting.
Force him to respond to issues that have nothing to do with Iraq while he is over there. Now is the time to hit him hard on the Economy.
Dusty on July 18, 2008 at 5:01 PM
WTH??????
Come on. How much? How much for an ad that has a three day life span?
AllahP is right. The moment Barack puts his penny loafers on the ground in Iraq this ad is useless.
I one of the McYes crowd. I’m getting very very nervous.
Limerick on July 18, 2008 at 5:06 PM
alphie
Geriatric Gigolo?
Is that all the left can do, insult someone personally?
Lame.
I attended the McCain town hall yesterday.
I would say that at least half of those there were under 35 with plenty of late teen/early twenties there.
Several standing ovations too.
You will be sad in November me thinks lol
ArmyAunt on July 18, 2008 at 5:11 PM
A so-so ad. Yay for McCain finally pointing out some differences between he and Barry, however.
salmonczar on July 18, 2008 at 5:12 PM
alphie on July 18, 2008 at 5:00 PM
Nobody made you read it. Can you refute any of Krauthammer’s points, maybe by pointing out a significant accomplishment in the Real Possum’s resume or an important article/book he wrote that wasn’t about himself?
As to the ad, I think it’s good. About time McCain started directing his fire at Obama’s weaknesses. Citing the votes, etc. clearly takes away the charge of unfairness.
Oh, and he clearly said “I’m John McCain and I approve this message” though the a was a little quiet.
cs89 on July 18, 2008 at 5:13 PM
It’s gonna be epic.
lorien1973 on July 18, 2008 at 5:13 PM
More to come in the next four months.
wise_man on July 18, 2008 at 5:14 PM
I think the campaign ads are being produced by an advertising company that has a contract to produce X number of ads. I’m also pretty sure the closing. .. I approve this message.. is a standard audio add on and McCain himself isn’t in a studio for the making of each tape.
So the cost per ad is probably pretty low or at least equal to other ads produced. It’s the cost to run them that takes $$ so having only a 3 day shelf life isn’t really the problem.
Texas Gal on July 18, 2008 at 5:15 PM
From your
mouthkeyboard to God’s ears ;)salmonczar on July 18, 2008 at 5:19 PM
That’s usually the case. It’s on a computer. Just copy and paste it from one to the next. If you listen to this one, at the end, it’s seems very clear. The one linked above, kinda sounds like the “p” in ‘approved’ is a little louder.
wise_man on July 18, 2008 at 5:20 PM
I understand your point, TG. I’m just an ‘ol tightwad. I want that $bill to stretch into two, or five. It isn’t the ads that hammer Barack that McCain needs to spend his limited funds on. He needs to spend it in front of a camera MAKING news, not reacting to it. If he wants to call Barack out of the salo(o)n great, but pasting up handbills isn’t going to win him the election. (Friday blues, Polish vodka, panty wad disclaimer on my attitude).
Limerick on July 18, 2008 at 5:22 PM
Yeah, Obama better be careful or…liberals may vote for the Geriatric Gigolo.
No, most liberals will still vote for the Community Organizer who also…uh…uh…uh…what else has he done? OHHHH yeah, that whole ‘Harvard Law Review’ thing.
I have to admit, I’m not sure McCain’s combat duty can stand up to the president of the HLR.
Bishop on July 18, 2008 at 5:23 PM
I love the Krauthammer article.
The McCain ad, not so much.
petefrt on July 18, 2008 at 5:27 PM
ArmyAunt,
It must have dawned on even the most dimwitted of righties by now that they have no chance of winning this November with their newly minted “conservative” senior.
It is enjoyable to watch them kiss up to and apologize for John McCain…a man they hate.
Very enjoyable, like some Japanese game show losers :)
alphie on July 18, 2008 at 5:28 PM
The longer ad mentioned above is the type they need to exploit.
http://www.johnmccain.com/videolanding/documentary.htm
Watch this one if you want to see a very effective ad. The fact that myself and others have called for just this type of ad is a coincidence.:)
They have to make these into power packed one minute episodes using the exact format for each flip. Obama in Obama’s words. No other voices, just his.
patrick neid on July 18, 2008 at 5:33 PM
Yes, some of us have issues with McCain and quite a few HA posters have stated their intent not to vote for the man; quite a difference from the cultish behavior of the Obamanations.
But hey, you be sure to vote for the black John Edwards if it soothes your white guilt, hopefully it will assuage the grief of your loss in November.
Bishop on July 18, 2008 at 5:34 PM
Awesome idea!
pugsly on July 18, 2008 at 5:34 PM
Allah’s in the tank for BHO, otherwise it wouldn’t be a “negative” ad. It would just be “the truth”.
kirkill on July 18, 2008 at 5:41 PM
Since when did pointing out the facts become a bad thing. I’m done with nicey nice. This isn’t little league where you try to get everyone in their play time…this is a big boys sport. It’s balls to the wall time.
diaphanous on July 18, 2008 at 5:46 PM
I got news for you, I know liberals that have said they will vote for McCain - more than two. These are liberals that previously were as anathema to voting for a Republican as you.
One even went and switched his party affiliation since he could no longer stomach the leftward lurch of the Democrats.
kirkill on July 18, 2008 at 5:47 PM
2 great ads in a row.
Country First. Wow.
faraway on July 18, 2008 at 5:47 PM
I hear ya BUT putting his face on the TV is important and these ads are the way to do them when the MSM isn’t helping him out any. Probably won’t see any of McCain until about a week after Obama gets back and the MSM has run out of video!
Yes, I’m going to the gym now so I can justify picking up the makings for margaritas on the way home… ;)
Right on! Probably they have several to pick from and try to match the theme with the tone. Thing is they are so easy to make now with computers they often don’t get the necessary review and testing before they are released. As someone has pointed out the did cut too fast in one clip and not grab the entire word CHANGE.. that’s crappy work and should have be critiqued.
Texas Gal on July 18, 2008 at 5:49 PM
alphie,
I wouldn’t gloat, it isn’t becoming. I think obama won’t win. He has no substance nor does he have any type of resume for the highest office in the free world. When it is all said and done, I don’t think the voters will pick that type of person. He has based his campaign off of change and “feelings” and good sayings in his speeches. That will come back to bite him as his emotional cult followers “The Obamaites” begin to doubt while they watch him flip flop (they’ve already started to eat their own..which is kinda funny to watch). Atleast what I’ve seen from Republicans is they can think for themselves, are pretty much based in reality and see mccain for what he is, and if they end up deciding to vote for him, it’s because mccain is better than obama by miles.
diaphanous on July 18, 2008 at 5:52 PM
Ok….later…off to the kitchen for corn fed Texas shredded beef, home made (neighbor) tortillas, refritos, and home made salsa.
“Traitor!”, yells the true-conservatives. “Yum!”, responds Lim.
Limerick on July 18, 2008 at 5:53 PM
I think one thing mccain should do in his ads is show non flattering pictures of obama. It got a bit sickening how the press kept putting up bad pictures of hillary with scrunched up faces that looked mean and a bit on the weird side yet obama’s looked “statesmanly” if you will.
diaphanous on July 18, 2008 at 5:55 PM
I was wondering the same thing the hillary pictures that they were using were hilarious!
One thing that was consistant ALL the news did it, even Fox News.. However Fox treated her more fairly than the other networks, but her picture was still not a good one..
Chakra Hammer on July 18, 2008 at 6:04 PM
As far as the pictures, I love the saying from the driver’s license office- “If you want a better picture, bring a better face.”
cs89 on July 18, 2008 at 6:23 PM
McCain’s people need to do a commercial on Obama’s plans for our national defense. The voters need to know that Obama wants to cut tens of billions of dollars from our military budget; end the development of new space weapons to protect our satellites and strategic assets; end spending on our missile defense systems; significantly reduce spending on the development of future combat systems; stop developing new nuclear weapons, and significantly reduce our current stockpiles of nuclear weapons.
At a time when this nation faces so many threats from so many enemies (known and unknown), Obama wants to essentially gut our defenses — so that he can vastly increase the size of our already bloated and inefficient government.
Most Americans are not as dangerously naive as Obama. They understand that we have to stay a step ahead of those who seek to harm us, and they understand that it takes money to do this. Recent polls have shown that a high percentage of voters are uneasy about the prospect of Obama as Commander-in-Chief. McCain’s commercials need to do a better job of showing people exactly why they should be afraid of that.
AZCoyote on July 18, 2008 at 6:35 PM
And what important legislative achievements does McCain have?
McCain/Feingold? Yup. That’s a real winner.
McCain/Kennedy? Nope. Juan was not able to slip that one through.
McCain/Lieberman (’Tap U.S. Innovation to Ease Global Warming Legislation’ By Joseph I. Lieberman and John McCain)?
That’s a real winner too.
MB4 on July 18, 2008 at 6:40 PM
2 great ads in a row.
Country First. Wow.
faraway on July 18, 2008 at 5:47 PM
Juan “Z-Visa” McCain must really be taking that Juan Hernandez guy seriously eh? Country First. ha ha ha
DfDeportation on July 18, 2008 at 7:05 PM
Timely!
HotAirJosef on July 18, 2008 at 7:15 PM
If that happens, I’ll wet myself and put it on youtube.
steadyrock on July 18, 2008 at 9:09 PM
You imbecile. Charles Krauthammer unhinged?
As for you conservatives with ADD, who cares about Obambi going to Iraq now? He’s already written his epitaph on this issue.
The guy’s record on Iraq is farcical, and the longer video shreds it. Did you somehow forget last week, when he formulated a new and improved Iraq policy before his trip, and without consulting a single officer on the ground there?
My only question on this ad is I wonder if Mark McKinnon is wetting himself over it. Poor baby.
Jaibones on July 18, 2008 at 10:54 PM
Oh, and the Country First shot is going to leave a mark. That one probably has Mrs. Terrorist Fist-Bump looking for a new diaper.
Jaibones on July 18, 2008 at 10:56 PM
I thought the church bell was a bit over the top, but it wasn’t a bad ad.
Rosmerta on July 19, 2008 at 12:33 AM