McCain ad: “Jim Johnson”
posted at 9:52 am on September 19, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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John McCain continues attacking Barack Obama over his connections to Fannie Mae. Yesterday, Team McCain released a 30-second spot introducing voters to Franklin Raines, who has served as an informal adviser to the Obama campaign. Today they hit harder at Jim Johnson, who not only served as an economic adviser to Obama but also originally ran his running-mate search committee:
ANNCR: What Obama says…
BARACK OBAMA: It would be unacceptable for executives of these institutions to earn a windfall.
ANNCR: …Is not what he does.
Meet Jim Johnson, former Fannie Mae CEO. Fannie cooked the books and Johnson made millions.
Then Obama asked him to pick his VP. And raise thousands for his campaign.
Barack Obama. More empty words.
After yesterday, the Obama campaign knew this ad was coming soon. They tried to pass Franlkin Raines off as a mere acquaintance, but the Washington Post twice reported that Raines was advising the campaign — once using Raines himself as a source. Raines narrowly avoided criminal charges for his stewardship of Fannie Mae and had to surrender $2 million in cash (paid by, ironically in light of AIG’s failure, his insurer) and his outstanding stock options, which had been rendered worthless anyway.
Jim Johnson represents more of a challenge for Obama. He was no mere “informal adviser”; Johnson bundled money for Obama, and at least briefly helped run his VP selection committee. What else did Johnson do? He took over $2 million in sweetheart-deal loans from Countrywide Mortgage, through the “Friends of Angelo” program, while Fannie Mae did business with Countrywide. He hid two-thirds of his executive compensation at Fannie through evasive techniques designed to disguise it. In fact, both Johnson and Raines exemplify the kind of CEOs that Obama routinely demands regulation to control.
While John McCain tried to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Obama took boatloads of their money. While Obama talked reform and demonized CEOs, he took as advisers the very people responsible for Fannie Mae’s failure. Which candidate will bring change, and which will bring more of the same?
Update (AP): Does running a Jim Johnson ad mean McCain’s not racist now?
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Best political ad-team ever.
I am glad I gave money to this campaign.
Yard sign is up.
Sticker on the back window of my gas-guzzling truck.
Fight!
Stand up!
Take our country back!
carbon_footprint on September 19, 2008 at 9:56 AM
pwn3d..
keep on it Mac
stlpatriot on September 19, 2008 at 9:56 AM
“More empty words”. I like ending better. Glad to see this ad following yesterday’s. I hope more are coming, there is certainly enough ammunition.
Spirit of 1776 on September 19, 2008 at 9:56 AM
From the Karate Kid: “Hey Johnny, put him in a body bag!”
D0WNT0WN on September 19, 2008 at 9:56 AM
I hope the next ad points out that BO took more campaign cash from Fan & Fred than anyone except Dodd.
jgapinoy on September 19, 2008 at 9:56 AM
Keep ads like this coming, Mav!
Spread the word!
B.O.: Bad!
pilamaye on September 19, 2008 at 9:56 AM
O-Bambi’s chickennnnnnssss are coming home…to roost.
AubieJon on September 19, 2008 at 9:57 AM
They’re reading HotAir.
lodge on September 19, 2008 at 9:57 AM
“Barack Obama, more empty words” from an empty suit.
TooTall on September 19, 2008 at 9:57 AM
The Straight-Talkin’ Mac-n-Cheese(cake) Express!
jgapinoy on September 19, 2008 at 9:57 AM
Did you see that Fox just ran the full speech that McCain gave in Wisconsin just a few minutes ago? I was thankful they did not cut away; I wanted to see the whole thing. It was a good speech, showing that he is not afraid to confront this situation head on. Unlike Mr. “NoComment” empty suit.
Compare and contrast!
ConMom on September 19, 2008 at 9:58 AM
What are Maverick’s connections with F&F though?
lodge on September 19, 2008 at 9:58 AM
BAM! The hits just keep coming against Oblabo; I expect a lively debate as Mr. Uhhh tries to explain this.
Bishop on September 19, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Besides trying to get them regulated two years ago, nada.
carbon_footprint on September 19, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Skunk is an acquired odor. And it doesn’t come off easily.
whitetop on September 19, 2008 at 10:01 AM
I hope McCain comes up with another one of these great ads every day up through debate day, just to get Obambi really and truly rattled when they get on national television.
NeighborhoodCatLady on September 19, 2008 at 10:02 AM
As I noted in a thread last night I would run a rope-a-dope on Obama advisers and associates including Ayers, they should keep at it until people wonder if Sen. Obama is capable of picking out a pair of socks let alone people to help him run this country.
Cindy Munford on September 19, 2008 at 10:02 AM
Johnson and Raines – More of that good old fashioned “change” we keep hearing about.
whitetop on September 19, 2008 at 10:03 AM
Heh. And Zero is waiting to make recs so he doesn’t screw anything up.
Didn’t stop him in Iraq, did it??? Shameless empty suit.
hoosiermama on September 19, 2008 at 10:03 AM
Good one!
Bring on the debates!!!!!!!!!
4shoes on September 19, 2008 at 10:03 AM
Congressional republicans need to keep up the pressure too – demand that Barney Frank and Chris Dodd be removed as chairmen from the House and Senate committees. They are both hopelessly conflicted and hopelessly clueless.
BuzzCrutcher on September 19, 2008 at 10:03 AM
Waitaminute…
Obama is black. Raines is black. Skunks are black.
Racist!
NeighborhoodCatLady on September 19, 2008 at 10:04 AM
I want to see an ad with Dodd, Frank and Rangel now.
ctmom on September 19, 2008 at 10:04 AM
I don’t care if Johnson is white! The ad is still raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaacist!/
fiatboomer on September 19, 2008 at 10:04 AM
No, he can’t pick a pair of socks. He can only wear left socks.
NeighborhoodCatLady on September 19, 2008 at 10:05 AM
it’s about time the gop uses the ‘death by a thousand cuts’
demmie/defense lawyer tactic.
give it to ‘em.
jimmer on September 19, 2008 at 10:05 AM
The GOP should take some lessons from McCain’s ad people on how to run a campaign. Of course, first of all you have to have a candidate that isn’t corrupt and hasn’t taken money and kickbacks from every sleaze that has come to Washington. We need to completely clean out the GOP with people like Palin and get Republicans back to being Republicans. Palin 2012.
flytier on September 19, 2008 at 10:06 AM
More please, and faster.
Just remember, Barack Obama is so much in favor of change that he chose as his running mate someone who’s been in the Senate since Gerald Ford was president.
And didn’t Joe Biden help write (or usher through the Senate) the new bankruptcy law that hurts American consumers? What was John McCain’s record on that law?
rbj on September 19, 2008 at 10:06 AM
I thought I heard Rick Davis lobbied for them?
lodge on September 19, 2008 at 10:06 AM
HHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Best. Ad. Ever.
rockmom on September 19, 2008 at 10:06 AM
Oslima had planned a remark on the wall street crisis, but the minute McCain’s WI speech was over, he decided to delay what his plan will be until after the plan presented by the fed is announced.
Bwahahahahaha!!!!!
That isn’t leadership you slime ball! That is simple voting “Present” when action is required.
csdeven on September 19, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Per Alynski’s instructions:
SAY ANYTHING – LOOK PEOPLE IN THE EYE AND LIE ABOUT ANYTHING – END JUSTIFIES ANY MEANS
marklmail on September 19, 2008 at 10:08 AM
As a typical white person, I’d like to say that this ad is
RACIST.
Stop the hate.
funky chicken on September 19, 2008 at 10:09 AM
he needs a “Judgement to Lead” ad to run from now to election pointing out:
1) Surge
2) Putin: “I looked into his eyes and all I saw was a K a G and a B”
3) his calls for Fannie/Freddie reforms years ago, blocked by Democrats and noting who ran these companies were Dem Hacks
jp on September 19, 2008 at 10:10 AM
Any detailed scuttlebutt on what the fed plan will be? Hopefully it will incorporate elements from the proposal Mac tried to legilate 3 years ago.
ManlyRash on September 19, 2008 at 10:10 AM
legilate=legislate. sorry
ManlyRash on September 19, 2008 at 10:10 AM
I have not heard that. The act of lobbying is not a bad thing in itself. The Jim Johnson thing is he made MILLIONS of dollars from cooked books. Obama chose him to head his VP search. The link from Barack Alinsky to J. Johnson is suspect because Barack received over $100 K from F/F.
carbon_footprint on September 19, 2008 at 10:11 AM
He didn’t directly lobby for them. He ran an organization largely funded by Fan and Fred to do PR for them and for homeownership in general. I interviewed for a job with him. I have the facts on this is you are interested.
You can’t throw a rock in Washington without hitting someone who lobbied for Fannie or Freddie. That’s how huge and powerful their lobbying operations were. McCain does have some of their former lobbyists working for him. But they were not the ones who made the decisions to cook the books and violate the charter and distort the market. Jim Johnson and Frank Raines made those decisions; and Barack Obama made the decision to make them part of his campaign.
rockmom on September 19, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Actually, skunks are half black and half white.
MarkTheGreat on September 19, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Just words…Just words.
Heh Heh
John Doe on September 19, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Moxie on September 19, 2008 at 10:12 AM
And, no doubt, Obama will try to turn this around and blame McCain for running negative ads, knowing full well that his McCain/Limbaugh ad, which he stated in his own words that he approved of, was nothing more than Obama playing the race card in a most vile, slanderous, and incendiary manner, for the sole purpose of fanning the fires of racism in this country for political gain.
Bruce in NH on September 19, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Yes!! I saw it too right before I left for work. He was spot on. He named names, what capacity they worked in Obama’s campaign, he laid out specific plans on what he’ll do. It was a great speech. Now Obama is hiding under his desk. LOL
jewells45 on September 19, 2008 at 10:14 AM
link?
I guess his advisors didn’t like McCain’s plan enough to steal it like they did with Hillary’s and Edwards’s work, huh? Or it would be too “conservative” or “republican” sounding to work for Mr. Hopeychange’s followers?
funky chicken on September 19, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Did you hear Rush’s LOL-inducing impersonation of Barney yesterday! HAWHAWHAW!
jgapinoy on September 19, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Good ad!
Yes!
petefrt on September 19, 2008 at 10:15 AM
just like obama…of course this makes you a RAAAACIST…
right4life on September 19, 2008 at 10:16 AM
But the MSM is more interested in tanning beds.
mbabbitt on September 19, 2008 at 10:16 AM
Obama has taken the gloves off and he can’t very well whine now that McCain should put his back on.
The light that is shining is that Fannie Mae bought and paid for pretty much the entire Democratic Party establishment over the last ten years. It is absolute fact and there are plenty of us who have worked in this industry who have the evidence to prove it.
rockmom on September 19, 2008 at 10:16 AM
Heh. They can’t even get Joe Biden to plagiarize something!
rockmom on September 19, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Fannie and Freddie gave big money to Obama, Dodd, and others. Employees of Fannie and Freddie gave money to McCain. Something like $26,000+/- over the course of 9 years. As corporations they gave $0 to McCain. Mind you, Obama’s only been on the political scene for a few short years and he was already the second highest $ recipient – second only to Dodd. Dodd was the one that was to oversee that mess.
Oink on September 19, 2008 at 10:18 AM
Breaking news: Obama exchanges old teleprompter for Version 4.0
petefrt on September 19, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Yes I did!! I laughed out loud!!! It was hysterical.
Oink on September 19, 2008 at 10:19 AM
I’d POUND this ad, and the Raines ad 24/7 in close states.
*
I’m getting a chub thinking about the $50million in “God Damn America” ads for October.
marklmail on September 19, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Just a “guy in his neighborhood?”
irishspy on September 19, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Next up: Penny Pritzker.
phreshone on September 19, 2008 at 10:21 AM
That would make for an awesome ad. How about this?
[background video of American troops in Iraq]
“When Obama and Biden opposed the Surge in Iraq, John McCain supported it. The surge worked. McCain was right.”
[background video of Putin; fades to footage of Russians destroying Georgia]
“When John McCain looked into the eyes of Vladimir Putin he saw the letters KGB. McCain was right.”
[background still photo of Fannie Mae nameplate, flanked by pics of Johnson and Raines]
“Three years ago, John McCain saw the corruption in Fannie Mae and Fredde Mac and tried to stop it. McCain was right.”
[close-up of John McCain]
“John McCain. Right then…right now.”
ManlyRash on September 19, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Patterico quotes Tumulty
McCain releases Jim Johnson ad.
OODA.
jstueve on September 19, 2008 at 10:21 AM
I had to watch it twice. The first time, I was too busy clinging to my gun and my religion to get the full effect.
The second viewing?
awesome
This is really not going to help Michelle’s kids.
LickyLicky on September 19, 2008 at 10:22 AM
The country if finally getting to know Obama. The audacity of hope and change.
Audacity: Obama and the Dems have the audacity to blame Bush and McCain for Fannie and Freddie.
Hope: Obama hoped that they wouldn’t melt down before the election.
Change: It’s time for a change in Congress. Vote the bastards out!
orlandocajun on September 19, 2008 at 10:22 AM
The ads need to be released on a schedule that supports a theme-of-the day.
The economic crisis is the hot topic, so your number 3 – that McCain proposed regulations in time to stop this but was opposed by democrats – should be released ASAP.
Right_of_Attila on September 19, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Exactly. The Fannie/Freddie revelation shows how the Dems succeeded in institutionalizing a corrupt system of political plums to stealthily feed their own at taxpayer expense. It’s big not just for the campaign, but for the Dem party generally. It’s political plums and corruption on steroids.
petefrt on September 19, 2008 at 10:26 AM
Obama/Biden: More Empty Words
Repeat at the end of every ad. Pin the tail on the donkey through repetition.
horatio on September 19, 2008 at 10:30 AM
The only thing I could have hoped for was a greater visual continuity to the Raines ad. “Second in a series, stay tuned for more,” that sort of thing.
Overall, good ad, glad to see they’re on this issue now.
I hope they’re tying Obama to biofuel lobbying and these kinds of economic phenomena too. Note the sources in both cases. Might be a good counter to the environmental ads Obama is running on the Science Channel.
DrSteve on September 19, 2008 at 10:30 AM
I would love to know Governor Palin’s stance on naked short-selling.
carbon_footprint on September 19, 2008 at 10:32 AM
Obama, without a doubt, is the emptiest suit ever to run for the presidency. To say he is anything, but a puppet for a gang of thieves would be deceiving. Can democrats really be this stupid. It is scary to think so.
volsense on September 19, 2008 at 10:32 AM
They SHOULD have put this ad out FIRST, to knock out that false charge of racism by showing that a black man can be a criminal too….
originalpechanga on September 19, 2008 at 10:33 AM
Go to the mattresses!
Jamie Gorrelick! GET HER!!!!!!!!!! Let us not be sexiest. This mess is an equal sex offender list!
Keep it up McCain camp, but we need to see some serious blood in the water!
freeus on September 19, 2008 at 10:33 AM
After yesterday, the Obama campaign knew this ad was coming soon. They tried to pass Franlkin Raines off as a mere acquaintance
“Raines committed his crimes when I was like…forty six years old, that was a long time ago.”
Bishop on September 19, 2008 at 10:34 AM
I agree. We know what FM/FM wanted from Dodd — he was chair of the Senate Banking Committee that oversees them, and in a position to do a lot of favors for them. But why were they willing to contribute so much to a freshman Senator like Obama? What were they getting — or expecting to get — from Obama in exchange for all that cash?
AZCoyote on September 19, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Keep punching Mac … Knock the fraud out.
The whole failure started when Clinton and the Democrats pushed the nonsense called the Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999 — This effectively repealed the 1933 bank regulations put in place after the great depression, known as the Glass-Steagall Act. This was the most sweeping bank deregulation in history.
The goal, to break the strangle hold redlining had on poor people — One of the biggest liberal fictions ever.
This was followed up by the ADDI 2003 Act, which essentially made home loan qualification discrimination.
McCain tried in 2005 to stop the runaway train, but Franks and Dodd were right there to block any bank re-regulation attempts.
It’s interesting that banks and financial interests spent nearly $300 million in campaign contributions to achieve deregulation. Dodd, Biden and Obama at the top of the list of recipients.
In summary, another massive failure of liberalism lumped on the backs of the US taxpayer. When will they learn …
tarpon on September 19, 2008 at 10:35 AM
Just like Fannie and Freddie, the wind and biofuel industries have singularly rich and powerful lobbies. Showing Obama (and the rest of the greens) to be in their pocket would be easy to do.
petefrt on September 19, 2008 at 10:35 AM
Time dimwit Karen Tumulty, who immediately declared the Raines ad as racist, now wants to know why this didn’t run first.
JammieWearingFool on September 19, 2008 at 10:36 AM
This is really not going to help Michelle’s kids.
LickyLicky on September 19, 2008 at 10:22 AM
Oh yes it will. Come November 5th, daddy is going to have a lot of extra time to spend with them.
Bishop on September 19, 2008 at 10:36 AM
Indeed, Jamie Gorelick!
She has done more damage to this country then Jimmy Carter.
carbon_footprint on September 19, 2008 at 10:36 AM
like it, but ad to it the “Judgement to Lead” phrase for branding purposes.
jp on September 19, 2008 at 10:36 AM
hoosiermama on September 19, 2008 at 10:39 AM
HELLO!!!!!!!!!! Anyone in there. It is a great AD but NOBODY Is running the f*cking ad on TV!! It’s spinning in the ether. The MSM is burying this story!!
AYNBLAND on September 19, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Mr. Johnson, there’s a spot especially for you next to the rear transmission mount.
Guaranteed quote from Teh One: “This is not the Jim Johnson I knew.”
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on September 19, 2008 at 10:40 AM
All together now! “Countrywide is on yer side!”
saved on September 19, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Now that Raines and Johnson are fingered, I’m hoping she’s next. These three need some years behind bars.
petefrt on September 19, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Yes, that whole “redlining” crap was nothing but myth. Banks weren’t denying mortgage loans to people because of their color, they were denying them to people who were at high risk of not paying the loans back — based on their income, their credit history, etc. The only color banks ever really cared about was green.
AZCoyote on September 19, 2008 at 10:43 AM
I can’t believe no one has said this yet. This ad won’t be making Michelle’s kids happy.
promachus on September 19, 2008 at 10:44 AM
There was a huge fight in Congress over when the GSE reform legislation would take effect. Barney Frank and Chris Dodd actually wanted to delay it to January so the new President would get to appoint the new regulator. They all thought that would be Barack Obama, and of course he would appoint someone who would continue the non-regulation that Fan and Fred had paid for over the last ten years.
They were just following up on the investments they had already made in Democrats, which paid off handsomely for them.
Barney Frank is STILL arguing against reducing the size and scope of Fannie and Freddie, even after they have collapsed and forced a government takeover. He is counting on an Obama adminstration to lighten up on them.
rockmom on September 19, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Wow, I was thinking that the debate that focuses on domestic policy would be the one debate where Obama might be able to at least hold his own. But now, I’m thinking he’s going to get his clock cleaned by McCain in that one also. I don’t see how Obama can debate McCain successfully on foreign policy and national security. And we all know how badly Obama does in town hall debates. So, it looks like baring some sort of miracle, Obama is going to get crushed in all three debates unless the moderators find some way to help him out. It should be a lot of fun. Usually I don’t really watch the debates much but this year could be interesting.
eyedoc on September 19, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Actually, so is Senator Obama….
CC
CapedConservative on September 19, 2008 at 10:46 AM
I am so sad. They already have.
promachus on September 19, 2008 at 10:47 AM
McCain’s ads are much better when he has a man doing the voice over instead of that breathy woman.
Labamigo on September 19, 2008 at 10:48 AM
Ooooh, this one has gotta hurt. It’s like Sean Connery in The Untouchables: “That’s the Chicago way.” I’m looking for a bounce-back in the polls after a few more like this one. After all, this is “all about the issues,” right?
manwithblackhat on September 19, 2008 at 10:51 AM
OODA n Cuda dey lifta mah moodah!
JonPrichard on September 19, 2008 at 10:52 AM
Heh. Good one.
manwithblackhat on September 19, 2008 at 10:53 AM
I’d rephrase that if I were you.
ManlyRash on September 19, 2008 at 10:54 AM
Couldn’t say. I do know that on this issue Larry Craig takes a wide stance.
ManlyRash on September 19, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Har. Well done.
fossten on September 19, 2008 at 10:58 AM
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