McCain ad: “Ambition”
posted at 7:34 am on October 10, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
Some have demanded that John McCain attack Barack Obama on William Ayers. Some have advised to attack on the subprime lending fiasco. “Ambition” gives both in a single 30-second spot, and it actually works better than one might think:
Obama’s blind ambition. When convenient, he worked with terrorist Bill Ayers. When discovered, he lied.
Obama. Blind ambition. Bad judgment.
Congressional liberals fought for risky sub-prime loans. Congressional liberals fought against more regulation. Then, the housing market collapsed costing you billions.
In crisis, we need leadership, not bad judgment.
Normally, I’d advise against trying to combine two messages in one 30-second spot, as it usually dilutes both. In this case, though, it works as a challenge to Obama’s leadership. If they had explicitly noted that Obama failed to act in the Senate when he had an opportunity to join McCain in proposing tougher regulations on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, that point would have been made stronger, but the spot still works.
It shows that McCain has no intention of backing away from either attack. The McCain campaign will be using both themes for the next 25 days to argue that Obama is too great a risk in a time of war and economic turmoil. If McCain wants to make that sale, though, he’s going to have to make both of these arguments in the next debate.
Blowback
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Indeed, he needs to hit Obama hard in the actual debate, as begged for by his supporters.
Not through ads or surrogates, but on live national television. Pointing in his face and calling him a socialst thug wouldn’t hurt either.
Grafted on October 10, 2008 at 7:40 AM
Outnumbered, out gunned, surrounded and under the worst possible geographic and weather conditions one could ever imagine, the 101st Airborne prevailed in Bastogne. There is no war but the same strength of character and will is required to ensure a McCain victory in November. Put your white flags away, steal up and fight on.
rplat on October 10, 2008 at 7:42 AM
I bet within an hour, somebody equates “Ambition” to “uppity”
Micheal on October 10, 2008 at 7:43 AM
“He lied.”
A simple sentence I’ve been waiting to hear from a Republican candidate for several election cycles; it has never been more appropriate. The more the MSM and psuedo-conservative Noonanites says that this line of attack won’t work, the more I’m convinced that they are scared to death of it.
pugwriter on October 10, 2008 at 7:43 AM
I think this is fine. Show Obama as he is, but McCain needs to be pounding away at the fact that Obama will depress an already depressed economy with ANY TAX INCREASES, even those on “the rich” which are hundreds of thousands of samll businesses.
Rightwingsparkle on October 10, 2008 at 7:44 AM
I think you meant
tgibson1962 on October 10, 2008 at 7:44 AM
Who is Patton in your corollary? The RNC? Sarah Palin?
Micheal on October 10, 2008 at 7:44 AM
Hmmmmm…The plan of slowing wading into this issue as to not peak too soon shows the wisdom thereof more and more each day.
Yesterday, on a conservative radio host program, Oslime-a changed his story AGAIN! He claimed that he thought Ayres was “rehabilitated.
Bwahahahahahahahaaaaa!!!
The Oslime-a camp is on total meltdown on this Ayres issue.
csdeven on October 10, 2008 at 7:44 AM
If I remeber correctly, it must mention “Congressional liberals” or some such so that it can be joint spending on the ad. That’s why there are two messages.
tort_feasor on October 10, 2008 at 7:45 AM
this should be a National spot, not YouTube and not Battleground states. Smack back. Peter Wallison on Fox this morning had a good point: When Obama starts spouting that this financial problem had to do with ‘deregulation’, ask him specifically what regulations he is talking about.
red131 on October 10, 2008 at 7:46 AM
I dunno…I’m as big a “McCainiac” as you’ll find, and I couldn’t be more anti-Obama. Or anti-Ayers.
But I really don’t see where rehashing the Obama/Ayers relationship is going to help. If anything, I really believe this route will backfire and cost McCain in the polls.
JetBoy on October 10, 2008 at 7:46 AM
What do you know? We just happen to be in the most severe economic crisis of our lives. Markets in Asia plunged 7-10% last night, many believe we will follow today. There is no leadership.
Any chance of a do-over?
JiangxiDad on October 10, 2008 at 7:48 AM
Mac and Palin are getting huge, enthusiastic crowds; the Dems are scurrying like roaches from the light; and the media is trying to convince us that we’ve lost. All of which is evidence that we are in a position to score a knockout if we have the courage to throw the punch.
pugwriter on October 10, 2008 at 7:48 AM
score a knockout if we have the courage to throw the punch.
pugwriter on October 10, 2008 at 7:48 AM
Key phrase right there!
red131 on October 10, 2008 at 7:49 AM
I always thought McCain should run against the liberal congress for two reasons:
1) It’s easier to tie them to Obama because Obama votes with them more then McCain votes with Bush
2) It give added bonus to conservative challengers to liberal incumbents in the congressional races.
-
Devils Advocate:
Linking Obama’s judgment with people who have been in congress for decades undercuts the inexperience card.
Micheal on October 10, 2008 at 7:51 AM
Holding people accountable for their actions is blatant racism.
America doesn’t want leadership, it wants racial minorities and homosexuals screwing up the economy, stealing tax money and losing wars.
You know…….change.
Hening on October 10, 2008 at 7:51 AM
If I was McCain I would not mention Bill Ayers in the next debate. I would talk exclusively about Jeremiah Wright. The Messiah will not be expecting that.
Jdripper on October 10, 2008 at 7:52 AM
Interesting tho, the Iraqi stock exchange in Baghdad is up 40%…NY Post story HERE
JetBoy on October 10, 2008 at 7:53 AM
Respectfully, I think it is that you have a low opinion of Americans who are supporting Oslime-a, you do not believe that anyone who is supporting Oslime-a now is wise enough to be convinced to see the facts. I happen to agree with you. I don’t see how ANYONE can support this vile foul socialist. BUT, I also know that these people are Americans and then can be educated to the dangers of an Oslime-a presidency.
csdeven on October 10, 2008 at 7:53 AM
The current downturn isn’t sustainable. The worst that will happen in the next three weeks is it bottoms out and stays there. More likely it will have a few more down days, settle down for a week, then people with money left to invest will pour it into the market because now is a tremendous buying opportunity. Markets are down because of fear, and there is not enough to be afraid of to depress the market for the next 3 weeks.
Micheal on October 10, 2008 at 7:55 AM
I don’t know about y’all–but this past two days off I had I went to my local GOP office and volunteered, putting McCain/Palin signs on stakes, handing them out, and talking to local Republicans. Win or lose, I did my damndest. If I have to fight for McCain, dammit, I’m doing it. I advise some of the scared among us to do the same!
Sekhmet on October 10, 2008 at 7:55 AM
The ad is good,however,it would be nice
to get the names out!
If you want to get the DNC excited,name the names!
When the DNC has a caniption fit,over their members,
the American people will realize,or one would hope,
their more to this!!!
And Ayers,is there a timeline out there which connects
Obama to him,like,
-Obama and Ayers,signatures on the same page!
-pictures,video’s of Obama and Ayers together!
-How about,identifying,who Obama’s neighbors are,
it must be quite the community!
-Any video’s,pictures,of Omama and Dorhns together!!
There’s got to be overwhelming proof somewhere,where
even the most stupid and Loyal Liberal can’t refute!!!!!
canopfor on October 10, 2008 at 7:55 AM
Considering that congress’ approval rating is lower than Bush’s, I agree that should be part of it also. But it isn’t too late, and McCain has been naming names.
csdeven on October 10, 2008 at 7:55 AM
Ed, I’m pretty sure that you meant “I’d advise against trying …”
MarkTheGreat on October 10, 2008 at 7:59 AM
There is only one answer until Nov 4. If you feel yourself feeling depressed or that losing is possible, re-double your efforts to be sure people learn the truth and get out and vote.
Never ever quit.
CC
CapedConservative on October 10, 2008 at 8:04 AM
When’s the last time you saw or heard of an Obama-bot be swayed or “educated” by a McCain ad? It’s the “undecideds” and independents Mac needs to woo. I agree Ayers is abominable…but in a sense, it’s old news.
JetBoy on October 10, 2008 at 8:05 AM
In dire economic times the masses panic and cling to the pant leg of the nanny government hoping for a nipple to suck on. This condition is tough to overcome and you need something to shake them out of their dependency and complacency . . . Ayers, Wright and the prospect of a Marxist regime is as good as anything. Similar conditions gave birth to Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and communism in Russia, China, and Venezuela. The seed is germinating in this country and people had better fight it lest the Republic fall into the abyss.
rplat on October 10, 2008 at 8:06 AM
Sekhmet on October 10, 2008 at 7:55 AM
I am volunteering too – lately all I have seen here on TV is Obama ads so I want to do what I can to get McCain/Palin out there to try to counter.
Besides, I cannot stand listening to the news all day anymore.
tru2tx on October 10, 2008 at 8:08 AM
Re. the economy, I wrote nearly the same exact words as you a few minutes ago on another thread. In spite of that, I realized over the past few weeks on a gut level that there were no political leaders to look to to guide us through these days–and that included McCain. Just my opinion, of course, but while McCain is the guy I’d like to see leading in a military crisis, to me he failed in this. The US is a political entity, and it’s economy is a business. That measns if McCain himself doesn’t have sufficient economic expertise, he could have toured around with an announced Treasury Secretary, or with Romney, or someone who has trusted economic bona fides. Without that, for me this ad gets dismissed as just talk.
JiangxiDad on October 10, 2008 at 8:08 AM
I can’t speak for rplat, but I suspect that each one of us, in a sense, is Patton.
ManlyRash on October 10, 2008 at 8:08 AM
Next debate,McCain should just look at Hopey,
and say your a liar,then look into the camera,
tell the American people he lied!!!
Then watch Hopey,he will lose his composer!
America went through 8 years of a Lying Clinton,
and in those 8 years,two terms,the DNC,helped Bill
lie!
Maybe, have Clinton side by side with Obama,their
both liars in an ad,
then sit back,and watch the MSM,and Liberals,go into
a catastrophic political meltdown!!!!
Oh ya,if Obama can mention,McCain and Bush together
in every speech,then they shouldn’t be offended,if
Clinton and Obama is mentioned——–together!!
canopfor on October 10, 2008 at 8:08 AM
Remember, as the world markets plunge, it is the world that wants Obama! Will there be rioting in the streets by average Joe six-pack American because we’ve lost 40% or more of our retirement savings? Rush asked the question the other day after James Carville warned of trouble out there if Obama loses, when do we get to riot?
Blind ambition with liars also fits Frank, Dodd, Reid, Pelosi, Raines and many many more. Will these people be fortifying their offices? I hear pitchfork sales are up!
wepeople on October 10, 2008 at 8:11 AM
McCain has got to make the case in the last debate – and be articulate enough to pin the facts on him when he parses and evades.
Have not seen that in the last two debates. Like the general public at his rallies, he needs to be indignant.
If he does not want to be partisan and plays to what he thinks are the moderates, he will lose an easy victory and we will sink into ‘persecution theology’, ACORN running HUD, Ayers at the State Department, Michelle firing the White House travel office again, health care as a right, home ownership as a right, protectionism abroad and military isolationism at home. Israel will be toast.
The moderates are already democrats and the only way out of this is to lead and go on offense.
Starlink on October 10, 2008 at 8:11 AM
I’m not saying the economy wont be an issue come Nov. 4. I’m also not saying it wont be the top issue. What I am saying is three weeks from now it won’t be the only issue like it is now.
Micheal on October 10, 2008 at 8:12 AM
They are not all “Obamabots”. Many of the folks who have moved to Oslime-a have done so over the economy. There is nothing McCain can do about the economy except make the case that Oslime-a is not qualified, in any sense, to be the president and lead us out of this crisis.
Oslime-a’s character is now the issue and it will be for the next twenty six days. Irrespective of the economy, the damage is done and now we need to fix it. That is where McCain’s statement about the fundamentals of the economy being sound will serve him as we work ourselves out of this mess.
And notice that since McCain started speaking to the future, Oslime-a has taken up the same ideas. The difference is that in Oslime-a’s case, it is banal rhetoric designed solely to get elected and in McCain’s case it is how the guy has lived his entire life.
csdeven on October 10, 2008 at 8:14 AM
No, as intended in our Constitution, it’s the People. They are the only ones that can save us now . . . one vote at a time.
rplat on October 10, 2008 at 8:14 AM
Watch this video… This is the type of people who have been tutoring Obama for the past 20 years. McCain/Palin must name names and promise Americans that they will enforce a thorough investigation into this financial meltdown, and go after those responsible to the fullest extent of the law. The people at the McCain/Palin rally in Wisconsin yesterday are an example of how most of us feel. Name the names!
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/?pageId=77539
Keemo on October 10, 2008 at 8:15 AM
The economy will be the only and top issue, even more so by Nov.
On HotAir, we are all policy and political wonks. To the average voter, they are just worried sick about their jobs, finances, and putting food on the table. They want scalps.
McCain better give it to them, because O’Blame has been lying through his teeth about his lack of leadership and his party’s involvement in this whole mess.
Starlink on October 10, 2008 at 8:20 AM
csdeven on October 10, 2008 at 8:14 AM
I have a home filled with college kids most every weekend, as my oldest son and his buddies come here for some home cookin & football. Most of these kids support Obama, and when pushed for the reasons why, most of these kids think Obama is going to legalize pot, which is the basis for their support. Hard to believe, but I’m not joking.
The good news about this group of young people, is that as of last weekend, not one of these Obama kids had actually registered to vote. My son has registered, knows his polling location, and is voting for McCain/Palin.
Keemo on October 10, 2008 at 8:20 AM
Thank God for those Americans in Wisconsin yesterday. I hope and pray McCain got the message. Time to get down and dirty. As Rush said, “We’re going to have to drag Yosemite Sam kicking and screaming across the finish line.”
red131 on October 10, 2008 at 8:22 AM
Agreed, the economy will become even more important as we head into the Christmas shopping season. If the majority of retailers…from the big-box chains to the corner “mom and pop” shop…post dismal sales (and the Christmas season accounts for 30-40 percent of annual sales at most) then expect the stock market to plunge even further.
JetBoy on October 10, 2008 at 8:24 AM
McCain better give it to them, because O’Blame has been lying through his teeth about his lack of leadership and his party’s involvement in this whole mess.
Starlink on October 10, 2008 at 8:20 AM
You’re exactly right Starlink. Come Nov. 4th, the financial crisis will occupy the spirit of most every American voting. McCain/Palin must make this the target from this point forward, pointing out the facts while naming names. ACORN is very much a part of this meltdown; Obama’s ties to really shady people and the monies funneled into the hands of these people counts; Liberal policy and the results of such policies count…
Drive it home McCain/Palin….. Name the names and tell the truth about those names!
Keemo on October 10, 2008 at 8:25 AM
It is an okay ad, but not as good as it could be. No one is not going to vote for Obama because of his “ambition.” They think all politicians are ambitious. They won’t vote for him, though, if they KNOW he shares the same views with Ayers. This ad makes as if he doesn’t share the same views but just used him for his ambition. Weak.
Also, people need to realize that the subprime loan fiasco was caused by affirmative action lending. Then they will realize it was the Dems that caused this. If Republicans are too weak or worried about being called racists, then the truth won’t come out, and people will keep blaming Republicans because that is what the MSM is doing.
Gabe on October 10, 2008 at 8:25 AM
You know, this ad does nothing to help Michelle’s children.
irishspy on October 10, 2008 at 8:27 AM
Which MSM liberal have the Republicans agreed to let moderate the next ‘debate’?
The Senator (McCain, not “that one”) has to tread a fine line, between being forceful, succinct, and agressive, but without appearing angry.
My brother’s take on the last debate:
I don’t think he was quite that bad, but he did come off as somewhat doddering, compared with the tall, young, and newly-articulate challenger.
The ‘undecided’ voters will probably be using the last ‘debate’ as a fulcrum to make up their minds. But it isn’t ‘points’ or content that make the difference. How many viewers were able to tell when Joe Biden was fabricating ‘points’ and when he was not? It’s all about demeanor. How many were undecideds were reassured by Obambi’s calm and collected demeanor in the second presidential ‘debate’?
John McCain must take command. If I were his advisor, I’d say: “Imagine you are back in the carrier briefing room, in charge of the next bombing run. Your job is to make sure your squadron knows what the objective is, and how to achieve it. And to reassure them that you have their backs. Obambi is just one of the staff, and a not-very-disciplined one at that.”
As for the ads, they are important for visibility, but unless you craft another little-girl-picking-daisies (the ad that did in Goldwater), they aren’t going to win the election for you.
The problem with this Ayers ad is that it pulls its punch. The issue is not ‘judgment’. It’s ideology!
Here’s an ad that would take the wind out of Obambi’s sails:
Image/caption:
Frank Marshall Davis/“Communist, mentor”
Rashid Khalidi/“Anti-Semite, teacher”
William Ayers/“Terrorist, Communist, friend, helpmate”
New Party (group photo)/“Socialist party, member”
Jeremiah Wright/“Racist, Anti-Semite, confidant, spiritual advisor”
End tag: “Do you want these people in the White House?”
MrLynn on October 10, 2008 at 8:28 AM
Theyd be better off if they were abandoned in Nebraska
Viper1 on October 10, 2008 at 8:29 AM
Yes, but that attitude is no different than what I observed in the 50s and 60s. The hope is in our youth that do not subscribe to that shallow philosophy. My grandson will graduate from law school in May and as a Republican will vote for McCain in November . . . as will a good number of his classmates.
rplat on October 10, 2008 at 8:30 AM
Eh. This is the quote that the RNC must use to sink Obama’s candidacy:
Show ACORN’s roots destroying housing market and stock market, and of course link it to voter fraud.
Let McCain match Barry’s buy up of prime time if it’s too complicated to explain in more than 60 seconds.
Buy Danish on October 10, 2008 at 8:32 AM
Right guys, don’t give up on the youth just yet.
csdeven on October 10, 2008 at 8:33 AM
Excellent point . . . you hit the nail dead center.
rplat on October 10, 2008 at 8:34 AM
Blind ambition. Bad judgment.
Ambition destroys patience. If Obama had been patient, taken the VP slot next to Hillary, he would have made it and could run for POTUS after that. Now he has merely shot himself in the foot.
Men of poor character always do.
But what concerns me is that we are being harassed by these morons who will push and push…until we push back.
Make no mistake. In Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals the enemy is named: Conservatives.
We didn’t start this fight but we have to finish it. I’m in.
rishika on October 10, 2008 at 8:36 AM
Obama’s “character” has been questionable (to put it mildly) since day one. People just don’t seem to care.
JetBoy on October 10, 2008 at 8:38 AM
*The problem with this Ayers ad is that it pulls its punch. The issue is not ‘judgment’. It’s ideology!*
I agree. The McCain team just does not get it, which is why their ads have been so weak. This ad acts as if Obama’s “judgment” or “ambition” is the problem. That is not going to sway anyone.
What will sway people is if they know that Obama shares the same beliefs as Ayers. This is a very weak ad.
Gabe on October 10, 2008 at 8:38 AM
What ever you do my friend, don’t mention the name of the school. ACORN WILL DESCEND ON IT TO ENLIGHTEN THE MULTITUDE.
Rovin on October 10, 2008 at 8:40 AM
But isn’t poor judgement a symptom of a flawed ideology?
Rovin on October 10, 2008 at 8:46 AM
You couldn’t get a job at McDonalds and become district
manager after 143 days of experience.
You couldn’t become chief of surgery after 143 days of
experience of being a surgeon.
You couldn’t get a job as a teacher and be the
superintendent after 143 days of experience.
You couldn’t join the military and become a colonel
after a 143 days of experience.
You couldn’t get a job as a reporter and become the
nightly news anchor after 143 days of experience.
You couldn’t get a job as Director of Nursing after 143
days experience as an RN !!!!!
BUT….
From the time Barack Obama was sworn in as a United
State Senator, to the time he announced he was forming a
Presidential exploratory committee, he logged 143 days of
experience in the Senate. That’s how many days the
Senate was actually in session and working. After 143 days
Commander In Chief, Leader of the Free World … 143 days.
We all have to start somewhere, but after 143 days, that’s all it is – a start.
AND, strangely, a large sector of the American public is
okay with this and campaigning for him. We wouldn’t
accept this in our own line of work, yet some are okay with
this for the President of the United States of America?
Keemo on October 10, 2008 at 8:50 AM
OT: Anybody actually ever read the NYT article on Ayers that ran on 9/11/01? Consider doing so, if you haven’t.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F02E1DE1438F932A2575AC0A9679C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print
BuckeyeSam on October 10, 2008 at 8:51 AM
Since the general electorate are dimwits and are content with their thoughts being spoon-fed to them by The One’s media, you may have a point.
McCain needs to make the point that Obama’s associations will have an effect on all our pocketbooks. It will be a stretch for some to actually comprehend this, but maybe some lightbulbs will go off. Obama’s ideology and the people that he has associated with his entire life want to destroy America as we know it. They are hell-bent on taking away our freedoms and moving us towards a marxist society. This will definitely effect our pocketbooks. It is about the economy and Obama can not be trusted.
When I try to explain this to some dimwits, they get a glazed look in their eyes. So frustrating…maybe I’m not coming across loud and clear! UGH!
ConMom on October 10, 2008 at 8:52 AM
Slow down for a sec and lets look at what is happening now that wasn’t happening since “day one”. (And please realize that we here have known the facts for months. But we are wonks and are dissociated from how real folks process the information. They have heard of the association, but never the details. The details are devastating and you need to allow that others will take the same attitude toward this that all of us did as we systematically learned the facts.)
The MSM is now reporting on this even to the extent that CNN reported most all of the sordid details.
Oslime-a and his surrogates are in a tail spin and have contradicted themselves since this story broke.
Oslime-a is scared and is compounding his mistakes exponentially. THAT hasn’t been happening simce “day one” and it will matter to people who haven’t been hearing the facts since “day one”.
csdeven on October 10, 2008 at 8:55 AM
Rovin on October 10, 2008 at 8:40 AM
I’m pretty sure of just how ACORN thugs would be treated in my area. There is good reason of just exactly why Obama trails in Montana by double digit margins; his biggest problem being the second amendment and and his “record” that has been exposed in this gun totin state. Obama flooded this state with phony & dishonest ads regarding his “support” for the right to bear arms, but then some good people came out with the truth about Obama’s actual record, and the messiah tanked as a result.
Keemo on October 10, 2008 at 8:56 AM
McCain also has to stop flailing around (e.g., “I’m suspending my campaign to go to a meeting!”, “I have adopted Hillary’s $300bn mortgage buy-back program!”, “Won’t you join me in calling off the debate, Sen. Obama?”) and start talking calmly and authoritatively about the subprime chaos. I have to be honest. I’m as red-blooded a conservative as they get, and after seeing McCain’s flailing and utter failure to respond to Obama’s attacks, I actually thought about voting for Obama on the theory that McCain is too impulsive and erratic to make an effective leader. [Don't worry, I haven't, and won't, vote for Obama.]
Outlander on October 10, 2008 at 8:56 AM
I cant wait for the polls to come out in the next few days.
With all the Acorn stuff, Mccain has to be closing or gaining.
Will the media say it’s too late for Obama to regain his lead?
faraway on October 10, 2008 at 9:01 AM
Chris Buckley is certainly not an obamabot, but he has convinced himself to vote for The One. He thinks Barry is a good writer … I think Ayers was his ghost writer.
Andy McCarthy at NRO recommended watching the 2004 Oscar-nominated movie, The Weather Underground, which has been uploaded to youtube and provided a link to part one of nine. I watched the whole thing last night.
I was in high school and university in Canada when the Weathermen were active so what they were doing never registered very strongly. They were just the subject of occasional new stories. The bombs weren’t close enough to me to matter at the time.
The tone of the movie is sympathetic and the vietnam footage helps you understand how deep an emotional response drove the anti-war movement. However, it’s also quite clear how particularly extreme the Weathermen were. It’s also clear that Dohrn was the worst of them.
gh on October 10, 2008 at 9:06 AM
Good ad!!! Finally saying that Obama LIED!!! Also that “liberals” (=Democrats) in Congress caused the financial crisis.
McCain needs to hammer this theme with lots of ads.
I also hope that McCain/Palin and the RNC can hammer the record of Obama’s Annenberg experience–not so much the association with Ayers, but the ineffectiveness of what he did.
How about this?
“In 1994, domestic terrorist William Ayers hired Barack Obama as Chairman of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, to spend $160 million trying to improve Chicago schools. Obama spent all the money on student activism, nothing on math and science. After six years, no improvement in test scores, NO CHANGE.
Barack Obama. All talk, wasted your money, no results.”
Steve Z on October 10, 2008 at 9:28 AM
Without the media lies and distortions, McCain wins in a 90% landslide.
The leftist media must…be…destroyed.
Let’s roll.
ex-Democrat on October 10, 2008 at 9:35 AM
Don’t set yourself up for poll disappointment! That’s what the media wants …. you too demoralized to vote.
The polls are rigged.
Ignore the polls. Fight all the way to election day!
LET’S ROLL AMERICA!
ex-Democrat on October 10, 2008 at 9:37 AM
Ed, I disagree that it is bad to raise both these issues in one 30-second ad (even though you find this one ad good).
To me, the ad uses the “one- two punch” approach of, “you think that was bad, listen to this one!”
I find one issue makes the other stronger, and builds the unstated (until the end of the ad) argument that “Obama is unfit.”
Lockstein13 on October 10, 2008 at 9:41 AM
He needs to hammer on that in the next debate. When Obama smugly says that McCain voted with Bush 90% of the time, McCain needs to rebut with “I may have voted with the President 90% of the time, but my opponent voted with the liberals in congress who’ve destroyed our economy 100% of the time.”
crazy_legs on October 10, 2008 at 9:42 AM
You sound like an Axelrod astroturfer to me.
ex-Democrat on October 10, 2008 at 9:44 AM
Better yet, if the media and pollsters are fabricating their numbers—-MAKE UP YOUR OWN AND POST THEM TO YOUR WEBSITES!
BREAKING! NEWEST POLL SHOWS SUDDEN REVERSAL—McCAIN NOW UP BY 15 POINTS!–MICHELLE’S KIDS HARDEST HIT!
Rovin on October 10, 2008 at 10:05 AM
Ask anyone here who’s been around the HotAir block for the last couple years. I’m no “astroturfer”…
JetBoy on October 10, 2008 at 10:12 AM
Yes, of course. But attacking the symptom leaves the public wondering, “They all say the other guy has poor judgment. Why should we believe McCain?”
The ideology of Obambi’s friends, teachers, mentors, and associates is fact, not opinion, cause not symptom. That’s where the spotlight has to be.
MrLynn on October 10, 2008 at 10:19 AM
It’s the ideology, Stupid.
/runs away
Crux Australis on October 10, 2008 at 10:26 AM
This is an uncommonly good ad. But is it running anywhere? I’m tired of web ads that know one sees.
petunia on October 10, 2008 at 12:02 PM
ex-Dem, JetBoy has been supporting McCain since the primaries. I checked his old posts (something I find myself doing a lot on HA because of all the astroturfers, frankly).
I agree with JetBoy that the Ayers stuff is not really that effective. I don’t think it will necessarily hurt McCain in the polls (except with aging hippies and their kids), but I don’t think it’s the most powerful of the character attacks. The problem is that the Ayers storyline does not lend itself to a simple line of attack. To be effective, McCain has to:
(1) explain who Bill Ayers is – overcoming that he is now a professor (“rehabilitated”) and explaining what the heck the Weathermen were
(2) explain why what happened during the 60′s is relevant to today – that Ayers is still a radical, etc – as well as de-romanticize the 60′s protesters in the minds of aging hippies and the young generation who crave something to protest; imho, they need to stop showing black and white pictures of Ayers as a first step to eliminating the “this was in the past” excuse
(3) establish the Obama-Ayers connection, which includes explaining what the heck the Annenberg Challenge was and what it means to serve on a board – I think of all the elements the campaign has made the most progress on this recently
(4) establish that Ayers shaped Obama’s political and world views
(5) combat the notion that “that was all in the past” and Obama has seen the light
I think this is a much harder sell than Reverend Wright. It’s easy to show clips of the racist, hate-monger Wright “preaching” anti-Americanism and say this is the guy whom Obama chose to baptize his kids. Very simple – very clear. Obama condones racism or is, in fact, a racist himself. It took a long time for Obama to distance himself from Wright… very recent, so this is much more of a current affair than an historical one. I think most of us agree that McCain needs to get over his fear of being branded a racist and use this line of attack, at the very least do it through surrogates, Palin, and the 527s.
But to me the fatal blow is ACORN. Unlike many folks overseas, Americans are not used to the idea that votes don’t matter or that elections can be stolen. McCain’s campaign needs to tie ACORN firmly around Obama’s neck — where it clearly belongs — and pound on that at every turn.
God bless Congressman Boehner for stepping up to the plate. I wish there had been a group of Senators with him at that press conference with McCain front and center in that group.
Y-not on October 10, 2008 at 12:39 PM
SOME TIMES I FEEL LIKE TOM HANKS IN THE MOVIE BIG i just don’t get it.
why is it that the economy is the biggest story on news but NO ONE WANTS TO EXPLAIN HOW WE AS A NATION GOT INTO THIS MESS.
socialist policies for the last 20 years have caused the current lack of faith is the u.s. economy. why is it that the stock market is falling????? I will tell you why INVESTORS ARE AFRAID OF OBAMA. obamas policies wil take us back to the 30′s.
TomLawler on October 10, 2008 at 1:15 PM
I had a thought about the last debate, and why Mac pulled his punches. I too had hoped that he would come into that debate firing with both barrels. However, it occurred to me that this was a “town hall” format, with the candidates sauntering around, mere feet away from the citizens whose questions they were tasked to use as occasions for their scripted monologues.
I visualized McCain launching relentlessly into Obama’s unquestionably shady past and dreadful judgment, his radical ties and cynical obfuscations. I imagined the One’s increasingly testy and strident dodges and attempts to smear McCain in retaliation. I imagined myself sitting there in the audience, about 1.5 meters from this. I began to perspire.
I wonder if a choice was made to refrain from showing 70 million viewers the sight of their fellow citizens growing increasingly uncomfortable as two prospective presidents slugged it out right in front of them. However bad either one made the other look, I wonder if it was judged that there would be a Pyhrric quality to it.
Now, making your opponent wilt at a podium, at a remove from the faces and personal spaces of the voters who watch the blistering onslaught from a safe distance…that’s a different matter. And I do hope that that is what we will witness next Wednesday.
Oh, and I really hope that McCain is able to convey a low, grumbling anger and outrage. He has rather a high, piping voice, which grates when raised.
Noocyte on October 10, 2008 at 2:26 PM