This is sad. It's sad because at one point there must have been at least a shred of decency, of political civility in John McCain. How else could so many people call him "a maverick"?
Now my friends, because his campaign so empty of real ideas and his party's brand has been so damaged by the sheer incompetence of the Bush Administration, he's been reduced to approving this:
Here's the script:
Now let's take a look at what Barack Obama actually said. The "tiny" quotation was from May 18 of this year and when you see what he actually said and then compare it to what John McCain says he said, the dishonestly is shriekingly obvious. Here's the quotation from CNN:Iran. Radical Islamic government.
Known sponsors of terrorism.
Developing nuclear capabilities to "generate power" but threatening to eliminate Israel.
Obama says Iran is a "tiny" country, "doesn't pose a serious threat".
Terrorism, destroying Israel, those aren't "serious threats"?
Obama -- dangerously unprepared to be president.
JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approved this message.
Anyone with a brain can see these are distortions. Iran IS "tiny" (compared to the former Soviet Union) and the threat posed ISN'T as serious as the Soviet Union's threat to the United States. I mean, really. How many nuclear missles does Iran possess and how many of them are targetted the US? None. How many did the Soviet have - thousands.Strong countries and strong Presidents talk to their adversaries. That's what Kennedy did with Khrushchev. That's what Reagan did with Gorbachev. That's what Nixon did with Mao. I mean, think about it: Iran, Cuba, Venezuela — these countries are tiny compared to the Soviet Union.
They don't pose a serious threat to us the way the Soviet Union posed a threat to us,” he said. “And yet we were willing to talk to the Soviet Union at the time when they were saying 'we're going to wipe you off the planet.' [emphasis added]
John Kerry is right: The candidate who once promised a "contest of ideas," now has nothing left but personal attacks.
And the attacks are not even true! Especially when Obama's on the record saying:
The Iranian regime supports violent extremists and challenges us across the region. It pursues a nuclear capability that could spark a dangerous arms race and raise the prospect of a transfer of nuclear know-how to terrorists. Its president denies the Holocaust and threatens to wipe Israel off the map. The danger from Iran is grave, it is real, and my goal will be to eliminate this threat.Sad. McCain's been reduced to throwing mud. Very sad.
he's making himself look sad and weak.
ReplyDeleteIt's way out of bounds. It's so distorted that (like other McCain ads) it borders on outright lying. And you are to be commended for pulling out the full Obama quote in it's original context to demonstrate this fact.
ReplyDeleteBut these ads are also likely to work as long as the only rebuttals out there are being posted on blogs, some official Obama websites, or even by some campaign rep being interviewed on TV. As effective as your rebuttal is, David, one still must come here looking for it in order to read it. Even with a live rebuttal on some TV interview program, one still must go looking for it in order to see it.
I'm sure if there were Obama rebuttal ads out there, you would be posting them. But so far, I've hardly seen any of them.
To the extent that McCain is actually running these ads on television, and not merely relying on the news media (an bloggers like you) to broadcast it for him, these ads are being consumed passively by viewers. They see these charges against Obama without any effort on thier part.
But the only way that they can find out that it's total bullshit is to get out of the Barcalounger and seek out these reubttals, which aren't even coming from Obama himself.
As an aside, I seem to recall that, during previous election years, there was some kind of informal agreement that each side would refrain from campaigning during the other side's convention. Am I just imagining that? If not, when did this agreement die it's ugly death? Because the Republicans are certainly in full-throated campaign mode this week, going so far as to orgainize at least some portion of it in an office in Denver, literally just down the street from the Democratic convention.
i was just asked last night about why we see so many mccain ads in pgh, but very few obama ads.
ReplyDeletei answered that it's likely because we have the lead here, right now.
scary thing though... if these keep running unchecked, we won't maintain the lead.
John K: Iran is tiny? Not when they threaten to destroy the State of Israel.
ReplyDeleteJohn K: As I read the ad, it seems all McCain did was quote Hussein Obama. And, as per the mantra of the left, we can't actually quote what Hussein Obama said. McCain told the truth.
ReplyDeleteTo me, it is the (forgive me Chris Schultz) the DeSantis campaign all over again. DeSantis had boat loads of negative things he could have said about Luke Ravenstahl. But he wanted to run a high minded campaign, and obviously that did not resonate with the average Pittsburgher.
ReplyDeleteNow Obama seems to be hesitating to get down in the dirt. Now I don't know if Obama wants to say something like " I am going to bring your taxes back to their year 2000 level and a little more, but only if you make over $250,000". That would play well with 95% or more of Pittsburgh, but Obama might lose some of his Aspen big donors.
But you are right, pseudo-Richmond, Obama needs to do something. He needs to get those ads out in Pennsylvania. His organizers are going back to voters who voted against him in the primary, and making the case for Obama again, this time compared to McCain. But we need the ads to reinforce the message, make sure people understand Obama cares what is said about him.
Have you read the NYTtimes article on Obama-noics? The difference in tax policy between McCain and Obama is startling, as is the claim that many Democrats would see Obama on economic policy as conservative. This is not to mention (except I am) the difference on health insurance. If only Obama would drop the commitment to ethanol (which is helping kill the Caribbean), he would have three good issues to differentiate himself.
Obama-nomics.
ReplyDeleteD'oh!
John K: Hey I like this Biden guy. He advocates the use of violence when threatened by bullies. He said we should bloody their nose. The liberals in here preach conflict resolution. But this Biden guy advocates violence. LMAO LMAO Once again using the left's words against them.
ReplyDeleteJohn K: Hussein Obama ain't going to say that about taxes. He says he is going to cut taxes. LOL LOL As do most liberals. Obama and Biden painted themselves as coming from conservative homes. Liberals like to do this also. So it is up to McCain to use the quotes Hussein Obama uses to get that message out about the real Obama. And that is what really aggravates the left. We don't want that Obama - Ayers association being exposed now do we. We don't want that quote about Obama calling countries with nuclear weaposn, tiny. Obama and his minions will only tell you that he is really a conservative. As a sidebar, Olbermouth describes himself as a conservative also. LOL LOL LOL LMAO But we can tell the difference.
ReplyDeleteHere is the actual discussion by Obama:
ReplyDeleteOn May 18, in Pendelton, Ore., Obama said that "strong countries and strong presidents talk to their adversaries. That's what Kennedy did with Khrushchev. That's what Reagan did with Gorbachev. That's what Nixon did with Mao. I mean, think about it. Iran, Cuba, Venezuela -- these countries are tiny, compared to the Soviet Union. They don't pose a serious threat to us the way the Soviet Union posed a threat to us. And yet, we were willing to talk to the Soviet Union at the time when they were saying, 'We're going to wipe you off the planet.'
"And ultimately, that direct engagement led to a series of measures that helped prevent nuclear war, and over time, allowed the kind of opening that brought down the Berlin Wall," Obama continued. "Now, that has to be the kind of approach that we take. You know, Iran, they spend one-one hundredth of what we spend on the military. If Iran ever tried to pose a serious threat to us, they wouldn't stand a chance. And we should use that position of strength that we have, to be bold enough to go ahead and listen. That doesn't mean we agree with them on everything. We might not compromise on any issues, but at least we should find out other areas of potential common interest, and we can reduce some of the tensions that has caused us so many problems around the world."
maybe the MSM should do simple fact checking before airing false ads such as this one by McCain
All,
ReplyDeleteLike so many of McCain's ads this week, this ad never was aired anywhere. It is strictly a video press release they provided to the MSM in an attempt to get airtime. In this case, the media actually did fact checking before putting the ad on their news runs.
John K: Billroot, you and I agree. That is exactly what Hussein Obama said. And all McCain did was remind people of what he said. And for that you get upset? LMAO You get upset when we remind people of the Ayers- Obama connection and when we use his proper name. You guys get upset when we tell the truth about Hussein Obama using his own actions and words. Dude, you have a problem.
ReplyDeleteJohn K: By the way Sherry, it is not sad, it is working. Rasmussen gave Hussein Obama a whole one, count 'me 1, point jump in the polls after this three day long love fest. And all McCain had to do was tell the truth. LMAO Oh yah!
ReplyDeleteMore proof, my friends, of the astonishing reality we have here: John K can write (or at least type) but he doesn't seem to be able to read.
ReplyDeleteJohn K: One thing left wing kooks hate, using their own words against them. Limbaugh has made a fortune doing exactly that. And it so sweet LMAO. All we have to do beat Hussein Obama is use his words and associations against him.
ReplyDeleteLike clockwork, John K shows up to PROVE MY POINT.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing, really. You show John K where the original "tiny" line came from and how it was cut and pasted into something it wasn't and still he goes on saying "that's exactly what he said."
LOL - proof the man can't read. But then how does he type?