Good “Old” John McCain [UPDATED]
Did he say “old”?
Barack Obama is charging that rival John McCain doesn’t have any new ideas and that’s why the Arizona senator’s campaign is focusing its energy on anti-Obama ads.
“You haven’t heard a positive thing out of that campaign in a month. All they do is try to run me down,” Obama said while campaigning Wednesday in Union, Missouri.
…
“Since they don’t have any new ideas, the only strategy they’ve got in this election is to try to scare you about me,” Obama said.
That’s reasonable criticism—but this?
[…] Obama released an ad comparing McCain to President Bush.
The spot declares that McCain has taken the “low road” over the course of the presidential campaign.
“He’s practicing the politics of the past,” the ad’s narrator says as headlines from various medial outlets stating McCain has gone negative flash across the screen. “John McCain. Same old politics, same failed policies,” the ad’s narrator also says.
“Old”, huh? You think that word just happened? You don’t think those bastards aren’t playing the “ageism” card? I wonder how the AARP heard the ad? Think they were deaf to the implication? Deaf maybe, myopic certainly—but not completely insensate.
Turn the tables: how would it sound if the McCain camp ran a commercial referring to “dark” days ahead in an Obama administration?
UPDATE:
Looks like that may not have been the most offensive thing he said, either:
Stumping in Missouri, Obama, the first black candidate with a shot at winning the White House, argued Wednesday that President Bush and McCain will resort to scare tactics to maintain their hold on the White House because they have little else to offer voters.
“Nobody thinks that Bush and McCain have a real answer to the challenges we face. So what they’re going to try to do is make you scared of me,” Obama said. “You know, ‘he’s not patriotic enough, he’s got a funny name,’ you know, ‘he doesn’t look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills.’”
Yeah, they’re not covered in slime (well, maybe Grant was).
Obama “played the race card, and he played it from the bottom of the deck,” McCain campaign manager Rick Davis said in a statement. He called Obama’s remarks “divisive, negative, shameful and wrong.”
We may be touchy, we may be wrong—but, speaking for all white folks, we just don’t like to be called racists. No, I take that back: there are more than a few masochists who like the flagellation. But count me among those who won’t forgive or forget this blatant race-baiting.
PS: See Aggie’s post above.
Thoughtful said,
July 31, 2008 @ 11:51 am
Well you sort of contradicted yourself because the person you were quoting mentioned comparing McCain to Bush, so when Obama said “Same old politics,” I’m pretty sure he meant the politics of President Bush. Oh, I’m sure the AARP will spin this and complain, and that’s to be expected; everyone has an angle in politics, just like how some people who complain if the McCain campaign ran what you were talking about (the “dark” days thing). If you don’t like someone, you take everything they say as potentially stupid and offensive.
Carol said,
July 31, 2008 @ 12:08 pm
Old folks are hyperopic, not myopic, and I know since I’m both plus strabismic, which makes me sound special instead of just barely able to make out shapes without my glasses.
Bloodthirsty Liberal said,
July 31, 2008 @ 12:13 pm
If I had just slowed down a bit, I would have worked out “macular degenerative”. Coulda, shoulda, woulda.
But Carol, you write much younger than you are—if it doesn’t make the other readers jealous to say so.
BTL
Patricia said,
July 31, 2008 @ 12:29 pm
For some reason the word “old” in the context in which you referred totally escaped me. I am not sure many will think on those same lines. I took it to mean the old politics - the “no new” ideas or strategies, or solutions.
wes said,
July 31, 2008 @ 1:19 pm
When will americans(specificaly dems) wake up and learn the truth about obama and what will happen if he’s elected. everything from his voting record, PATRIOTISM, lack of public service, and radical ethnic beliefs are a huge red flag waving right in front of our faces. i am truly scared for my daughter’s future once this radical liberal takes command of the greatest country in the world. THE SAME PERSON WHO WON’T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. seriously, RED FLAG! wake up america.
martino said,
July 31, 2008 @ 3:08 pm
“But Carol, you write much younger than you are—if it doesn’t make the other readers jealous to say so.”
BTL
OK, funny man. I resemble that remark…….
Howard said,
July 31, 2008 @ 5:26 pm
Obama has been attacking his opponents … first Hillary … now McCain, by way of his supporters … who he has to keep distancing himself from, only after they’re caught that is, to give the appearance that he is not involved in the attacks. As far as Obama looking different than the Presidents on our dollar bills … this presumptuous, pompous, arrogant candidate is probably already planning how he will redesign our currency, with his picture on it, like the way he redesigned the Presidential seal … that is, whenever he can take some time away from accusing everybody who disagrees with him of being a racist. Obama is a cry baby, who is not qualified to be President of the United States.
PWill said,
July 31, 2008 @ 7:31 pm
How many of you guys actually heard his speach live in which these lines were quoted? I bet none of you did, I didn’t. The only way that this would come to light would be if the McCain camp BROUGHT race into the campaign by saying that Obama used the “race card” during the speech. These lines would never have been even known or cared about if the McCain camp didn’t keep complaining and whinning about Obama’s every move. Yes the lines are a little vague but you have to think about all of the Muslim rumors, Rev Wright constantly being discussed by right-wing talking heads, or the unfair depiction of his wife as radical- then think maybe when he said the line about not looking like every other president he was addressing the issue that he is not a Muslim, nor is Rev. Wright his speech writer and moral compass and nor is his wife a radical. There are a lot of topics that are being thrown at him that are subtley race or appearance related. He did not say anything about his race, he just implied that he looked different-probably on the surface as well as being so much younger(other than Grant). If anybody played the “race card” during this ordeal McCain did because he made people zone in on the fact that he is black and for the uneducated people out there that are unfortunately registered to vote this is an issue…to those that actually read on the other hand it is not.
Bloodthirsty Liberal said,
July 31, 2008 @ 8:50 pm
Pwill,
He obviously played the race card and he did it during a campaign event. It is perfectly fair for the McCain camp to bring it up. Obama brought up his looks, not McCain. McCain has the obligation to respond to that nonsense. Furthermore, people have a right to be concerned about the other issues you bring up - especially Reverend Wright. The Obamas chose to spend 20 years in a church where bigotry was preached and initially he told the American people that there was nothing particularly controversial about his church. The sermons that America watched in horror came from dvds that the church was selling in their bookstore and on-line. They were proud of those sermons. All the stuff about whites and Jews and Italians was just fine, profitable in fact. You really cannot have it both ways.
- Aggie
zuq said,
July 31, 2008 @ 9:22 pm
McCain has no plans. He’s Bush in disquise.
http://www.acsa2000.net/cain2004.org/Dine-Navajo-PressRelease.htm
Tupac said,
July 31, 2008 @ 10:46 pm
Why is it that the McCain campaign was the one to point out race in Obamas speech. Correct me if I am wrong but people at Fox get paid to that; how could have they missed it? I say his speech it wasn’t racist. What about McCains commercial about how dare a black man be more popular then the sitting white US president. Or Obama’s a traitor because he rather win an election then a war. This is no McCain of 2002 whom I supported, he’s following tired OLD politics of K Rove.
Bloodthirsty Liberal said,
July 31, 2008 @ 10:50 pm
Why did McCain point it out? Because it is a “race” for the Presidency. Obama and McCain are opponents. So each will point to the other’s flaws. That’s why.
Beyond that, it is ridiculous to claim that Obama wasn’t playing a race card. Of course he was.
- Aggie
Tupac said,
August 1, 2008 @ 12:26 am
Aggie-
Well I did not see the Obama’s comments as such until McCain made a big deal about it. Being popular is a flaw? Ask Bush what he would do to get 200 people to show up to his speech.
You can also argue that using two white girls “Britney and Paris” juxtaposed with a black man is also racist as argued by NY Times.
Reverend Wright? Well he’s like anyone that is over 50+; my best friends grandparents always make racial and bigoted comments but that has nothing to do with my best friend so I judge him for it.
What about the McCain supporter that said the comments about gays and Hurricane Katrina?
Thoughtful said,
August 1, 2008 @ 9:23 am
Ironically about 90% of Obama’s ads that he puts out are focused on his message of change whereas–at least for the past month or so–McCain’s campaign has been putting out negative ads against Obama. Now I’m not going to say that a negative ad exchange is really all that bad, but when it becomes your entire strategy? C’mon…like that ad comparing Spears and Hilton to Obama…seriously?
Bloodthirsty Liberal said,
August 1, 2008 @ 9:38 am
Obama’s message of change? What does that mean? Do you mean change regarding FISA? Or change regarding campaign finance? Or change regarding Iraq? What change exactly does he stand for? He’s like a moody teenager.
- Aggie
Thoughtful said,
August 1, 2008 @ 12:28 pm
In using what you’ve said, rather a “moody teenager” than a stubborn old man. What does McCain talk about? The troops? Being a veteran and supporting the veterans are two different things. Sure, the troops may like McCain now because they can relate, but when they themselves become veterans, they will understand was only their friend as soldiers, not as veterans.
jmcfarl3 said,
August 1, 2008 @ 12:44 pm
http://www.mcsweeneys.net/links/president/4.html
^^ That ad script, along with 4 others, could lend some levity to this discussion. Could, I said, not will. But along with a good laugh, at least it will show attack ads for what they are.
Thoughtful said,
August 1, 2008 @ 1:30 pm
Damn! Can’t see that link at work…I’ll have to check it out at home.