Andrew Sullivan: Another Scummy McCain Ad (McCain's bio v. Obama's - the chutzpah of McCain)

[Pirate Smile]

Another Scummy McCain Ad

08 Aug 2008 03:12 pm


The new one truly is painful. Note how a negative ad is constructed. There is a cover: in this case an argument about Obama's pledge to raise taxes. That argument is dishonest as Ambers explains:

It claims that Barack Obama voted to raise taxes on folks earning more than $42,000 a year. Technically, the claim stands up-- Obama voted for a budget resolution that would have restored the 25% tax bracket to 28%, which, in theory, might mean more taxes paid by those earning as little as $42,000. But Budget resolutions aren't bills; they're broad targets... so the McCain folks are having a little fun here.

A little fun? Obama isn't proposing to raise taxes on people earning $42,000 a year, as the ad insinuates. The ad is substantively sleazy. But the tax issue is not what this ad is about. The ad is designed to perpetuate the notion that Obama is a wealthy, pampered socialist elitist, while "we" are not. When you look at McCain's bio and Obama's, you begin to appreciate the chutzpah.

McCain was a child of immense privilege, a son and grandson of admirals, given a prized education at the Naval Academy which he threw away - a performance he now touts in his favor. He dumped his first wife in favor of a fantastically wealthy heiress. He has had more money for a longer time than Obama has ever dreamed of. Obama, meanwhile, grew up on food stamps, was reared by a single mother and grandparents and by dint of sheer talent and hard work got to be the first black president of the Harvard Law Review. He was given very little and made the most of it; McCain was given so much and began his life, as he concedes, by taking it all for granted.

This ad alone - its dishonesty on so many levels, its appeal to class resentment and envy, its use of fear and personal demonization - is one reason the McCain campaign, like McCain himself, is now more Rove than Weaver. If he keeps running ads like this one, he richly deserves to lose.

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/08/another-scummy.html#more

[DesertFlower]

1. it's sleazy and an outright lie.

it seems all the rwingers say that obama is going to raise your taxes. the problem is people who don't follow politics closely tend to believe it.

[DangerDave921]

3. Sullivan himself says it

Unless I'm misreading it.

[DangerDave921]

2. Daily outrage

Why do people seem so surprised each time a new McCain ad comes out? Has no one seen an election before? What do they expect -- high praise of one's opponent?

Ads will be misleading, tough, blustery pieces of falsity. That's what political ads are. To be constantly enraged anew each time one comes out is strange.

[Pirate Smile]

4. kick

[anonymous171]

5. Obama better step up his negative ad game.

He needs to start attacking McCain personally.

[goodgd_yall]

7. He could attack the "elitist" bs

"Elitist? John McCain the son and grandson of naval officers, graduate of the Naval Academy..." And show the house he grew up in, etc, etc. I'd like to see that ad.

[anonymous171]

8. Good idea. Or take on the "maverick" BS by painting McCain as a maverick for big business.

[Hope And Change]

6. K & R!Thanks for posting!