John McCain compares Barack Obama to the original celebrity

They went there.

John McCain's campaign earlier today emailed supporters a new minute-long video called "The One,"
which opens like a Hollywood trailer: "In 2008, the world will be blessed," giant letters promise. "They will call him, The One." It then cuts to shots of Barack Obama at his most messianic: "We are the ones we have been waiting for" and the by-now standard photos of hundreds of thousands of cheering Germans. The spot ends with footage of a bearded and robed Charlton Heston in "The Ten Commandments" parting the Red Sea.

In a week that has already seen the McCain campaign comparing Obama to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, the new spot takes the, dare we say audacious, step of comparing Obama to the original celebrity.

On the campaign plane, McCain spokeswoman Nicolle Wallace defended the clip as just another harmless quip. "There is an important role for humor in political campaigns," she told reporters. "I think all of us would slit our wrists if there wasn't."

She also said the spot had a serious purpose: To buck up any McCain backers who may have been dispirited watching Obama dominate the news with his overseas trip and rally. The hope is to "make sure they understand that Barack Obama, who stands in front of tens of thousands, is not anything to be intimidated by," she said. "We're proud we're showcasing our candidate surrounded by workers."

-- Nicholas Riccardi

Comments

[coolrepublica]

They went there and it was hilarious. If you didn't laugh you are an Obama fanatic. Anyone with a marginal sense of humor laughed. When Moses parted the sea and the Obama presidential seal came out was priceless. And yet these comedians still insist that there is nothing about Obama that can be made fun of. Well, they think Americans are stupid.

McCain is showing humor. While Obama fret, McCain is just enjoying this. It's a winning strategy. Obama has no sense of humor and these ads are a way to show the contrast.

But I say give it a day and the NYT editorial board will find something racist in these ad somewhere. I'm waiting for that. I will die of laughter at that point.

[gerald]

"I think all of us would slit our wrists if there wasn't."

Could you please.

Obama got 100,000 donations yesterday, 1/3 from new donors. My wife is unemployed, but McCain inspires me to give Obama money. To think that 8 years ago I thought he would have been an okay president. Now McCain has turned into just a very angry man.

Here's a clip of McCain stealing his talking points from Britney Spears. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPEV6twzxmE
Thank God for Youtube.

[Bane]

This ad was pretty lame. Who are their writers? Every attack ad McCain airs is more and more laughable and immature. The man has no substance- just another empty suit. I hope McCain's backers enjoy watching 2008-12 from the sidelines!

[Josh Ritter]

Disgraceful. Unfunny. Trying too hard.

Stop wasting our time, McCain. The voters are not stupid. They don't care about your youtube clips, or the Marsha Blackburn Sex Tape, or any of this sideshow garbage. We need a direction. The only candidate worth voting for--Nader--doesn't stand a chance. How we ended up with these two political lightweight, I don't know.

[SonOfHistoryProf]

McCain would rather win the slimy way than lose the honest way.

His overall message is not how or why he is good or great for America, but only negative things to say about his opponent.

Is this what 50 plus years of public service have taught you?

[haymaker]

well mccain, if you can't inspire anybody,
ridicule the guy who can.

what a small, childish ad this is for someone of mccain's stature to run.

[Paul Svec]

...Razorblade Nicolle? Very funny, or very desparate?

[Meme]

So, if Obama is 'the One,' then that makes McCain Satan?

[Andrew Huston]

I agree with the ad. How dare Obama be inspiring. Who does he think he is? I prefer my political leaders to keep me cynical and dispirited.

Also, I don't like it when foreigners are waving American flags and cheering American leaders. I'm used to the world hating us. It just feels right.

[luvwknd]

McSame’s a jealous old coot who failed at being a fighter pilot and has miserably flip-flopped ever since he’s been in the Senate! Anybody that votes for McSame is an IDIOT!

Vote McSame & you'll get what we've all had for 8 years - POOR GOVERNMENT!

VOTE DEMOCRATIC & GET THIS NATION BACK ON TRACK!

Pretty Simple!

[JCR]

Why the adolescent nonsense about Obama, celebrities and messiah from MCain? Here's why, from USA Polls; They have NOTHING else:

Obama 352 vs. McCain 186 electoral college votes

Based on the latest polls, the electoral college assessment has shown Obama to have the largest lead ever.. up 166 electoral votes and it seems to be sticking at least for the past couple of days.

Blumenthal's estimates on his own website has Obama up by almost 140 electoral votes but with 107 toss-up states. And on Tanenbaum's website, Obama is up by about 120.

[Raistlin Jazir]

Republicans don't have a sense of humor. Therefore, how could this be funny? If you didn't laugh at this, you are a Republican.

[me]

I agree. This is a hilarious ad. Anyone who doesn't agree needs to start taking things a little less seriously. Kudos to McCain for this one. Don't think it will get him any votes, but at least it's funny!

[Joe]

"respectful" campaign indeed. all about the issues indeed. yes, let's waste time making satirical ads and then say how McCain is the only one who cares about the issues. when was the last time mccain even mentioned an issue that the voters would care about? oh lets not worry about that. lets just make more humorous ads!!!!!

[HumorousDem]

ok your are right. It is funny. But can we please see a reasoned detailed McCain plan for Iraq. Obama has laid out his plan, and all McCain has managed to is thump that tired old line about losing a campiagn to win a war. (Read the rejected NYT editorial on CNN.com) If McCain wants to win this campaign he might start by talking about what constitutes "winning" the war in Iraq. If he could manage to do that, I would be impressed, but all this looks to me like McCain has lost his edge (to old age) and is being pushed around by the neocons. so much for the maverick.

[Brian Smith]

Humor? If so, doesn't the McCain campaign have anything better to do with their time (not to mention their money)? The end of the ad says it was paid for by John McCain.

Keep it coming, Johnny. Obama will be laughing all the way to the White House if this is the best you've got.

[John]

It's so funny!

- Atlanta, GA

[FML]

I dunno.. I see this.. and it kind of makes me want to vote for Barack. What does this say about McCain? That he's ready to lead? Really? Because he can buy a sausage sandwich in some town in the middle-of-nowhere Ohio?

Yeah, it's a funny ad, but this is free publicity for Barack and a mistake by McCain. Tell me that if McCain wasn't giving a speech in front of 200,000 (regardless of where it is) that he wouldn't use that footage instead?

The biggest problem for McCain is that there's no substance behind his constant attacks. The race remains close, and McCain's going to blow it if he doesn't show some real difference soon.

[independent]

Don't see anything particularly racist about this ad "cool" I just don't see any reason to vote for McCain in it either. McCain has adopted a "don't vote for the other guy, he's too popular" approach. That tells me nothing positive about why to vote for McCain. After 30 years in the senate you'd think he'd have some ads touting his great record.
McCain's "cool" ads are falling flat. He's trying to appeal to the youth vote...this young independent voter still sees McCain as an OLD school politician with no good ideas or voting history to run on. Too bad Ron Paul is a kook.

[rob]

the problem for MCCain ? his credibility he is an old weak and dishonest fellow with nothing left but punches
below the belt.
Trying to sink someone else boat when you can barely stay afloat looks sounds smells suicidal....
So now we have only one candidate left and McCain knows that it makes him nasty and doing and saying stupid things
but I dont think Americans will be fooled this time....

[Me]

That should be an SNL skit, not a real campaign ad. How unprofessional and childish can you be?

[Bud]

That's sad. Every day McCain sinks deeper in the slime.

[Panskeptic]

Republicans have great senses of humor. I remember the guys that showed up at Halloween parties dressed as Vince Foster, and the height of the evening's hilarity was when they pretended to shoot themselves. ROFLMAO.

Now that we've all had a good laugh, maybe we could get back to discussing the economy and the war and real issues, instead of this fratboy spite that pours endlessly out of the McCain campaign.

[BG]

Of Course Obama is ready. If you think about McCain, he never hold any particular office. They both work me because I am the tax payer.

[Leo]

Here's a joke:

Knock knock...

Who's there?

C...

"C" who?

John McCain is old enough to remember the parting of the sea and for one do not feel comfortable putting someone that old in the White House.

Yeah, good stuff.