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.

[McDemo]

The Obama camp should do a video of "President" McCain slowly and bloodily losing the war in Iraq for the next 100 years at a cost of every American soldier un-lucky enough to enlist under the incompetent
McCain . I'm sure all you Republicans out there would find that hilarious too.

[Ron]

John McCain has a sick sense of humor and he will pay for it at the polls. Americans don't think that where we're headed is particularly funny. Since John McCain is a joke , I can see why he hasn't had anything good to say for a long long time.

[David K]

I'm glad McCain is having a laugh. I wish he had a solution.

[Robert]

This has to be the one of the dumbest ads yet. I am a McCain supporter but I am started to rethink my options. Why all of the attacks come on John lets see show them what we really stand for!!!!!! This is embarrassing plain and simple.

[Mm54]

I think this ad IS funny. Apparently according to Nicolle Wallace, McCain supporters need reassurance that they need not be intimidated by Obama, and the McCain campaign believes that this silliness will reassure them.

I agree--that is hilarious

[Amanda]

The fundies McCain needs to support him are more likely to be offended by this than anyone else.

THAT is why it's funny

[Reginald A. Cooke]

I am a Obama supporter, and I find that the Paris Hilton and Charlton Heston ads by McCain are humerous and entertaining. But with the serious social and ecomonic issues facing our country, the presidential campaign process should help us understand how the candidates will attack these issuse. McCain has decided to use this process to entertain us. If he is not going to tell us about how he would make our country bette, I would rather that he leaves the role of entertaining to Jay Leno or Chris Rock.

[rob]

McCain credibility is his real issue he s too old weak and all he has left is punches below the belt and everyone is feelings those punches .
In addition who in his right mind would try sinking someone s boat when yours stays barely afloat?
Mac Cain does so that say a lot about Mac Cain cleverness!
So everyone knows now there s only one candidate left and it makes Mac Cain angry nasty
but this time I dont think anyone will be fooled....

[Peter]

Someone should remind Mr. McCain that Ronald Reagon (a person that McCain often cites with great admiration) was a celebrity. Then there is another Republican whose support McCain has sought...Arnold Schwarzenegger.

McCain is showing himself as an angry, hypocritical person...not a person capable of leading this country.

[DEM now IND]

The commercial is unforunately accurate!

Obama is a man made media celebrity. How do you think the Germans knew who he was? He has done NOTHING to acheive any named fame. NOTHING! The only experience he is known for is sitting in a pew for 20 YEARS and listening to HATE! This is certainly NOT something to famed. Hollywood, and all Americans, should be concerned about Obama's 20 year racist past verses this commercial.

Obama, "Your Moment" is UP!

[Bob, Dallas TX]

This is the last straw for me. McCain has fallen from a great American war hero to a two-bit politician making a disgrace of himself and the republican party.

I'm ashamed to have been a loyal republican for all these years only to have Bush destroy my party and now to see McCain lower himself to the same level.

Mr. Obama will be getting my vote!

[Alan P Braunstein]

Senses of humor we all should have. Hope McBush's fans find this as funny as I do:

http://logicalparty.org/blog/2008/07/30/looking-to-the-future/

[Diane Benscoter]

McCain is like a jealous little boy with a much more popular and obviously exceedingly smarter brother. It's pretty pathetic. It is laughable. It's like going to a movie that is so poorly made that you laugh, not because of the intended reasons, but because it is so ridiculously bad. McCain is making a fool of himself. Who can take him seriously?

[americant]

Humor has it's place in life and I think it should be used quite frequently. However, let me break this down for you Cool and Me, this is basically a job interview for a very big job. Thousands of dead Iraqis, thousands of dead am. soldiers, thousands more wounded, global climate change, economy in the tank, corporate stranglehold on the government and in his interview John McCain is choosing to focus on the seemingly savior-like perception of his competition. Bring on Moses. Let my people go, indeed.

[jbwaters]

I think this is great! I got a big laugh out of it. I'm voting for Obama.

Maybe if Moses were running, I'd vote for him instead.

[johndpalm]

That video is like a long drawn out yarn that a grandfather would tell his uninterested family. They pay attention out of respect and for the occasional bit of wisdom. But they have long become use to these stories. Once there was a wit to deliver a punchline to turn the story into a joke. But by now, the softness of mind and too great a distance from youth, delivers a muttled conclusion that lacks any real humor. You politely wait for him to finish, smile politely, and hope that someone has something of interest to fill the void before grandpa begin another story.

[Chuck]

With Obamaniacs to hold him up for his highness is really funny. During European trip, do you remember anything other than his "staged" Photos/Videos for media?
Oh yeah, shake hands with this guy, move-on (no pun intended).. go to next guy and wave and smile.. next pics...
If we actually followed his "stands" on Iraq, it will make all of us head spin.
Gees.. please have real Barrack show without glorifying him as "The One"
We need to see what is under "Matrix" of him.

[J Robinson]

What a joke. Most of these quotes are completely taken out of context. Obama was joking in half of them. I cannot stand McCain's campaign. I actually thought McCain was a better candidate 8 years ago, but now look at what he is. A pathetic loser. He was in the bottom 5% of his class in college. He has no clue what he's doing. A straight talking head....and willing to do whatever is necessary to get your vote. He'll push emotions and fear. It is just sick. Obama was the first black president of the Harvard Law Review and graduated with magna cum laude at Harvard Law School. He has worked for many years working for the people. He is an inspiration to all.

[John]

Wasn't the same joke used on the Daily show last week? and who was the joke on.... McCain!

[ThisisGolden]

The AD. PRICELESS!!!

I don't know why anyone thinks McCain is mocking Obama here. He is PAYING OBEISANCE .

McCain is very smart. He TRUSTs George Bush.

McCain is also very smart, he expects Obama to win and do a great job.

His question about wether Obama is ready to lead, will be answered by the people of this country. IN THE AFFIRMATIVE!!!

YES WE CAN !!!

http://woleakpose.org

[captbilly]

These latest attacks by McCain where he call Obama "the one" are crazy. Essentially what he is trying to say that the very fact that Obama is a great speaker and his extrardinary popularity, are a negative thing!? Perhpas it could be true that communications skills and the ability to inspire are not the only skills required to be a good President, but to argue that these skills are a bad thing is rediculous. These attacks are classic old time advertising ploys. In this case they are taking what is clearly a superior capability of Obama's and trying to make people believe that it is a bad thing. Saying that because Hitler was an inspiring speaker, like Obama, or that because Obama is popular, as are Brittany Spears and Paris Hilton, that Obama must also have the same flaws as those people is rediculous. One could equally say that since the some crazy ge

[Mike]

John McCain must think he is running for Jr. High class president. I hope he doesn't try to hold his breath until he gets elected, he could hurt himself.

[Kent Pekel]

I'm a strong Obama supporter and I thought that was hilarious. I can't help but imagine that Obama himself would think so too. I loved the part about how the seas will go down as though Obama was controlling nature. Of course, I'm still voting for Obama but this just confirms my longstanding since that McCain is a very likable and smart guy. Despite ads like this, I think this election is actually about the very different ideas that two good Americans hold. I'm not sure I've experienced that before and I'm in my 40s....

[saddened]

The cynicism that this expresses is kind of disgusting.

Here we are experiencing the consequences of one of the worst presidents in history - dealing with a host of problems - people are losing their homes, struggling to keep gas in the tank and food on the table, our education system is embarrassing, our international relationships are crumbling, our personal freedom has been diminished and the founding documents this nation was built on have been used as toilet paper.

For a lot of people, the only thing that keeps us going is hope that change is possible - that someone has what it takes to turn this ship around.

If McCain thinks he can do the job, he should be trying to convince us of that. Creating ads ridiculing everyone who has hope that things can get better
does nothing but perpetuate the notion that he can do no better than GW. His campaign has not done him a service by sending this message.

[John S.]

So why is McCain so desperately criticizing Obama for “being popular”? Well, he tried to criticise him for wanting to withdraw troups from Iraq and shifting them to Afghanistan; that didn’t work out so well for McCain. He tried to criticise him for calling for more direct diplomacy with Iran; and now Bush has finally come around to agreeing with Obama on this point. Obama is the first candidate ever to forgo using tax-payer dollars to fund his campaign, while McCain will spend $87M of them, and conservative McCain tried to criticise him for this. He doesn’t have much else any more than that Obama is “popular”.

It’s become very clear that this is not an election between Obama and McCain – this is an election between Obama and Not Obama. Conservatives spend at least 80% of their energy blasting Obama; I seldom see any of them (including McCain ads) suggest reasons that McCain would make a good president.

Sorry, but trying to paint Obama as “popular” is not going to be enough to switch my vote to McCain. What’s McCain going to do for me?