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

[steve]

What's clear is: MCCAIN IS NOT THE ONE I want to lead this country. In fact, he's been part of the leadership of this country for the past 7 years and more than 80% of Americans think the country is on the wrong track! Obama is ready to lead and his THE ONE I'll be voting for as the next President of the United States.

[nathan woodard]

If he walks like a leader, talks like a leader, and wins the election like a leader, then he is a leader.

He's leading in the polls, he's leading a great campaign, he's leading in overall popularity throughout the free world. That sounds a lot like leadership to me.

Is McCain ready to lose?

[KCH]

It's ironic that the trip that McCain derided Obama for putting off - not going to the Middle East - not going to the war zones- has brought the most two-faced ridicule from that same man.

Since Obama's support is shown to be word wide, like a pouting child, McCain has resorted to junior high school chiding. He was apoplectic after seeing the throngs of people in Germany anxious to hear some positive words for a change to unite the nations against terrorism. The last eight years have destroyed America's reputation with the rest of the world, and the prospect of having a leader that will help heal those wounds is inspiring.

McCain must admit that Obama did just what he wanted him to do - too bad that his ego is so huge that he can't handle the results. This and the other ad are ridiculous displays coming from the Republican nominee for the leader of the free world. I dare say it’s the last straw for a lot of his former supporters. It’s nice to have a sense of humor, but it’s also imperative that the potential holder of that office have a sense of good judgment. McCain comes off as a hothead who has to have the last word.

[dude]

Doesn't saying "He may be the one but is he ready to lead?" contradicting? Neo was the one last I heard. Go Barack!

[Robin Smith]

John McCain is neither an honorable man nor is he a hero. Anyone able to read, has a computer and knows how to "Google" can confirm this for themselves.

[TailLights]

"McCain inspires me to give Obama money."

Same here.

[James Corpora]

Long John (yawn) McCain is disrespecting Barack Obama and insulting the intelligence of the American people. Let him return to the senate.

[KYJurisDoctor]

It is OBVIOUS that John McCain needs a NEW set of advisers!

[Terrible Swift Sword]

I suppose the ad is as funny as McCain killing McAbel.

It's pretty obvious to me that John McCain is the same person who, during the 2000 campaign, referring to his experience as a POW, asserted, "I hated the gooks, I will hate them as long as I live". For several days, he would not apologize for his racially derogatory comments, but eventually did express regret over his choice of language.

McCain was displaying the part of his psychological makeup which allowed him to survive a POW camp; he fought off his enemy's attempt to dehumanize him by dehumanizing his enemy in his own mind. And that's what these recent ads are doing. McCain can't get himself up for a fight without dehumanizing, making a crude caricature of his opponent. He can't run against Obama without thinking of him as the enemy.

And I think as time goes on, McCain will regret his present approach. Maybe then we'll get a better idea for why someone wants to be President between his 71st and 79th years on this planet, what his vision for America really is, or if he even has one. Obama's responses to McCain is smart; just let McCain express how proud he is of his ads until he no longer is.

[bored]

Im an Obama supporter and i laughed. Its amusing and a little over the top but its funny...people need to relax some.

it did seem a little desperate on the part of mccains camp, but thats not really my concern. lol.

[Timmy Coffee]

The American media has long hidden from the public the astonishing fact that as a long term US Senator, John McCain has only a rudimentary understanding of both domestic and national security issues. His petulant, spoiled child disposition makes him un- presidential. He is a reckless individual. A vote for him is a reckless, irresponsible vote. This concerted racist campaign he has now decided to run demonstrates he has no decency. In the last week, he has made it perfectly clear that his campaign is based on the rebirth of Jim Crow era politics. The incessant comments that Senator Obama is presumptuous, arrogant and/or cocky are all code words for he is an uppity Negro who can’t be trusted to know his place. Along with the constant red security alerts, which the Bush administration will start up within the next month, it wouldn’t be surprising for McCain-Bush to propose a national poll tax before the November election. America is struggling after 16 years of Clinton and Bush. McCain would be the final nail in America’s coffin.

[dom youngross]

The ad is a hoot!

It not only spoofs Obama, but also the millions of mind-less Obama zombies chanting "Change, change" instead of "Brains, brains," a la Night of the Living Dead.

But overall, neither Obama or McCain have real substance, only image. So each will try to negatively cast the other's public perception. McCain will continue to get street-fighter nasty with Obama, and Obama will continue his sneering snobish condemnation of McCain.

[Oshama]

Sounds like people are sensitive to the words he used. All I see are the speech's he gave. I think this is the persona he is trying to portray, this ad just just puts it in your face. Obama is a politician from Illinois. He is one trained in the corrupt machine politics of our mayor and governor. He has 123 days in office, no experience other than being a community organizer. Don't get to upset this will blow over by election day and voters will put adults in charge.

[Gigi Giles]

I knew it ... this is the first step in the Christian Evangelical Right to start casting Barack Obama in the role of the ANTI-CHRIST -- very subtle if you haven't read revelations, but very clear if you're paranoid and looking for the end of the world to begin sometime ... stating ... oh, about now. He will unite nations! It will be a time of pestilence, flood, and the crash of economies such as the world has never seen!

Well ... hopeful this will actually ENCOURAGE the Christian Right to vote for Obama ... who are they to question what is written in the Bible, after all!

Imminenitize the Eschaton!

[dude]

The republicans in general have become quite humurous. They should definitely run the add during Golden Girls or maybe Gunsmoke. "Who the heck does that colored boy think he is??" Thanks for the humor!

[Billw]

YEA!!! Go McCain. The honeymoon with Obama is over.

And it came to pass that the national anthem was played and the Child savior placed his hands over the wrong place. Some wanted to stone him, but his followers rose up and said "ye who have not fondled yourself, cast the first stone". Thus he was spared and he traveled the land, speaking to the crowds while often raising his head heavenward, as tho getting cues. And yea tho he walketh in the shadow of Wright, his charisma is great his plodeth on. So to speak.

[Larry Clifton]

That's a funny joke right there... I don't care what anybody says.... that's a funny!
Larry-the Cable-Guy

[Sushi]

I like Obama and McCain but will vote O. It was a funny ad, I don't really think it could hurt or help either of them.

[jefflz]

Satire is a way to diminish the strengths of the opponent. This may appear humorous but it is a carefully staged effort to frontally attack Obama's amazing popularity. This is no Dave Letterman shot, this is a desperate move on the part of McCain handlers to squelch Obama's charisma. It is essential since McCain has all the charisma of an old man going out to get the morning paper and I speak from personal exerience about that..

[bYRON aLEXANDER]

The ad does it for me. I have to vote for McCain now. It is so full of substance compared to ads about health care reform and boring things like that.

[Scootmandubious]

If only the narrative the media adopts was not an RNC talking point.

It's bad enough that the McCain campaign has resorted to making their whole campaign about 'branding' Obama, substantial policy talk be damned.

What makes it worse is that the media then robotically trots out the exact same message.

There are plenty of 'pundits' now referring to Obama's supposed 'messiah' complex. How many are even doing follow-up when McCain, as he regularly does, spectacularly mis-states facts? Or has examined all his erroneous predictions on the war? No, the only narrative we hear about McCain is that he 'invented' the surge. It was the McCain surge.

Anyone else feel like wretching?

[JR Terrell]

It is possible that people McCain's ad is appealing to hear "The One" as "the false one," e.g. the Anti-Christ, like one of the many chain anti-Obama e-mail messages says.

[Mike Olmeda]

Tax credits to offset the high cost of fuel.
Incentives for companies to keep jobs in this country.
Remembering that keeping nukes out of the wrong hands is job 1!
These are things in Obama's ads.
What does John McCain offer? Childish attacks on "the other guy" without any substance. Well done John! This is EXACTLY what our ailing country needs at the moment! Thanks for reminding the country how we got into this mess in the first place. Another tired old empty suit offering more of the same!

[Luciano]

I feel sorry for McCain. He's like the step-child at the dinner table that nobody really loves or pays attention to.

I've always thought that Grandpa McCain was a pathetic figure; a fading, angry, forgetful codger, but this week he also has demonstrated what a desperate, self-serving fool he is.

Obama is a special man for a special time and I look forward to him talking the helm and getting our country back on track.

[Andrew]

I thought it was hilarious...I can not believe anyone would vote to roll back the Bush tax cuts, increase taxes everywhere, corporations, gas, etc. , want a Congress that totally ignores our energy crisis, that wants a health care system that is a total failure in Canada & Europe, and would put someone in charge that has no experience whatsoever. Lets HOPE this kind of CHANGE is not coming...