John McCain ad zings President Bush (by inference)

John McCain's message machine shifted gears today -- after a week or so of offbeat efforts to annoy and exasperate Barack Obama, the Republican's campaign launched a new bid to distance him from the titular head of his own party.

A 60-second McCain television ad (see below) airing in several of this year's key battleground states seeks to both remind voters of the "maverick" image that gained him national prominence and undercut arguments that he's a President Bush clone.

Indeed, the spot's third sentence offers this starkly negative assessment of the incumbent's second term: "We’re worse off than we were four years ago."

We doubt Bush will embrace that talking point when he gets his moment at the podium on the opening night of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn.

And Obama's campaign certainly isn't buying it. As The Times' James Gerstenzang details on our Countdown to Crawford blog, the Democrat today sought to draw a straight line between the administration's energy policies and McCain.

[UPDATE: The Democratic National Committee also joined the fray, producing a video depicting McCain as the puppet of oil industry lobbyists.] 

The McCain ad focuses on touting his credentials as one who can fix a "broken" Washington and does not directly mention Obama. But questions his campaign has raised about Obama's readiness for the White House are referenced in the ad's last line: "One is ready to lead: McCain."

Mark Silva notes in his posting on the Swamp that actor James Garner may have reason to take umbrage over the spot.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[Mitchell in NY]

Dear Senator McCain,

Good luck on your attempt to distance yourself from President Bush as you cling to his base.

Wish you were here.
Mobius
Planet Krel

On a list of a (baker's) dozen reasons why McCain will lose, #1

1. The McBush factor. McCain’s support of the Iraq War will make it impossible for him to break from Bush, the most unpopular president in living memory. The photo/video of McCain hugging and being kissed by Bush will become increasingly embedded in the collective consciousness of the American people as the months roll on.

“A Dozen Reasons Why McCain Won’t Win: Money-Back Guarantee”
http://msa4.wordpress.com/

[Mitchell in NY]

Maverick!? Forget it. He won't be able to break away from Bush. See McCain on Bush, video link in:

“A Dozen Reasons Why McCain Won’t Win: Money-Back Guarantee”
http://msa4.wordpress.com/

[dave]

despite their difference in years, there are a lot of parallels between mccain and obama, other than that both have their birthday in august. both don't qualify as 'natural born americans', both have psychiatric issues, both have a tantalizing 'father figure' trauma, both have legal issues, both have a 'skin' condition, both are 'puppets' of 'corporate america', both have inferiority complexes and delusions of grandeur, both are manipulative and manipulable, both are exponents of the same nwo ideology and political agenda, both despise the american people, and the values of the constitution, both prioritize their private interests that are contrary to the interests of the people, both are corrupt and without positive ethical principles, guidance and orientation, both are intellectually incurious, both are as shades in an intangible world that is their dream. and both are bent on destroying the american republic, and misleading the american people to give up their freedom, for what they might believe to be a better world, but what can only be a nightmare.

[William Daviau]

I wonder if either is "Ready to lead." What did Obama know about the Reverand Wright's positions before the reverand was exposed as a black racist? How come McCain graduated in the bottom 1% of his class at the Naval Academy in spite of being raised in the home of an Admiral? Are his current gaffes because he is old or because he is a slow learner and thinker? What other choice do we have?

[Scootmandubious]

All the Democrats need to do is trot out the interview John McCain's mother gave to C-Span to totally deconstruct the "maverick" myth.

The link to the video is below. It's short, but you really must check out the last 30 seconds. It is priceless.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7832029081826816444&ei=scuYSNuuKqToqAKx2cG_Cw&q=john+mccain%27s+mother&vt=lf&hl=en

[Anthony]

How dare McCain portray himself as a "Maverick." I believe the most famous Maverick is Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas, who happens to be German. Some nerve McCain has pandering to the Germany vote after criticizing Obama's Berlin speech.

[katherine]

McCain's ad (Celebrity/Obama Forgot Latin America) and now this one are all brilliant!!! McCain is more of a maverick than Obama. Obama supporters: Name one thing that Obama has done to buck the system? Just one. What has he done for African-Americans even? What has he done for the poor? Check out his connections and you will find out what he has done for the poor. They are living in broken down housing projects in his own district financed by his pal, Rezko. Check it out.

[abby0802]

McCain a "maverick?" Give me a break. The man has been a part of the Washington mess for a very long time.
His buddies include rich oil men like Hunt (Texas) and is in their hip pocket. He supports making Bush's tax cuts for the rich permanent, people like his current wife. He didn't support the improved GI bill for the very troops he claims to support and would keep in Iraq for how long??? Whatever time frame wins votes today.
He tries one tactic after another to attack Obama forgetting that McCain's voting record shows how much he follows the party line. His attempts to make Obama look bad (Paris Hilton ad) are pathetic.

McCain is out-of-date and out-of-touch.

[McOld is Well Old]

Who does McCain think will vote for him anyway? He kicks Cheney out of convention and he disses W. His ignorance on Iraq and his ad games are alienating the middle. He needs to kick up the alzheimer meds.

And anyway, what kind of ads are they running? Is this some kind of experiment? They keep showing how much Obama rocks now they complain about Washington being broke when McCain's been there for 28 years in a mostly conservative gov't and on top of that he disses W's last 4 years. Didn't McCain endorse W and campaign for him, seems like this is an example of his bad judgement. The guy needs to loosen his depends.

[Ben]

Maverick means someone "who refuses to abide by the policies and views of his group." He wants to argue that he doesn't abide by the Republican Party, AND THIS MEANS THAT IF ELECTED HE ALSO WON'T ABIDE BY THE POLICIES AND VIEWS OF THE LARGER "GROUP'' KNOWN AS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

He's saying outright that he's a hypocrite and a potential dictator. You want someone who is promoting themselves specifically as a man who won't listen to and doesn't represent popular opinion as president? No, you don't.

[Jim]

Katherine, you can’t be serious when you say that “McCain’s ad (Celebrity/Obama Forgot Latin America) and now this one re all brilliant!!!”

Wrong! McCain’s ads are petty, false, and mean-spirited. They insult the intelligence of average Americans, appealing to prejudice and emotion. They also lay bare McCain’s poverty of ideas and apparent desperation. Because he knows that he won't be able to convince Americans to vote for him and the Republicans based on their ideas and record, McCain and his Rove protégés have launched a fusillade of negative attacks on Obama, reminiscent of what Bush and Rove did to McCain in South Carolina eight years ago. And this from the man who promised to run a respectful campaign based on the issues! Ugh!

I hope and pray that my fellow Americans won’t fall for these antics again. The stakes are too high this time. Although Obama may not be a perfect candidate, he has shown through this election that he is a far better choice than McCain.

[Ron]

I like when someone references McCain as the puppet.
The way he talks reminds me of CHUCKY. I can't believe that there is no video of Cindy and the bikers. Where is the Mainstream media when you need them ? I can only imagine what would have happened if Obama had shown up at this event.

[Ron]

Unless John McCain and George Bush have massive surgery, they will always be joined at the hip.

[npeebles]

John McCain hopes to put the attention on Barack to take the attention off of himself.
The man makes you want to puke.

The media is giving him a free ride because his is old.
This man release his tax returns showing that he received a $58,000.00 disability payment for the government because he has been declared 100% disabled.
He then turned around and released 3000 pages of medical documentation showing that he is a fit as a fiddle.

which is true?

[Listen]

Barack Obama's 20 year connection to Rev.Wright, his mentor; spiritual advisor, old uncle and close friend, makes Obama much more dangerous for this country than John McCain. What radicals from Obama's group of the black liberation or anti american misfits and ex-criminals will Obama appoint to his cabinet to help him destroy america? John McCain is not perfect, but he cares about this country and will work to serve and protect america. Obama is a flack and will work for power for himself and his misfits.

[An]

Barack Hussein Obama reminds me of the pink panther, always moving (on issue) and going nowhere. Talking loud and saying nothing.