New Obama radio ad calls McCain a Harley-Davidson hypocrite

John McCain’s recent appearance in South Dakota at the Sturgis Rally, America's largest motorcycle convention, was by most accounts literally a roaring success. But Barack Obama’s campaign isn't going to give up the biker vote without a fight.

At Sturgis, McCain ridiculed Obama for drawing "hundreds of thousands" of people to an outdoor speech in Berlin. "I'll take the roar of 50,000 Harleys any day," McCain boasted, as dozens of cyclists gunned their engines.

Now Obama is airing a new radio spot in Wisconsin -- the home of Harley-Davidson -- attacking McCain's quip.

The spot samples McCain's Sturgis joke and then calls the Republican a hypocrite for opposing a requirement that the government buy American-made motorcycles. "When it comes to his record," an announcer says, "American-made motorcycles like Harleys don't matter to John McCain."

In the past, McCain has opposed "buy American" restrictions, which he has called "protectionist trade policy."

The ad, which you can listen to at Talking Points Memo, closes with fighting words: "It's time to hear the roar of the strong American economy again -- and stop John McCain from shipping our jobs overseas."

The race for the White House just revved up.

-- Kate Linthicum

Photo credit: Harley-Davidson Co.

Comments

[GREG]

It seems to me that the last time I checked Harley Davidson is not 100% American made anymore...so Obama's retaliation to McCain is not only foolish, it is also inaccurate

[terry connelly]

obama will never get the harly riders vote, they are more true american than he will ever be, obama does not deserve to enen be a senator, he needs to go back to his muslim country,

[terry connelly]

obama needs to go and live in a muslim country, the harley riders will never vote for him, he is not a true american, and has been proving it over and over, he does not even deserve to be A senator, his main voting consists of just saying present, elect a true american, john mcain

[JPHurley]

Hey terry connelly... speak for yourself. I'm a Harley veteran of 20+ years and have every intention of voting for Obama. The stabs at his patriotism and religion are ignorant, racist and really just amount to hate mongering. Oppose him if you like...but at least try to sound moderately intelligent or informed with your arguments.

[Charisse]

Good grief! As a Harley rider myself, I can't believe anyone who rides a Harley would believe that true riders would never vote for Obama! Any poster that makes comments about Obama needing to go back to his Muslim country are showing their true ignorance for what Harley-Davidson stands for! In case you haven't noticed, Harley-Davidson motorcycles are owned by people of all races, ethnicities, creeds and religious beliefs. Harley motorcycles are owned by women, men, blacks, Hispanics, whites, etc.

Harley-Davidson has created a sisterhood and brotherhood among those that ride the bike that brings us ALL together! If anyone makes negative comments about another person based on the color of their skin or religious beliefs, I would presume to say they are not only ignorant, but do not understand the Harley-Davidson creed.

Not sure who I'm voting for just yet, but I can say that I proudly own an American made motorcycle, an American made car, and I wear American made clothes. I understand the importance of recycling dollars in my community and the great need to continue to buy American made products in an effort to keep my brothers and sisters employed.

I also believe that publicly funded entities, such as the police department, fire department, etc. should have to buy American made products with the public's money. I wouldn't want my tax dollars going anywhere else. Once again, we steer away from the "real issues." It's not about Obama being Muslim as it is about a presidential candidate speaking out of both sides of his neck!

[Mia]

These days, what kind of naive people would expect an American brand product is solely produced by American hands?
Greg, you should look up how many countries are involved in producing one pair of Nike sneakers. By the way, Obama campaign T-shirts are real made in USA.

[Tom]

Harley Davidson would have gone out of business in 1983 if a tarrif to protect large bikes was not put in place to prevent Japanese merchantilist manipulation. Even Ronald Reagan recognized that.

http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/Content/Pages/H-D_History/history_1980s.jsp?locale=en_US

Bush and McCain have bought into globalism so deeply that now every American job can be outsourced or offshored. Corporate billionaires now run the Republican Party.

[Mere]

I have never been on a motorcycle, but I had a chance meeting in the late 80"s with a whole lot of bikers at a campground on their way to the rally. People who are Harley enthusiasts are just normal people from factory workers to attorneys to doctors etc from all walks of life who just happen to like bikes. Many of the "families" on their way to Sturgis were hauling luxury trailers with three or four kids, their wives and the grandparents along all out to have a good time. I'm sure their political views were as varied as their occupations and life styles.

[David]

I've been a Harley rider all my life, well, since I could ride. I wouldn't vote for McCain and his bimbo sidekick if they were the last people on earth. Why? Many reasons, but read this before you vote.

http://www.nationinstitute.org/p/schanberg09182008pt1

[Theron]

I have been riding since 1962- 1 Harley, 2 Hondas, and 3 BMWs, and do not let my choice of motorcycle determine my voting preference. Also, to call the Harley "100% American", is as inaccurate as calling the Honda Gold Wing "Japanese"(or Obama a muslim). They are both built in the U.S., with parts sourced from many countries. The last I heard, all "Japanese" bikes over 750cc were made in the USA. I hope ALL bikers(and every other registered voter, for that matter) cast a ballot in November. This country desperately needs a populace truly interested in how the government is run. RIDE THE VOTE!!!!

[Howard]

If McCain's past makes him a 'sidekick', then Obama past makes him an empty suit, who's accomplished nothing in 20 years, except for hanging out with anti-American Markists, racists, terrorists, and crooks.

[Wes]

Hold up a minute please, throwing ALL Harley owners & riders in the same category is as unjust as the attacks on the candidates. As a rider/owner for decades as well as an employee of a dealership the clientele has changed dramatically. These folks ride into my shop in their "costumes" (leather, patches, doo-rags, etc.) and they aren't bikers, merely posers. They put 500 miles a year on their bikes (when it's clear and between 75-80 degrees) and spend twice the bike's value on chrome (the tackier, the better). They do not know that a HD engine can maintain idle as they constantly rip the throttle with the clutch pulled in. The descend on my shop with a air of entitlement, drink free coffee, eat free popcorn, scraf up any free magazines or giveaways and ride back to the garage. The point is, I don't want these folks giving me any advice, particularly of the political nature