Barack Obama unveils 13-minute Keating Five 'documentary'

Barack Obama's campaign unveiled its latest attack ad this morning -- a 13-minute "documentary" on John McCain's ties to Charles Keating, the chairman of the Lincoln Savings and Loan Assn. who was charged with fraud, racketeering and conspiracy in the savings-and-loan scandal of the late 1980s.

The ad was rolled out with the same kind of promotional fanfare that you'd expect for the latest indie flick.

Over the weekend, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe introduced a 30-second preview of the film ("Keating Economics: John McCain and the Making of a Financial Crisis") in an e-mail to the campaign's extensive list of supporters. Plouffe urged recipients to forward the e-mail "to everyone you know" and to stay tuned for the premiere of the full spot.

It debuted at noon EDT (9 a.m. PDT) today on a website specifically created for it.

Production-wise, the spot shows what a campaign awash with money can accomplish these days; it's heads and shoulders above the average political ad (as well as being far more ambitious in length).

Clearly, it was in the works for a while -- and comes now as McCain's campaign over the weekend launched a new effort, assaulting Obama for his ties to Bill Ayers, a founder of the notorious Weather Underground radical group almost 40 years ago.

-- Kate Linthicum

Comments

[Raymond Micheals]

Very good pitch, I think another "John McCain still has not learnt any lessons" should be drawn on the cost of the needless Iraq War. Where we are spending $600B and thus starving facility development in Nigeria.

[Armando]

Why have journalists been so afraid to touch the Keating Five issue? Why does it seem like they push off blame for bringing it up as only in the context of this politcal tit for tat. It seems completely pertinent to the economic state we're in and goes to the heard of the republican's argument about judgement. I hope to see more informative journalism about this subject.

[Alexandra]

All evil man came to power at the times of tremendous instability and financial chaos. I suspect this time around it will not be any different. Everybody who want to talk about Obama"s rhetoric and not who he is as a man, does not understand the danger he present to our way of life. Sad, very sad

[christopher]

Looks like Sen. Obama is rubber while Gramps is glue. All the slime they throw bounces off him and sticks to you (McShame). Playing the guilt by association card when you have The Keating Five scandal in your past is just plain dumb. What next they will accuse Mrs. Obama of stealing drugs like Cindy did after she stole another womans husband? Instead of McCain/Palin they really are more like Dumb and Dumber.

[Jack]

Can you smell that change of cynical politics to a new age where attacks and guilt by association will give way to hope? Obama, you are truly a massive hypocrite.

[Thomas]

Ok it's time to fight fire with fire. Obama you have to take the gloves off and get down and dirty like Palin and McCain. Playing the good guy will not work. Let's start with McCain and the Keating five followed by his affinity for gambling, Lets add Palin and her witchdoctor pastor in Alaska followed by her association with her husband's wish to have Alaska cede from the USA. As they say in my hometown of Chicago "Politics ain't bean bag". Its on!!!!!!

[Vijay]

Obama's release of this ad underscores the fact that he is a quintessential old-style Chicago pol who stuck a knife into the back of the woman - Alice Palmer - who enabled his entry into public life as a state senator. Why does he not disown ex-Senator John Glenn - an adviser to his campaign - a pol who unlike McCain was actually a beneficiary of Keating's largesse and actively intervened on behalf of the S&L?

[Johnny Debate]

OBAMA SHOULD FOCUS ON ECONOMY

[Al Redlhammer]

I am dismayed at McCain's character assassination attempts in lieu of a conversation on the issues. All of this negativism reflects on the office of the Presidency
and the men that hope to fill it.

I can't blame the Obama campaign for trotting out the negative images as a response to those initiated by McCain but, it's a sad day for our country when the two men that are the potential President grovel and wrestle in the dirt to gain what is supposed to be our highest office.

What has happened to our country ? Is it now "Mad Max at the Thunderdome" ?????????

[marc]

The documentary may be partisan, but even removing the issues of McCain's culpability it points to some very fair questions about the ethos of deregulation which he espouses. Today the financial markets were in freefall. The Russian stock exchange lost almost 20% of its value, as did the Bank of Scotland. Iceland had to shut its market for fear that the country's financial system would collapse. This is the biggest economic crisis in our lifetimes...

...and the McCain campaign would rather question Obama's loyalty.

Turn the page, John.

[Michael]

So much for "change."

One wonders why a special website was established for this video and why it isn't accessible directly via Obama's website.

As I recall, a Democratic congress cleared McCain in this matter.

Accordingly, I'd be far more interested in a 13 minute "documentary" pertaining to Obama's relationship with convicted felon Tony Rezko.

In the end, it's all rather Kennedy-esque in its own special way; perception IS everything.

Who among us can forget Kennedy's "ich bin ein Berliner"speech?

Unfortunately, we tend to forget it was Kennedy who allowed the Berlin wall to be built in the first place.

How convenient.

I think of Obama the same way.

M

[lonecrone]

It's about time! I'm old enough to remember the Lincoln scandle, and have been wondering why nobody mentions it. Now let's see questions about Palin's education and McCain's divorce, and Palin's religion.

What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Just back it all up with facts as shown in this video.

[almost an ex subscriber]

geez la times, why don't you just come out and endorse mcain overtly and stop being so passive-aggressive.

[Scott]

Nice, sound bits from unproved accusations that were later debunked. The lead prosecuter noted recently it was an injustice to wrongly acuse him (McCain) of involvement. Notice they (Obama) try to use word trickery to make Savings and Loan sound an awful lot like Fannie Mae. Keating violated the law and was jailed for it. McCain to be uninvolved. This whole video is an attempt to retry the case and make McCain cupable. The ideas they put forth in this video are opinions not facts. The facts about Obama's rerlationships with anti-american colleagues like Ayers, Wright and Rezko are true and not masked in political inuendo. What did Obama do with the $128,000 he got from Fannie Mae?

[Keith Wright]

I think it is just as important to shed light on Joel's Army, the Masters Commission, the Latter Rain and Third Wave Movements and how they relate to the selection of Sarah Palin to lead the cause for the Dominionists...NOBODY is running with this story.

[Small town girl]

Watched the video. Chilling. Now, on to PHIL GRAMM and BIG OIL ... and then on to Sarah's ties to Senator Stevens. Way to fire back, Obama.

[basementfrog]

How is it that our politicians on either side are allowed to stay in office when they engage in criminal acts.

It seems to be widespread in our world today and we just can't get rid of them.

I don't get it.

Even a pedophile like the Senator for Idaho who admited he was guilty. He got reelected!!

Sure sign that we are in our time of decline to a second rate nation.

Our finance markets, if nothing else, are a sure sign of that fact. The American day is over.

[COL. A.M.Khajawall[Ret[]

McCain-palin tactics against Obama-Biden

Bipartisanship and ? Maverick McCain.
Dear concerned citizens of America and Mass Media of the U.S.A.
As a concerned registered independent voter, forensic psychiatrist, disabled American I made my decision to vote after taking into consideration following joint tickets attributes and characteristics.

1. Has the ticket shown adequate calmness, coolness, and connectedness's under pressure to lead our nation [Presidential Temperament]?
2. Has the ticket shown sustained sound "Judgment and Caliber"?
3. Has the ticket shown adequate understanding of depth and degree to address the crucial challenges in their their purpose, policies, and positions [ Honesty, integrity and sincerity]?
4. Has the ticket sufficient "understanding and knowledge" of inside Washington workings [Experience]"?
5. Has the ticket reservoir resilience, wisdom, and vigor to address the present and future f our beloved "Great-grand Nation"?
6. Has the ticket enough joint foreign policy experience and exposure based on " Values, Virtues, Vastness, and " [American moral soul]"?
7. Has their campaign talk, slogans, ads, plans, and programs based on facts and are they free of fear, fiction, frivolous labels, unfair attacks, negativity, and impulsively? [No "imminent danger to national
security and safety"].
8. Has the ticket genuinely kept on message of country first and politics last and avoided copying [Message change"]?
9.Has the ticket message stayed away from Culture divide and war[ Disaster prevention ]?
10. Has the ticket resisted being surrounded, supported and surrogate's by divisiveness, distortion's, and destructive characters, [ Real patriotism VS shiftiness and shameless parrot-ism]?
11. Has the ticket thoughtful, real non-partisan, & non-impulsive plans to address our current economic crisis or political tactics and temperamental statements.
I have personally and professionally concluded that OBAMA-BIDEN ticket will lift and inspire our greatgrand nation back to its greatness within and restore our global standing with the use of maximum, firm
international diplomacy and minimal force if and when indicated {" Peace thru Strenght "}.
12. The era of responsibility has to replace irresponsibility and unaccountability will change to accountability and transparency. The Wall Street greed will change to Main Street need.
13. Temperamental and Angry McCain is out to play and create a card mistrust and distress around Obama with the Vail of claim that he will bring bipartisanship in Washington DC. He is destroying him claim every by painting Obama naive. It is tragic, sad, and unfortunate that so called Maverick McCain has already generated a disdain and demeaning face off in the debates and bailout suggestion. Obama is real Presidential and he maintained a smile during the debate and while McCain had a constant grin and disdain towards Obama.
Yours sincerely,
COL. A.M.Khajawall [Ret] MD.
Forensic psychiatrist, Disabled American Veteran and Iraq
Freedom team. Grass roots California leader per Senator McCain's

PS: It is sad and unfortunate that Hon, Temperamental and angry Maverick McCain has changed into bitter rather than better man.

[wayne]

This is chilling ... McCain has not learned his lessons. We can't have him as our President.

And Palin is a hack who is so far out of her league it's sad and ridiculous -- and yet more testament to the fact that McCain is erratic, reckless and all about "me first."

The deal is sealed: Obama.

Let's move forward now.

[Chuck Glisson]

John McCain is outflanked by THE FACTS. 1st Sara Palin trys to tie Barack Obama with the "Weather Underground" WHEN BARACK OBAMA WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD!
Now the Obama campaign FINALLY goes on the attack with a piece of ACTUAL government corruption HISTORY, in an unprecedented (13) minute political ADD.
A scandal "Starring" John McCain, as a BRIBE TAKING CORRUPT CONGRESSMAN in his FIFTIES!
Co-Starring "Banker Charles Keating" who BUYS John McCain, for a price, played against the backdrop of the "Victimized American taxplayer....that is, until they all GOT CAUGHT!
You REALLY can't call this an attack ADD, it's a historical documentary, with FACTS that are, shall we say "inconvenient" to the presidential aspirations of John McCain.
****(4-Stars) Highly recommended!

[sonarman]

The negative campaigning was initiated by McCain. He would probably have done better not to go there, but desperate men are driven to desperate acts. I don't see it as the honorable way. It merely distracts from the real issues before us. It is hard to believe that negative campaigning will succeed to sway many voters. Embrace the politics of hope.

[Voter with a Memory]

Keating was bad enough. What about McCain's outrageous ties to G Gordon Liddy? McCain and Liddy are friends and have "palled around" recently.

[LaurenSyll]

So McCain will now start slinging the mud to turn the focus back on Obama's race, "otherness", and dangerous naivety.

Funny sketch parodying the awful Obama rumors: http://tinyurl.com/6xvku7

[C.Lindenberg]

WOW! MCSHAME REALLY STOLE MONEY WITH KEATING! HOW CAN ANYONE DENY THAT? MCSHAME SHOULD BE SITTING IN THE CELL NEXT TO O.J.

[M. Cannon, Florida]

I think that this is a legitimate documentary that is timely given what's happening in the economy right now. It also makes the Palin claim that Obama's "palling around with terrorists" due to a casual relationship with Ayers sound awfully shrill and insubstational by comparison. John McCain got at least $100k + from Keating, not to mention getting flown around his private jet and vacationing with him.

i think it is hard for the McCain to refute this; it's clearly been well researched and the most disturbing comments are all facts that either McCain makes himself, or can be found in other media.

John McCain didn't cause the economy meltdown, but he clearly profited from it and championed the atmosphere that caused it to happen.

Pretty damning, I think.