UPDATED: The lowest political ad of 2008, arguably ever
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UPDATED: The lowest political ad of 2008, arguably ever
This is a disgrace -- as one online commenter notes, even the 1988 Willie Horton ad was based on facts:
According to the McCain campaign's own email, the sex ed claim is based on Obama's support for a bill, in the Illinois state legislature, that said:
"Each class or course in comprehensive sex education offered in any of grades K through 12 shall include instruction on the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, including the prevention, transmission and spread of HIV."As you can see, the McCain ad says that Obama was the one who pushed the "comprehensive sex education" measure. The Obama campaign has pointed out that the bill would simply add instruction on disease prevention to already existing Illinois sex-ed standards. But the McCain campaign cheerfully turned this into Obama's support for "learning about sex before learning to read."
What a sleazeball ad! Meanwhile, a slew of down-the-middle commentators like Time's Mark Halperin, Politico's Ben Smith, and ABC's Jake Tapper are calling out the McCain camp's ridiculous claim tonight that Obama was essentially calling Sarah Palin "a pig" with his lipstick on a pig remark about the GOP's increasing volume of lies.
Seriously, what has happened to John McCain? You know, back in 2000, when McCain really was a maverick on some issues (particularly campaign finance, which was a big issue in the late 1990s because peace and prosperity had lessened some of the normal concerns), when the political climate was a lot different, and when I was more mind-melded with your typical political journalist, I thought McCain would be a better president than Al Gore. Since 2000, America has changed, the issues have changed, I've changed, Al Gore has changed, and John McCain has changed...a lot. Eight years later, McCain had to move pretty far to the right to win the GOP nomination, and politically I can understand that. But despite that political posturing, I still thought he was an honorable man who would run an honorable campaign.
But he's not. Apparently, John McCain wants to be president in the worst way. Which is exactly what he's doing.
UPDATE: McClatchy: "This is a deliberately misleading accusation."
E.J. Dionne of the Washington Post: "Does the Truth Matter Anymore?"
McCain once campaigned on the idea that the war on terrorism is the “transcendent” issue of our time. Now, he’s stooping to cheap advertising that would be condemned as trivial and misleading in a state legislative race. Boy, do I miss the old John McCain and wonder what became of him. And I wonder if the media will really take on this onslaught of half-truths and outright deception.
Watch this ridiculous ad for yourself:
Wah! What a bunch of whiny Republicans. How are they going to face the terrorists if they can't handle a few names?— Ed G- Mr. Cool, You echo a post I made to an older story here, and it still applies. "You know, everyone on the left here is screaming at everyone on the right, and vice versa. And everyone on the right, at the same time, is covering their ears and screaming yahyahyahyahyah I don't hear you, and everyone on the left, vice versa. What our government has done is nationalized the mortgage business. Our government will be purchasing most of the secondary mortgage papers that, in the past, Bear Stearns would sell to Fannie and Freddie. Our government has interfered in the foreclosure process, and now it will be in the real estate market. But thank the FSM that they saved the banks. Which means the next administration will have to grow the Federal bureaucracy even more by creating the "Department of Federally Owned Property For Sale". So come on folks, let's stop yelling and screaming and think about the ramifications of what is happening to the US. And isn't nationalization of an industry the same kind of practice is done by Hugo Chavez?" And the nuts ignored it, as I suppose they will ignore you, also. After all, that's what they do when they try to deal with, you know, actual facts.— Some Boca Dude
Comment removed.
Obama's "lipstick on a pig" comment is real bad form, and like music to my ears. What do you think will stick with voters, the sex-ed ad or Obama's pig comment?— jmc- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- If you are all done spewing your hate, I'll ask a simple question. Do you even know what sex-ed involves in kindergarten? It is a simple discussion revolving around your "personal areas" and how no one should ever touch you there and that you should tell your parents if someone ever tries. It is a defense against the creepy neighbors, babysitters and priests that inhabit this world. So is that what this election has come to for the right? Smearing a good man with innuendo about threats to our children? WHERE ARE THE REAL ISSUES?— ChuckB
- Another thing on the "pig" comment. Do I think Obama intended to refer to Palin as a pig? No, but this guy sure makes alot of rhetorical gaffes for supposedly being so intelligent, thoughtful, and eloquent. This one could do major damage.— jmc
- Will has been out of line lately. Hey will - maybe you can dig up a campaign ad from your hero John Lewis. in one clip, he is having a glass of milk with his opponent.— shoeshineboy
- Comment removed.
- Hmmm . Early sex education may have been useful to Bristol Palin . Don't you think ?— Joe R.
- Great ad. I absolutely love it. Don't compare to Willie Horton ad.— Drew777
- Comment removed.
- "Do I think Obama intended to refer to Palin as a pig? No, but this guy sure makes alot of rhetorical gaffes for supposedly being so intelligent, thoughtful, and eloquent...." Classic. Ricky Cheney has use the same expression, as has McCain. So you say that Obama wasn't referring to Palin, but using the same expression as Cheney and McCain is a "rhetorical gaffe." Nothing like an objective analysis there, jmc.— Talking point sleuth
- Comment removed.
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