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McCain: Obama's ads show hypocrisy

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor October 7, 2008 11:17 AM


Though John McCain's campaign started the current round of attacks, his newest TV ad accuses Democratic rival Barack Obama of lying in his spots and of going back on his word to run a positive campaign.

"Who is Barack Obama?" the announcer asks.

Then the ad shows an anchor for a St. Louis TV station saying, "Obama’s presidential campaign is asking Missouri law enforcement to target anyone who lies or runs a misleading television ad." The anchor, however, has said his remark was taken out of context, and he only meant to say that Obama's allies would question ads.

"How hypocritical," the announcer continues, before citing media criticism of some of Obama's ads: "Obama’s Social Security attack was called 'a falsehood,' his healthcare attack 'misleading,' Obama’s stem cell attack 'not true.' "

"Barack Obama," the announcer concludes. "He promised better. He lied."

As Obama engages McCain in increasingly personal attacks, some of Obama's loyal backers are dismayed that he is not staying above the fray and staying on issues and his vision.

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Wow, just another case of the pot and the kettle!!! McCain has got to be kidding. I guess to the Republicans, it's A-Okay to swiftboat anyone running against you, BUT have them fight back? Well, that just won't do!! McCain and Palin opened this terrible can of worms, or Pandora's box, and now they have to live with the consequences. This is not 2004, Mr. McCain. Hopefully the American people are smarter than you peg us to be!

Posted by okeedokee October 7, 08 11:54 AM
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Yup, start off attacks that accuse Obama of calling Palin a pig, calling Obama a terrorist sympathizer, attempt to paint him as a Muslim so as to pander to the really base instincts, and then whine as Obama retaliates.

Sad that McCain, our next president is in the gutter now.

Posted by Shripathi Kamath October 7, 08 12:27 PM
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Issues, John. Stick to the issues. What's your plan to stimulate the economy? What's your plan to make healthcare affordable (an not tax benefits)? What's your education (no child left behind) plan? What's your plan for Social Security? What's your plan to boost income for half of America making less than $32,000/year? What's your plan to help those facing foreclosure because they were given an AR mortgage?

This guy is absolutely clueless to the problems the US is experiencing RIGHT NOW. All is does is attack, attack, attack. What a slime-ball.

Are people suffering from amnesia right now, or what? Can we really afford another four years of Bush-league policies?

No Way = Palin/McCain.

Posted by Sam October 7, 08 12:35 PM
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Yes, of course. Obama should "stay above the fray" and let McCain throw mud at him. Look how well that worked for Kerry, Gore and Dukakis.

Posted by El Bruce October 7, 08 12:43 PM
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Yup, start off attacks that accuse Obama of calling Palin a pig, calling Obama a terrorist sympathizer, attempt to paint him as a Muslim so as to pander to the really base instincts, and then whine as Obama retaliates.

Sad that McCain, our next president is in the gutter now.
Posted by Shripathi Kamath October 7, 08 12:27 PM
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They're both the same. If you think Obama's not in the same gutter as McCain, clearly you're not fully understanding this.....

Posted by AP October 7, 08 12:56 PM
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Mr. McCain is losing the election by a high margin. He is losing by 5-10% in the citizen vote and >60% in the electoral college vote. Losers without integrity follow the low road of lies and smears. This is what Mr. McCain is doing. His lies are even worse and evoke people's worse demons and dark fear, hatred, and racism by linking Rove type words, "terrorists (plural)...hinting muslim and black, non-American, traitor, socialist/communist". This stirring the pot of a nasty witches brew, given our American story, is irresponsible and vile.

I've lost all respect for Mr. McCain. He is a small sad man who will lose with dishonor.

Posted by lucy2008 October 7, 08 01:01 PM
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Keep going, Mccain!! Like the polls didn't show you already how much you and palin are despised and rejected. And now you are acting as if you need some special medications for delusions.....

Keep digging!!! Yeah,there will be the comatose somewhere in the US who will listen to this and support you, but they were going to anyway. So keep shoveling that hole you are burying yourself in.

While you might manage to get back in the cocktail circuit in DC when this is over, you will always be a tarnished "former hero" in our eyes. Your money won't buy your dignity back.

Posted by salem October 7, 08 01:23 PM
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I am a Catholic so I am voting for Mccain.
In the US, 1.3 million unborn children are murdered every yr. I could never be an accomplice to that .

Posted by mark October 7, 08 02:35 PM
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Word to my republican friends... At this point we know that John McCain is not the honorable individual we once thought he was. In desperation, he has sunk to all time lows with any loosely credible accusation.
I'm fine with Obama retaliating. Someone has to stand up to the jerk that is John McCain. You will find however, that while these ads are running, you will only see Obama himself speaking about current issues. Again, just goes to show that one person is using his brain.

Posted by Kevin O. October 7, 08 02:41 PM
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Mark,
Would you be an accomplice to sending our soldiers to an unpopular war, blowing nearly a trillion dollars, putting us in debt for decades to come, killing innocent lives on both our side and the side of the countries we invade? How many people have died this year as a result of inadequate health coverage?
Don't you think there are many other matters affecting us today other than abortion? I'm quite sure that Obama does not support abortion.

Posted by Kevin O. October 7, 08 03:22 PM
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McCain has lost my respect and my vote, but I think his handlers and Palin can still inspire a lynch mob as they are the only target of these ads.

As McCain himself said, when he was target of such smear , "There is a special place in Hell for them." I hope he know that same people are handling him now.

Posted by GCM October 7, 08 03:27 PM
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HEY, IF OBAMA BECOMES PREZ AND OPENS THE DOOR TO THE TERRORISTS---WE CAN BLAME THE MEDIA, HIS OTHER PALS...

Posted by straight UP October 7, 08 03:54 PM
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I can't wait to have a positve brain in the white house. McCain has just dishonoured himself so much in recent months first by picking Palin in the first place (Country First I don't think so) Then by starting negative attacks. I am glad to see Obama fight back. Obama has shown time and time again how intelligent he is and how to run a campaign. This guy is an exceptional candidate, possibly one that only comes about in a lifetime. (Time will tell but he has the potential) Surely America needs this now poor economy, waging two wars, reputation in the gutter worldwide. We need change and a visionary and we need it now.

Posted by nick October 7, 08 04:21 PM
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Kevin O, good for you! Why is it that people can only see abortion as killing? This war in Iraq has killed over 4000 of our men & women for ABSOLUTELY NO GOOD REASON. If you are a true Christian, whether it be Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, ALL killing is wrong, not just abortion.

Posted by anon October 7, 08 04:21 PM
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To those who say "hey, if Obama lets in the terrorists...":
In case you haven't noticed, Americans are no longer falling for that fear-mongering tactic. It worked twice in a row and we are bracing for the consequences for years to come. Tell John McCain to get smart very quickly or forget about being president. (I dont expect him or Palin to become any more intelligent, FYI)

Posted by Kevin O. October 7, 08 07:00 PM
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I'm sorry for the mess this country is in and the two people who are running for the presidency of this country are not capeable of controlling their present jobs so what makes the American People think they will be able to control this nation and the problems we now have. Personally I think we as American's missed the boat when we chose the Barac Obama and John McCain as the canidates. We truly needed someone who could clean up a mess that the last 8 years has created.

Posted by Marion October 8, 08 09:06 AM
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To the Catholic who plans to vote for McCain because of his position on abortion, he backed this present despotic Adminstration's plan to invade Iraq. How many unborn babies have died since that imbecile Bush invaded a country for no reason. By the way I have been a Catholic for eventy-one years.

Posted by Maureen McCarthy October 13, 08 07:27 AM
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To the Catholic who plans to vote for McCain because of his position on abortion, he backed this present despotic Adminstration's plan to invade Iraq. How many unborn babies have died since that imbecile Bush invaded a country for no reason. By the way I have been a Catholic for eventy-one years.

Posted by Maureen McCarthy October 13, 08 07:27 AM
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