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The Wright ad that never ran

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor December 8, 2008 04:53 PM


ABC News says it has obtained a copy of a TV ad that Republican John McCain never ran because he kept his promise not to bludgeon Democratic rival Barack Obama over the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr.

McCain went after Obama on a raft of issues and on his association with radical William Ayers, who led a group that bombed government buildings during the 1970s. But he stayed away from Wright, in part to avoid being accused of playing the race card against Obama.

The hard-hitting spot features the well-known footage of Wright railing against America from the pulpit of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. It then contrasts McCain refusing to be released early from a North Vietnamese prisoner-of-war camp because he was an admiral's son with Obama staying in the church while Wright was making such remarks.

"Character matters, especially when no one's looking," the announcer says.

Obama finally repudiated Wright, who officiated at his wedding and baptized his two daughters, after the pastor made more controversial remarks and eventually left the church where he became a Christian.

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Umm, Clinton tried that route and look where it got her.

And it shows that McCain is more of a class act than a lot of people out there.

Posted by mtbr1975 December 8, 08 05:19 PM
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In re Jeremiah Wright,
As a preface let me relay what happened to a black couple during the sixties when they wished to travel to Mississippi to visit theie family. Because there was no place they could stop for lodging, meals or rest room favilities when they made the trip they prepared meals in advance snd drove straight through and manufacyred some sanitary facilities for themselves. It was this type of inhuman treatment of black people in America that Rev Wright was referring to in the remarks he made which were shown out of context ny the media.

Posted by Charley Barcelo December 8, 08 05:23 PM
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Where do you get the notion that McCain withheld the ad "in part to avoid being accused of playing the race card"?

Maybe he withheld the ad because he knew that the Rev Wright issue had already been played, and that it wasn't going to win him one additional vote, but would probably cost him a few.

I have to say honestly, I read this blog a lot throughout the campaign, and all too frequently found Foon Rhee making these sort of off-hand assessments that have no basis in fact and are just the writer's own opinions presented as fact. I was very disappointed by the quality of reporting on this blog throughout the campaign. And I still am.

Posted by SJB December 8, 08 05:24 PM
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Charley Barcelo lets be honest now...times have changed...this is the problem with you back to the futue daydreamers....do you want to go as far back as when whites where the actual first slaves ever or do you want get on with the fact that the next president of the U.S. is black.

Posted by typical_white_person December 8, 08 06:34 PM
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When two boxers enter the ring for the match the goal of each boxer is to defeat his opponent by throwing every jabs and punches that weaken him while at the same time take whatever landed to his face and body as he battle for the title or for the victory.There is no respect or concern for your opponent during the fight because losing is humiliating and sometimes the loser is totally ignored by many people and fans.Political fight for position is the same thing if you go in the Presidential or whatever type of political race with a Mr nice guy type of attitude sorry but you're in just the body but without a fighter spirit and determination to win. I rather a candidate lose while he really beat his opponent hard than not wanting to hurt him.

Posted by skmj December 8, 08 06:47 PM
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I produce tv and radio political ads. It's not unusual at all for an ad to be fully produced and then get shelved.

Posted by denny spencer December 8, 08 07:02 PM
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And what happened to the NY Times front page story which revealed that McCain was bought and paid for by the now "totally legitimate" Mob, who hide behind the facade of the corporate gaming industry? Interesting, that the entire national media dropped that story like a lead balloon. Do you think there may have been a deal between the "white-hating church goer", and the Mafia's chosen war hero?

Posted by Merry Brandybuck December 9, 08 07:23 AM
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the rev is a former marine.nough said.

Posted by francis December 9, 08 09:26 AM
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