McCain Web Ad Blasts Romney

I used to be skeptical about the propulsive effect of campaign web ads, and viewed them as a way for campaigns to drive the press's focus without having to spend the money on a television advertisement. Well, I still think the latter thought is true, but the press here in New Hampshire is hungry for a fight, and we collectively seem to be extra-sensitive to every salvo. Here is McCain's new web ad, called "Leadership."

ANNCR: "Mitt Romney compares himself to John McCain and their public service and says, 'I've actually been leading.'

"Mitt Romney, leading?

"He'd rather call lawyers."

ROMNEY: "You sit down with your attorneys and tell you what you have to do ..."

"Uh, you know, we're gonna let the lawyers sort out ..."

ANNCR: "And bureaucrats."

ROMNEY: "Well, if we want somebody who has a lot of experience in foreign policy, we can simply go to the State Department ..."

ANNCR: "When it comes to leadership, John McCain doesn't have to call anyone."

JOHN MCCAIN: "I'm John McCain and I approve this message."

Comments

I fear for America if we have a president who thinks he doesn't need advisors. A team is better than a single player every day.

Posted by sreid | January 4, 2008 4:36 PM

I'm with you there, sreid. It's preposterous premise for a criticism, but it probably plays with a lot of folks.

1792 campaign negative ad:

Sound clip of George Washington: "Well, I'll sit down with Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton and see what comments they may proffer..."

Announcer: "When it comes to leadership, John McCain doesn't have to call anyone..."

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Yes, John McCain ran against George Washington and George W. Bush. He's that old.

Posted by Bryan | January 4, 2008 4:58 PM

I would rather count on McCain by himself than have a team of Romney's.

Posted by Vicki Hampton | January 4, 2008 5:35 PM

The only thing scarier than a president who knows nothing (Huckabee) is a president who thinks he knows everything (McCain).

By the way, if being an expert is required to be president, look for President McCain to drive the economy into the ground. Good luck with your one issue, you crazy old man.

Posted by Mike | January 4, 2008 5:40 PM

You think so Vicki, you have no idea what your talking about. I am from Chandler,Arizona and McCain is a worthless pile of dogshiz...

If he did half the things Mitt accomplished then maybe we could talk..... He is a career politcan who has never done a DAMN thing. 25 years in the senate, gang of 14.. That really worked didn't it. Keating 5... McCain is crap and I am sick of him, time for change and McCain is part of problem, not the solution

McCain is part of Washington, not the catalyst for change.

Posted by Scott from AZ | January 4, 2008 5:43 PM

Vicki,

We want facts and policies that will change DC. This isn't DC musical chairs. McCain needs a new set of golf clubs, he has had 25 years to get things done... Sorry Juan, time to come home !

We love you McCain, Your a SUNS fan and a patriot, but its time... Its like the guys that have to take away their 90 yr old Mother driver license....

Come home John.

Posted by Scott from AZ | January 4, 2008 5:51 PM

> ANNCR: "When it comes to leadership, John McCain doesn't have to call anyone."

Even the lone ranger had a horse and a trusty sidekick. But McCain will make decisions without consulting anyone. And this is a good idea, how?

Posted by supernovia | January 4, 2008 6:03 PM

You know what I find completely ironic? Just yesterday when Huckabee won over Romney, John McCain said, "This comes to prove that negative campaigns don't work."

So, here he is running negative ads against Romney? Completely hypocritical if you ask me.

Posted by Mark | January 4, 2008 6:13 PM

"Everybody was kung fu fighting! Those kicks was fast as lightning!"

Let's enjoy a good brawl. Vicki is stark raving mad from the things I've read from her today, but we need those types of people to round out the experience. What's a baseball game without the inane hecklers? Or a WWF match without the absolutely white-trashiest rednecks in the world wielding totally incoherent signs in support of their fake favorite? We need everyone and a tub of popcorn. Let's enjoy.

Posted by Bryan | January 4, 2008 6:18 PM

The only thing scarier than a president who knows nothing (Huckabee) is a president who thinks he knows everything (McCain).

Especially one with a fighter jock "my way or the highway attitude" (sound familiar) who graduated 895th in a class of 899 in the Naval Academy, and was passed over for admiral for flaws in the knowledge needed to lead navy people from the top, as well as character and temperment flaws.

But some people to love that - the mildly insane black women screeching out her anger at a public meeting inevitably gets applause and "you go, girl!" cheers until it gets old and it is obvious that even she doesn't know what her tantrum is about.

McCain is like faux populist Edwards. Sticking it to The Man, giving hell....except both are The Man, simply posturing and slickly pandering to audiences that believe they are not...

Posted by Chris Ford | January 4, 2008 6:23 PM

Quotes from Bloomberg Economic News

``Since 1949 the unemployment rate has never risen by this magnitude without the economy being in recession,'' John Ryding, chief U.S. economist at Bear Stearns Cos. in New York, said in a note to clients. ``We now put ourselves on recession watch.''

Factories have already slowed. ISM's manufacturing index for last month fell to 47.7, the lowest since April 2003, the purchasers group said this week.

Factory payrolls decreased by 31,000 after falling 13,000 a month earlier. Economists had forecast a drop of 15,000 in manufacturing employment. Builders reduced payrolls by 49,000 after cutting 37,000 jobs in November.

Government payrolls increased by 31,000 during the month, indicating private payrolls declined by 13,000.

Jan. 4 (Bloomberg) -- The Federal Reserve will increase the size of two scheduled auctions of emergency loans by 50 percent to $30 billion as part of a global attempt by central bankers to restore faith in the money markets.

NYT

Of 1,000 owners surveyed nationwide, only 28 percent said they felt economic conditions for their businesses were improving, while 65 percent said conditions were getting worse.

After inching down in recent weeks, average gas prices across the nation rose by 7.3 cents last week to $3.053 per gallon, 71.9 cents higher than the same period last year, the Energy Information Administration reported Wednesday.

Business Week

"Staying at [the $100] level will mean inflation and economic hardship," says Fadel Gheit, senior energy analyst for Oppenheimer Holdings (OPY). "The price has nothing to do with fundamentals, but it has a broad impact."

Here's a question for you. How many books on economics has your candidate read? How many has he WRITTEN? The best economist in the world can't convince someone to whom he can't explain the problem. It looks very like we are headed for a recession or a depression. Before you cast your all-important primary vote, shouldn't you find out who has the most education on economics? This is not one of those times when you basically get bragging rights. This time, it may make the difference between you keeping your job and house or living on the streets. Remember, if we ALL sink there will be no one to give you welfare. Even people who OWN their house could be dispossessed by incredibly high real estate taxes. I know everyone says he is a long shot, but PLEASE do yourself (and me) a favor and research Dr. Ron Paul. The house you save may be your own.

Posted by Louis Nardozi | January 4, 2008 7:57 PM

You're threatening to burn down my house unless I read and support Ron Paul?

Posted by Zephyrus | January 4, 2008 9:24 PM

Wow Louis,

Good point. I am a fiscal conservative - but that's why my vote goes to Romney. Ron Paul may have some good points, but he is not viable.

Romney is rich for a reason - let's put his knowledge of turning businesses around to work for the American people.

McCain just wants to continue on a war rampage.

Romney wants to fix Washington.

It's between McCain and Romney, folks. Romney needs the Ron Paul supporters to realize that Ron Paul just won't win the nomination. Vote for Romney, or end up with McCain or Clinton.

Posted by A. Burns | January 5, 2008 12:26 AM

Neither one of those clowns are worth one moment of your consideration;

Candidate Research - Know Who You're Voting For
http://sayanythingblog.com/readers/entry/candidate_research_know_who_youre_voting_for/

Posted by Winghunter | January 5, 2008 12:29 AM

And John McCain said he "would not go negative"?

Um.

Yes, John McCain needs no help leading us off a cliff.

Mitt only needs one ad:

John McCain is a RINO.

Posted by Bill Mitchell | January 5, 2008 4:05 AM

I have a great idea for a McCain ad:

He can list the foreign policy he has authored. Um, short ad.

Posted by Bill Mitchell | January 5, 2008 4:07 AM

Support for McCain?

Let me get this straight; now, McCain now supports securing the border first? Is this a "flip flop"? As to his foolish "immigration" bill, which he describes as not being amnesty; how would the government have gone about collecting $2000 and ensuring people speak English? Who would've decided the appropriate level of English proficiency? Who would administer the tests? What if they couldn't pass? How many tests would they be entitled to take? Would we have to tutor them? Who would audit the process? What if the "poor" immigrant cannot pay? Would we round them up? Finally, for a "small government" advocate, how did McCain expect to accomplish these tasks for upwards up 5-10 million people? How many people would it take to accomplish this "project"? Would the nation be forced to unionize the test workers and administrators and guarantee employment after completion? McCain's proposal was incredibly simplistic and (obviously) not well thought out. So, why should we make him the Republican candidate for President?

Posted by Gregory Wood | January 5, 2008 8:06 AM

As a Democrat supporting Obama, I have no dog in the fight. I would just say this: while it may be true McCain has flip-flopped on immigration, at least he's not making immigration the centerpiece of his campaign. Compare that to Romney, who endorsed McCain-Kennedy 2 years ago - specifically saying it was not amnesty, and is now making opposition to McCain-Kennedy one of his top issues. That's not to mention all the other issues that Romney has flip-flopped on - abortion, gay rights, gun control.

What exactly is the rationale for Romney's candidacy?

Posted by Peter H | January 5, 2008 9:43 AM

The words I remember from Mitt Romney to Mike Huckabee and John McCain about Mitt's ads:

'contrast', 'attacking me personally'

The words from Huckabee and McCain to Romney:

'dishonest', 'fake', 'flip-flop', 'waffle', 'spin', 'pig', 'Satan and Jesus'

The real hypocrites are Huckabee and McCain. One is a short-temper Christian who never finished seminary and several blunders is speaking in a fork tongue instead of 'in tougues'. McCain, another fork tongue who was at the bottom of his military graduating class has been in Congress in as many years and has hasn't done much even for his own state.

Posted by Savea7 | January 5, 2008 9:30 PM