McCain Campaign Ad: Obama Chose Going To Gym Over Visiting Troops
Republican Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign opened both political barrels on rival Democratic Senator Barack Obama with a short but blistering TV campaign ad that charges that Obama chose to go to the gym rather than visit wounded troops because the Pentagon wouldn’t allow cameras to go with him.
It’s an ad (watch ad yourself at the bottom of this post) that is being received predictably by both sides. Democrats are outraged, Republicans defend it. But the fact that it’s coming before the two party political conventions have been held as part of an increasingly ugly battle between McCain and Obama underscores a reality:
So much for 2008 being a year when the political campaign will be different and focus on the issues troubling — and in some cases bankrupting — some Americans. This will be yet one more ugly, divisive campaign whose winner will be the person who is able to best negatively define the other in ways where negative imagery sticks.
But as the Washington Post notes, part of the problem isn’t just that Obama walked — or some might suggest was directed by foes within the establishment to walk — into this controversy. Part of the problem, the Post reports, is that his aides bungled the initial response. So one issue is the actual event. The other is the Obama campaign’s effectiveness in decisively responding to the charges.
That this is becoming an issue on the Sunday morning shows, newspapers and blogs is further confirmation that Campaign 2008 will be just as personal with key issues playing second fiddle as previous recent Presidential campaigns. And the way in which it’s being used by the McCain campaign indicates the era of Karl Rove-style politics is far from over. There has nuances, but you’d never know it by the way it’s being played in the ad and by partisans.
Here’s the Post’s background summary:
Sen. John McCain lashed out at his Democratic rival in a tough new television ad Saturday, accusing him of “going to the gym” while in Germany instead of visiting wounded soldiers, and of doing so because the hospitals would not let television cameras film the visits.
The Republican senator also repeats the charge in an interview to be aired Sunday morning, saying on ABC’s “This Week” that “if I had been told by the Pentagon that I couldn’t visit those troops, and I was there and wanted to be there, I guarantee you, there would have been a seismic event.”
So if Obama had ignored the military and gone anyway, or raised a ruckus over visiting them, THAT wouldn’t have become a big campaign issue and generated a McCain campaign ad? If you believe that, I can sell you this for $21.
In the ad, an announcer says: “And now, he made time to go to the gym, but cancelled a visit with wounded troops. Seems the Pentagon wouldn’t allow him to bring cameras. John McCain is always there for our troops. McCain. Country first.”
The ad, which the campaign said would air in “key” states, was created quickly to seize on a controversy just days old. During his trip to Germany, Obama was scheduled to visit the American hospitals at Ramstein and Landstuhl, but cancelled the trips after being told by Pentagon officials that he could only visit in his official capacity as a senator, not as a candidate.
Was it a trap? As NBC’s Andrea Mitchell reported, Obama visited troops in Afghanistan and at Walter Reed Hospital without the press with no problems from the military.
But in this case the Pentagon seemingly took a much harder line. Read this and this. Despite what the McCain ad says, from these reports the issue is not just that Obama didn’t visit the troops because the Pentagon wouldn’t allow cameras — but it could be and is being portrayed in the ad as being what happened.
Here’s the lead from the New York Daily News:
Barack Obama skipped a visit to injured troops in Germany to avoid stirring a political controversy – but he got one anyway.
Obama said he had planned to visit U.S. soldiers at the Army’s Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, but settled for a phone call when military officials said bringing the campaign’s military adviser, retired Maj. Gen. Scott Gration, would be seen as a “political” move, which is not allowed.
“That triggered then a concern that maybe our visit was going to be perceived as political,” Obama said. “The last thing that I want to do is have injured soldiers and the staff at these wonderful institutions having to sort through whether this is political or not or get caught in the crossfire between campaigns. So rather than go forward and potentially get caught up in what might have been a political controversy, of some sort, what we decided was that we would not make a visit.”
Obama told me earlier today that the trip was canceled because of “a concern that maybe our visit was going to be perceived as political. And the last thing that I want to do is have injured soldiers and the staff at these wonderful institutions having to sort through whether this is political or not or get caught in the crossfire between campaigns.”
McCain’s ad asserts that Obama “made time to go to the gym, but cancelled a visit with wounded troops. Seems the Pentagon wouldn’t allow him to bring cameras.”
The McCain campaign provides no evidence for the assertion that being told he couldn’t bring media had anything to do with the trip’s cancellation.
And he adds this update:
UPDATE: Obama campaign spokeswoman Linda Douglass says, “We told military officials explicitly that Senator Obama had absolutely no attention of bringing any members of the media or photographers in with him to visit the wounded warriors. In all of our communications with the military, we stressed that this was to be a private visit by Senator Obama.”
Meanwhile, the Obama campaign responded responded in a predictable way.
Obama campaign spokesman Tommy Vietor said Obama and McCain both believed that troops should be honored and noted that Obama had visited troops in Iraq and Afghanistan last week and had made numerous trips to Washington’s Walter Reed Army Medical Center. ”Senator McCain knows full well that Senator Obama strongly supports and honors our troops, which is what makes this attack so disingenuous. This politicization of our soldiers is exactly what Senator Obama sought to avoid,” Vietor said.
But it’s clear from this ad, the way this issue is springing up, and how it’s dominating old and new blog coverage that the elections of 2000 and 2004 will be replayed in terms of tone. The focus is on personal issues that are “high concept” so memorable phrases can be communicated (and oversimplified and perhaps distorted) in easy-to-retain 30 second ads. The negative imagery can also then be repeated frequently in the new media and on talk shows by partisans.
The recent entry of Karl Rove proteges and Rove himself as an “informal” campaign adviser is leaving a mark on the McCain campaign that can be seen now in two key McCain charges over the past week. Both are “high concept” charges. First, McCain accused Obama of wanting to lose the Iraq war. And now, in this ad, of not visiting wounded troops because cameras weren’t allowed.
All that’s needed now would be a high concept McCain campaign slogan that can be taken two ways: as a positive for McCain, and a negative if applied to the high concept allegations injected into the race about Obama. the new, short McCain campaign slogan will be used by some for just that: McCain: Country First. (So just who is it that isn’t putting Country First?)
The bottom line: voters who were hoping for a campaign dominated by debate on issues rather than another descent into personality definition politics will have to wait a while. The problem is that Democrats have had leads going into general elections before but when they’ve been successfully branded by Republicans as soft on national security or not caring enough about the military they have often lost. Is the Obama campaign skillful enough to respond, short-circuit and counter these allegations?
The handwriting is not just the wall. The wall is starting to fall on the Democrats. And it’s not even Labor Day yet.
Here’s the ad:
UPDATE: The Daily Dish’s Chris Bodenner:
If there were pictures on the wires of him shaking hands with bedridden vets while media vultures crowded around for close-ups, conservatives would have ripped him for it properly and mercilessly and he knows it. Why not stick with the ‘he went to the gym but not the hospital’ point, which is at least factually correct? Why go here?,” - Allahpundit.
I predict these nasty, petty, and desperate attacks will only grow as Obama soars into November. What else does McCain have to run on? It’s the same approach Clinton took after Feb. 5: if I can’t beat him, I’ll drag him down to my level and hope he hits back, besmirching his image as a “new politician.” It wasn’t exactly a winning strategy.
More blog reaction is HERE.
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24 Responses to “McCain Campaign Ad: Obama Chose Going To Gym Over Visiting Troops”
Their error? Not going to a hospital but playing basketball. That is the sin. No matter the reason. This is the kind of stuff the left/democrats have thrown at bush for 5 or 6 years. It does not matter the reason. They have spun everything till no one knows what is the truth anymore and in the end all that matters is the perception.
What goes around comes around. Bush bashing for 7 years followed by Obama bashing for????????? however long hes in office.
Nice spin JSpencer.
Genius. Comparing an unjustified war and a sinking economy to a trip to the gym. Brilliant………….and Bush Bashing without saying so.
In this case its Obama going to the gym instead of showing compassion for troopers who are injured……….neither your statement not this one is true…….yet the spin makes it so.
The bizarre thing that I notice from all peoples is that they always believe their spin is the truth, while the other sides is full of lies and innuendos.
Is elrod right–is that shot of Obama playing basketball WITH the troops?
To stoop to this level shows how desperate McCain feels in his race against Obama.
Yeah people fergit how the Clintons were destroyed by the Obama crowd in the primary for stooping to implying that some of the greatest advocates of the Black people were racists.
Obama is only taking the higher road because hes in the lead. AS the polls close we will see how high his campaign remains when desperation sets in.
[...] Campaign Ad: Obama Chose Going To Gym Over Visiting Troops Julia wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptUPDATE: Obama campaign spokeswoman [...]
[...] Hadleigh Roberts wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptUPDATE: Obama campaign spokeswoman Linda Douglass says, “We told military officials explicitly that Senator Obama had absolutely no attention of bringing any members of the media or photographers in with him to visit the wounded … [...]
I agree with most of what mikkel says, although it also seems that a significant amount of credit for the reduction of sectarian violence in Baghdad goes to Petraeus – by re-deploying troops out of the green zone and into neighborhoods they were able to fill the role that the Iraqi police force was supposed to fill, providing some semblance of security to the local population. Aside from that, however, it does seem that the majority of the reduction in violence was due to the Anbar awakening and al Sadr calling off his militia – both of which started well before the troop surge.
Whats in question is that the Obama campaign cant even respond themselves. They have to call on John “The troops suck” Murtha to defend him. “Harry “The war is Lost” Reid to defend Barak Obama from false allegations.
Barak Obama is cute. Hes too “cluck, cluck” to even fight his own battles. He has to stay above the fray so he sends out his minions to do it for him.
New Name. Barak “The Godfather” Obama. Give them an offer they cant refuse.
Like I said the press is after Obama cause they know he is not capable of being president and they are trying to wise us all up before its too late.
Chris is right about McCain getting down in the muck. The GOP seems to have learned nothing from the past 8 years if they are unwilling to separate themselves from the Rove tactics. Those who run interference for these tactics are equally shameless (or clueless, or hopelessly partisan) and the fact is, America has suffered greatly because of it. Would I rather have a president who is still in the process of gaining experience than someone who has a great deal of it – and has learned little from it? In a heartbeat.
Clever McBush. McClown.
I see the name calling is ramping up. Pretty soon John McCain will be Oberfuhrer, Mein Fuhrer.
Neocon now: I see the name calling is ramping up.
Neocon earlier: John “The troops suck” Murtha. Harry “The war is Lost” Reid
CHRIS MATTHEWS, HOST: Let me ask you Mr. Murtha to give us some details about that. Draw us a picture of what happened at Haditha.
REP. JOHN “JACK” MURTHA: Well, I’ll tell you exactly what happened. One Marine was killed and the Marines just said we’re going to take care – we don’t know who the enemy is, the pressure was too much on them, so they went into houses and they actually killed civilians. And, and –
MATTHEWS:—was this My Lai? Was this a case of – when you say cold blood Congressman, a lot of people think you’re basically saying you got some civilians sitting in a room around a field and they’re executed.
MURTHA: That’s exactly it.
Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them, and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood.
“I believe … that this war is lost, and this surge is not accomplishing anything, as is shown by the extreme violence in Iraq this week,” Reid told journalists.
They named themselves.
[...] Jaelithe wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptUPDATE: Obama campaign spokeswoman Linda Douglass says, “We told military officials explicitly that Senator Obama had absolutely no attention of bringing any members of the media or photographers in with him to visit the wounded … Read the rest of this great post here [...]
Kryon77
No one here is interested in facts or figures when it comes to Iraq. Nearly all the commenters are far left antiwar types who only get their jollies calling bush and cheney names.
They despise being in Iraq and yet want to escalate Afghanistan because their bizarre reasoning is that somehow blowing up stuff in Afghanistan is in their minds justified. That makes for a powerful force.
The right justified Iraq and so it was to be.
They have no definition of victory in Afghanistan. They only want to kill stuff and blow stuff up over there.
They have no idea how much it will cost or who will pay for it. They just want their turn to kill stuff and blow stuff up.
They have no idea what the mission is in Afghanistan. They just want to kill stuff and blow stuff up.
And in the end. More people will die. Barak Obama will get a bit more cooperation out of Nato and in the end more and more people will be homeless and without shelter all for a Justifiable war. Because a man named OBL killed Americans we then must exact our retribution upon women and children 12,000 miles away who had nothing to do with it and dont even know who OBL is.
I guess that would be like China Invading America to kill the Bloods or the Krypts in LA because they blew up Tianamen square. Once they killed a few of them they then blow up cities in Nevada and Arizona because people their are pissed that China is blowing stuff up IN LA.
Where does it stop. These war mongers even want to go after Pakistan. Why stop with Pakistan. Lets get the bums in China too and Chechnya.
Neocon: “I know when I swim in these waters that its full of sharks.”
Sharks?
I see a group of mostly interested and engaged people who for the most part are perceptive, have interesting opinions, and are remarkably patient with those few whose main purpose here is the seeking of attention.
It will be O.K. Neo “goodbye cruel world” con just hang on to your sharp appreciation for good entertainment.
Ohh I like that one stevek………..good job.
Now your getting the hang of it. Its so much better then shrub, or dubya.
and are remarkably patient with those few whose main purpose here is the seeking of attention.
And you prove the point I was making about this add.
Its ALL ABOUT PERCEPTION.
Also let us not forget that Saddam Hussein was sending a $25,000 dollar a year stipend to those families of marytrs who blew themselves up in Israel thus fueling the the expansion of bloodshed in Israel and Palestine which quickly stopped once Saddam was removed from power.
Neocon: “I know when I swim in these waters that its full of sharks.”
Sharks?
I see a group of mostly interested and engaged people who for the most part are perceptive, have interesting opinions, and are remarkably patient with those few whose main purpose here is the seeking of attention.
It will be O.K. Neo “goodbye cruel world” con just hang on to your sharp appreciation for good entertainment.
“Is it our role to be the world's police force and start wars with every 2 bit dictator who oppresses his people? Some might actually believe that should be the primary role of the USA in the 21st century, but many of us see it as backward and destabilizing… to put it mildly.”
I'll remember that the next time there's more wailing about Darfur or when someone actually wants to justify our little adventure in Haiti on behalf of a beloved left-wing president there.
“I'd personally argue that the basic factors of a) Hussein's past history of use of WMD, b) Intention, c) Opportunity show that the Hussein regime was an international menace, such that we could not just leave the matter alone and hope for the best.”
Of course we couldn't. And the few who were instinctively against doing anything about it (because it would constitute a US and Western success) would have been the first and loudest complainers had Hussein or his sons attacked their neighbors again, etc.
“vote for McBush”
The Big Lie only fools the most easily fooled in this world.
On a more sane note:
“it kinda suggests he's LOSING”
And not learning from his mistakes, and correcting them, unlike Obama.
Ohh I like that one stevek………..good job.
Now your getting the hang of it. Its so much better then shrub, or dubya.
and are remarkably patient with those few whose main purpose here is the seeking of attention.
And you prove the point I was making about this add.
Its ALL ABOUT PERCEPTION.
Also let us not forget that Saddam Hussein was sending a $25,000 dollar a year stipend to those families of marytrs who blew themselves up in Israel thus fueling the the expansion of bloodshed in Israel and Palestine which quickly stopped once Saddam was removed from power.