Obama camp hits McCain on economy

Posted: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:22 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Mark Murray
The Obama campaign has announced it will begin airing a new TV ad tomorrow that hits McCain on the economy and compares him -- once again -- to Bush.

The ad will air in 16 battleground states: Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Script:
"I'm Barack Obama and I approved this message."
Economics … by John McCain.
Support George Bush 95 percent of the time.
Keep spending ten billion dollars a month for the
war in Iraq …
While the Iraqis sell oil for record prices.
Giving Iraq a $79 billion oil surplus …
And hurting our economy.
Barack Obama's plan:
End the war responsibly.
Better schools.
No more tax breaks for oil companies.
Barack Obama … the Middle Class first.

*** UPDATE *** The McCain campaign responds:
“In the Senate, Barack Obama has voted in lockstep with President George W. Bush nearly half the time, including the Bush-Cheney Energy bill which gave close to 3 billion dollars in new giveaways to Big Oil -- a terrible policy that John McCain opposed. The truth is Barack Obama’s plan is a job killing machine that ignores the struggling economy and raises taxes on family savings, social security and small businesses.”

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Comments

I guess we've all come to the realization that polls are not always accurate, especially this year because of the race issue. People just may not be telling the truth, especially in the northeastern part of the USA.

I wonder if there's anything to be learned if we look at how much Senator Obama is raising in contributions from the battle ground states compared to how much Senator McCain is raising in the same states.

Although I have to think the polls won't start shifting until after the conventions are done.

Senator McCain being stuck at 42%-43% just doesn't sound like a close election. I'm missing something but I don't know what it is. Should we be going by electoral numbers? Media coverage perhaps telling us over and over that it is a close election?

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:34 PM)

I love this. "The middle class first" is a great rebuttal to "country first". It is a simple phase to express a fundamental difference between the two.

Sarah D. (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:34 PM)

Middle class first....yea, I like it and what's more I believe it. I also know that Obama won't forget the poor and hungry and the aged. McBlinky is too old, too tempermental, too careless, too out of touch, too much in the pockets of big oil and too much like Bush and Cheney and Phil Gramm. This vet's for Obama.

subgruvet, ok (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:34 PM)

Barack Obama: tax increases during an economic slowdown, (he sure didn't study economics in college); protectionist trade policies, (see above, and he didn't study history, either), socialist/command economy policies, (ask the former Soviet Union how that worked out)-Obama is a danger to our economic well-being. I wish all those who are supporting Obama would go out and buy a McConnell economics 101 testbook. Study it, do the exercises, and see if you still support him. Unfortunately, none of you will-you prefer to FEEL, not THINK.

Donna, Lincroft, NJ (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:35 PM)

Thank you for presenting the ad in the same format as the ads from the McCain campaign. Regardless of what I think about providing free airtime to a political campaign, I appreciate the effort to balance the nature of the coverage.

Greg, VT (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:35 PM)

This Ad is right on the money. He needs to to coninue to hit McCain on this issue of economics since McCain knows nothing about it.

Drill! Drill! Drill! is not enough to fix this economy. McBush has no solution

Bee (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:35 PM)

One thing I admire about Obama is that his messages are consistent. Comparing McCain to Bush has already stuck with the MSM and with voters, I'm sure. From there, Obama just highlights new facts to make the central point. Obama's voters are more educated than most, yes, but he still has to reach low-information voters. As such, sticking to a central negative message about McCain will help.

Cindy Lou, TX (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:36 PM)

Stupid firewall. Wish I could see ads here at work. Thanks for posting the script this time though! Reads like a good ad, can't wait to get home to watch it.

John McCain’s answer to Iran and Russia:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdJUCU1UH2w

Obama 08!
More interesting videos here at:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/BLinCinti

BL, Cincinnati OH (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:36 PM)

I like it.

Billy, MI (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:37 PM)

Awesome!

Sue (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:38 PM)

What a great ad! I knew that Iraq surplus issue was going to come up sooner or later!

Truth in advertising...love it!

JessicaElaine (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:39 PM)

This is a surprise for what reason? How does McCain justify sustaining the Bush tax cuts when there are major conflicts going on? Was there a limit on spending before hand? No, the Republican colleauges of McCain continued to spend without restraint. Now, McCain, Bush and other Republicans blame the Democrats for not getting things done compared to the rubber stamp Congress that Bush had for the first 6 years.

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:40 PM)

The Obama campaign has announced it will begin airing a new TV ad tomorrow that hits McCain on the economy and compares him -- once again -- to Bush.

And who else should the Obama campaign compare him too? At least it's not a lie!

Mark,Seattle (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:42 PM)

And voting "present" helps the economy how? I think oil companies are just going to get the tax breaks back by rising prices (they aren't going to lose money), so how is that helping the people who already can't afford their bills?

Obama - A Better America (For anyone with the last name Obama)

John, MI (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:42 PM)

good message, need to highlight McCain on health insurance. he wants to cut out worker tax free health insurance, and make us pay taxes on it, then go search for a policy from thousands of policies. If employer pays, we get taxed on it, and employer has to pay workers comp, and social security tax on the the extra income they are giving us. yes, we'll get a tax break from mccain, but that will just offset the extra tax on the premium. obama needs to start getting on this. mccain's plan is a tax increase for workers, and lots of work for accountants.

marvin goldbergq (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:43 PM)

Just an FYI for MSNBC--airing the Olympics ALL day during a very VOLATILE election season was a bad idea. Where else can we go to for news? Fox? CNN? The occasional FR update? I personally have yet to watch an Olympic event therefore the only time I watch this channel is at 8 pm. I don't watch the news elsewhere either, but all day Olympic coverage..Really?

Kim W Virginia Beach, VA (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:43 PM)

Best ad of the cycle by Obama - by FAR.

Finally seeing some fight out of the guy, and it pivots to his own, positive message.

Great stuff.

http://strategy08.wordpress.com

Dan, New York, NY (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:44 PM)

Colorado just finished some fairly hotly contested primaries on Tuesday, and....if there was a V-chip that blocked political ads it would be on my teevee right now.

Butch, Pine, Colorado (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:44 PM)

Same old, same old for Mr. Obama. That's all Obama can do is point fingers and blame others. When you ask him for his plan though, he mumbles something about raising taxes, sending out rebate checks, and introducing courses on how to use a tire gauge. What a pathetic piece of work Obama has become.

Whipper Snapper (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:45 PM)

I love it! Strike a truthful blow against McCain first!

C Brown, Charlotte, NC (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:45 PM)

Why is Obama concerned about the price of oil? Didn't he say he was going to switch the country over to "alternative fuels"? Whatever those are I guess.

Jeanne F., Des Moines Iowa (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:46 PM)

That is EXACTLY where Obama needs to go. Show us how multiple issues are linked. Speak to the Middle Class. Do it in a succinct, easy to understand manner. Home run Obama.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:47 PM)

He's letting McCain off easy. I guess there are just too many things wrong with McCain's economic package to fit in a TV spot.

Joe Don, Topeka, KS (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:48 PM)

Finally a presidential candidate who cares about the middle class!

OBAMA 08!

Kathy, Simi Valley CA (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:48 PM)

Raise our taxes through the roof and claim otherwise...balloon the national debt...check the polls and then determine my position...whine when my opponent airs an 'attack' ad...I'm Barack Obama, and I approve this message.

Pass the Arugula (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:49 PM)

Short, concise, and to the point!

Well done!

GA GUY (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:49 PM)

Great ad -- clear, concise -- I like the last line -- the middle class first -- good slogan - Now that's how you compare and contrast

Lauri Smalls, Providence (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:49 PM)

Good ad. None of the fivolous, negative crapola of a Mcbush ad. It sticks to issues and gives solutions.
No wonder the neo-cons have to write a Swift-Boat book on Obama---they can't touch him on the issues!

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:49 PM)

Okay, but why aren't the Obama folks knocking McShame off his pre-presidential podium - the one he used for that fake presidential statement, flags behind him and all, about the Russia/Georgia battle? Quite playing nice, nice with these monster repukes or they'll hand Obama his nuts. Get some nuts and start fighting like you mean it.

Brian, Cedar Hill, TX (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:49 PM)

Obama is really losing it. Who cares about Bush? We want to know what YOUR ideas on the economy are BHO. Apparently you have none, other to tax, tax, and when you are done with that, tax some more. It's not how that produces any more enery then we have today. And it's not clear how all those taxes improves the economy.

Ted Pendergas, MO (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:49 PM)

LOL this is great! Obama is hitting McCain for voting for 95% of the time with Bush! Sounds like McCain+voting record=Bush

Marcel (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:50 PM)

Thank goodness I live in California in a solid (blue) county that won't change anytime soon. That way, I can look at each of these ads ONCE online and then not have to have them interrupting my TV every two seconds. I hate all commercials, but political ones especially get my goat (#2 on my [poop]list are the ones with "catchy jingles").

P, CA (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:50 PM)

Good ad - and it's about time!

Jamie, Elmwood Park, IL (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:51 PM)

It's a great ad, and right on target. But it would have been even better if it had emphasized all of the times that MCCAIN HAS VOTED AGAINST "BUY AMERICAN" proposals, though. That's the info that will get my auto plant working neighbors' attention and votes!

Sue Dubya (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:52 PM)

Looks like Obama is focusing in on the often forgotten part of America, the Middle Class. It's about time someone in Washington starts thinking about putting this part of America first. The ones that have put in the Sweat Equity either in industry or the military. Good for him and better yet great for us.

Sore back and legs. (Load barer) (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:52 PM)

wow thats a powerful ad.

There is huge difference between John McCain personal frivolous attacks on Obama and Obama's substantive attacks of McCain on the issues and policies.

Great Job Barrack

Frank, NC (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:53 PM)

Great message. The hot topic is oil oil oil. Let's fight back. I am tired of the Karl Rove politics by the Republicans and the message by Democrats always sweet and to the point. Play this and let the public know that Obama is for the middle class. I am so ashamed of McCain and his silly ads. Go Obama!

karen bourland overland park ks (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:53 PM)

It is great to see these on our little local affiliate stations here in Big BLUE Sky country.
Phone banks tonight - 2hours
GO Cats!
GOBama!

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:53 PM)

Ending the war responsibly? Surrender is not ending the war responsibly Obama. It encourages the people that want to kill us.

Be sure to stay out of tall buildings if Barack Obama wanders his way into the oval office.

Stiflers Mom (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:54 PM)

Keep spending ten billion dollars a month for the
war in Iraq …
While the Iraqis sell oil for record prices.
________________
This message neglects to mention that Obama didn't vote to stop funding the war anymore than John McCain so this fact would apply to both candidates. The Congress was elected in 2006 to stop the funding of the war. Congress failed! They passed bill after bill after bill.

Laura, Boston MA (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:55 PM)

Awesome! Very nicely done! I wish they would play it in Alabama!

Voting for Senator Obama in Alabama (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:55 PM)

Great Ad.
Just saw some Obama vacation pics...simply beautiful. These pics would make a great family values ad. As for KOOKIE Roberts, why would I go to Mrytle Beach (don't know anyone, no family and friends) when I could see one of God's most beautiful creations....Hawaii? If she had the choice, she would go to Hawaii. Infact, I bet she has been to Hawaii more times than she has been to Mrytle Beach. God Bless and keep safe Senator Obama and his beautiful family.

judy Ovilla tx (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:55 PM)

'I'm Barack Obama and I approve the truth."

-- There was nothing false stated in this ad, unlike most of John McCain's. 'I'm John McCain and I approve lies.'

Lee-- Dallas, TX (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:58 PM)

good ad. Next time Obama should mention that McCain's top economic advisor, Grahmm, has called the middle class a nation of whiners and we were having a mental recession as though the middle class has psychological problems. this will sit very well with the voters in ohio considering McCain and one of his lobbying advisor are responsible for 8,000 jobs being lost in Ohio due to outsourcing DHL jobs.

voter (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:58 PM)

Better schools. The Democrats have been bleating that line now for 50 years. After all the money we've buried into our school system, we really don't have much to show for our children. The teachers unions though have a lot to show for it. 38 week work year, paid full time for a part time job, two weeks vacation in December, another week off at spring break, six hour work day. Not a bad gig. That's where your moiney is going, and Obama wants to pay off the untion support for him by increasing your taxes.

Ask A Teacher To Spell Kat (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:58 PM)

Campaign still in August recess. Interns doing ads.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:59 PM)

Please explain where any of what the commerical says is going to help the middle class? We're in an energy crisis. We need a full-fledged policy utilizing all types of energy alternatives. But, for now, we need oil. Taxing the oil companies at this time will only drive prices up again. How is that helping the middle class? Of course, we shouldn't be surprised that Obama doesn't care; he didn't care that gas was $4/gallon though he said it might have helped if it had crept up slower. And, regarding the spending in Iraq, if I remember correctly, Mr Obama, you've voted for that spending.

BOMA (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:59 PM)

Absolutely love it! Positive and to the point.

Sister Suzanne (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 1:00 PM)

McConomics has no plans for the economy. He is a foreign policy expert remember. So stop your whining and complaining.

Ruthie, Stone Mountain GA (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 1:00 PM)

This is great! can't wait to see it air here! Our schools are failing terribly here too!

Alison, FL (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 1:01 PM)

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