North Carolina Republicans Use Wright Controversy In New Ad

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Advertising

North Carolina Republicans have unveiled an ad labeling Barack Obama "too extreme" for the state – and hammering two Democratic gubernatorial candidates for endorsing him.

The spot, which you can watch here, opens with an announcer saying, "For 20 years Barack Obama sat in his pew, listening to his pastor." That controversial pastor, Jeremiah Wright, is then shown saying "No, no, no. Not God Bless America. God Damn America."

"Now, Bev Perdue and Richard Moore endorse Barack Obama," the announcer continues. "They should know better. He's just too extreme for North Carolina."

The Charlotte Observer writes that the ad "is believed to be the first time nationwide that Republicans have used Wright's comments in a TV advertisement since the comments first drew scrutiny last month."

Presumptive GOP nominee John McCain has sent a letter to North Carolina Republican Party Chair Linda Daves asking her not to run the ad.

In his letter, which was sent to reporters, McCain writes, "The television advertisement you are planning to air degrades our civics and distracts us from the very real differences we have with the Democrats."

"This ad does not live up to the very high standards we should hold ourselves to in this campaign," he adds, calling on Daves to "withdraw this offensive advertisement."

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by popstom1 April 25, 2008 12:59 AM EDT: i like it; Reply to this comment


by crater7 April 24, 2008 7:12 PM EDT: BLACKSPIRIT3, HMMMM, SO YOU ASSUME ALL WHITE FOLKS SIT AROUND AND PLOT TO KILL BLACK FOLKS, CONDEMN THEIR RELIGION. THE CHURCHES I HAVE ATTENDED OVER MY MANY YEARS, NEVER PREACHED RACISM AGAINST ANY RACE OR GENDER. I HAVE NEVER HEARD ANY PASTOR PREACH HATE, ANTI WHITE,BLACK,OR " G D AMERICA."

YOU SEEM TO BLAME THE CLINTON''S FOR SOME REASONS, HMMMMMM, "SHE HAS A SENATE VOTING RECORD THAT HAS EARNED STRAIGHT A''S FROM THE NAACP." THAT DOESN''T JIVE WITH YOUR STATEMENT THAT BLACKS WOULD NOT VOTE FOR HER, IF OBAMA WERE NOT IN THE RACE.

YOUR COMMENTS ARE RACIST. YOU PORTRAY WHITE PEOPLE AS RACIST. NOT ALL WHITE PEOPLE HATE BLACKS.

BUT, ALL AMERICANS, WHITE, BLACK OR ANY ETHNIC GROUP DOES NOT WANT A PRESIDENT WHO WOULD SUPPORT A RACIST, ANTI AMERICAN, ANTI WHITE, ANTI JEWISH POLICES.

GOD "BLESS" AMERICA.NOT "G D" AMERICA.; Reply to this comment


by duby58 April 24, 2008 6:06 PM EDT: see even more fox info on wright
http://www.shoutfile.com/v/qx7ynPMt/fox_news_owned; Reply to this comment


by pesojoe April 24, 2008 5:36 PM EDT: The draft is a great way to employe poor people and get the rich even richer, just brilliant. How about hand guns where is Obama on this did he use guns and drugs at the same time? Has he changed his mind and found it easier to slick talk slow people into giving him what he wants? Muslim daddy, step daddy and an atheist mother, fine presidential material.; Reply to this comment


by tigerjcs April 24, 2008 4:17 PM EDT: Obama has duped the voters with his 20 years association with the anti American spiritual leader. He is too liberal for the Americans to accept. There is nothing to try to understand, the hate American messages that Rev. Wright preaching. Obama obviously think it is acceptable. NO OBAMA.; Reply to this comment


by remco82 April 24, 2008 3:57 PM EDT: If you people recall, in 1976 Ronnie Reagan was branded as far too right-wing to be the GOP nominee. Four years later, he took the prize, became President and took this country for a sharp, ultra rightist joyride fueled by loans from foreign sources. Now, everyone is yapping about Obama being "too left-wing". What a joke! FDR would be labeled a Marxist by today''s standards, even though FDR-style reforms are sorely needed now. Obama could bring those reforms. Our only hope is Barack Obama to break the stranglehold of big business (oil corporations, insurance industry, pharmaceutical companies, etc.) on ordinary Americans. Don''t expect the corporations to do it. They squeeze every drop of profit out of the hapless consumers. Wake up, my fellow Americans! Vote for my man Barack!; Reply to this comment


by cfin5 April 24, 2008 3:46 PM EDT: Liking to connect the dots in matters political, I found that Senator McCain has puppet strings attached. Those strings lead to none other than George Soros and his money. You see, there is a military tactic that has been used very successful since "The Sin of Balaam". Ever heard of "If you can''t beat them, join them"? What most folks have never heard is the rest of the saying, and this is,...."And then you will beat them". Senator McCain is a "FALL GUY". And I''m afraid he will succeed. My social policy mathematics backs this up.; Reply to this comment


by libh8er April 24, 2008 3:39 PM EDT: He is too extreme....for mainstream America, not just NC. I really, really hope he is the nominee. McCain will mop up the floor with him.; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 April 24, 2008 2:45 PM EDT: The Repub Party can%u2019t face the results of their odious and abhorred agenda against the majority of Americans. Instead, we all know that they will continue to wedge people against each other on non-issues.

$12 Billion Dollars barrowed spent each and every month in Iraq.
Energy, Food and Housing.
Health Care
Jobs
Corruption
Pollution
Devalued Dollar

Are just a few things they really won%u2019t be able to bring themselves to address.; Reply to this comment


by blackspirit3 April 24, 2008 2:44 PM EDT: I THINK FOLKS HAVE THE BLACK VOTE CONFUSED, HAD OBAMA NOT ENTERED THE RACE, EDWARDS WOULD BE GETTING MOST OF THE BLACK VOTE, OR BIDEN, HILLARY WAS NEVER GO0NNA GET THE BLACK VOTE.; Reply to this comment